Best Portability VERIFIED
Apple
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Apple · Tablets
The most powerful small tablet you can buy, pairing an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Pencil Pro support.
4.5 100% recommend$499
8.6 score verified
ComparZone Score
8.6
Very good
If you specifically want a small, premium tablet, the iPad mini is essentially unrivaled. …
$499
best of 3 sellers
Price · trend
▼ $55
Apple A17 Pro
Chipset
Performance
10 hr
Battery Life
Battery
8.3 in
Display Size
Display
Liquid Retina LCD
Display Type
Display
8 GB
RAM
Performance
Why it stands out
The fastest and most capable small
The fastest and most capable small tablet on the market
60Hz display is the main compromise
60Hz display is the main compromise versus pricier iPads
128GB base storage and Apple Pencil
128GB base storage and Apple Pencil Pro support are meaningful 2024 upgrades
Category scores
marker = Tablets average
Performance profile
iPad mini (A17 Pro) Category avg
Decision snapshot
Best-in-class
Portability
Beats avg by
+0.1 pts
Confidence
96 %
Data sources
3
0%
Data quality0%
Spec coverage0%
Recommend0Specs tracked
0Spec groups
0Class-leading
0%Avg confidence
Performance 96% verified
Chipset96%Apple A17 Pro
RAM96%8 GB
Display 96% verified
Refresh Rate96%60 Hz
Display Size96%8.3 in
Display Type96%Liquid Retina LCD
Resolution96%2266 x 1488
Brightness96%500 nits
Storage 96% verified
Storage96%128/256/512GB
Battery 96% verified
Battery Life96%10 hr
Charging96%20 W
Productivity 96% verified
Stylus Support96%Yes
Keyboard Support96%No
Software 96% verified
Operating System96%iPadOS
Design 96% verified
Price trend
$499▼ $55
low · $499high · $555
Review sentiment
4.5OUT OF 5
8.6
Expert review score
ComparZone editorial · /10
Pros & cons
Pros
- Class-leading performance from the A17 Pro chip
- Genuinely pocketable 8.3-inch form factor
- Apple Pencil Pro support adds real note-taking utility
- Doubled 128GB base storage and Wi-Fi 6E
Cons
- Display is stuck at 60Hz with no ProMotion
- 500-nit peak brightness is modest for outdoor use
- No first-party keyboard option
- Design is unchanged since 2021
When should you buy?
Good time to buy
Launched at $499 for 128GB. Third-party retailers have discounted it by $50-$100 during major sales since early 2025.
D
Derek L. Verified
3 months ago
Great little powerhouse, screen could be brighter
Performance is absurd for the size and games look fantastic. Outdoors in direct sun the 500-nit panel struggles a bit. Apple Pencil Pro support makes it a great quick-notes device. Would buy again.
Helpful · 28
P
Priya M. Verified
5 months ago
Perfect travel and reading tablet
I read, browse, and take notes on this everywhere. It fits in my jacket pocket and the A17 Pro never stutters. The only thing I wish for is a smoother 120Hz screen, but honestly for reading it does not bother me.
Helpful · 42
From the community
QCan I use it for serious photo editing?
Yes for light to moderate edits in apps like Lightroom and Pixelmator; the A17 Pro handles it easily, though the small screen limits precision work.
QDoes it have a headphone jack?
No. It uses USB-C, so you will need a USB-C adapter or wireless headphones.
Frequently asked
Does the iPad mini A17 Pro support the Apple Pencil Pro?
Yes. It supports both the Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil, but not the older second-generation Apple Pencil that magnetically charges on larger iPads.
Is the display 120Hz?
No. The iPad mini uses a 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD. ProMotion 120Hz is reserved for the iPad Pro line.
How much RAM does it have?
It ships with 8GB of RAM, which also enables Apple Intelligence features.