iPad mini 2021 features: size, power, price, and more

Apple‘s iPad mini, always aimed at a very specific public sector, has undergone few changes throughout its generations. However, it was not until the iPad mini 6, launched in 2021, that we had an evolution in design that conforms more than ever to what is expected of it. In this post we tell you everything about it, so if you have any questions, you are in the right article.

A design not suitable for all audiences

iPad mini 2021 features

As soon as you see this iPad mini, it is understood that it is not a device that is focused on all types of user, since it is characterized by its small size. In the following sections we will tell you more about it, so that you can get used to the idea of whether it is suitable for you or not.

Small dimensions… Fits in one hand!

Indeed one of the virtues of this iPad is that it fits in one hand. This does not mean that it is usable in this way, since even those with large hands will encounter difficulties, but with an open palm it is possible to grip perfectly. It has a size that places it between the iPad of entraa and the iPad Air . In fact, you could say that in a way it looks like a big iPhone .

ipad mini 6 2021

It is available in space gray, star white, pink and purple colors . And its exact dimensions are as follows:

  • Height: 19.54 centimeters
  • Width: 13.48 centimeters
  • Thickness: 0.63 centimeters

Regarding its weight, we must say that it varies depending on whether the version with WiFi or WiFi + Cellular is chosen. In the first case they are 293 grams and in the second 297 grams , a difference of just 4 grams that is not perceived too much (to say nothing).

High-quality screen, although with buts

Accompanied by that small size, the screen of this iPad is also very compact at 8.3 inches . And if we compare it with the 7.9 inches that the iPad mini has traditionally brought, it can even be seen large. But nothing is further from reality, since this size has been achieved thanks to eliminating the home button and having very small bezels on the front.

Its technology is not OLED unlike what the ‘Pro’ models have, something that can make it appear of less quality, but that in no way detracts from the device’s brightness. And never better said. Its LCD technology that Apple calls Liquid Retina makes the screen look great in virtually any light condition. At the quality level, we find a resolution of 2,266 x 1,488 at 326 pixels per inch, so without being one of the best, it offers great quality in video playback.

pantalla ipad mini

At the color level, it is displayed, as in all Apple screens, in a very sharp and realistic way without saturation. At the brightness level it has 500 nits which, although it is true that it makes it look good in many circumstances of ambient light, it lacks a bit if it is used in areas with too much natural clarity. In any case, it is not an excessively negative point either and that can be passed taking into account everything else that this tablet offers.

Pros and cons in day-to-day use

Thanks to the good performance of the A15 Bionic , the processor that this device mounts, we can find a really interesting performance in this team. If we consider that in addition the advanced chipset will allow you to have iPadOS updates for many years , we cannot give you something other than a 10 in this sense.

Now, having a good chip and overall performance do not make this an ideal iPad for everyone. In the following sections we will analyze in which situations it is a perfect device and in which it may not be the best option.

Actions for which it is ideal

If you are one of those who enjoys lying on the sofa or bed to enjoy your iPad, this ‘mini’ is undoubtedly a perfect companion. Either to consult social networks , to enjoy videos , surf the internet and even make a video call with family or friends.

ipad mini

It is also a perfect equipment to act as a digital notebook , being interesting to use in this section with the Apple Pencil . Taking notes on it is a delight and for both the professional and school environments it is a great tablet. And not only to take notes but also to read or study , be it those notes or a digital book.

And if you are also looking for a tremendously portable equipment that you can carry in any backpack without taking up space, this is it. In addition, it will not bother you too much by weight if you carry it in your hand and being ideal even for use in public transport and even airplanes.

When this iPad falls short

If you are looking for a computer from which you can enjoy multimedia content for hours , it may not be the most suitable. Not because it can’t, which it does more than enough as we already told you before, but it can be made very small in long sessions of use. For something sporadic or a few minutes a day, fine, but if it is for intensive use in this aspect it is not the most suitable.

There are also certain aspects to highlight in the professional or school use of this iPad mini and that is that if what you are looking for is to use it with a keyboard, although you can, it is not the most practical in the end and once again because of the size of its screen . If you are one of those who are already used to writing your notes with a physical or even digital keyboard, you should perhaps consider buying another model with a larger screen diagonal.

camara ipad mini

Other aspects to highlight

Battery life, 5G connectivity, unlocking method … There are many important aspects to highlight about this iPad mini that we will tell you below.

There is a version with 5G, a differential element?

The iPad mini offers, like other iPads, models in WiFi and WiFi + Cellular version, also known as LTE. This means that the first version can be connected to the internet through WiFi networks and the second can also do it with mobile data as if it were a mobile, although you must bear in mind that for this you must contract a separate rate with a telephone company that offer eSIM.

Precisely that LTE version offers 5G connections. And this is a point that can never be subtracted and therefore it would be daring to say that it is something negative, although we must put it in a real context and say that it should not be a weighty argument in the purchase decision . The speeds offered by 5G are really remarkable compared to 4G, but today there are hardly any areas that offer 5G coverage and in countries like Spain not even that, since 4G + is offered that, despite improving 4G normal falls far short of real 5G.

Therefore, if you are really interested in making use of a data rate because you are going to use the iPad mini on the street or in areas without WiFi, that option is recommended, but not because of 5G. In fact, we would recommend deactivating it to gain battery power and have better speeds because, as we already advanced, there are no good 5G connections except for very specific areas that are generally only in large cities.

How long does the battery last for this iPad mini?

According to Apple, the autonomy of this iPad is up to 10 hours of uninterrupted browsing via WiFi. However, with few exceptions, few people tend to use the iPad solely for this task and for so long. Therefore it is logical that you ask yourself, what does this translate into in real environments?

As well. In general, it is an iPad that cannot be said to have a bad battery, but in very intensive uses such as video games or streaming content it can fall short in less time than we would like. Although if we take into account that it is normal to make sporadic use throughout the day, in the end it fully complies and there is no need to worry about charging it.

ipad mini lateral

It can perfectly last more than a day if it is not used continuously. And taking into account that due to its characteristics it is not intended for this type of prolonged use, you will probably never have a single complaint about the battery. Although in versions with WiFi + Cellular, a considerable reduction is noticed if the connection with mobile data is abused a lot.

Touch ID, a safe value always

Although we could expect Face ID as in the ‘Pro’, this iPad mini only offers a fingerprint sensor located in the terminal lock button located at the top and that continues to perform with the same efficiency and security as always. Taking into account that in most cases you will use the iPad in your hand, in the end it does not become uncomfortable.

It works quickly and is capable of recognizing your finger in various positions, although, as always, it is advisable to configure several fingers so that regardless of which finger you use the iPad can recognize you. For the rest, this sensor will not only allow you to unlock it but also make payments through Apple Pay or save you putting passwords for websites and applications whose credentials you have saved on the iCloud keychain.

touch id ipad

You have to choose your storage well

As always, the internal memory of the device is essential when configuring it for purchase. In this case we find options of 64 or 256 GB and, as always in the iPad, without the possibility of expanding using SD cards or any other method.

And there are several aspects to highlight at this point and that is that the 64 GB is a more interesting option than the 32 GB of yesteryear that this range incorporated, but that it can fall short according to what type of users. If you are used to storing many applications and files such as photos, videos and even movies, it is likely that you will fall short in no time. It is true that you can use other methods such as iCloud to save space, but in the end it is an extra monthly expense that you should consider.

The 256 GB for its part seems like a capacity more than suitable for a team like an iPad. But in any case, if it falls short, you could also turn to cloud storage as an alternative to free up space. Of course, you should know that choosing this capacity will increase the price of the device, something that always happens and that in this case makes an important difference that we will tell you in the conclusions of this article.

What accessories can be used?

The first thing to highlight about the iPad mini 2021 is that, finally, it has a USB-C port . And this is not only interesting because it has a more universal standard to recharge its battery, but also to use accessories such as an external storage disk , which will work at high speed thanks to this connector.

accesorios ipad mini

Beyond that, this iPad mini is compatible with all kinds of Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, mice, or headphones. Although, yes, it is not compatible with official Apple keyboards such as the Smart Keyboard and the Magic Keyboard. Apple has not wanted to make a ‘mini’ version of these accessories and it will not do so in the future either because it does not have a Smart Connector, which is the port through which they would be used.

Although in the end this of the keyboards, as we have already mentioned in some other point, is something secondary in an iPad like this that for reasons of size is not the most comfortable for jobs that require text editing for a long time.

With what if this device is compatible it is with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil , which works identically to how it does in other Apple tablets, being able to recharge magnetically on its side and with interesting features such as the double tap on its flat part to access additional functions.

This is your camera system

A camera is not the most important thing in an iPad due to how uncomfortable it can be to use in this sense due to its size, even in this ‘mini’. Now, if it is to make video calls or some sporadic photography, this iPad is more than enough. Here are its summarized characteristics:

camara trasera ipad mini

specs iPad mini (6th gen-2021)
Front lens type 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens with f / 2.4 aperture
Photos front camera -Zoom zoom: x2 (optical)
-Framing centered
-Flash with the screen (Retina Flash)
-HDR 3
Front camera videos -Recording in 1,080p (Full HD) at 25, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Expanded dynamic range of up to 30 frames per second
-Stabilization with cinema quality
Rear lens type 12MP wide-angle lens with f / 1.8 aperture
Photos rear camera -Zoom zoom: x5 (digital)
-Flash True Tone
-HDR 3
Rear camera video -Recording in 4K (Ultra HD) at 24, 25, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Recording in 1,080p (Full HD) at 25, 30 or 60 frames per second
-Expanded dynamic range up to 30 frames per second
-Slow motion at 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second
-Time-Lapse with stabilization
-Zoom x3 (digital)

It must be said that the Center Framing function is something to consider if you often make video calls, since it considerably improves the experience thanks to the ultra-wide angle lens on the front. What this function does is make you always be located in the center of the image even if you move and that, if someone appears next to you, they will be able to open the angle so that it comes out as well. The visual effect is as if the camera were moving, but it is really the zoom of this that moves automatically via software.

Price and conclusions

As we have already been saying, this iPad is offered in different storage capacities and with two possible connectivity (WiFi and WiFi + Cellular). Depending on which is chosen in these two configurations the price changes, finally having these variants:

  • Models with WiFi:
    • 64 GB of storage: 549 euros
    • 256 GB of storage: 719 euros
  • Models with WiFi + Cellular:
    • 64 GB of storage: 719 euros
    • 256 GB of storage: 889 euros

It should be said that this iPad mini has increased 100 euros compared to its predecessor, something that is usually common when Apple redesigns a range of its tablets by reducing its frames and implementing USB-C. Judging if it is a good or bad price is not in the end something that corresponds to us, since we believe that it is an aspect to be valued by each one.

This is an iPad that, from what we have been reviewing throughout this post, is a very interesting device to which nothing negative can be blamed on a performance level. It is a tablet with many advantages for use on the move thanks to its size, but precisely on this basis it could also be a problem for those looking for more intensive uses or the combination of accessories such as keyboards.

Therefore, we recommend that you do an analysis of your needs and based on this, take into account to what degree this iPad mini will know how to solve them. And obviously at some point there will be something negative, being there where you must assess whether the rest of the good things that it brings you are worth it or not. Be that as it may, our conclusion analyzing the target audience of the terminal is that it is a very necessary iPad that many have been asking for for a long time and that it is finally a reality.