iPad 6 mini (2021) test: is it the ideal Apple tablet?

If there is a tablet that deserved a real update, it is the iPad 6 mini from the giant Apple. The firm has (finally) listened to the many feedback from its users to offer a compact touchscreen tablet with a larger screen while keeping the size of its predecessors.

After the iPhone 13, Apple took advantage of its back-to-school conference to formalize its new iPad mini of 2021 (or iPad mini 6). The iPad mini 5, released two years earlier (in 2019), impressed its world with stunning performance. Its design and screen were far too old-fashioned, especially next to the mid-size iPad Air, which carried over the design of the iPad Pros.

2021 was therefore the year of change for the iPad 6 mini with a design similar to the iPad Air, some up-to-date features and above all this particularity of being ultra nomadic. And because it’s Apple, we find an unparalleled software library that allows the Californian firm to dominate any Android tablet.

After several weeks of testing this iPad 6 mini, you will finally discover our complete opinion on this touch pad. Did Apple get it right? Without going into detail, we can already tell you that we were captivated by this product!

Features of the iPad 6 mini

Before going into the test of the iPad 6 mini, here is first its technical sheet. True to Apple, we find a robust product at all levels that will inevitably harm all its rivals under Android.

	Apple iPad mini (2021)
Screen	– 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display – 2226 x 1488 resolution at 326 dpi – DCI-P3 -True Tone – 500 nits – True Tone Display – Laminated screen – Anti-reflective coating – Compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
SoCs	– Apple A15 Bionic – 6 CPU cores – 5 GPU cores – 16 Neural Engine cores
Memory	– 64GB or 256GB of internal memory – No memory expansion
Colors	– Mauve – Pink – Space grey – Starlight
Camera	– Only one camera – 12 Megapixel wide-angle, F/1.8 aperture – Smart HDR – True Tone Flash – Panoramic mode – 12 Megapixel Facetime HD Camera, F/2.4 Aperture – FaceID 1080p (25fps, 30fps or 30fps) – CenterStage
Audio	– 2 Stereo Speakers – 2 microphones
Battery	– NC
Connectivities	– Touch ID on the power button -Bluetooth 5.0 – Wi-Fi 6 – 5G – eSim + nano-SIM – USB-C – USB 3 and Thunderbolt – DisplayPort support – Barometer, Gyroscope, Accelerometer – Proximity and light sensor
Software	– iPad OS 15
Height and weight	– 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm – 293g / 297g
Starting price	– 64GB: €559 / €729 (5G) – 256GB: €729 / €899 (5G)
Availability date	– September 24, 2021

On the packaging side, there is a white rectangular cardboard box, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a 20W USB charger, instructions for use for a first grip. Nothing very original in itself, but it could become less generous in the next few years. Might as well take advantage of it now.

It may not be much, but we note that Apple has finally abandoned the Lightning port for a USB Type-C port and therefore support for all the accessories that go with it. In addition, we recall that the iPad 6 mini also supports the second generation Apple Pencil. Please note that this stylus is optional and will not be included in the box by default.

Price and availability

Inevitably, when testing a product like the iPad 6 mini, you have to keep its price in mind. Here, it takes 599 euros in the Wi-Fi version with 64 GB by default. This can go up to 899 euros in the 5G+Wi-Fi version with 256GB of internal memory. One could almost regret that Apple does not offer a version with 512 GB.

Design, photo, screen and audio

Some will say that there is a lack of novelties because the iPad mini only takes the design of the iPad Air and iPad Pro. Admittedly, the screen edges are not the thinnest on the market, but when you see the iPad mini of 2019, it’s already a huge leap forward for those looking for an ultra nomadic iPad.

Moreover, some are wondering the real interest of an iPad 6 mini with an 8.3-inch screen… in parallel with an XL smartphone with a 6.5-inch screen like the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Well in our opinion, that 2 inch difference makes all the difference in viewing comfort. It feels like there’s more space – and that’s what allows us to tell the difference between a smartphone and a tablet.

Also, for the most mobile (like yours truly =), the proportions are ideal for a tablet: the thickness of 6.3mm and the weight does not exceed 300 grams, which allows one-handed use without getting tired. The 11″ iPad Air and iPad Pro, with a weight of around 460 grams, do not necessarily allow it. The finish is excellent as expected.

Taking pictures with a tablet is still a little heresy. That said, we are still happy to find the same photo sensor as on the recent iPad Pro M1, which will allow you to be able to document your note taking and others in peace. The iPad 6 mini is not intended to replace the smartphone for the photo but still allows you to take snapshots at the level of an iPhone 11 – which is not nothing.

On the front, there is a front camera capable of recording in 1080p (at 25fps, 30fps or 60fps) and with an ultra wide-angle lens. The latter does not display ultra wide-angle but it allows the introduction of Center Stage technology – which we have been able to test with FaceTime, Zoom or even Webex on the iPad Pro M1. Basically, Center Stage uses ultra-wide-angle and machine-learning to recognize and track the user, which allows a kind of subject tracking during video conferences. Impressive.

There is an 8.3″ Liquid Retina Display screen with a definition of 2266×14488 and a density of 326ppp. The format is slightly different from 4:3 and it is indeed an IPS panel. The screen is excellent with perfectly controlled colorimetry and good brightness. We were able to test this iPad 6 mini in broad daylight under a blue sky and we didn’t notice any problems.

Finally, this new iPad 6 mini from 2021 provides support for the Second Generation Apple Pencil. You can also put it on its side to recharge it and pair it with the tablet.

On the sound side, there are 2 stereo speakers which are excellent and provide balanced sound that is powerful enough to do without an external speaker or headphones for short content. Of course, if you want better immersion, nothing can compete with good headphones or wireless headphones. Remember that the iPad 6 mini does not offer a jack.

A15, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, performance and autonomy

For those who are ultra-nomadic, 5G will be a big plus and in the case of the iPad 6 mini. However, there was no impact on battery life when 5G is on standby. Some keen observers have already seen that the iPad mini does not support millimeter 5G, which did not particularly bother us.

If we could already have super fast classic 5G everywhere in France, that would be a big step forward. On the other hand, we have Wi-Fi 6, and that is practical because we are starting to find it much more often. If you are looking for a tablet for the next few years, this iPad 6 mini will be a formidable weapon.

On the performance side, we will not surprise you too much: the new iPad 6 mini will not be able to compete with the M1 processor of the iPad Pro. On the other hand, we still find a SoC A15 Bionic, the same as that of the iPhone 13, and it is a beast of power. Admittedly, the version of the iPad 6 mini is a little slower than the version of the iPhone 13, but we will not feel any real difference in everyday life. For those who love numbers, it’s still 40% more performance compared to the iPad mini 5, and as far as graphics are concerned, Apple is talking about a jump of 80% more performance. .

In any case, from our tests of the iPad 6 mini, we keep this autonomy around 10 hours. If it will of course depend on the uses of each, it remains in the standards that are found on all the other tablets of the manufacturer.

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