Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro): Apple Intelligence, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 256GB, Wi-Fi 6E, 12MP Front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life — Purple

Perfect Balance Between Portability and Performance!
Having used various larger iPads, I find this model strikes an ideal balance between being more expansive than a phone yet more compact than a laptop. Its size is perfect for on-the-go productivity and entertainment.Pairing it with the Apple Smart Folio enhances the experience, offering seamless integration and excellent protection. Although the folio is on the pricier side, its premium quality and functionality justify the investment.Pros:Compact and Portable: Easy to carry without compromising on screen size.Powerful Performance: The A17 Pro chip ensures smooth multitasking and fast processing.High-Quality Display: The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display delivers vibrant colors and sharp visuals.Con:No Headphone Jack: The lack of a standard headphone jack can be inconvenient for users who prefer wired audio accessories.Overall, this iPad offers a superb blend of portability and performance, making it a top choice for those seeking versatility in a compact device.

Portability and Performance King
I recently got a new role at my job that needs me to be more mobile and the iPad mini 7 is the perfect companion when it comes to meetings, presentations, or all around note taking. This thing also packs a punch with the new updated processor that allows me to use more heavy 3D modeling software with ease. The screen is the perfect size for both media consumption while also being able to fit into a pocket of a jacket. I used to have an iPad Air 4 and decided to downsize because I wanted something a little more portable and it was the best choice I made. For this price, you can’t beat the power this thing has for the sheer size in comes in. While battery life will not be as good as say the iPad Air, this still holds a great charge and will last me throughout my workday perfectly. I also bought the new generation apple pencil pro and these two paired together is the best note taking experience I’ve ever had. The functionality of pulling this out of your back pocket and being able to take notes on the spot is very helpful. The iPad Mini 7 is an excellent blend of power and portability, offering a unique combination of versatility and convenience. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for professionals on the go, while the performance capabilities ensure it can handle everything from multitasking to creative projects. At this price point, it stands out as an exceptional value for anyone seeking a powerful, portable device that doesn’t compromise on functionality.

Even Better.
I had the previous iPad mini and sold it to upgrade to this one. It is the exact same excellent build-quality and gorgeous display, but with twice the storage of my last one (128GB) and a much better processor. I was able to download and play Resident Evil 4 and it was amazing, but the game alone took up almost 60GB of storage, so if you play a lot of AAA games I would get more storage.Apple Intelligence might sound like a gimmick, but I have been using the beta of iPadOS 18.2 and I am blown away by the image playground app. I am an author, and it has enabled me the power to visualize my characters just by describing them in the playground app. That alone is worth the price of admission for me to Apple Intelligence. The writing tools are more gimmicky, and I would NEVER use them to edit my own creative work just based on ethics, but for emails and note taking they are pretty cool. You can create summaries of your notes or change the tone to make it more concise.Overall, this iPad mini is identical to the last generation, which I adored for media-consumption (things like reading in bed and watching YouTube). But this time you get a processor capable of running Apple’s AI features on-device and privately and running AAA games if that’s something you’re into. I got mine on sale for like $50 off, but I would gladly pay full price if I were to buy another.