In fall 2021, the iPad mini, the tablets small and infrequently updated from Apple, it received a big update and a big price increase.
It now costs €549 / MXN$13,499 (before it was €449 / MXN$9,999) and is no longer a “cheap” product. But is it still a good buy? And is this the best time to buy it?
iPad mini: Price and specifications
Last update: September 2021
The iPad mini is in its sixth generation, with the first model arriving in October 2012. This latest version is the first to receive a substantial redesign. With flat edges, smaller bezels, no Home button, USB-C, and Touch ID on the side button, it’s basically a shrunken iPad Air.
In fact, the A15 processor, 12 MP ultra-wide front camera with ‘Center Framing’ function, and optional 5G make it more capable than iPad Air. Starting at €549 / MXN$13,499, it’s the most expensive iPad mini has ever cost, but it’s also by far the most advanced.
iPad mini: Why buy it
iPad mini is super light (293g) and highly portable (19.54 x 13.48 x 0.63cm), but still gives you everything you need in an iPad. The new model has smaller bezels so the 8.3″ screen can fit in the same body as previous models.
It is compatible with the second generation of Apple Pencil. It has USB-C, the super-fast A15 processor, and even a 12 MP ultra-wide angle and ‘Center Framing’ feature on the front camera.
It’s a major upgrade from the fifth-generation iPad mini. And since the iPad mini seems to be updated every two years or so, this is probably the model that Apple will continue to sell until 2023. No need to worry that it will become obsolete in a short time.
iPad mini: Why wait
If it’s an iPad mini you’re looking for, there’s no compelling reason to wait for a newer or different model to arrive. Apple is unlikely to change the price (it almost never does) and a new model isn’t expected until 2023 at the earliest.
The only real reason not to buy the iPad mini is if you’re bummed out by the €549 / MXN$13,499 price tag and would rather spend €130 / MXN$2,000 more on the larger iPad Air.
Macworld Recommends: BUY
The iPad mini (€549 / MXN$13,499) has been updated relatively recently, and it’s not expected to be updated again for a couple of years.
Significant price drops are quite rare, so this is the best time to buy it, and it will be for some time. Keep an eye out for sales at stores other than the Apple Store, where you can sometimes find iPads with discounts of between €30 and €50.
Original article published in Macworld US.
