Rumor has it that Apple is announcing a successor to its 6th generation iPad mini in November, so Prime Big Deal Days is the perfect time to score a on the current model before stock runs out.
Released in 2021, the current version set the standard for what’s possible in a pint-sized tablet. Three years later, it still feels up to date with a USB-C port instead of Apple’s Lightning port, slim bezels, and a trim thickness of 6.4mm — all at a 30% discount for Prime Day. While not the brightest screen, the so-called Liquid Retina Display packs an impressive 326 pixels into each of its 8.3 inches. It’s also compatible with the Apple Pencil, making the tablet ideal for drawing and note-taking.
The A15 bionic processor and 4GB of RAM come straight from the iPhone 13, so it can run games alongside a variety of other apps without slowing down or excessively eating through battery. In fact, former Digital Trends contributor Adam Doud got through about a day and a half of regular use between charges when he first tested the current generation of iPad Mini. “The iPad Mini is big enough to accommodate everything I do on a tablet, from writing to movies to games, while remaining small enough to stick into a pocket,” Doud wrote. “On trips, this will be my one and only tablet. There’s simply no reason to take anything else.”
Type or Write: Your Choice
For more involved tasks like word processing, the iPad Mini supports Bluetooth accessories like keyboards and mouses, turning your portable tablet into a stand-in for your laptop. Or you can go the pseudo-analogue route of Scribble, which allows your Apple Pencil to fill in text fields like search bars and payment fields. It deciphered our chicken scratch with uncanny accuracy, making it simple to commit to the Apple Pencil for a variety of tasks. And there’s the split view function, which allows you to use two apps at once or slide one app over the second one in your display.
Despite its age, the iPad Mini 6th generation remains our go-to tablet for travel, so grab one during Prime Big Deal Days on October 8 and 9 while it’s still the price of a budget airline ticket.