The 4 best iPads of 2026 — find the right Apple tablet for you
Read our full iPad mini review.
Tablets are an incredibly versatile device, but we all have our favorite uses. If, like me, you use your iPad to read, you should go for the iPad mini. Other models, like the iPad Air, start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen space when you just want to flip through your book.
But the iPad mini isn’t just a glorified e-reader; it’s still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows – a level of flexibility that a Kindle just can’t match.
So, when should you avoid the iPad mini? If you’re looking for a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won’t be for you. Eight inches may be enough for reading or watching, but it will feel small when you want to switch between email and Slack. As Mashable’s Stan Schroeder noted in his review, against its M1 MacBook Pro, the 7th generation iPad mini didn’t stand a chance. Additionally, it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a snap.
The iPad mini received an upgrade in 2024 and now features the A17 chip but the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. The chip upgrade comes with Apple Intelligence, a particularly useful feature if you plan to use it for reading, as it can summarize articles.
It’s more advanced in some ways than the 11th generation iPad. But on the other hand, it’s missing key features like a landscape view camera and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When you calculate all this, it’s clear that the iPad mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple’s lineup are capable of being great tablets. And laptops.
Most of all, I love the iPad mini for reading. Previously, I read with my 9th generation iPad, which works well but is just too big. When I’m in bed reading, my wrist is stretched out with a full-size iPad. So when I upgraded to the iPad mini, I was delighted by its light weight; it weighs a little over half a pound. At 8.3 inches, it’s about an inch and a half larger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but after using both, the touch feel is negligible.
Plus, unlike the 11th generation iPad, it has an anti-glare coating to help you read in any lighting. The iPad mini, while great for reading, doesn’t have the matte screen of other e-readers, leading to some eye strain at night. If you want to give your iPad mini the Kindle treatment, these Paperlike screen protectors add a nice friction to the screen so it feels like you’re reading and writing on paper.
The iPad mini’s smaller size also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Although it is smaller than the 11th generation iPad, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced technology, the convenience of portability and a better reading experience.
