A Portable and Lightweight Tablet

The iPad Mini is, as the name suggests, mini. With an 8.3-inch display, it is significantly smaller than its 13- and 11-inch counterparts. The relatively small size is its main selling point in comparison to the other iPads, and it brings a range of benefits.

My iPad Mini fits in all of my bags, even smaller crossbodies and fanny packs. With the option for cellular, it is a brilliant commuter sidekick, as I can pull it out of my bag and work on projects wherever I am. It is practically weightless, and the attached Apple Pencil makes it a perfect on-the-go productivity machine.

Apple’s Best eReader

The iPad Mini’s size makes it a perfect eReader. I still find myself in awe that I can read hundreds of books from something that could fit in my back pocket, and Apple’s brilliantly designed Books app makes the reading experience incredible every time.

The tablet is small and light enough that it can be easily held in one hand, and is comfortable enough to be easily used sitting, standing, or when lying in bed. The iPad Mini with an Apple Pencil for highlighting and markups has quickly become my favorite way to read, and if you’re going to use your tablet primarily for this purpose, the Mini is the way to go.

A Notetaking Powerhouse

I used my iPad Mini in every single one of my college classes. With so many brilliant notetaking apps available on the App Store, it was perfect for organizing notes and let me avoid needing to carry several notebooks around all the time.

The Apple Pencil 2 support on the iPad Mini further bolsters its utility as a note-taker, and I never have to worry about it being charged or losing it since it’s always attached to the side. With the release of iPadOS 18, notetaking will get even better, including features like Math Notes and handwriting recognition. The iPad Mini’s size means it always fits comfortably on desks and tables and is great to have sitting next to my laptop to work on projects.