Four years since the iPad mini 4's launch, its successor — the iPad mini (2019) — is here. It's the most “pocketable” iPad that you can buy right now, even if it'll only fit in a coat pocket. While the iPad mini now has serious processing power under its hood, this tablet is all about the form factor. When we reviewed the iPad Pro[1], our usage was almost completely geared towards getting work done while sitting at a desk. With the iPad mini it was the opposite.
Every time we picked up the iPad mini (2019)[2], we immediately felt like slouching into our chair and unwinding. It became our go-to device to read something on, to listen to audiobooks, watch movies, and to play games. The iPad mini is easy to carry when commuting and is perfect for watching videos on while commuting to and from work. For a device that's perfect for casual use, it is a bit surprising that the iPad mini was basically in cold storage for years.
Not all products in Apple's impressive lineup of gadgets get refreshed frequently. Some, such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro, have been refreshed more or less annually, but there are others such as the Mac Mini, Mac Pro, and the iPad mini, which have gone for long periods without a refresh.
For the past few years the iPad launch cycle has been dominated by the iPad Air and iPad Pro series. Last year, Apple launched the iPad (2018)[3], and it remains the most affordable iPad model in the market. This makes buying the iPad mini (2019) a slightly less straightforward decision. It has a smaller screen than the iPad (2018), but is powered...