4 Months with the iPad mini (A17 Pro)

Four months have passed since I switched to the iPad mini (A17 Pro). To put it simply, I can confidently say that this size is the optimal iPad for me.

Compared to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 5th generation I used previously, the portability has improved significantly, and it has become useful in every aspect of my daily life.

Superb portability. Sufficient processing power. Improved ease of use. In this post, I will share the pros, cons, and use cases I've experienced after actually using it.

The perfect size to use anywhere

The greatest appeal of the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is its size. It is larger than an iPhone and smaller than an iPad Air or iPad Pro, so I can easily take it out and use it anywhere—in the living room, in bed, or at my desk. It weighs about 300g, so holding it with one hand for long periods is not a burden.

When I was using the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, I often hesitated to take it with me due to its size and weight. I frequently ended up leaving it at home instead of putting it in my bag, but with the iPad mini, I can easily slip it into a small bag, so I no longer have regrets about not bringing it along. The peace of mind that comes with being able to carry it everywhere—I found this to be its greatest value.

Because of this great size, I use it more frequently than my iPhone. I use it for various tasks, such as looking things up, taking notes, editing photos, and using it as a sub-display for my Mac at home. It is easy to take out during breaks or while commuting. It truly is a versatile device.

How the Apple Pencil Pro changed the user experience

The Apple Pencil Pro, which I purchased at the same time as the iPad mini (A17 Pro), has evolved in a way that sets it apart from previous Apple Pencils. I am particularly impressed by the following two features.

Improved hover precision

With the Apple Pencil Pro, I can now visually see where I am pointing before touching the screen, thanks to the hover feature. This is more convenient than I expected.

Since it is easy to see where I am hovering, operational errors have decreased significantly, even on the compact screen of the iPad mini. Even with a small screen size, the operability is excellent when using the Apple Pencil as a pointing device.

Naturally, the tappable area is smaller compared to a large screen like the iPad Pro's, but thanks to this hover feature, I can operate even small UI elements without any difficulty.

Quick tool switching with Squeeze

The Squeeze feature on the Apple Pencil Pro is also very convenient. When switching tools in Procreate or note-taking apps, I don't have to go out of my way to tap icons at the edge of the screen; being able to switch just by squeezing the pen saves more time than I thought.

When taking notes in the native Notes app, it has become easier to switch between the pen and marker, allowing me to continue my work without breaking my flow. It is a stress-free user experience. I appreciate the design that helps maintain focus.

The power of the A17 Pro chip

The performance of the A17 Pro chip in the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is impressive. It offers about a 20% performance improvement compared to the previous A15 Bionic model. It is completely stress-free for daily use, and even heavy apps run smoothly.

App launch speed and multitasking

App launch speeds are instantaneous. You enter the home screen at the same time as fingerprint authentication, and when you tap an app, it launches with almost no delay. Even with many apps open at once, there is almost no lag when switching between them.

What is particularly impressive is the behavior during multitasking. Whether switching between native Notes, Freeform, Procreate, or Lightroom, returning from the background is almost instantaneous.

Performance of creative apps

Drawing in Procreate also runs at a speed comparable to the large iPad Pro. Even when creating illustrations with many layers, the brush movements are smooth. It is wonderful that even things requiring complex calculations, such as watercolor brushes, can be drawn without delay. This is a situation where you can truly feel the value of the A17 Pro.

Photo editing in Lightroom can also be done without any issues. RAW development processing is also snappy. Complex adjustments and masking tasks are reflected immediately. This processing power in such a compact body. This feeling of having specs packed into a small chassis... it's romantic.

Refined design and rich color variations

The design of the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is simple and refined. The flat-edge aluminum body has a premium feel, and ease of holding has also been considered. There are four color variations: Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue. A wide range of choices to express your personality.

I chose the blue color. It is an attractive shade that, while calm, changes its expression depending on how the light hits it. Combined with the texture of the aluminum, it has a high level of design that fits in anywhere you take it. It satisfies the desire to own it.

More than enough battery life

I am truly surprised by the battery life of the iPad mini. The official spec says "up to 10 hours of web browsing," but in actual use, the impression is even better than that. Even if I use it for work and then use it heavily after returning home, there is still more than 30% left.

The charging speed is also sufficiently fast, reaching a near-full charge in about 1.5 hours via USB-C connection. Even when I'm in a hurry, it helps that it recovers about 40% in 30 minutes of charging. The convenience of being able to use it while charging.

Daily use scenarios

The iPad mini is active in various scenes of my life.

As a content consumption device

It is the perfect size for daily browsing and watching VOD. It perfectly balances the comfort of viewing on a screen larger than an iPhone with the ease of being lighter and easier to hold than an iPad Pro.

Especially for watching videos or reading in bed before going to sleep, this size, which is neither too big nor too small, was perfect. The exquisite balance between immersion and ease of holding is great.

As a note-taking tool

I use the combination of the Apple Pencil Pro and the native iPad Notes app on a daily basis. It is great for taking notes, sketching ideas, and managing to-do lists, as I can quickly pull out the pen and start writing. The screen is compact, so it does not offer a large workspace, but I have stopped noticing this limitation by zooming in and out as needed.

Especially with the native Freeform app or third-party apps like Prodrafts, the canvas extends infinitely in all directions, so I can organize my thoughts without any difficulty despite the compact size.

Drawing with Procreate

Drawing with Procreate is also a strong suit of the iPad mini. Because the screen size is small, I feel some limitations when working on fine details, but it is spacious enough for sketching and creating simple illustrations. In fact, I often find the compact screen size to be just right.

It pairs perfectly with the Apple Pencil Pro, and the pressure sensitivity is accurate. The hover feature allows me to see the brush position in advance, making it easy to draw in fine details. It does not have the workspace of an iPad Pro, but the convenience of being able to take it out anywhere is just right.

Photo editing in Lightroom

Photo editing with Lightroom is also comfortable. The photo editing features of iPadOS are sufficiently powerful, and thanks to the processing power of the A17 Pro chip, it runs smoothly. It does not show as much information at once as a larger display, but it is a sufficient size for daily editing.

Processing RAW data is also smooth, and complex editing tasks can be performed without stress. Adjusting fine parameters and masking using the Apple Pencil Pro is also intuitive.

As a sub-display for Mac

You can also use it as a sub-display for your Mac using the Sidecar feature. It does not have as wide a workspace as a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but it is large enough to serve as a sub-display for showing reference materials or videos. It is also a nice bonus that it keeps my desk area tidy.

By the way, I have attached a magnetic ring to the back cover and use a UGREEN magnetic stand.

Points of concern

The sound lacks impact

One of the disappointing aspects of the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the speaker performance. Although it is equipped with stereo speakers, they lack volume and bass impact, likely due to size constraints. Compared to the rich sound experience of the iPad Pro series, it feels underwhelming.

When enjoying movies or music, using AirPods or headphones is recommended. Connecting them resolves the sound quality issue, but those who want a sufficient sound experience from the speakers alone might be left a bit dissatisfied.

However, for conversation-focused content like video conferences or listening to podcasts, the clarity is sufficient. It is not a major issue for daily use.

I want an official dedicated keyboard

The issue is the lack of an official dedicated keyboard. If there were a dedicated keyboard with a trackpad like the Magic Keyboard, I think it would expand the range of use even further. Currently, I have to prepare a separate Bluetooth keyboard, and I feel a bit unsatisfied in terms of a cohesive experience.

There are third-party keyboard cases, but they don't offer the same usability and integration as an official one. This is an area I would like Apple to pioneer themselves.

I use the compact Epomaker TH40 and Nuphy Air60. In terms of size, the TH40 fits the iPad mini better and is quite cute.

Screen size limitations due to its compactness

While its compactness is a benefit, and iPadOS allows for the use of multiple apps simultaneously, I do feel the limitations of the screen size when it comes to multitasking with multiple apps.

Especially when using two apps side-by-side in Split View, the display area for each app feels too narrow. This is unavoidable due to the screen size constraints, but it can feel inconvenient depending on the usage.

Even when doing serious illustration work in Procreate, there are times when it is a bit difficult to draw fine details while viewing the entire canvas.

Summary: The best balance of portability and functionality

I feel that the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is a well-balanced device that is the most portable among all iPads, while also possessing the necessary and sufficient performance and screen size.

The combination with the Apple Pencil Pro is particularly excellent, making it possible to operate even the small screen without stress. For those who find the iPhone insufficient but hesitate to carry around an iPad Pro, isn't this iPad mini the optimal solution?

The performance of the A17 Pro chip handles everything from daily tasks to creative activities, and the battery life is impeccable. The beautiful design and vivid display are also attractive.

Even after using it for 4 months, I still find it adorable. I look forward to using it for a long time to come.