The iPad Mini 4 may seem small, but don‘t underestimate this tiny tablet‘s hidden strengths. Sure, Apple released their diminutive 7.9-inch slate way back in 2015. But the Mini 4 has aged with grace and dignity like a fine wine.
Nearly a decade later, this enduring iPad remains not just usable — but downright delightful — thanks to solid build quality that puts modern gadgets to shame. Read on to discover why the iPad Mini 4 still deserves a coveted spot in your tech collection.
Background on the iPad Mini 4
Before dissecting why Apple‘s exiled mini tablet remains relevant in 2023, let‘s revisit what made the iPad Mini 4 special for its 2015 debut…
Compared to today‘s blazing-fast M1 iPads, the A8 processor powering the Mini 4 seems positively prehistoric. But back then, it delivered a healthy performance boost for the 7.9-inch form factor.
And that 2GB of RAM felt incredibly luxurious versus the pathetically constrained 1GB limits in earlier iPad Minis and iPhones. Combine ample memory with iOS 9‘s pioneering Split View multitasking, and suddenly the Mini transformed into a pint-sized productivity powerhouse!
The iPad Mini 4 also flaunted Apple‘s most advanced mobile display yet with their borderline absurd "Retina" marketing speak. But 32768 shades of color bursting from a 2048 x 1536 panel actually lived up to the hype.
While slimming down to just 6.1mm thick, Apple somehow crammed in the same luxurious 10 hour battery lifespan we‘ve come to expect from iPads. And pioneering hardware/software optimizations delivered instant responsiveness despite "only" having an A8 chip.
In a sea of forgettable Android tablets and half-baked iPad experiments (RIP iPad 3 and iPad Air 2), the Mini 4 stood in a class of its own. It delivered legitimate laptop-class capabilities in a one-handed form factor weighing less than a sack of feathers.
But enough reminiscing about simpler 2015 times! Let‘s scrutinize how well this agile senior citizen tablet performs after years of iOS updates and app improvements.
Performance Benchmarks
The iPad Mini 4 is equipped with Apple‘s A8 chip, which debuted alongside the iPhone 6 back when Tinder revolutionized online dating and we were all addicted to Flappy Bird.
In benchmarks, it scores:
- Geekbench 5 (Single / Multi): 414 / 758
- 3DMark Wild Life: 2,992
No doubt those GPU and CPU scores seem pedestrian against Apple‘s brutal new M2 iPad monster averaging nearly 9000 in Geekbench. But context is everything. The Mini 4 happily trounces predecessors like the iPad Mini 2 & 3 barely cresting 1300 thanks to meager 1GB RAM ceilings.
During real world usage, the Mini 4 feels surprisingly responsive whisking between apps and Safari tabs. Sure, latency exists when bombing through dozens of tabs or bombarding split view. But it lacks the crippling lag and chokeholds throttling cheaper Android tablets like Amazon‘s Fire.
Make no mistake – the A8‘s limits manifest quickly once unleashing creative professional or cutting edge gaming loads. But for reading, browsing, communication and streaming, Apple‘s relentless refinement keeps the Mini 4 highly capable as a secondary device.
And thanks to a laminated Fully Retina display and support for original Apple Pencil input, the Mini 4 offers artists and note takers a tantalizing portable sketchpad. Especially with GoodNotes, Notability and Procreate optimized for iPad drawing.
Vibrant Retina Display
The iPad Mini 4 sports a 7.9-inch IPS LCD Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. This high density 326 pixel per inch design ensures text, images and video appear crisp.
While 120Hz high refresh rate panels boast buttery smooth animations, the 60Hz iPad Mini screen rates perfectly competent for gaming and scrolling. Its accurate colors and wide viewing angles easily outclass budget Android tablets.
Sure, 500+ nit peak brightness and HDR can‘t match modern iPads. But at around 320 nits max, the Mini 4 sufficiently conquers glare for outdoor reading. And 170+ nits minimum brightness lets you use Night Shift mode to read in the dark.
The iPad Mini 4‘s versatile Retina display continues offering an excellent overall visual experience – especially considering its minuscule bezels and portable form factor.
Still Solid Battery Life
Even with extensive daily use across years, you can expect about 8 to 9 hours of endurance from the iPad Mini 4. Standby times stretch weeks by barely sipping battery juice.
The iPad Mini 4 relies on a smaller 16.3-watt-hour internal battery versus the juiced up 29.37 Wh battery inside 2022‘s iPad Mini 6. But considering the lower resolution display and power efficient chipset, runtimes remain respectable.
Savvy software optimization plays a huge role maximizing every mAh. Back in 2015, Apple patented advanced throttling algorithms preserving battery health by strategically capping peak performance instead of letting voltages swing wildly. This "slow and steady" approach helps explain why the Mini 4 keeps ticking years later without bricking.
While falling short of the latest 12+ hour battery benchmarks from modern iPads, the enduring iPad Mini 4 earns applause for still supplying nearly all-day endurance.
Cameras Remain Mediocre But Usable
Let‘s address the elephant in the room – an 8MP rear camera and lowly 1.2MP selfie cam specs sound ghastly by 2023 standards. With photo technology advancing yearly, how usable could decade old tablet cameras be?
Surprisingly decent pending reasonable expectations! The Mini 4 happily captures social media friendly images in ample lighting. Just don‘t anticipate tack sharp details under zooming scrutiny. And mixed lighting flummoxes the aging image signal processor.
Low light photography suffers more given tiny sensor sizes and primitive stabilization. But brightness and HDR adjustments in editing apps help recover overly dim shots. Just make peace with noticeable noise and grain.
Luckily, the front facing lens adequately handles selfies and 720p video calls – the historically grainy eyesores we used to endure feel nostalgic now. Sure, newer tablet cameras boast smarter AI tricks, but Apple‘s tuning and iterative improvements keep the Mini 4 cameras usable, if not remarkable.
Premium Design That Stands the Test of Time
Nearly a decade since launching, the impeccably crafted iPad Mini 4 feels recklessly modern by 2023 tech standards. It exhibits no flimsiness or signs of wear across years of daily use thanks to a precision aluminum unibody design.
At just 6.1mm thin and 0.65 pounds light, Apple‘s iconic tablet set ambitious benchmarks for portable computing in 2015. And the Mini 4 still outclasses many modern competitors with easier one-handed gripability versus the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro mammoths.
Buttons deliver satisfying tactile clicks when pressed – perfect for waking the tablet without invoking unwanted inputs. And the Smart Cover connector along the edge securely triggers sleep/wake functions.
While lacking wireless charging or futuristic features, the Mini 4 clearly won the hardware lottery thanks to timeless industrial design that should keep on ticking.
Connectivity
The iPad Mini 4 relies on Apple‘s Lightning connector for wired syncing and charging instead of modern USB-C. While slower for data transfers, Lightning handles simple tablet tasks just fine. And the port feels reassuringly sturdy even during clumsy connects.
On the wireless front, dual-band Wi-Fi supporting 802.11a/b/g/n/ac offers bandwidth for smooth video streaming and large downloads. And Bluetooth 4.2 provides ample speeds for audio streaming or syncing accessories.
Optional LTE connectivity unleashes convenient cellular data on the go for always connected usage. Just don‘t expect bleeding edge 5G support considering the radio hardware dates back to 2015 LTE networks. Still, 300 Mbps LTE Advanced speeds outpace many public Wi-Fi connections.
Finally, in an era where Apple irks loyal customers by axing the universal 3.5mm headphone jack, the Mini 4 gleefully flaunts this beloved port for zero-latency wired audio without annoying dongles. Not having to charge yet another accessory and ditch your favorite headphones makes clinging to the Mini 4 so much easier.
Robust Accessories Ecosystem
The iPad Mini 4 fully supports Apple‘s original 1st generation Apple Pencil for advanced creative capabilities like pressure sensitive drawing/shading. Artists can sketch ideas or annotate documents with realism rivalling pen and paper.
You can also magnetically snap on Apple‘s Smart Keyboard Folio to transform the iPad Mini 4 into a surprisingly capable productivity machine. The smaller keys challenge touch typists but deliver way more physical feedback than cumbersome on-screen keyboards.
Gamers and power users will also appreciate full compatibility with popular Bluetooth controllers like the Xbox Elite 2 and PlayStation DualShock 4 for conquering touchscreen-hostile genres like first person shooters.
And with a huge 8 year legacy nurturing a thriving third party ecosystem, choosing the right case, stand or screen protector feels effortless when shopping for iPad Mini 4 accessories.
While the Mini 4 understandably lacks support for newer technologies like Apple Pencil 2 or the Magic Keyboard, it handles classic tablet capabilities admirably thanks to established accessory options.
Surprisingly Good Audio for the Size
Despite measuring just 8 inches diagonally, Apple ingeniously engineered the iPad Mini 4 with stereo speakers that can reach surprisingly loud volumes. Vocals sound crisp and clear for system alerts and Siri responses.
While narrower sound staging and flatter bass performance can‘t match four dedicated speaker setups in larger iPad Pro models, the Mini 4 holds its own for personal listening. Just avoid cupping the bottom edge to prevent muffling audio.
Audiophiles will also appreciate the enduring 3.5mm headphone jack pumping out clean, accurate stereo sound rivaling modern Bluetooth codecs. You can easily enjoy richer acoustic details and punchier bass handling wired headphones. No adapters needed!
Considering how much hardware Apple stripped adjusting to modern slimline industrial design, retaining flagship-level audio feels like an unexpected bonus elevating the iPad Mini 4 experience.
Use Cases in 2023
In 2023, the nimble iPad Mini 4 tackles lighter workloads like content catching, communication and browsing with ease thanks to refined software optimization.
The 7.9-inch Retina display hits a portability sweet spot juggling apps in split screen. Reading web articles, books or tweets on the couch barely feels like using gadgets thanks to compact ergonomics.
Streaming video services like YouTube and Netflix also play smoothly thanks to efficient codec handling. Just expect the occasional stutter when bombarding dozens of tabs. And gaming shines through family favorites like Roblox and Apple Arcade titles.
Drawing apps like Adobe Fresco and note takers like GoodNotes feel delightfully tactile with Apple Pencil support. And Office document creation works in a pinch leveraging keyboard accessories. Just know professional media editing tools hit limits quicker with older hardware.
While newer apps and OS upgrades might eventually outpace aging silicon, the resilient iPad Mini 4 already offers rich functionality from a mature software catalog. It feels reassuring having Apple support through iOS 15 instead of being forced into iOS 16 hard requirements prematurely.
Value Proposition: Unbeatable Bang for Buck
While discontinued for years now, appealing iPad Mini 4 resale values reflect enduring demand for this charismatic tablet. Refurbished/used models readily sell between $150 to $250 in reputable condition. And that strikingly low cost makes it an easy impulse buy for kids or a handy supplemental device following your flagship phone or laptop.
The newest iPad Mini 6 costs over twice as much at a hefty $499+ for the 64GB Wi-Fi configuration. Sure, you‘re paying for modern conveniences like USB-C charging, 5G data speeds, improved Pencil input and more. But if money matters, the Mini 4 disproportionately closes the functionality gap at a fraction of the price.
Ultimately, practical users can overlook minor aging symptoms recognizing most essential tablet capabilities hold strong at absurdly cheap prices. When usability spans nearly a decade thanks to quality hardware and software, it almost feels silly NOT having an iPad Mini 4 handy as a supplemental portable slate for just media playback alone.
While the discontinued iPad Mini 4 undeniably shows its age across nearly a decade of existence, Apple‘s enduring build quality and iOS dedication help preserve unexpectedly solid functionality.
Despite lacking flashier features debuting on modern iPad models, the lovable Mini 4 handles everyday media, browsing and communication needs with minimal hiccups. Its sheer portability and accessory flexibility also enable unexpected productivity potential when leveraging keyboard add-ons.
And enjoying flagship-class iPad software support through iOS 15 feels reassuring versus premature forced upgrades. Especially when STILL receiving annual OS updates rivaling lifespan of brand new Android devices.
While intensive gaming and professional media editing push the aging A8 chip to its limits quicker, the iPad Mini 4 otherwise tackles lighter workloads admirably even in 2023. And used pricing between $150-$250 adds tremendous value handy having a secondary tablet without overwhelming your wallet.
So don‘t underestimate just how much punch this petite powerhouse still packs nearly a decade later! When a gadget built in 2015 still delights in the 2020s thanks to Apple‘s impeccable hardware and software integration, the enduring iPad Mini 4 remains a lovable outlier worth cheering.