For Apple enthusiasts, the question is never whether or not they should upgrade their devices, it's when is the earliest possible date they can do so. There is always a particular fervor surrounding Apple keynotes, as its fans anticipate new devices, along with release dates so they can start saving their pennies. But that's not necessarily true for all Apple products. Sometimes, like with the iPad Mini, the previous version is a perfectly functional tablet that doesn't require immediate upgrading every few years.
Or maybe it does, it's all quite subjective. After four years of releasing no new iPad Minis, Apple released the iPad Mini 5th Gen way back in 2019. This replaced the iPad Mini 4th Gen, which came out even further back in time, in the ancient year of 2015. While the iPad Mini 5 was discontinued on September 14, 2021, making way for the iPad Mini 6th Gen, it's still one of our favorite tablets in existence.
You can make the case for the iPad Mini 5th being the favorite because it was there for us during pandemic lockdowns and the start of a remote workforce revolution. And while it's since been replaced, there are some great upgrades from the 4th Gen that still keeps it in our hands even with a newer model on the market.
Powerful screen
Really, not much changed between the iPad Mini 4th Gen and the 5th Gen device. It still has a 7.9-inch display, which is still much smaller than the standard 10.2-inch screen of the regular-sized iPad. But you want a Mini because it's smaller, not because it's a regular-sized iPad. And the screen on the iPad 5th Gen might be smaller, but it packs a functional punch.
The iPad Mini 5th Gen added Apple's True Tone technology along with anti-reflective coating to its screen. This makes it a premier reading device, as it cuts out those harmful blue light emissions when reading at night, and kills any reflections that make it harder to view the screen. Additionally, the display is laminated, which helps prevent random scratching and drop damage.
Processing speed
There are some significant upgrades with the iPad Mini 5th Gen over the 4th Gen as it concerns storage and processing power. While the 6th Gen pushes it a bit further, the iPad Mini 5th Gen is still a great buy. It has 3GB RAM versus 2GB found in the 4th, and adds Apple's A12 Bionic chipset instead of the Apple A8. It also offers up to 256GB storage, doubling the possible storage over the previous version.
The A12 chip stopped with the 5th Gen, as the 6th Gen is loaded with the next version, A15. Regardless, it's a speedy little tablet that delivers video just as reliable as text, and along with the storage upgrade, makes for a great movie watching device when chilling on the couch or traveling.
Slight camera upgrade
With an 8MP rear camera, the iPad 5th Gen carries the same camera as the previous version. However, it added a 7MP front-facing camera, a sea change from the 1.2MP front camera on the 4th Gen. That might not seem like a big deal, but that makes the iPad Mini 5th Gen yet one more device for taking selfies. Because that's the world we live in, a selfie-focused world no matter what device we're using.
Meanwhile, the iPad Mini 6th Gen has a 12MP camera on the front and back, support for USB-C and Apple Pencil, and an 8.3-inch screen. Ok, fine. Those are some upgraded options, but do you need them right now? Or is the iPad Mini 5th Gen good enough? In our estimation, it's great enough. For what we use tablets for, it's not always necessary to purchase the latest and greatest, especially if we wrap them with the perfect protection solutions to make them last longer.
Protect your iPad Mini 5th and 4th Gen with WingoCase
WingoCase for iPad mini (5th - 4th gen) is the ultimate protective case to make sure you can ignore upcoming Apple keynotes for a few years, content with your Mini tablet and all the entertainment value you've derived from it. WingoCase offers Variable Angle Stand Technology (V.A.S.T.), so you can view your tablet at any angle and in portrait or landscape mode. Aside from the strength and durability of WingoCase, it's also loaded with ergonomic options from its four deployable wings to attachment points for shoulder straps. The iPad 6th Gen might be the newest iPad Mini, but you can keep your five alive with WingoCase.
