Latest news with #iPadmini7
Engadget
4 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
The latest iPad mini is $100 off right now
The latest Apple iPad mini, which was released at the tail-end of 2024, is on sale for $399 via Amazon . That's a discount of $100 and close to a record low price. The only caveat? The deal doesn't apply to the iconic Space Gray colorway, but all other hues are on sale. The iPad mini 7 made our list of the best Apple tablets because, well, it's the only one the company makes at this size. However, the specs haven't been hobbled here. It's a real iPad, through and through. We said it was everything we want in a small tablet in our official review , and that holds true today. The tablet supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the integrated A17 Pro chip is plenty powerful. It's not an M-series chip, but you probably won't notice. The entry-level model, which is the one on sale today, ships with 128GB of storage. It's also small and can therefore fit just about anywhere. On the downside, we found the bezels to be a bit thick. We were also a bit disappointed with the 60Hz refresh rate, though the display does look great. This model lacks a Face ID sensor, but that suits me just fine. I prefer fingerprint scans or passcodes. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Tom's Guide
31-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Forget iPad mini — OnePlus Pad Mini just tipped to launch next year with a serious power boost
OnePlus has a proven track record of making excellent devices, so it's no surprise that the OnePlus Pad 3 is easily the best Android tablet you can buy right now. But if you were hoping for a great tablet without such a large display, you don't have to go for the iPad mini 7. Leaker Digital Chat Station claims that OnePlus is working on a smaller version of the tablet, tentatively called the OnePlus Pad Mini. But, unlike the OnePlus Pad Lite, this is designed to be a premium device. In other words, we should expect this to simply be a smaller version of existing OnePlus tablets — rather than a cheaper model that has to compromise on features and specs. The leaker claims that the tablet is currently being tested with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset. The chip is expected to launch later this year as a follow-up to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is itself easily the best chipset you can get for an Android device. That may give the OnePlus Pad Mini a slight advantage compared to Apple's smallest iPad — since it will (presumably) have the same processing hardware as the next wave of OnePlus flagships. As much as we love the iPad mini 7, we can't ignore the fact it's missing performance prowess as other iPads. It's all because it runs on the A17 Pro chipset, an older mobile chipset that debuted on iPhone 15 Pro, while the likes of the iPad Air and iPad Pro utilize Apple's M3 and M4 chips respectively. That means the larger tablets end up with significantly better performance and efficiency. With that in mind, it's clear that the OnePlus Pad Mini is not going to be a slouch in the performance department. It's quite the step up from the MediaTek Helio G100 OnePlus put into the Pad Lite — and the first generation Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus Pad 3. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. We don't know how big the screen is going to be, but DCS claims the tablet will launch alongside a 6.3-inch OnePlus phone — which one source claims will be the OnePlus 15T. My guess is that the Pad Mini would be slightly larger, while still being noticeably smaller than its 13.2-inch predecessor. Probably something closer to 8 or 9 inches, based on the name, since a 10-inch tablet screen doesn't exactly scream "small." A bit like the iPad mini, in fact. Now, I did pause at the mention of this tablet arriving alongside the OnePlus 15T. Considering we've only just seen the release of the OnePlus 13T back in May, it suggests we may be waiting almost 2 years for the OnePlus Tab Mini to arrive. That's hardly ideal. But DCS claims that the OnePlus Tab Mini should be arriving sometime early next year. So I'm just guessing there has been some miscommunication along the way — or some kind of mistranslation. I guess it depends on whether OnePlus will be skipping over the OnePlus 14, as it did with the OnePlus 4. In the meantime, check out our roundup of all the best tablets you can buy.
Tom's Guide
30-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Forget the iPad mini — this 9-inch OLED Android tablet is way better for gaming
There's been a hole in my life ever since I finally said goodbye to my aging iPad mini several years ago. In my mind, Apple's smallest iPad is one of the best tablets out there, but the arrival of the RedMagic Astra this month has given me pause. What's on offer is pretty simple: a compact Android tablet running the latest and greatest chipset designed for a supreme gaming experience. While I'm not a massive mobile gamer, I've always appreciated that the iPad mini 7 didn't compromise on power even though it was smaller than its bigger brethren. The same is true here. RedMagic has thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this device thanks to a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a stunning OLED screen, active cooling, fast charging and a slick design. Space is at a premium in my everyday carry, and I'm not quite willing to pony up for one of the best foldable phones, no matter how slim the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is. That leaves me looking for that Goldilocks device; a tablet larger than a phone but not as big as a hybrid, that doesn't compromise on power and has a few unique tricks up its sleeve. And after having used it for a couple of weeks, I think the RedMagic Astra delivers on all fronts. Let me tell you how... RedMagic Astra Starting price £529 / $699 Display 9.06-inch OLED (2,400 x 1,504) Refresh rate 165Hz adaptive Rear camera 13MP Front cameras 9MP Chipset Snapdragon 8 Elite RAM 12GB/16GB/24GB Storage 256GB/512GB/1TB Battery 8,200 Charging 80W Operating system RedMagicOS 10 / Android 15 Size 207 x 134.2 x 6.9 mm / 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.27 inches Weight 370 grams / 0.81 pounds Colors Eclipse/Starfrost The Redmagic Astra comes in three different configurations with pricing to match. The entry-level price for both the Eclipse (black) and Starfrost (silver) versions gets you 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage for $699 / £499. If you opt for 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, that pricing increases to $799 / £699. And if you push up to 24GB RAM and 1TB storage, the cost goes up to $949 / £879. Just note: only the Eclipse colorway is available in this configuration. Those prices are a little on the high side and put this above the level of a casual purchase. For example, the entry-level price is actually higher than the $499 starting price for the iPad mini 7. It's true that Apple's tablet has half the storage for that price, but still — if you want a small tablet on a budget, then Apple actually has the edge here. However, Apple's pricing increases to $799 if you want 512GB of storage on the iPad mini 7, so once you start getting into the higher configurations, you're getting better value from Redmagic. Perhaps a more realistic comparison is Lenovo's Legion Tab, another 8-inch tablet with a gaming focus that also starts at $549, albeit with an older chipset and an LCD screen rather than an OLED one. Another recent Android tablet to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is the OnePlus Pad 3, which commands a £599 / $699 price for its 16GB RAM and 512GB configuration — but that's also got a larger 13.2-inch screen. Gaming devices can be somewhat divisive when it comes to design, but I think most people would be hard-pressed to find fault with the RedMagic Astra. Bezels around the front of the device are kept to a minimum, thanks to the 90.1% screen-to-body ratio, while the back is pretty understated. First up, I'm not sure I can remember the last time I used a tablet (or phone) without a camera bump. Seriously, it's been that long. The Astra is completely flush across the back, which means you can slide it in and out of a backpack, prop it up on a stand or even attach it to a telescopic controller without any resistance. The aluminum frame has rounded corners and measures a pitch-perfect 7.3mm thick — enough to give you something to grip onto without being too chunky. The power button sits on the left edge naturally, where your index finger rests while holding it in landscape mode, and doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. The Astra's USB-C port is across from it on the right edge. Up top is the volume rocker and RedMagic's metallic red slider that toggles on its Game Space launcher — more on that later. I'm not quite sure why RedMagic decided to put the USB-C on the right-hand side — it's too far up to use in a telescopic controller, and because it's not on the bottom, you can't easily attach it to a dock or charging station. Whether you opt for the Starfrost or Eclipse color, you get a soft matte finish on the back that looks awesome. It dulls those pesky reflections you get with a glossy finish, although this slate still isn't immune to fingerprint smudges. Aside from the single RedMagic logo in the middle of the chassis, there's a rectangular glass window running along the top that gives you a glimpse of a PCB-stylised graphic with gold stamps for the Snapdragon 8 Elite logo, as well as highlighting the vapor chamber and "composite liquid metal" build. There's also the RedMagic logo written out in font, which you can set to pulse with light in the tablet's settings. You can also illuminate the ring around the camera lens. These small bits of RGB lighting let you subtly know it's a gaming machine and they can be set for additional functionality, like working with an alarm or indicating a charging process. The RedMagic Astra is rated IP54 waterproof, which means it'll survive the odd splash if you want to take your gaming session outside in the rain or into the shower — but it's not going to survive being fully submerged. One small gripe I have about the design is that the speaker vents are placed on the left and right below the power button and USB-C port. This means that when you're gripping the tablet in landscape mode, your palms can muffle the output and spoil the audio quality. Given the relative size of the device, I'm not sure where else you would locate the speakers, but if the power button and USB-C port had been shifted to the top and bottom, respectively, RedMagic may have been able to shift the speaker grilles further up and alleviate the problem. All told, though, I'm a real fan of the RedMagic Astra design. It leans just enough into a premium, gamer sci-fi vibe to be recognized as a premium tablet without being garish. Meanwhile, the heft (370g) and proportions — about the same as a Moleskine notebook at 134.2mm (H) x 207mm (W) x 6.9mm (D) — are just right to slip into my rucksack without making a nuisance. If the design around back is cool, then the RedMagic Astra's display is ice cold — and probably one of the best reasons I have to recommend this device. Not just to anyone wanting a gaming machine, but anyone wanting a small, powerful tablet, period. You get a full-on OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. It's absolutely popping with vibrancy and contrast in games like Call of Duty: Mobile or Genshin Impact, and it's really impressive. The 2,400 x 1,504 pixel resolution is more than enough on the Astra's 9.06-inch screen (with a 16:10 aspect ratio), and if you want to switch off the games and enjoy one of the best streaming shows, it's just as good. It doesn't support HDR on services like Netflix, but to my eye, the contrast on those deep blacks still looked fantastic. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset has made itself at home in a number of the best Android phones, but is still relatively rare in tablets. The RedMagic Astra has the regular version of the chip without an overclocked CPU. I was able to comfortably run Genshin Impact, Call of Duty, FC Mobile, Command & Conquer: Rivals and Horizon Chase with the Astra set to 165Hz, and it was the best gaming experience I've ever had on a tablet. From loading up and navigating through menus to actual gameplay, the experience was fluid and responsive without a hint of stutter or lag. I'm no fan of touchscreen gaming, but the response rate — to my untrained fingers — was sublime. There's an active cooling system and the vapor chamber inside the RedMagic Astra, and the fan will start up under aggressive conditions to try and keep the thing cool. You can hear it whirring away if you put your ear to the back of the device, but otherwise it won't spoil your gaming session, and it succeeds in keeping the tablet cool throughout even the most demanding games. Running the Astra through a series of benchmarks just confirms the inevitable; this device blows its competition away when it comes to sheer grunt. It scored higher than the OnePlus Pad 3 on single-core Geekbench score and narrowly lost out on multi-core. Meanwhile, it swatted away Apple's M3 iPad Air without breaking a sweat. You can see the full results in the table below. RedMagic Astra OnePlus Pad 3 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus iPad Air 2025 (11-inch) Chipset Snapdragon 8 Elite Snapdragon 8 Elite Dimensity 9300 Plus Apple M3 Geekbench 6 score (single-core / multi-core) 3,136 / 7,376 2,980 / 8,993 2,137 / 7,130 3,042 / 11,804 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (score / fps) 5,628 / 33.70 6,410 / 38.38 5,121 / 30 5,806 / 34.8 Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs) 0:54 0:53 0:43 0:18 The basic RedMagic Astra comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the higher-spec model I've been using has 16GB RAM with 512GB onboard memory. If you really want to go overboard, you can pick this tablet up with 24GB of RAM and a massive 1TB of storage. Most people won't need that, but if you've got deep pockets (read: $899) and want a device for the long haul, you may be interested. Battery life is something you usually have to sacrifice with smaller devices, but the Astra does a commendable job when it comes to staying power. Tucked inside that stylized matte casing is an 8,200mAh battery that RedMagic quotes will give you around 5.5 hours of gameplay at full frame rate or 5.3 hours of gameplay whilst livestreaming. If you want to use it for movies, RedMagic claims you'll get 33 hours of continuous playback before it dies. In more day-to-day usage, you're going to get somewhere in between those two extremes. I fired the RedMagic Astra up at 9am and used it continuously until 6pm for streaming video, playing music, browsing the web and playing some games. All of which with the screen at full brightness and locked to 165Hz. I took a break for a few hours at 6pm, but came back to it for another two hours later in the evening for a little more YouTube and gaming with a Bluetooth controller attached. Even after nearly 12 hours, I still had a quarter of its available charge left. That's pretty good considering my colleague Tony took a similar approach with the iPad mini 7 and landed on 10 hours and 34 minutes before that device died. As you'd expect, the Astra supports 80W charging and will charge to full in 71 minutes when connected to a compatible charging brick. You just need to be aware that RedMagic doesn't ship the device with its own charger. Part of the reason RedMagic says the Astra can last this long is due to its "Liquid Metal" technology. The company says it used an indium-based alloy formed mostly from potassium to create a solid piece of metal with strong thermal conductivity. Placing this directly over the CPU lowers the chip's temperature by up to 5°C and improves the overall thermal performance and, by extension, efficiency. There's some good and some bad when it comes to the software side of things here. Bad stuff first; this tablet comes pre-loaded with the kind of bloat I assumed was a thing of the past, but is sadly all too common with Chinese manufacturers. Thankfully, much of it can be uninstalled swiftly, but it's still a laborious process that takes some of the sheen off firing up a brand-new tablet. Similarly, I noticed a particular quirk when I was scrolling through my email inbox, and the messages were all layered on top of each other into a blurry mess. I fixed the issue by forcibly locking the screen to 65Hz and reloading the app. It hasn't happened before, but I wouldn't be surprised if I run into a few other glitches here and there. Thankfully, the RedMagic Astra keeps things mostly to stock Android 15 with a few tweaks added by the company's RedMagic OS 10.5 skin. You get some extra options like the aforementioned RGB lighting on the back of the device, around the camera lens and the company's logo. Alongside the aforementioned bloatware, there's also some AI gimmicks like "RedMagic Translation" that offers you real-time voice translation on voice content. Finally, there's an app sidebar you can call up at any time by swiping in from the side of the screen and holding for a few seconds. This displays your recently or most-used apps and can be handy. One thing I would have liked to see is a real multitasking solution akin to OnePlus' Canvas feature. The RedMagic Astra is more than powerful enough to run a bunch of apps simultaneously, so (even on a small screen) not having software take advantage of this seems like a missed opportunity. But when the rubber meets the road, this is a gaming device, so the star of the show is RedMagic's Game Space — activated via a slide of the metallic red toggle on top. This transports you (through a fancy, lightspeed-esque graphic) into a game launcher where you can find all your games as well as quick settings for CPU and GPU performance. And you can tweak the settings for each individual game. It's a simple procedure to toggle superior performance for a demanding game like Genshin Impact while easing back on the throttle for something simple like your next round at Solitaire. The RedMagic Astra is a certified contender for the best gaming tablet you can buy, thanks to the combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and a jaw-dropping OLED 165Hz screen. It doesn't come cheap, but then considering the hardware and specs you're getting for the price, there's a whole lot of value on offer here. Are there some drawbacks? Of course. There's no 5G cellular option for a start, and whilst the hardware and battery will last you a good few years, the same can't be said for the software. RedMagic has committed to three years of software updates (including one major Android update), which isn't good enough in an age where Samsung is supporting its phones for seven years. Looking past those points, the RedMagic Astra is a fantastic device even if you're not a huge gamer. It'll handle any pro-grade app you throw at it, and you could just as easily use this for a bit of on-the-go video editing or hook it up to a monitor and a Bluetooth keyboard and use it as a work machine. You can get a range of dedicated accessories, like a stylus, case or gamepad, directly from RedMagic, too. Smaller tablets generally don't have the allure of their larger siblings, but I'm a big fan because I rate portability highly. And while I feel like I've always had to compromise on power or battery life to achieve that, the RedMagic Astra shows I can have my small cake and eat it. If you want a small, powerful tablet that's not the iPad Mini 7, then this is the device for you. It helps a bit if you like to play games, too.
Tom's Guide
05-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Best early Prime Day tablet deals: 11 huge iPad and Android sales I've seen so far
There's no better time to grab a tablet right now. Why? Not only are they powerful, portable slates that make for capable productivity powerhouses, visually stunning binge-watching or simple scrolling, but they're also at big discounts for Prime Day! For some of my favorite deals right now, you can get $100 off the iPad mini 7, the latest M3 iPad Air is down by nearly $80 (via the on-page digital coupon) and even the massive Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra is over $200 off — all at Amazon. Considering many of these rank as the best tablets on the market right now, these slates are stellar steals. Whether it's Apple's slate of iPads you had in mind or a powerful Android tablet, Prime Day will have the deal for you. With big price cuts already going on, beat the rush and jump on these tablet deals. The 2025 iPad features a larger 11-inch (2360 x 1640) screen, A16 CPU, 12MP rear/front cameras, USB-C connectivity, and Magic Keyboard Folio ($249) support. The base model features 128GB of storage, which doubles the capacity of its predecessor. It's available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. The new iPad mini is already getting a discount, and any price cut to this small tablet is welcome. We're big fans of its incredibly portable design and long battery life (it lasted 10 hours in our battery life tests). It comes with speedy performance thanks to Apple's A17 Pro chip, and has a gorgeous 8.3-inch (2,266 x 1,488) Liquid Retina display. You also get 12MP cameras on the front and back and Wi-Fi 6E support. In our iPad mini 7 review, we said it delivers the full iPad experience in a tiny size. The 2025 iPad Air packs Apple's M3 processor, an 11-inch LED (2360 x 1640) display, 128GB of storage, a 12MP rear camera and a new landscape-oriented 12MP front camera. You also get faster WiFi 6E support. In our iPad Air 2025 review, we said it brings impressive performance and power efficiency to a premium, sleek package. Note: Don't forget to click the digital on-page coupon to get this price. This larger-size iPad Air sports the same M3 processor, but it's coupled with a 13-inch LED (2732 x 2048) display. You also get 128GB of storage, a 12MP rear camera, WiFi 6E support and a new landscape-oriented 12MP front camera. In our iPad Air 2024 review, we said it brings impressive performance and power efficiency to a premium, sleek package. Note: Don't forget to click the digital on-page coupon to get this price. The 11-inch iPad Pro packs Apple's latest M4 processor paired with a stunning 11-inch Tandem OLED (2420 x 1668) display. The new M4 processor features 9 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. In our iPad Pro 2024 review, we said it could very well be the most stunning tablet ever made. At 5.1mm thick, this is one of the thinnest iPads Apple has ever made. It packs Apple's new M4 processor, a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display, and a 12MP camera. This is the sweet spot of Amazon Fire tablets, giving you a 10.1-inch screen driven by an octa-core CPU with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. It does come with lock-screen ads, but you can pay a small fee to remove them if you don't like them. In my experience, though, these ads are hardly a bother. The Fire Max 11 is the best Amazon Fire tablet you can buy, and right now it's just shy of being $100 off. It sports a bright 11-inch 2K screen, a 2.2GHz octa-core Mediatek MT8188J CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB of storage. In our Fire Max 11 review, I called it Amazon's best Fire tablet yet, and now's a great time to get one at a good discount. Alright, more of an e-reader, but still a fantastic tablet-like device for those who love a good book. The all-new Kindle Colorsoft is available in a bundle that includes the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB), a plant-based leather cover and a wireless charging dock. By bundling these items together, you'll save 42%. It's only recently released, but the fantastic Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE is already $50 off! Not a bad price for a mid-range tablet that comes with an S Pen stylus, a splendid (and larger) 13.1-inch LCD panel and 15-hour battery life. This is great value for money! This massive slate is one of the best tablets you can get if you're a fan of large screens, and it won't disappoint now that's under $1,000. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a beefy Android tablet that sports a ginormous 14.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display. With 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ under the hood, it's a capable machine, and it offers the largest screen you can get on a premium tablet.
Stuff.tv
02-07-2025
- Business
- Stuff.tv
My favourite iPad is $100 off in this early Prime Day deal
The iPad mini might be small in stature, but the latest model packs a mighty punch. In fact, it's my favourite iPad (and one of the best iPads you can buy) thanks to its portability. Apple's pint-sized powerhouse comes with refreshed internals and a design that makes it as pocketable as it is practical. And its even more of a steal with this Amazon deal ahead of the mega Prime Day sale. During Amazon's Spring Sale, the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is discounted by $100 from $499 to $399 – that's a rather excellent 20% saving on this top-rated tablet. On Amazon UK, there's a much smaller discount of £30 – taking the small tablet down from £499 to £469. I suspect the UK discount will grow when Prime Day actually hits, so British shoppers should hold off for the time being. At its core, the iPad mini 7 now packs the A17 Pro chip – the same powerhouse found in the iPhone 15 Pro. Compared to the A15 chip in the previous model, the jump in performance is substantial. Day-to-day tasks like browsing Safari with dozens of tabs open, switching between apps, and handling emails feel snappier than ever. Design-wise, Apple hasn't messed with the winning formula. The iPad mini 7 retains the sleek, Air-inspired aesthetic – an all-screen front, flat edges, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. At just 293g (Wi-Fi model), it's absurdly light and compact, slipping easily into a jacket pocket or a small bag. It's still the best iPad for one-handed use, whether reading in bed, annotating PDFs on the go, or using it as a high-tech clipboard in meetings. Connectivity has stepped up as well. Wi-Fi 6E ensures blazing-fast browsing and streaming, while the optional 5G model is great for those who need ultra-portable internet. The USB-C port remains, offering fast charging and seamless accessory compatibility, making the iPad mini even more versatile.
