The good The iPad Mini 2 has a sharp Retina screen, an ultraportable design, great battery life and it’s the most affordable tablet with access to the iOS App Store. Upgradeable to iOS 10 later this year.
The bad Android and Amazon tablets - and even Windows laptops - are available for less. Base model includes only 16GB of non-expandable storage. It’s missing the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and split-screen feature found on newer iPads.
The bottom line It lacks the features and speed of a cutting-edge iPad, but the Mini 2 is still a solid tablet for basics, especially if you can buy it at Whether it’s web surfing, email, Facebook or casual games, the Mini 2 still has more than enough power to get the job done. And the app selection on the iPad still outpaces what you’ll find on Android and Amazon tablets. The Mini 2 also doubles as a great universal remote for smart home products and streaming devices - something that can be left on the coffee table or in the kitchen for the whole family to share, which you wouldn’t want to do with your phone.