Expert review Apple iPad Mini 5

The packaging has the recognizable Apple look and feel. I always enjoy the experience of unpacking a new Apple product and I'm ever curious about the contents of the box. When I open the box, the first thing I see is the device itself. Under it, I find some papers, a Lightning to USB-A cable, and a charger adapter.

Time to see what the Apple iPad Mini 5 can do! As soon as I start playing a nature film, I'm amazed by the bright colors of the screen. Thanks to True Tone technology, the colors automatically adjust to the ambient light. As I really wanted to test this, I also used the iPad outdoors. The 7.9-inch screen makes the tablet easy to transport. I can imagine, though, that artists who like to sketch might prefer a larger screen.

With Apple's latest A12 Bionic chip, the iPad Mini 5 is a real powerhouse. And I notice this right away, because applications load quickly. While I try to locate the office via Google Maps, the images are smoothly displayed on my screen. The Mini 5 loads the app real fast and zooming in and out feels smooth. It performs much better compared to its predecessor in terms of speed, because the iPad Mini 4 only had an A8 chip.

This is exactly what I was hoping for: I can also use the Apple iPad 5 in combination with the Apple Pencil (1st generation). I can use the Apple Pencil by connecting it to the Lightning port of the iPad Mini 5. I enjoy using the Apple Pencil to take notes and to quickly navigate between apps. During these tasks, I switch between using my fingers and the Apple Pencil.

Its small size makes sure you can easily take it with you. I can grab it from my purse on the train to quickly make a draft for an article. My hands are fairly small, but I'm able to hold the tablet with one hand only. The design of the iPad Mini 5 is very recognizable; similar to the iPad Mini 4, the screen has bezels, and at the bottom of the tablet, you can find a home button.