After spending two weeks with the new iPad Mini (2024), I have come to a realization: I really wish there was a Pixel Tablet Mini. While the iPad Mini is undoubtedly a well-built, high-performance device, the Pixel Tablet has spoiled me with its unique features, and now I can’t help but imagine what a smaller Pixel Tablet would be like.
What I Love About the iPad Mini (2024)
Apple’s new iPad Mini is everything I wanted in a compact tablet. With its 8.3-inch display and 6.3mm thickness, it strikes a perfect balance between portability and usability. At just 297g, it’s light enough to be used with one hand, which is a rarity in today’s tablet market. While the display is smaller, it still offers nearly double the screen area of my Pixel 9 Pro XL, which makes a noticeable difference when reading or watching videos.
The A17 Pro chip inside the iPad Mini makes the device incredibly smooth and fast, even when editing photos in Lightroom or multitasking across apps. The support for Apple Pencil adds functionality, making it a great tool for note-taking and detailed edits. However, I still find myself thinking about how a Pixel Tablet Mini would be even better.
Why I Want a Pixel Tablet Mini
The Pixel Tablet has some unique advantages that make me yearn for a smaller version of it. For starters, the always-on display feature, which shows a rotating photo album when the tablet is idle, has become an essential part of my daily life. The iPad Mini, on the other hand, turns off its display when idle, leaving me with a black screen that feels lifeless. The photo album on the Pixel Tablet has connected me to memories and people in a way that the iPad Mini just can’t replicate.
In terms of usability, I prefer the Android ecosystem to iPadOS. The Pixel Tablet integrates seamlessly with other Google services, and features like the Gboard keyboard and the Pixel At A Glance widget make it a better fit for my workflow. Android 15’s fullscreen toggle for apps ensures that apps look great on the tablet, whereas many apps on the iPad often feel clunky or unoptimized for the larger screen.
The Perfect Tablet Would Combine Both Worlds
What I really want is a Pixel Tablet Mini. If Google could combine the iPad Mini’s compact form factor and high performance with the Pixel Tablet’s photo frame feature and seamless Android integration, it would be my ideal tablet. A slightly larger Nest Hub with a detachable speaker and versatile case would be the perfect design.
Unfortunately, with rumors of a canceled Pixel Tablet 2 and a possible Pixel Tablet 3 not expected until 2027, my dream of a Pixel Tablet Mini feels like it might never come true. Still, I’ll continue to hope for the day when I can have the best of both worlds.
For now, though, the iPad Mini (2024) is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a powerful, portable Apple device. However, for me, the Pixel Tablet Mini remains the ultimate dream