iPads26 transformed the iPad Mini into a great power

The iPad Mini always has a special place in my heart. I think it’s one of the most underrated devices on Apple. Its size, form factor, raw power, and portability really make it the true form of an iPad. Now you’ll throw your iPads 26 into the mix. I think there might be a perfect portable powerhouse computer. Between new windowing systems, improved file management and multitasking upgrades, I think the iPad Mini is the ideal modern netbook. This is why.

Before I jump into this, I’d like to bring up the specs. This really shows how well this iPad is equipped to run something like the iPad 26. The iPad Mini is currently on sale on Amazon for $399. At that price you get:

• 8.3 inch liquid retinal display in true tones and wide colours
• A17 Pro Chip – Same chip used on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
• Up to 512GB storage
• Apple Pencil Pro Support
• Wi-Fi 6e, bt 5.3
• Run iPads 26 on Apple Intelligence

These are the flagship specifications within less than two years. So it was built to run something like this new window system and multitasking. Also, the news that Apple may be releasing a new MacBook with its A-Series chip shows how powerful these are.

The biggest advantage of the iPads 26 is that a number of these new and incredible features are available on all iPads. Most of us, including myself, assumed that this new window system would be available only on M-series iPads such as the iPad Pro and iPad Air. However, the reality is that all iPads that support the iPads 26 get these impressive new features. So the iPad mini gets the following features:

• Relocatable Window and Snap Layout: Drag the app into a floating, side by side, or quad view layout. True multitasking is here.
• Mac Style Menu/Taskbar: Hover over desktop-like menus (File, Edit, View) windows, providing users with much better known ways of interaction than MacO.
• File App Revision: Full folder customization, folder tagging, files in docks, and seamless external drive support closes the gap with MacOS.

Now I know that most people claim that new window features are great, but the iPad mini display is too small to go with much. I almost agree. If you line up two or more apps, it can get a little messy. However, I also insist that it’s good to have the app in the background of passive tasks. But true productivity comes from creating a little setup with some extra accessories.

iPad Mini Productivity Setup with iPads 26

As I mentioned, it would be hard to really put everything in with a small 8.3 inch display. However, there are two setups that I recommend being productive on your iPad Mini.

Netbook Style Setup

In the early and mid-2000s there was a huge wave of netbooks. They were low power and (usually) laptops intended to go with you. These netbooks also had cellular data connections. These laptops were actually made as communicators. It was too many times when your blackberries were too small to complete an email, but your actual laptop would be too big and not bulky. So the companies have created these small laptops, ranging from 9-14-inch sizes, where portability and connectivity are their selling points.

This is where the new iPados 26 iPad Mini can be brought in and replicated this market. All you need to do is get a Bluetooth keyboard from Amazon. Arteck recommends this. Because it feels like a mini laptop. You can also get a Bluetooth keyboard and get yourself a position for under $30. Bring this to your office or coffee shop in new window mode and you’ll get a beast that sends emails.

Desk setup

This is a bit more involved, but in theory it could be a plug and play computer. If you have a desk setup with a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can literally turn your iPad Mini into a computer. One limitation is that there is no enhanced monitor support. Therefore, mirror the display. Usually there are these black sidebars, but the display is much larger. The iPados 26 scales surprisingly well even on larger displays. So you can use your iPad Mini as a true MacOS replacement and connect it to an external display via the USB-C port and start working. That’s a bit surprising.

Final Thoughts

So the verdict here is that the iPad Mini, combined with the new iPad 26 update, will completely change what it can do. The iPad Mini is even more versatile than before. It could still be a traditional iPad, but now it can become a productivity beast when you need it.

Again, it’s insane that Amazon has it for $399 on the base model and $549 on the cellular data model. Pair it with a $40 keyboard case. I think this will be the ultimate companion to your MacOS desktop.

So, what do you think? Is it for sale on the iPados 26? Have you tried the beta version? Would you like to use it? iPad mini as the main computer? Or as a central device between your iPhone and Mac? Let’s discuss it!