Design and Build

The 2013 iPad Mini 2 is a 7.9-inch aluminum case with beveled edges 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29 inches (200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm) in measurements and 0.73 pounds (331g Wi-Fi, 341g Cellular) weight. It is available in Space Gray and Silver, and has a Home button that can not be used for Touch ID and can not be used with Apple Pencil or Smart Keyboard. The Lightning port is provided for charging and data exchange. In the absence of an IP rating, it is not waterproof or dustproof. The buyers are impressed by the good quality of the case but have noted the thick bezels and the lack of modern features to be cons.

• Aluminum chassis with rounded edges
• Home button (no Touch ID)
• Lightning port
• No Apple Pencil or Smart Keyboard support
• No water/dust resistance

iPad Mini 2 Display

The iPad Mini 2 is equipped with a 7.9-inch Retina IPS LCD display (2048 x 1536, 326 PPI) that features 60Hz refresh rate and 450 nits of brightness. The absence of True Tone, P3 wide color, lamination led to a slight air gap between the layers, which causes some reduction in clarity as compared to newer models. But in bright sunlight, it's not very easy to use outdoors. The screen still satisfies users but not as much as with anti-reflective coating advancements would.

• 7.9-inch Retina IPS LCD, 60Hz
• Resolution: 2048 x 1536, 326 PPI
• Brightness: 450 nits
• Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating

Performance and Software

A7 chip from Apple (2-core CPU, PowerVR G6430 GPU) runs the iPad Mini 2, and it is accompanied by 1GB RAM and 16GB ($399), 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB options of storage. iOS 7 (upgradable to iOS 12.5.7) is the operating system of the device, which doesn't support Apple Intelligence and modern multitasking. The software update stopped in 2023. The A7 processor still works for simple jobs but cannot handle modern apps. Its compact size has gained it many fans, who however, are not happy with its slow performance and small RAM than contemporary standards.

• Apple A7 chip, 2-core CPU
• 1GB RAM
• Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
• iOS 7 (up to iOS 12.5.7)
• No Apple Intelligence support

The A7 is outdated, limiting the iPad Mini 2 to basic tasks and legacy apps.

Camera System

The 5MP rear camera (f/2.4) and a 1.2MP front camera (f/2.2) are the main features of the iPad Mini 2. It can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) at the rear and 720p at 30 fps at the front. The cameras are very basic, meaning they would be great if you want to take a simple photo or make a short video call but will fail in dark rooms. It has no advanced functions such as HDR or panorama. The users say the camera is OK for the odd use, but it has become quite obsolete.

• Rear: 5MP (f/2.4)
• Front: 1.2MP (f/2.2)
• Video: 1080p 30fps (rear), 720p 30fps (front)
• No advanced features

Battery and Charging

The iPad Mini 2 is equipped with a 6470mAh battery that provides for about 10 hours of video playback plus 8–10 hours of mixed real-world use. The battery, rated at 10W, is rechargeable via the Lightning port (the 50% charge is obtained in approximately 90 minutes) with a 10W charger being part of the package. There is no use of wireless charging for the battery. Though the size is small, the battery life is sufficient and is in line with that of the iPad Mini 3. The users convey a commendable running time with easy work, whereas very heavy tasks lead to a faster emptying.

• Battery: 6470mAh
• Video playback: ~10h
• Real-world: 8–10h
• 10W wired charging (50% in ~90 min)
• 10W Lightning charger included

Connectivity

The iPad Mini 2 is compliant with Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 4.0, and optional 4G LTE10 (Cellular) in cellular models ($529+). It holds a nano-SIM card and A-GPS (Availability GPS on the cellular version). The Lightning port is used for basic data transfer and recharging. The connectivity here is not good, because technology in the Wi-Fi 4 standard and 4G LTE are obsolete. Users experience poor connections, especially in a crowd, and they are very slow.

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 4G LTE (cellular models)
• Nano-SIM
• GPS: A-GPS (cellular)
• Lightning port

Pricing and Availability

The iPad Mini 2 was introduced in two versions: $399 for 16GB Wi-Fi and $529 for 16GB Cellular, and it went on sale on November 12, 2013, from both Apple and retailers. The device came with storage options of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. The iPad Mini 2 was shelved on March 21, 2017, and is now available at a price of $80–$150 if you will buy it renewed. The iPad Mini 3 ($399) brought Touch ID, whereas the Mini 2 still is a budget choice suitable for the simplest duties.