iPad mini and Apple's next 'big things'

October 16, 2021

The new iPad mini is perfect for lots of tasks. But is it right for you? Cult of Mac reviewer Ian Fuchs -- a longtime fan of the tiny tablet -- takes the latest model for a spin in this week's top post.

And then there are the "big things" Apple promises to unveil during its "Unleashed" product launch this Monday. If you want an early look at what those might be, check out our preview of the event.

If you'd rather watch Apple TV+ all weekend, see our reviews for recommendations. (Pro tip for music fans: Don't miss new documentary The Velvet Underground.)

Enjoy!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

I’ve always had an iPad mini around the house, ever since the first generation. And I’ve always treated it very differently than any other iPad. With the all-new sixth-gen iPad mini, Apple modernized and pushed the tiny tablet forward in a number of ways.

News and opinion

Apple promises “big things” at its product event happening Monday. Although that’s the only official hint we have, leaks have revealed details on a couple of extra-large Macs that might fit the bill. And there could be good news for fans of both MacBook and iMac at the “Unleashed” event.

The larger screen is the highlight, according to the first reviews, but faster charging is nice, too.

Suppose you notice the person in front of you is taking way better notes than you are. An iPhone running iOS 15 makes grabbing a copy easy as pie.

iPhone 13 might be a nice upgrade over its predecessors, with improved cameras and better battery life, but there’s one glaring omission from its list of features: It cannot fire candy.

The free replacement program originally covered faulty buds for two years, but now goes to three.

How-tos

Your iPad could show you two or three applications at the same time for years … if you could figure out how. Thankfully, iPadOS 15 makes the iPad’s multitasking system much more intuitive. Here’s how you can start taking advantage of this powerful capability right now.

Apple’s next product launch is right around the corner, and it’s one you won’t want to miss if you’re a fan of the Mac.

Concealed in Tuesday’s invite is an augmented reality Easter egg. It’s a bonus to make the invite seem cool, and perhaps get Mac fans excited about what’s coming Monday.

Deals

You can pick up killer skills -- from coding to playing guitar -- for a fraction of what you'd spend on college courses or professional tutors with these heavily discounted bundles.

If you decided not to upgrade to the latest iPhone, you can still enjoy certain perks. Like blowout prices on quality cases.

High-quality drones don’t have to cost an unreasonable amount anymore. In fact, you can get a compact drone with a 4K camera for only $69.95.

Plus, more hardware deals:

Successful drop shippers make anywhere between $1,000 and $50,000 a month. Want in on the action? This top-rated master class will show you the tricks you need to succeed.

Reviews

Todd Haynes and Apple TV+ finally bring you the story of The Velvet Underground, the band that created punk rock and broke rock ‘n’ roll.

Plus, more Apple TV+ reviews:

The new flash drive is blazing fast and uses USB-C, so you can plug it into any Mac and many iPads.

Don’t you just hate it when your charging cables, adapters and other accessories get lost or tangled in the bottom of your bag? BentoStack solves that problem.

Looking to save a few bucks on true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation? You could certainly do worse than these $79.99 AirPods Pro alternatives.

Setups

We see a lot of impressive computer setups, but few of them are nicer than one we just came across. And you can learn something from its "dark mode" look.

Folks often endure work-from-home situations where space is at a premium. Here's one (smart) way to deal with that.

A lot of computer setups we run across look staged. They’re so perfectly, well, you know — set up. Like this one!