New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- Three years ago, the Apple iPad mini got the company's 'all-screen' design-retaining thick borders around an 8.3-inch display, but letting go of the once-signature round-shaped physical 'home' button. Last month, when Apple unveiled its 'new' iPad mini, now in its 7th generation, the update was less noticeable-in fact, there's no visible difference, sans a new blue colour that replaces the previous pink finish.

Yet, this year's iterative new iPad mini (2024) still makes for a recommendable gadget-only, it is squarely for new buyers, and not existing ones.

This, to be sure, is not a bad thing. Tablets are discretionary gadgets, and while the pandemic gave rise to remote education-fuelled necessity for tablets, this ...