In a world awash with smartphones with large displays, including the iPhone 12 Pro Max, one could be forgiven for wondering why we need an iPad mini. And recent leaks indicate that the iPad mini 6 may only have slightly higher specs than its predecessor, indicating that Apple does not care that much about the smallest tablet.

While the iPad Air is now on par with the latest iPad Pro tablets, the iPad mini has kept the same overall look since its launch in 2012. Indeed, the iPad mini has a laminated display and Touch ID integrated into the home button. However, its bezel-heavy design has definitely come a long way over the years.

I have been and still am hoping that Apple will tweak the design of the next iPad mini to make it look like a compact version of the iPad Air. That way, it would have a large display but still keep a clean, compact chassis.

A series of leaks claim this to be the case. But according to the latest iPad mini 6 leak, it doesn't seem to be happening. Because I love my iPad mini

. I have been using an iPad mini since the 2nd generation model, which I sadly lost somewhere on a plane from Berlin to London when a hungover Roland failed to check his belongings. I am now using an iPad mini 5 and enjoying it very much.

I can understand why the larger iPad has a lot of appeal. Why get something that is only slightly larger diagonally than most large android phones? But for me, the iPad mini is the perfect size.

It fits in my coat or jacket pocket and is the perfect device for taking notes. When I'm done with work, the iPad mini also makes a great e-reader and is a wonderful device for playing a few games.

Speaking of gaming, the Xbox wireless controller can now be paired with the iPad mini for more precise gaming, or streamed from a nearby PC using the Steam streaming app.

I haven't tried Apple Arcade yet, but the mini's size seems to lend itself well to indie games. I remember how much fun I had playing the excellent "Bastion" on the Apple Arcade.

The iPad mini is smartly priced at $379 and still has the powerful A12 Bionic chip and a rather beautiful Retina display. For a little less, you can get a standard iPad, but the larger display with chunky bezels looks more dated and is not as easy on the pocket. iPad Air is great, but the 10.9" is a tablet that needs to be carried in a bag, starting at $549 and it is not cheap.

I use an Android device as my primary phone and would prefer to use the iPad mini as a device associated with the Apple ecosystem.

Of course, I don't expect Apple to pay much attention to the iPad mini just for me. But before the coronavirus pandemic and the curfew, I saw plenty of people using the iPad mini. So I feel there is still buying interest in the iPad mini.

Apple doesn't need to do much with the mini for me to go buy an iPad mini. Rumors were that it would have a mini LED display, but I would be very happy with a slimmer bezel and the same Retina display. [So would a USB-C connection to more easily connect the iPad mini to a TV. Enhanced speakers would be nice, but this is not a must-have feature, but a nice one to have.

In short, the iPad mini is a great tablet and a perfect partner to many of my other technologies. So I sincerely hope that Apple doesn't just refresh it, but gives this compact slate the attention it deserves.