iPad mini Advice on purchasing Mini 7

[ProgRocker]

Looking to pick up a Mini 7, is there any reason to wait or once they're released they're good to go ?
Also, with BF coming up where can one get the best deals online ? My bank gives me 'reward points' which I can convert to gift cards to Best Buy, Amazon, ect. Is it best to go dealer or just straight from Apple ?

 

[chrono1081]

No reason to wait. Amazon and Best Buy both had them for $100 off recently, you'll probably see a similar sale around Black Friday.

 

[jb310]

Is it best to go dealer or just straight from Apple ?

I like to get them straight from Apple when I can, but Amazon does a lot of discounts for Apple products... unlike Apple. 😶

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I like to get them straight from Apple when I can, but Amazon does a lot of discounts for Apple products... unlike Apple. 😶

QFT! I snagged a brand new Mini 7 directly from Amazon for $315. It was delivered a few days ago. I'm waiting for my screen protector and case to show up this Thursday.

 

[swandy]

Would have loved to see that discount - best I saw was $485 at Amazon and I think there was a $100 off but missed that one.

 

[rui no onna]

Would have loved to see that discount - best I saw was $485 at Amazon and I think there was a $100 off but missed that one.

I think it was a pricing error. They reduced the price to $399 and still had a coupon available that was originally meant to lower the price to $399. They fixed the mistake quickly.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Micro Center's in-store price is $449.99

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I think it was a pricing error. They reduced the price to $399 and still had a coupon available that was originally meant to lower the price to $399. They fixed the mistake quickly.

It was a coupon glitch/error. They were giving out coupons to bring the price down to $399.99 on all the colors but the only color missing that price was space gray. Then they dropped the price on the space gray to $399.99 but no coupon. When I went to checkout there was a coupon that brought the price down to $315. As soon as I placed the order, I went to check and the price went back up to $487 for the space gray with a coupon to bring it back down to $399.99 with all the other colors.

I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I’m sure there’ll be some Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals coming in a couple weeks if you can wait that long.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I traded my 256gb WiFi mini 6 into Best Buy for $350 towards my 256gb mini 7. I ended up paying $263.94 and got 5% cash back using my PayPal debit card online.

 

[rui no onna]

I traded my 256gb WiFi mini 6 into Best Buy for $350 towards my 256gb mini 7. I ended up paying $263.94 and got 5% cash back using my PayPal debit card online.

Best Buy’s trade-in values for cellular iPads sucks.

They’ll give $260 for 64GB wifi but only $185 for 256GB cellular.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Best Buy’s trade-in values for cellular iPads sucks.

They’ll give $260 for 64GB wifi but only $185 for 256GB cellular.

A lot of people said that. I never buy the cellular model. I always use the hotspot from my iPhone since I get 50gb of hotspot data from Verizon.

 

[sparksd]

Best Buy’s trade-in values for cellular iPads sucks.

They’ll give $260 for 64GB wifi but only $185 for 256GB cellular.

I thought it was a glitch when I ran into that - nope. I'll be holding on to my 256GB Cellular Mini 6.

 

[dominiongamma]

A lot of people said that. I never buy the cellular model. I always use the hotspot from my iPhone since I get 50gb of hotspot data from Verizon.

Agree, I do not go in public or travel enough for a cellular iPad, but the hotspot will be great if you’re not in a Wi-Fi spot

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I never buy the cellular model. I always use the hotspot from my iPhone since I get 50gb of hotspot data from Verizon.

The mini 7 is my first Cellular iPad since the original in 2010 (bought from the carrier). Hotspot worked fine for me for a lot of years too. But, now that I'm flying again I really wanted the GPS for flight tracks so I'm glad I bought the Cellular.

I may end up getting an external GPS-ADS/B receiver and if I do, I'll probably drop the cellular plan & go back to hotspot. But for the time being, I do appreciate the utility of having cellular "always working" - and I like that when I get in my car, CarPlay "just works" with my phone (when it's being used as a hotspot, I have to pop the phone into Airplane Mode & out again before the car will see it). First-world problem for sure.

 

[ProgRocker]

Haven't found any good deals as of yet, BB and Amazon both have it for $569 US. Has anyone found a better price ?
If not BF, how about Christmas sales ??

I'm looking at the iPad mini A17 Pro chip - Wi-Fi 256GB - Space Gray BTW

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[minik]

I traded my 256gb WiFi mini 6 into Best Buy for $350 towards my 256gb mini 7. I ended up paying $263.94 and got 5% cash back using my PayPal debit card online.

I have the 64GB WiFi 6th gen model with expired AC+. Two months ago, I brought it with me for traveling along with the 12.9" iPad Pro (M4). 64GB was really tight nowadays especially if one downloaded movies/videos for offline playback.
Decided to look around, the price differences between the 256GB 6th gen and 7th gen wasn't that much at all. The BestBuy trade-in value is the same as the Apple Store for my 6th gen. I still have the 5th gen model, may get rid of this one instead. My other dilemma, my Apple Pencil (2nd generation) will be useless if I decided to get the 7th gen iPad mini.

 

[justmadeupname]

A lot of people said that. I never buy the cellular model. I always use the hotspot from my iPhone since I get 50gb of hotspot data from Verizon.

Is it necessary to manually set up a hotspot on an iPhone each time you want to use it with an iPad? Basically I'm looking for ease and convenience, otherwise I'd rather spend the extra for Cellular.

 

[rui no onna]

Is it necessary to manually set up a hotspot on an iPhone each time you want to use it with an iPad? Basically I'm looking for ease and convenience, otherwise I'd rather spend the extra for Cellular.

No. It's supposed to auto-connect to personal hotspot if they're logged in to the same account.

It's kinda hit or miss though and I notice a 5-15 second delay before the iPad has working internet. There were also several times when it failed to connect and I've had to restart my iPhone to get hotspot working.

If it's something you rarely use, hotspot is fine. If you're like me and use the iPad on the go, built-in cellular is much easier. It has GPS, too, so the iPad can be used for turn-by-turn navigation.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I have the 64GB WiFi 6th gen model with expired AC+. Two months ago, I brought it with me for traveling along with the 12.9" iPad Pro (M4). 64GB was really tight nowadays especially if one downloaded movies/videos for offline playback.
Decided to look around, the price differences between the 256GB 6th gen and 7th gen wasn't that much at all. The BestBuy trade-in value is the same as the Apple Store for my 6th gen. I still have the 5th gen model, may get rid of this one instead. My other dilemma, my Apple Pencil (2nd generation) will be useless if I decided to get the 7th gen iPad mini.

Having to buy another Apple Pencil was annoying. I have to buy a second case to carry the new pencil. I saved more money upgrading to the mini 7th than the mini 6 because of the trade in value.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Finally traded in my 6 year old ipad mini 5. Apple gave me $125 for it, and I put that towards an iPad mini 7 wifi/cellular model with 256gb. Love this thing! It compliments my iPad Pro nicely. With the Apple Pencil Pro, it’s the perfect size digital sketchbook when on the go.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

A lot of people said that. I never buy the cellular model. I always use the hotspot from my iPhone since I get 50gb of hotspot data from Verizon.

I always choose the cellular model but never buy the phone. Instead, a VOIP app makes the cellular iPad a "phone" too (using buds for interaction). Since I only need 5G data, I go for iPad Data-only offerings. One of them makes my annual cell service tally no more than $25 for the YEAR.

Bonus: unlike iPhones, iPads seem to have much longer use life before the mysterious "long in tooth" effect drives replacements. That means I rode the Mini 2 for about 8 years doubling as my phone... and expect to do the same with the Mini 6. My next Mini is probably Mini 9 or 10 in about 2030 or so.

Tally that up and that's substantial savings vs. buying a new phone ever few years and also substantial savings vs. phone service (while still using the same 5G). I'm also not carrying around 2 devices but just one. And- IMO- just about all apps are better with more screen R.E. than using the same apps on relatively tiny iPhone screens.

My main (relative) gripe: generally not pocketable. But after that, the other shortcomings vs. phone + tablet fall off quickly IMO.

Doubters? If you already have any iPad- including wifi only- download a free VOIP app. They will usually give you a free phone number. Then call your phone and leave yourself a message so you can hear quality of sound. Then use your phone to call your iPad (it will ring). Text your iPhone and reply back to your iPad. It all "just works" quite well... just like these devices can ALSO be a flashlight, a map, a camcorder, a tape measure, etc. Telephony is just an app. Install a telephony (VOIP) app and any iPad (or Mac or PC) can become a "phone" too. With a cellular connection, those are connected just as well as iPhone when away from accessible wifi.