iPad mini After all the whining wanting a mini 5, I’m returning mine.

[imdropbear]

The iPhone SE would be a downgrade though.

Depends. Some people don't need a fancy camera or the newest hardware in their phone and instead prefer the small form factor. I love my iPhone SE and will hold onto it as long as Apple allows me to.

I have an 11" iPP and a 13" MBP (which I rarely even use since I have the iPP) and the small iPhone SE fits into that perfectly for me. I wouldn't trade it for a iPhone 11 if someone offered (unless I'm allowed to sell it and then buy another SE, who doesn't like free money?).

If they made a new ~4.5" phone with newer hardware, I'd love that as well but it doesn't look like it since the new SE2 seems to be significantly bigger than the original SE so I guess I'll stick to that for now.

 

[Nacho98]

I also have a new mini 5 I bought last week, first mini. Had a retina iPad 4th gen in 2012, then an Air 2, so I've only had 9.7" devices.

I had no iPad at all for the last year. My uses are very basic, just browsing and Hulu/Netflix, so I run it pretty light. A 9.7" may be better, but I paid $320 for this and after having no iPad at all, it's great and I have no complaints about screen size. Sometimes I got tired of propping up the 9.7" models.

 

[pdoherty]

I’ve had my mini 5 for a week. I absolutely love the device, and the size of it. I thought I’d use it in bed for reading instead of my phone, but to keep it light, I want it case-free, and it’s honestly a bit awkward for me to hold and read or do anything with. It’s too big for me to hold it one-handed like a phone and still do anything, and if I’m propping it, I might as well be propping my iPP and using it in bed.

I really wanted to fit it into my lineup because I just love everything about it, but it honestly isn’t gonna make much practical sense for me. I find myself reaching for my phone because of the Loopy case. It just makes it so easy to hold in bed, even though reading on it is much more inconvenient.

I’m bummed, but I guess I’ll live...

Check into a Kobo Aura e-reader - eink screen that can be read in any light (the more the better) including daylight *and* has a backlight for reading at night. Also can have epubs which Kindles can't.

 

[subjonas]

I’ve had my mini 5 for a week. I absolutely love the device, and the size of it. I thought I’d use it in bed for reading instead of my phone, but to keep it light, I want it case-free, and it’s honestly a bit awkward for me to hold and read or do anything with. It’s too big for me to hold it one-handed like a phone and still do anything, and if I’m propping it, I might as well be propping my iPP and using it in bed.

I really wanted to fit it into my lineup because I just love everything about it, but it honestly isn’t gonna make much practical sense for me. I find myself reaching for my phone because of the Loopy case. It just makes it so easy to hold in bed, even though reading on it is much more inconvenient.

I’m bummed, but I guess I’ll live...

The mini is useless to me without a pop socket.

With the pop-socket, the mini is my most used device at home (out of an SE, 12.9, and MBP).

Some people want to say you can hold the mini by the edges with one hand. Technically you can, but not for long, not comfortably. They made it about an inch too wide for that. But with a pop socket, it’s very comfortable to hold indefinitely, and doesn’t add any weight or bulk basically, since it’s small and telescopes down when not being used. I actually have two on mine so I can hold it from either side in landscape.

It is just wide enough (about 2/3 inch narrower than mini5) to be comfortably held with one hand and there is a Samsung app (good lock) which allows to customize all type of gestures. In addition the back is not metal finish but some kind of rubberized plastic that is very comfortable for holding. I hate the polished aluminum of all modern phones and tablets and can never use them without puting some kind of sylicon case. I use it a lot for reading, translations, note taking etc.

Reminds me of the Nexus 7. That was the perfect size for a handheld tablet—just the right width, with a rubber back (wasn’t a fan of the 16:9 aspect ratio though). Also great because it could fit in a back pocket. I would so love to buy an iOS version of that.

 

[ssledoux]

I didn’t even think of trying a pop socket! Oh well - too late now. I may revisit it if I revamp my setup next year.

 

[EssModelsRule]

I can relate to your mixed feelings on it. I returned my launch day Mini 5 only to buy another one a few months later. My guess, you’ll be back!

 

[ssledoux]

I can relate to your mixed feelings on it. I returned my launch day Mini 5 only to buy another one a few months later. My guess, you’ll be back!

It’s possible, but I think it’ll be a while. If I revamp my device lineup next year, I could see it happening. I’d love to get my grandkids back in minis and off the 9.7 pads, but the older ones won’t hear of it. They love having more screen real estate.

The youngest 2 have mini 4s, and I suspect they will for a while, but they’re toddlers and only use them on long car rides.

 

[bobsamm]

Got mine yesterday, it’s the best iPad I have had for reading in portrait. Can Easily hold in one hand, can type with 2 hands and is much better to use in bed than my iPad 11”.

 

[akash.nu]

People who use iPads for reading books, have you guys tried out any device with e-ink display?

 

[ssledoux]

People who use iPads for reading books, have you guys tried out any device with e-ink display?

I have. I've had several Kindles over the years. I would probably do okay with a backlit one (I hate having to have a light on to read in bed because my husband complains), but they're pricey enough that I just figured I'd get a mini because it would have some other uses.

 

[akash.nu]

I have. I've had several Kindles over the years. I would probably do okay with a backlit one (I hate having to have a light on to read in bed because my husband complains), but they're pricey enough that I just figured I'd get a mini because it would have some other uses.

Personal experience with kindle paper white backlit, I’d pick that for reading any day over a OLED / LCD display. Also the battery life is just mind blowing.

 

[pdoherty]

People who use iPads for reading books, have you guys tried out any device with e-ink display?

Best one I’ve found and currently use is a Kobo Aura. E-Ink, super light weight, can read outdoors, can load EPUBs directly via showing up as a drive, and has a backlight to read at night or in the dark, too.

 

[EssModelsRule]

I wish I read enough to warrant having a dedicated device and understand the benefits of e-ink in that application, but the Mini is a better all-around solution for my use case.

 

[bobsamm]

People who use iPads for reading books, have you guys tried out any device with e-ink display?

Yes have had a few kindles even latest paper white, only benefit is reading in sun. I prefer the mini, kindles i rarely used, sold last one i had.