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iPad mini Any thoughts on Mini 6 replacing 11” iPad given I also have 12.9?

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Mobileadam

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Original poster
Apr 22, 2015
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I like the look of the Mini 6 with Pencil 2 support as a replacement to my 2018 IPP 11” But I’m worried I’ll miss the size or screen. I typically use my 12.9 on the magic keyboard or when I need to write lots of notes might use it in ‘tablet’ mode. For reading / consumption I find the 12.9 too big to hold so will read the paper on the 11”. But….as a teacher I move around a lot at work and so portability is a factor so thinking about the Mini 6 and trading in the 11”.

My concern is whether the performance (and maybe screen size) of the IPP will be missed compared with Mini. Anyone use a mini currently as a daily companion device?
 
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Ha. I am actually planning to do just this. Use the new Mini as my always-with-me type device and for reading books and articles and the 12.9 for at-home stuff. The 11" was my portable device (which I will trade in) as the old Mini hasn't been updated in forever.
Only thing I'll be missing is the keyboard.
 
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I have the new iPad Air 4 and I’m looking for something a little bit smaller not really for travel just did my hands as I’m getting old and sometimes this is a little bit big for me I also have the 12 inch pro which I will never go back to it was the first one I ever cracked LOL due to it being so large
 
Mobileadam said:
I like the look of the Mini 6 with Pencil 2 support as a replacement to my 2018 IPP 11” But I’m worried I’ll miss the size or screen. I typically use my 12.9 on the magic keyboard or when I need to write lots of notes might use it in ‘tablet’ mode. For reading / consumption I find the 12.9 too big to hold so will read the paper on the 11”. But….as a teacher I move around a lot at work and so portability is a factor so thinking about the Mini 6 and trading in the 11”.

My concern is whether the performance (and maybe screen size) of the IPP will be missed compared with Mini. Anyone use a mini currently as a daily companion device?
Click to expand...

The Mini 6 CPU (A15) will be substantially faster than the 2018 Pro’s A12X.

I think the key difference will be the screen, whether 60Hz v 120Hz is a deal breaker or not.

I would never have considered a Mini before, but this Mini 6 looks really nice with its laminated display and 8.3” screen. I’m considering a portable device on-the-go to complement my 12.9 M1 Pro at home. The Mini 6 looks tempting.
 
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I think the mini should fit the bill nicely. If not then return it during the return window and keep your old stuff.
 
I currently have an iPad mini 5 and an iPad Pro 10”. I used to have an iPad Pro 12.9.

I’m thinking of making the same transition (iPad mini 6 and iPad Pro 12.9). A small iPad for consumption use and a larger iPad mainly for taking notes watching movies and acting as a mini whiteboard for brainstorming. I LOVE the iPad mini size. I’ve tried almost all the iPad sizes and this is the one I’ve used consistently for the longest time. If you like to read ebooks at all it makes the best ereader.

I will say as a former academic, if you need to read PDFs at school or on the go the mini is too small for that. I WFH so I don’t have to worry about portability if I’m reading work documents.
 
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calstanford said:
Ha. I am actually planning to do just this. Use the new Mini as my always-with-me type device and for reading books and articles and the 12.9 for at-home stuff. The 11" was my portable device (which I will trade in) as the old Mini hasn't been updated in forever.
Only thing I'll be missing is the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Great minds think alike.
 
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I’ve had both the 11” and 12.9” Pro now in the last 3 years and I think the Mini with a 12.9” Pro is the best combination. The 12.9” is my laptop really, it lives in the magic keyboard and is used as a laptop while the mini is the portable one used for ebooks, taking with me and ”hand usage”. I really think the 11” is too heavy and big to read on or use for some gaming.
 
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Interesting to here people’s views. I’ve tried to order a few devices tonight but most copies are out of stock for 24th pickup in my area. Was going for purple, then changed to space grey, then they are all out so tried starlight but they’ve gone so went back to purple! Still not decided!!!
 
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I recently sold my 2020 11” iPad Pro and replacing that with the new Mini with cellular as my EDC and around the home device as I don’t touch my phone when I’m home.

This combo fits well with my 2020 12.9” iPad Pro with MK as dedicated laptop replacement for home.
 
I’ve ordered one! not sure I got the best colour combo but will see next Friday.
 
I’ve been a huge fan of the mini + 12.9 combo since the first 12.9. I’ve actually never been a fan of the middle size even when it used to be the ONLY size.
Nice to see more people seem to joining the combo club! Welcome! So it was really just the old design holding you back all this time, eh? :D
 
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subjonas said:
I’ve been a huge fan of the mini + 12.9 combo since the first 12.9. I’ve actually never been a fan of the middle size even when it used to be the ONLY size.
Nice to see more people seem to joining the combo club! Welcome! So it was really just the old design holding you back all this time, eh? :D
Click to expand...

Planning to do the same combo here! 2017 iPP 10.5 currently that is getting long in the tooth. Work is mostly windows based (X1 Yoga), personal laptop as a 13" M1 MBA (can access work machines remotely), and personal desktop a mid-2017 iMac.

I've soured on the 10.5"/11" size over the years: Not great to use with Sidecar as a second monitor when traveling, not super portable, very cramped if I do anything split screen. So it's mostly relegated to take notes occasionally with the Pencil and watching videos while flying (not a lot of that the last year).

Hoping the iPP 12.9" will be: better for note taking, PDF reading and annotating (for conferences/journals, I'm in academics), better split screen, better sidecar (effectively dual 13" monitors with the laptop), and some easier (family) photo processing (bunch of old scans I need to go through in Lightroom). Planning to use with both the Magic Keyboard or Smart Folio, depending on if I have a laptop with me.

The iPad Mini I plan to then be the main around-the-house personal device, or the tablet to bring when traveling if I don't want the weight/size penalty of the iPP 12.9" (depending on how much I need the dual monitor support)-- whereas the iPP 12.9" will be very much focused on being a complementary device to either laptop.

Granted, it feels a little silly that if one iPad is useless, two will be useful.
 
Mobileadam said:
I like the look of the Mini 6 with Pencil 2 support as a replacement to my 2018 IPP 11” But I’m worried I’ll miss the size or screen. I typically use my 12.9 on the magic keyboard or when I need to write lots of notes might use it in ‘tablet’ mode. For reading / consumption I find the 12.9 too big to hold so will read the paper on the 11”. But….as a teacher I move around a lot at work and so portability is a factor so thinking about the Mini 6 and trading in the 11”.

My concern is whether the performance (and maybe screen size) of the IPP will be missed compared with Mini. Anyone use a mini currently as a daily companion device?
Click to expand...
I'm a teacher too, and I'm ordering a Mini for classroom use. I had the Gen 1, and it was perfect, I used it until the OS wouldn't update anymore and all the apps apart from Spotify greyed out.

Fits into (some) pockets and is very light and easy to live with. Great for moving around, giving student feedback and looking up information one handed. I was showing students pictures of volcanoes earlier on the Air 4, but was thinking it would have been easier on the Mini!

Have to decide whether to send my Air 4 or 12.9 to eBay, so will live with the new Mini for a few weeks and see how it fits in, and what I stop using!
 
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bwb said:
watching videos while flying
Click to expand...
I hope you’re not a pilot haha

bwb said:
Granted, it feels a little silly that if one iPad is useless, two will be useful.
Click to expand...
Sometimes that’s just how it is haha. It definitely is for me. It sounds like in your case, small and big will be more useful, but of course only you can determine that, and maybe only after trying it out. I think it will work well as long as you don’t have to bring both along often, or if you just don’t mind bringing both compared to the value it gives you. For me, my mini only stays home, unless I’m going on a really long trip. It’s my primary casual consumption device, and for daily outings and shorter trips, I usually don’t have much time for consumption, so in those cases I‘m fine with just using my 12.9” and iPhone for everything. (If I go out with my shoulder bag, eg. to work, I always have the 12.9” in it.)
 
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subjonas said:
I hope you’re not a pilot haha
Click to expand...
Definitely not, haha. I do have some friends who pilot and are heavy iPad owners for that.

subjonas said:
Sometimes that’s just how it is haha. It definitely is for me. It sounds like in your case, small and big will be more useful, but of course only you can determine that, and maybe only after trying it out. I think it will work well as long as you don’t have to bring both along often, or if you just don’t mind bringing both compared to the value it gives you. For me, my mini only stays home, unless I’m going on a really long trip. It’s my primary casual consumption device, and for daily outings and shorter trips, I usually don’t have much time for consumption, so in those cases I‘m fine with just using my 12.9” and iPhone for everything. (If I go out with my shoulder bag, eg. to work, I always have the 12.9” in it.)
Click to expand...

Yeah, most travel will be selecting a single laptop (MBA or Lenovo) and a single tablet (iPad Mini or iPP 12.9"). Everyday will likely be a similar split to yours once I'm back in the office. If they had an iPad Air 12.9", rather than the bigger size being limited to the Pros, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.

Do you use a Magic Keyboard with yours?
 
bwb said:
Do you use a Magic Keyboard with yours?
Click to expand...
I actually have the 2017 12.9” which isn’t compatible with the MK. But I would definitely get it if it was. I love the heavy base and adjustable angles it offers. But it’s also very heavy, so I wouldn’t carry it with my iPP in my daily shoulder bag. I‘d continue using something like my lightweight Smart Keyboard cover for that, and just use the MK at home. I use my iPP a lot at home so I’d still be getting a lot of benefit out of the MK.
 
I pretty much always use the IPP 12 in the MK at school. At home I do take it off and rest on lap when I'm doing some notes and research type stuff and the split screen element is great (especially with ipadOS15). I do like the MK to be around on my school desk as it act as a safe stand - I can then just pick it up / drop it down quickly without worrying about where I am putting it. In reality I don't use the pencil that much during a normal teaching day, quick notes / reminders are easy to try on the onscreen keyboard.
 
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