iPad mini How do you guys even use an iPad Mini?

[stocklen]

So I bought a 11” M4 iPad Pro today (I always had the 13“ iPads historically) and I really find this 11” iPad Pro too small with the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s only when I remove it from the keyboard and use it in “tablet mode“ that I appreciate the 11” size.

And the iPad Mini is even smaller than the 11” iPad. You guys with the iPad Mini are really fine with such a small tablet? I don’t think I would be able too since I’m already struggling with the 11” size.

How do you cope with your iPhone??

... newsflash its even smaller


The mini is the perfect form factor for many people. Many buy it and enjoy it and its the perfect size for a lot of use cases.

Just because it wouldn't suit you doesn't mean that its not got its place.

 

[antiprotest]

Many (most?) people can use even an iPhone to do pretty much anything, only that to various degrees, some tasks are more convenient with a bigger screen, and some are more convenient with a hardware keyboard. Which is the best device depends on what you are doing. I would hate to edit videos on an iPhone, but you can do it. And I'd prefer to read a book or news article on the iPhone or iPad mini than a 12-inch iPad Pro or a desktop computer.

 

[StringHawk]

Many (most?) people can use even an iPhone to do pretty much anything, only that to various degrees, some tasks are more convenient with a bigger screen, and some are more convenient with a hardware keyboard. Which is the best device depends on what you are doing. I would hate to edit videos on an iPhone, but you can do it. And I'd prefer to read a book or news article on the iPhone or iPad mini than a 12-inch iPad Pro or a desktop computer.

Yeah, it seems like a lot of people who want larger screens are using spreadsheets. I could definitely see that. Maybe once per month I’ll need to deal with the spreadsheet and I hate doing it on my phone.

 

[antiprotest]

Yeah, it seems like a lot of people who want larger screens are using spreadsheets. I could definitely see that. Maybe once per month I’ll need to deal with the spreadsheet and I hate doing it on my phone.

Oh spreadsheet would be a pain on the iPhone. True.

Have you heard of the Japanese novelist who wrote an entire novel while commuting on the train on a T9 phone? That sounds even more painful. But he did it.

 

[Starfia]

I spent years waiting for a real-life Star Trek pad, and the iPad mini is it – the sixth especially so. It's just great to hold and read, scan web pages like this while relaxing without the weight of the typical iPad, or to set down with a video on.

I'm hoping the Mini wasn't updated alongside the rest because they're putting sufficient time into releasing something with a weight and thickness decrease similar to the Pros'.

 

[bluespark]

Just a few examples:

• E-books. It's about the size of a typical book, so therefore optimal.
• Flying coach. My full-size iPad is great for first class but a bit crowded when using a coach airline tray.
• Presentations. I like using the iPad mini for my outline when presenting. It's small size makes it very unobtrusive from the perspective of my audience.
• Out-and-about. It fits nicely into my jacket pocket, it's also nice for one-handed use on the train, etc.
• Recipes. This might be a personal thing, but I prefer the mini size when in the kitchen.

Note that all of these are fairly typical "tablet" scenarios. It sounds like you use your iPad more like a pseudo-laptop, which is fine but different. When I need to do that, I grab one of the larger iPads, but I usually prefer my MacBook Pro 16" in those situations.

 

[*~Kim~*]

I only have the mini, as I find it a lot easier to hold than I did my old 9.7" iPad (which I left at home a lot when it would have been potentially useful to have it with me.) I've only ever looked at a 13" in store out of curiosity, I think had I used one (I would definitely have bought one had they been around when I was a student) it would be a lot harder to adjust to a small screen.

 

[ignatius345]

I bought a Mini 4 some years back, mainly to use as a base station to control music streaming to my AirPlay speakers. I would also use it for reading, which it's an excellent size for.

It's still kicking (although very very slow these days) and I let my 5 y/o use it for a few games and watching videos.

It's a shame, it was once very zippy, but I kept updating the OS and at some point it just got very very laggy. (And yes, I've wiped and rebuilt it, which did help somewhat but it's still very slow).

 

[Allen_Wentz]

So I bought a 11” M4 iPad Pro today (I always had the 13“ iPads historically) and I really find this 11” iPad Pro too small with the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s only when I remove it from the keyboard and use it in “tablet mode“ that I appreciate the 11” size.

And the iPad Mini is even smaller than the 11” iPad. You guys with the iPad Mini are really fine with such a small tablet? I don’t think I would be able too since I’m already struggling with the 11” size.

The iPad Mini is a tablet, and as a tablet the size of the Mini is very appropriate. Some folks (me) much prefer a Mac plus Mac OS for real production rather than iPad OS plus pricey iPad Pro plus pricey Apple Magic Keyboard.

IMO the iPad Mini is a great size for ereading and other mobile tablet usages. YMMV, but personally I far, far prefer a laptop Mac for real work when mobile.

All that said, IMO the current Mini is not quite what it needs to be, even though IMO the iPad Mini size is a good choice that Apple should continue to offer. Apple needs to make an iPad Pro Mini. No Mini Apple Magic Keyboard necessary.

 

[S.B.G]

I've had two iPad Mini's over the years and enjoyed them quite a lot. It was a good size for my needs.

 

[klasma]

For few days I had both the air and a mini and I noticed that both would show content identically.

The aspect ration isn’t identical. The iPad Air 11” is 1:1.44 while the mini 6 is 1:1.52, a bit narrower.

Normalized to the same height:

Personally I prefer the old 4:3 aspect ration for the mini, in particular for web browsing. This is one reason why I still use the mini 5.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

So I bought a 11” M4 iPad Pro today (I always had the 13“ iPads historically) and I really find this 11” iPad Pro too small with the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s only when I remove it from the keyboard and use it in “tablet mode“ that I appreciate the 11” size.

And the iPad Mini is even smaller than the 11” iPad. You guys with the iPad Mini are really fine with such a small tablet? I don’t think I would be able too since I’m already struggling with the 11” size.

They are two completely different things. The 11" is a portable tablet. The mini 5 is a truly mobile device. Once you have one you start to realize how big of a difference that is. By being sized to still fit in a jacket or large back pants pocket, it goes everywhere a large phone goes. A mini with a cell connection is not just a jumbo sized iphone, but one with the added benefit of pencil functionality. Any smaller and it's too small to draw on and see what you're doing. You're never going to carelessly toss your big iPad Pro in the car like any old ipod, use it as a GPS while driving, whip it out to sketch & keep track of all your design ideas, redline others work, try some speadsheet ideas out while the idea is still hot in your mind as you sit waiting waiting for kids and appointments, use it like a tray to set your beer & keys on at the bar downtown, or hold it up over your face watching a show or reading a boring manual until you doze off and it lands on you. The mini gives you the iPad functionality in a package JUST small & light enough to go with you everywhere, and it is so much more comfortable and fully featured than a phone, there is nothing an iPhone does better than it. It's the sweet spot of iOS devices.

 

[rukind2]

I love the mini as an e-reader. It’s perfect for my needs.

 

[Surfsalot]

Easier for me to read books on 15 max if I want smaller, don’t see the point in having 2 iPads.
Especially one just for books that is outdated anyway.

 

[AlanMarron]

Coincidentally, I dropped my mini.6 yesterday and it’s kaput. My first Apple to fail after a fall!

Do I replace it?

It has a strong “WOW” factor but in truth, I prefer to use my iPad 9 at home in a cradle. I like having the option of using the home button or to swipe, and Google Sheets is much easier to use with a larger screen. The 9’s all-day battery life is a plus.

My 9 runs fine with iPadOS 18pb, while the mini was wonky as … a wonk?

The mini is superior when traveling by air and carry-on traveling in general.

My wife discarded her standard iPad because she handholds her mini. I’m terribly nearsighted, so I handhold my iPhone.

 

[yabeweb]

You don't need a keyboard on the 11" it's not a laptop

I beg to differ, loving the 11 with a keyboard…..what’s a a laptop?

 

[Sippincider]

How do you cope with your iPhone??

When the iPhone 17 Pro Max arrives in the same size as the current iPad mini, we'll be reading on these pages how much better the big new screen is.

 

[M1Fox]

I don't have an iPad mini, never owned one for that matter.
However, I have an old 5th gen iPad which I now find quite limiting, and even big.

So I've been bitterly waiting for the iPad 7 to release, because I love how small it is. Perfect for an e-reader, as a digital sketchpad, and it would definitely help me a LOT with work.

 

[bd700pilot]

So I bought a 11” M4 iPad Pro today (I always had the 13“ iPads historically) and I really find this 11” iPad Pro too small with the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s only when I remove it from the keyboard and use it in “tablet mode“ that I appreciate the 11” size.

And the iPad Mini is even smaller than the 11” iPad. You guys with the iPad Mini are really fine with such a small tablet? I don’t think I would be able too since I’m already struggling with the 11” size.

I am fine with it because its my secondary iPad just for playing games. My work iPad is 11" Pro and its great.

 

[AlanMarron]

So I bought a 11” M4 iPad Pro today (I always had the 13“ iPads historically) and I really find this 11” iPad Pro too small with the Apple Magic Keyboard. It’s only when I remove it from the keyboard and use it in “tablet mode“ that I appreciate the 11” size.

And the iPad Mini is even smaller than the 11” iPad. You guys with the iPad Mini are really fine with such a small tablet? I don’t think I would be able too since I’m already struggling with the 11” size.

IMHO the “right” size iPad depends on whether one is using it to create or to consume.

 

[apostolosdt]

I own an iPad Mini 5th gen., and I have been using it as an electronic "blackboard" along with Apple's Pencil. Very capable combo when running over a Skype session on my Mac. It saved me during all those years of teaching from home due to Covid.

I'm not going to "increase" its size; there are MBP 13", right?

 

[yabeweb]

IMHO the “right” size iPad depends on whether one is using it to create or to consume.

I have an iPad pro 11 as my only device, I do all my work on it, so it’s defined a good device for creating.

I had the 13 before, but for me it’s the 11 that works best.

Being this 11 my only device for work, has not been limiting, I use the Affinity Suite, Office some ftp work lots of scanning and sorting pdf but mostly graphic with Affinity.

 

[ericwn]

Easier for me to read books on 15 max if I want smaller, don’t see the point in having 2 iPads.
Especially one just for books that is outdated anyway.

I much prefer to read on my mini vs the pro max. I also don’t see the point of needing an up to date iPad for books.

 

[sparksd]

I much prefer to read on my mini vs the pro max. I also don’t see the point of needing an up to date iPad for books.

Same. I never read on my 14 PM.

 

[IJBrekke]

The Mini is fantastic because:

1. Bigger iPads feel cumbersome in comparison when being used as tablets.

2. While bigger iPads can do more, the software still makes them much less functional than a Mac for most real work. There are clear exceptions (graphic design), but as a laptop replacement they fall short. So, I continue to use a real computer for many of the things Apple says I should use a larger iPad for.

3. In light of #2, the Mini is an excellent handheld tablet. It functions as a giant iPhone for couch consumption, less mobile settings. I prefer the space offered on a Mini compared to any iPhone.

4. Having a Mini means I don’t need a giant phone. I can carry a small phone in my pocket, knowing I have the iPad option for anything else.

5. The width in portrait is perfect for thumb typing. Other iPads are too wide.

So, to answer the question, I use it as a 3rd device, and it makes my other two devices better in the process.