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

[Allen_Wentz]

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.

If such a device supports the latest Apple Pencil I will be all in. I really want Apple Pencil support in the iPhone Pro Max.

It should be trivial for Apple to implement (because iPads already have the tech operational) if they made us carry the pencil separately, which would be fine.

 

[yabeweb]

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.

Mileage might be different for people, but apart from coding ( I don’t code ) there is very little you can’t do on an iPad.

It replaced the traditional laptop for me, I had to learn a new workflow, once I did that, I realised I don’t want to go back to a laptop.

It can def work, might not be for everyone, but it takes some adjusting, I get not everyone wants to or has the patience to do it, but there is really very little that cannot be done.
As always, pick the device that is right for your needs.

 

[foggygray]

My iPad mini is my laying on the couch or in bed watching YouTube, light browsing, or reading iPad.

 

[Kelly the Dude]

Mileage might be different for people, but apart from coding ( I don’t code ) there is very little you can’t do on an iPad.

It replaced the traditional laptop for me, I had to learn a new workflow, once I did that, I realised I don’t want to go back to a laptop.

It can def work, might not be for everyone, but it takes some adjusting, I get not everyone wants to or has the patience to do it, but there is really very little that cannot be done.
As always, pick the device that is right for your needs.

I'd caution about being presumptive about other users cases in this regard. Admittedly, I do code so it is an absolute deal breaker for me for so many use cases. Be even for use cases that are not related to that, iPad OS falls so short for me. I recall trying to fill out some PDF paperwork a while ago for some business things. I really tried to force myself to use my iPad for every aspect of that process, but honestly I had a hard time doing things that Preview on macOS has been able to do forever. Eventually for one or two parts I just gave up and used macOS.

It might be the case that many or most of what people want to do can be accomplished on iPad, but the amount of friction introduced doing it was a deal breaker for me. I know iPadOS well, but the desktop metaphor with a proper windowing system is really hard to beat 40 years later.

So instead of trying to make the iPad something it is not great at, and Apple doesn't seem like they want to do (I mean where is an equivalent of Preview 14 years in?), I lean in and do things on my iPad that it's great at. If I need to whip up a quick illustration or doodle something, that's an iPad job. And it's better at it. If something needs to run in the background, that's a Mac job. And it's better at it.

For me and what I do that's a mini, but I can definitely see where a larger iPad (Even one larger than they currently make) could be awesome.

 

[rukind2]

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.

Outdated is relative to use. As an e-reader it is not outdated.

 

[Flowstates]

Gave one to my mother, she used it as a low security risk affordance device to browse art/music festival programs on the go (passing around the device between friends) and as an E-reader that does not force you to deal with sub-par software whilst still being able to watch movies.

Those needs will most probably be consolidated when she buys the 16PM (Keep in mind that jumbo iPhones were not a thing when the format was formulated).

I also see alot of smaller shops use an iPad mini as a storefront linked with a card payment processor.

PS: Most of those websites / apps are optimized for tablet browsing.

 

[yabeweb]

I'd caution about being presumptive about other users cases in this regard. Admittedly, I do code so it is an absolute deal breaker for me for so many use cases. Be even for use cases that are not related to that, iPad OS falls so short for me. I recall trying to fill out some PDF paperwork a while ago for some business things. I really tried to force myself to use my iPad for every aspect of that process, but honestly I had a hard time doing things that Preview on macOS has been able to do forever. Eventually for one or two parts I just gave up and used macOS.

It might be the case that many or most of what people want to do can be accomplished on iPad, but the amount of friction introduced doing it was a deal breaker for me. I know iPadOS well, but the desktop metaphor with a proper windowing system is really hard to beat 40 years later.

So instead of trying to make the iPad something it is not great at, and Apple doesn't seem like they want to do (I mean where is an equivalent of Preview 14 years in?), I lean in and do things on my iPad that it's great at. If I need to whip up a quick illustration or doodle something, that's an iPad job. And it's better at it. If something needs to run in the background, that's a Mac job. And it's better at it.

For me and what I do that's a mini, but I can definitely see where a larger iPad (Even one larger than they currently make) could be awesome.

PdfExpert solves the problem, as I said it’s not for everyone but it’s doable with little effort, some might not want to t to do the effort and it’s perfectly fine.

should there be a built in alternative to pdf expert? May be: would def make things easier than buying an app, but the whole principle of iOS is there’s an app for that.
I can’t immagine myself using a mini for work, but I know many are doing so, as always pick The best device for your need, but saying the iPad is limited is not correct.
I am not gonna use 2 devices if I can do all in one.

Now I understand you need to code, and that’s a computer job ( may be for now ) that’s why it’s good to have choices.
I didn’t assume other people’s case, I just said pretty much anything can be done on IPad, you have to adapt to a new workflow, I never said it’s a pick up and go solution.

 

[Flowstates]

If such a device supports the latest Apple Pencil I will be all in. I really want Apple Pencil support in the iPhone Pro Max.

Good luck with that.

I am not gonna use 2 devices if I can do all in one.

For me it's not about serial use. Yes the feature set overlaps, a case where the device best for the job will be selected.

Most of the time I'm using both at the same time. Word Processing with the Mac and Shape Rotation on the iPad. A must have for the ADD brain. If anyone has a good systems grapher that can materialize pristine UML from sketches to recommend (THANK YOU IN ADVANCE)

 

[mansplains]

I've only had an original iPad Air and a 12.9" Pro (2nd Gen). I've always liked the mini and wish Apple would turn it into an iPhone (I haven't gone the voip route like HobeSoundDarryl but may at some point) with a proper cellular modem and covering the gaps between iOS and iPadOS (phone, watch). For what I use my phone for, an iPad mini would be a much better experience. Other than that, I don't see a good spot for it before I use my MBP. I liked the big size of my former iPad Pro, but I was using an iMac at the time, so it served as my portable computer. I was considering saving up for a 12.9" model (either older Pro or new Air) for sheet music, but I found that the 11" size works well enough for me. Now I bogart my wife's iPad when I'm performing.

 

[M1Fox]

Good luck with that.

"Who wants a stylus? You have to get 'em, put 'em away, you lose 'em. Yuck!Nobody wants a stylus."

However, I also kinda like the idea ngl

 

[yabeweb]

"Who wants a stylus? You have to get 'em, put 'em away, you lose 'em. Yuck!Nobody wants a stylus."

However, I also kinda like the idea ngl

As always this quote is used in the wrong way, no one want a stylus to NAVIGATE the device….as the only reliable input device.
Wich still holds true.
Back then the comparison was devices like Palm, using a stylus cause the finger was a nightmare to use on those thing, with an 11 and a 13 inches display designed for creativity,l everyone who knows how to use a stylus wants one, it can be used to navigate, but it’s not the intended purpose, the fingers still works great.

I could see some use also on Pro Maxes display, certainly not for navigating it.

 

[mangoman]

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

Sure, makes sense. But Apple's keyboard (while not perfect) is an excellent companion to the 11" Pro if you want to use the device as a laptop-like object. Which I've done for years.

 

[Yebubbleman]

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.

It's a different kind of device (from the standpoint of where, when, and for what you'd use it for).

I use mine for reading books, acting as a secondary cell phone (cellular iPad minis are the best!), browsing the web when out and about, playing games, and pretty much anything one might use an otherwise 9.7-11.1" iPad for. I just end up doing it in more places because an iPad mini is way more portable than a 10.9/11-inch iPad Air or a standard iPad.

 

[sparksd]

As always this quote is used in the wrong way, no one want a stylus to NAVIGATE the device….as the only reliable input device.
Wich still holds true.
Back then the comparison was devices like Palm, using a stylus cause the finger was a nightmare to use on those thing, with an 11 and a 13 inches display designed for creativity,l everyone who knows how to use a stylus wants one, it can be used to navigate, but it’s not the intended purpose, the fingers still works great.

I could see some use also on Pro Maxes display, certainly not for navigating it.

No, not no one - I use a stylus with my 13" Pro and other devices - including my 14PM - to navigate with when I'm using the iPad with my fingers dirty for whatever reason. A capacitive stylus is cheap and works great, even swiping to close, which the Pencil won't do.

 

[russell_314]

I actually gave mine away to a family member. There didn’t seem to be an advantage over my iPad Air.

The problem was portability. Like the Air it’s too big to fit in most pockets so no advantage there but the screen is much smaller. Maybe in winter it would fit in a jacket pocket but that’s a very short period where I live. For those carrying a purse or a waist pack it might have an advantage but that’s not me.

Maybe I’m missing a way I could use it?

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

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

Neither is the 13”

 

[ShadowMind]

I came across this thread after buying a Mini yesterday and wondering how people were using them. My main iPad is a12.9 Pro, I use an iPhone 15 PM, and my main Mac is a 16". I picked up the Mini because I wanted something larger than a phone for most daily tasks that don't require me to lug around the 12.9 with the heavy Apple keyboard and pencil. So far it seems to do what I want--give me a bigger phone-like experience. My only problem now is finding a back case like the phone has. One day in, I am sold and am now looking forward to seeing what Apple does with the next generation Mini.

 

[Richard8655]

I actually wish a version on the cellular Mini would include cell phone capability. Though 8.3" isn't that much more than the iPhone 15 at 6.1/6.7", it's enough to make it worthwhile for some folks. It's can be a noticeable difference. I know there are a few users here who have abandoned the iPhone in favor of the cellular Mini for their voice communication, using VOIP apps such as Google Voice.

 

[1BadManVan]

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 didn’t think I would like the 11” with the keyboard but after a week with it of daily use, I actually quite like it. I wouldn’t have gone out to buy the keyboard seperately for the price apple charges, but I got a good deal on my iPad with the keyboard.

For me, I always found the mini too small since I have a pro max phone. But too each their own

 

[gsal]

I personally found the mini redundant when i could use my iPhone that fits in my pocket. I’m personally hoping for a folding iPhone, though I might be waiting a while.

My philosophy is that I have a device for the pocket, and a device that I carry in a bag. And both devices are the biggest that i am able to fit in both spaces. That is why i have an iPhone Pro Max and the 13” iPad Pro.

 

[muzzy996]

I personally found the mini redundant when i could use my iPhone that fits in my pocket. I’m personally hoping for a folding iPhone, though I might be waiting a while.

My philosophy is that I have a device for the pocket, and a device that I carry in a bag. And both devices are the biggest that i am able to fit in both spaces. That is why i have an iPhone Pro Max and the 13” iPad Pro.

Makes sense !

For me in addition to my 13 Pro Max in my pocket I have tablets of various sizes depending on what bag I intend to carry - a mini for when I carry just a small sling, or a 13" tablet for when I carry my backpack . . sometimes I have my Mini in my sling while my Surface Pro 9 and my work windows laptop are in my backpack.

No right or wrong answer for sure.

 

[ofarlig]

I personally found the mini redundant when i could use my iPhone that fits in my pocket. I’m personally hoping for a folding iPhone, though I might be waiting a while.

My philosophy is that I have a device for the pocket, and a device that I carry in a bag. And both devices are the biggest that i am able to fit in both spaces. That is why i have an iPhone Pro Max and the 13” iPad Pro.

The problem I have is that my 15 Pro Max is just too small to do things like reading ebooks properly so it cannot be a replacement for my Mini. On my Mini I actually do some productive things like reading books/studies while my phone really only is useful for messaging or forums and stuff.

I am also hoping for a foldable iPhone though because my time with Android foldables showed me you get the best of both worlds with them.

 

[dumastudetto]

iPad Mini is the perfect size for enjoying Apple Books, Apple TV, Apple News, and comfortable sofa browsing using Apple Safari. Apple Arcade really shines with iPad Mini. There are so many immersive use cases where iPad Mini can really complete your Apple experience.

 

[Fisheggs44]

My iPad mini is perfect for checking mail, browsing the internet, and even doing the NYT crossword with my morning coffee. I especially like that I can put it in a small backpack when traveling.

 

[klky]

The Mini is great for content consumption such as reading, movies and occasional surfing. That's essentially what I've relegated the iPad to handling. iPadOS is unusable for me when it comes to productivity, screen size has nothing to do with it.