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iPad mini How do you guys even use an iPad Mini?
- Thread starter Zest28
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Did you copy this from some promotional material?
I can't help but think that this forum is crawling with Apple paid 3rd party shill posters. This particular one happens to be lazy?
I think of the Mini as what the original iPad was at the time that it came out—the traditional tablet (no keyboard attachment), the ideal in-between device between a laptop and a phone. I think more ideal than the original iPad was. I thought the original was too big and heavy to use as casually as I wanted. So when the Mini was released I jumped on it and it’s been my most used device ever since. It’s at a size and weight where like a larger tablet and unlike a phone the screen offers decent breathing room and workable space, plus the OS has good multitasking features and landscape support; yet like a phone and unlike a large tablet there’s almost no friction to pick it up and start using it, and one can hold it even in one hand for very long periods of time (Pop Socket helps), and it can be stowed in small places. These traits give it a pretty unique place among Apple’s products.
In the early days, phones were smaller, so the Mini was more compelling. These days with large phones, it’s not as compelling to as many people, but many large phone users still find it fills a void that their phone cannot.
In the early days, phones were smaller, so the Mini was more compelling. These days with large phones, it’s not as compelling to as many people, but many large phone users still find it fills a void that their phone cannot.
I totally love my Mini 5, I use it with a Brydge keyboard when I am on the go for writing emails, drafting documents and downloading and archiving my photos from my camera. I also use it for the usual stuff, it replaced a Kindle for reading and it’s perfect for watching videos in my view on the go. The best part is it fits in my jacket pocket so it’s not much extra to look after. I am hoping that the next gen has larger storage as I will possibly be updating my camera to one that takes 50mb minimum photos and I don’t care if it’s third party but has a good a keyboard on offer as my Brydge.
Great question. The Mini is the perfect iPad, but only if it fits your use case. SO here's where it fits in with my digital life. I own the following - a 15" M2 MacBook Pro, iPad mini & iPhone 12 mini. My iPhone choice is a function of device weight & the pockets in my trousers. Small rules. It's a very functional device.
Compared to the iPhone 12 mini the iPad mini offers a significant step up when it comes to screen size particularly for media consumption, it's good if not great for reading, perfect for email on the go, light photo editing duties, inflight entertainment. A perfect digital travel companion. At home I use it mainly for Netflix, YT, Prime, ATV when in bed. If your primary focus is 'doing' stuff, its small size might be a compromise too far.
For everything else the 15" M2 laptop reigns supreme.
However, if you happen to have one of the larger iPhones the value proposition of the iPad mini is undermined. Whether you'd benefit from owning one is a question only you can answer.
Compared to the iPhone 12 mini the iPad mini offers a significant step up when it comes to screen size particularly for media consumption, it's good if not great for reading, perfect for email on the go, light photo editing duties, inflight entertainment. A perfect digital travel companion. At home I use it mainly for Netflix, YT, Prime, ATV when in bed. If your primary focus is 'doing' stuff, its small size might be a compromise too far.
For everything else the 15" M2 laptop reigns supreme.
However, if you happen to have one of the larger iPhones the value proposition of the iPad mini is undermined. Whether you'd benefit from owning one is a question only you can answer.
How much do you hate that Apple isn't doing small phones anymore? What would your next phone be?
we'll see. I just got a 13 mini refurbished a few weeks ago, and haven't traded up my 14 PM but also haven't switched back to it on eSIM
Part of me wants to keep 14PM since its a beautiful bright uniform display still has 88% BH and is on iOS 17.0 with TrollStore so I can side load apps without 7 day free dev account limitations
..But I may also trade it up for some iPhone 16 variant, or just hold off for next year's offerings or something like that.
I like the idea of having a more premo device in tandem with 13 mini in case I ever get FOMO, that strategy always made me enjoy my iPhone SE 1 way more back when I moved down from 6s Plus / 7 Plus size for a while. If I ever felt the grass was greener, I had a newer device (in case of 7 plus, 6s plus was 6 months older than SE1 actually) to hop into. That P3 display on 7 was a sight to behold coming from previous sRGB panels. Back then I liked switch around a lot more than now but may still
As someone who has read books on my 14 plus all the time, i contemplated getting a mini. But i wanted to get away from staring at the oled display all the time.
I went out and got a Kindle and a BOOX Go 6. I like reading on the e-ink screen a lot but let me tell you that the UI and ease of use is horrendous on these devices compared to Apples Books app. Was definitely a surprise to me!
So, definitely back to jumping on the Mini train and i really hope there’s an update!
I went out and got a Kindle and a BOOX Go 6. I like reading on the e-ink screen a lot but let me tell you that the UI and ease of use is horrendous on these devices compared to Apples Books app. Was definitely a surprise to me!
So, definitely back to jumping on the Mini train and i really hope there’s an update!
That's my problem with eink devices. The screens are great, but the interface just doesn't cut it for me.
That person is most likely an AI bot. All the posts read as if they were written in chat GPT….and even the profile picture is clearly AI generated. Here are a couple examples of claiming to be an ”expert” in two completely different subject areas.
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I have used all of the different sized iPad these years, I think that the 12.9”/13” is the best for landscape use, video consumption and general productivity. The 11” is the best for handheld in portrait orientation. The mini, hmmm, I only use it when I go on trips. At home and office, it’s definitely too small. If I want a small device, I use my phone.
I love the mini and may be tempted to grab one. I have a 13 inch pro since it's more practical for what I use iPads for but I really miss the mini size for traveling or just lounging outside and reading.
Same. Love my 11-inch Pro, but I really badly want a mini again. Only had it for 1 month and then sold it. I should’ve just kept it. I couldn’t justify having 2 iPads, but who cares… But I really really really hope the mini 7 gets M1 chip, cause I want stage manage so bad so I can use it with my studio display
Mini is used 95% of time at house.
14p is across room resting and maintaining battery health.
Come on mini 7 !
14p is across room resting and maintaining battery health.
Come on mini 7 !
I would love to see a folding iPad mini running the Phone & Watch apps...
- A18 Pro SoC
- 9" OLED ProMotion display w/Nano texture
- 12GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- Apple Pencil Pro support
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Some thoughts from reading on this thread
Main use of mine, like others, is as an eBook reader. I opted for an entry level mini over a kindle or e-ink display because it can do other things. I can queue up music or white noise while I am reading, it's compatible with my airpods, and in a pinch I can use it for productivity. It's also my recipe book (in fact my recipe app is a widget on my mini's home screen!) and doubles as a music player when I am cooking.
I have a TypeCase Touch for my mini. This is a cramped keyboard that can be uncomfortable to use over long periods of time. It also adds considerable bulk to the iPad (but sports a 360 hinge!). While this accessory is not of daily use for me, I have found several times that it came in very handy where I knew I would be in confined spaces.
I took my father to the hospital awhile back and brought my iPad with me. I had to do a lot of sitting and waiting while they took him for various tests and scans. I got a lot done on my mini without much more than my knee to prop the setup on.
Would I want my mini as an all day productivity device? Absolutely not but it's great for content consumption, games, and short bursts of work.
Main use of mine, like others, is as an eBook reader. I opted for an entry level mini over a kindle or e-ink display because it can do other things. I can queue up music or white noise while I am reading, it's compatible with my airpods, and in a pinch I can use it for productivity. It's also my recipe book (in fact my recipe app is a widget on my mini's home screen!) and doubles as a music player when I am cooking.
I have a TypeCase Touch for my mini. This is a cramped keyboard that can be uncomfortable to use over long periods of time. It also adds considerable bulk to the iPad (but sports a 360 hinge!). While this accessory is not of daily use for me, I have found several times that it came in very handy where I knew I would be in confined spaces.
I took my father to the hospital awhile back and brought my iPad with me. I had to do a lot of sitting and waiting while they took him for various tests and scans. I got a lot done on my mini without much more than my knee to prop the setup on.
Would I want my mini as an all day productivity device? Absolutely not but it's great for content consumption, games, and short bursts of work.
I used to have an iPhone 13 Pro Max and a 12.4 inch android tablet but found myself craving smaller devices after 15 years of wanting bigger and bigger phones/tablets.
Around 2 months ago I upgraded my phone to a 15 Pro, sold my android tablet and bought the iPad mini 6. I’m really happy with it size-wise. My only gripe is the 60Hz screen feels choppy to me. Given its smaller size I actually use it a lot more than I did my old android tablet. I used to predominantly consume content on my 13PM and very occasionally dig out the big tablet on a night shift at work, but now I find myself reaching for the iPad more often and hopefully preserving my iPhone battery health in the process. I don’t need it to be huge, 99% of my iPad usage is the web browser and YouTube and the screen is big enough for me for that usage. It also feels great in the hand to hold while browsing. I find larger iPads a little uncomfortable to hold for long periods.
Around 2 months ago I upgraded my phone to a 15 Pro, sold my android tablet and bought the iPad mini 6. I’m really happy with it size-wise. My only gripe is the 60Hz screen feels choppy to me. Given its smaller size I actually use it a lot more than I did my old android tablet. I used to predominantly consume content on my 13PM and very occasionally dig out the big tablet on a night shift at work, but now I find myself reaching for the iPad more often and hopefully preserving my iPhone battery health in the process. I don’t need it to be huge, 99% of my iPad usage is the web browser and YouTube and the screen is big enough for me for that usage. It also feels great in the hand to hold while browsing. I find larger iPads a little uncomfortable to hold for long periods.
With the Apple Pencil, it has basically become an amazing paper/pen replacement. No longer carry a notebook to jot down ideas and journal. All my notes are now backed up and searchable. Can serve as a great e-reader (kindle replacement) as well. I am a tv/film director so I also carry it everyday on set to reference my script notes (with Scriptation), floorplans and storyboards. It's amazing that it can fit in a jacket pocket. Cell service is icing on the cake. No matter where I am, I can receive updated scripts and info.
I've seen various off-roading YouTubers do that same thing with iPad Mini's and if implemented properly with the right mounting hardware, it looks pretty slick.