iPad Air or iPad Mini to compliment iPad 12.9

[MacMandy]

Hi everyone,

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XS Max (I know, I’m a lucky girl!). I would prefer not to take my large iPad out daily, so I’m considering an iPad Air or iPad mini as a complimentary device. I’ll be selling used iPhones and iPads to fund. I need a larger screen than the iPhone for emails, photos and surfing, but when I’m travelling light, I miss an iPad. I have a 1st gen pencil to use with it. Which size iPad do you think would be better as a compliment to my iPhone XS Max and 12.9 iPad please?

 

[The Game 161]

Hi everyone,

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XS Max (I know, I’m a lucky girl!). I would prefer not to take my large iPad out daily, so I’m considering an iPad Air or iPad mini as a complimentary device. I’ll be selling used iPhones and iPads to fund. I need a larger screen than the iPhone for emails, photos and surfing, but when I’m travelling light, I miss an iPad. I have a 1st gen pencil to use with it. Which size iPad do you think would be better as a compliment to my iPhone XS Max and 12.9 iPad please?

I have just got the 11 inch as a device for on go and work with my 12.9...costly I know. It works for me...mini would work well though

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hi everyone,

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XS Max (I know, I’m a lucky girl!). I would prefer not to take my large iPad out daily, so I’m considering an iPad Air or iPad mini as a complimentary device. I’ll be selling used iPhones and iPads to fund. I need a larger screen than the iPhone for emails, photos and surfing, but when I’m travelling light, I miss an iPad. I have a 1st gen pencil to use with it. Which size iPad do you think would be better as a compliment to my iPhone XS Max and 12.9 iPad please?

I'd suggest the iPad Air 3.

 

[sracer]

Hi everyone,

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XS Max (I know, I’m a lucky girl!). I would prefer not to take my large iPad out daily, so I’m considering an iPad Air or iPad mini as a complimentary device. I’ll be selling used iPhones and iPads to fund. I need a larger screen than the iPhone for emails, photos and surfing, but when I’m travelling light, I miss an iPad. I have a 1st gen pencil to use with it. Which size iPad do you think would be better as a compliment to my iPhone XS Max and 12.9 iPad please?

After discovering that the 12.9 Pro was too large to use on flights, I bought a Mini 4 to complement the 12.9. Turned out to be a great decision.

The Mini makes a great ereader and for traveling light. I use a smart cover on the front, clear skin on the back. Super thin and light. I also use a matte screen protector to cut out glare and fingerprint smudges... and it also allows for smoother gliding of the finger on the screen and more "bite" for the Pencil/stylus.

 

[newellj]

Hi everyone,

I have a 3rd gen iPad Pro 12.9, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone XS Max (I know, I’m a lucky girl!). I would prefer not to take my large iPad out daily, so I’m considering an iPad Air or iPad mini as a complimentary device. I’ll be selling used iPhones and iPads to fund. I need a larger screen than the iPhone for emails, photos and surfing, but when I’m travelling light, I miss an iPad. I have a 1st gen pencil to use with it. Which size iPad do you think would be better as a compliment to my iPhone XS Max and 12.9 iPad please?

That's more or less exactly where I was earlier this year, but I had a Mini 4. The Mini was my commuting iPad because the 12.9" was big enough that I felt I might as well be using my MacBook Pro. But the Mini 4 was beginning to feel a little slow and more importantly I was using the pencil a lot on the 12.9 iPP and I really missed being able to edit work I'd started on the 12.9" Pro, or take new notes. Upgrading to the Mini 5 made a ton of sense for me. I could wish it used the Gen 2 Pencil but that's not a huge quibble.

I have had 9.7/10.5/11" iPads. I have loved them all but they're a little too big for one-hand use, offer far less work space than a 12.9" and aren't as portable as a Mini.

I also have an Xs Max and for a ton of reasons it doesn't replace any iPad, even a Mini. I tried that a few years ago with a 6S Plus, thinking I could get rid of the Mini 2 I had at the time, but it didn't work for me, and with Pencil capability on the Mini 5 it really wouldn't replace the Mini for me.

So, this is a my own opinion based on my needs, but 12.9" Pro plus Mini 5 plus iPhone is ideal. As far as the MacBook goes, although there are some things you can do on an iPad Pro that you can't do on a MacBook, for a lot of what I do I still need, or feel like I need, a desktop OS. I tried briefly replacing the MacBook with the iPP and there were too many things that were either hard or impossible. YMMV.

 

[MacMandy]

I’ve ordered an iPad mini 5 to try out. It’s a nice problem to have. X

 

[nightlong]

For me, 12.9 wifi and mini 5 LTE are the perfect combo, I also have a 10.5 which is a great iPad. It depends on yr needs. I was using the 10.5 on the go, but the mini is so light and easy to use in any situation and way better than a phone for mobility.

 

[ericwn]

I’ve ordered an iPad mini 5 to try out. It’s a nice problem to have. X

I would have done the same in your situation. Enjoy the new iPad!

 

[subjonas]

I think you might enjoy the addition of the mini. Obviously, everyone has different needs and preferences, but personally I’ve been using a 12.9+mini combo for a few years now and I’ve never found myself wanting an in-between size. The 12.9 is great for my productivity needs—drawing, note-taking, presenting images, ultrabook replacement. The mini is great for portability, particularly one-handed holding—making it most ideal for casual reading, quick tasks, the odd occasion in which I need to get light work done but can’t bring a bag (otherwise I’d bring the 12.9) since it fits in some coat pockets.

 

[millydog]

I’ve ordered an iPad mini 5 to try out. It’s a nice problem to have. X

That’s cool. I think that you could have ordered either. I also have the 12.9 3rd gen and an iPhone XS Max. I still have my iPP 10.5 and recently added the mini 5 too.

My thought is that perhaps the mini 5 is good to have in addition to a larger iPad that you wish to leave at home, especially if that iPad is a 12.9, but for some that’s an 11, 10.5 or 9.7. But use cases come into play. I tend to use my iPad mostly in my hands in portrait mode and picked up the mini 5 for that portability and to read books. If you were after a portable tablet to use with a portable keyboard, then the Air 3 would be the better pick. So I think use cases come into play.

 

[MacMandy]

I’m loving the mini so far. I worried it wouldn’t feel much bigger than my XS Max, but it does. My son has an Air 2 which he’s letting me borrow to try it out for size.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I’ve ordered an iPad mini 5 to try out. It’s a nice problem to have. X

The iPad Mini 5 is a great device too.

 

[MacMandy]

A quick update. Mini is lovely. Don’t care about the bezels. Can stay in my handbag all the time and I will leave 12.9 at home unless needed on the go and I’ll use a bigger bag. The Air is too close in size to the larger pros, and will only fit in larger handbags, so the mini suits my needs. Screen is lovely and it’s so light and excellent for ebooks too. Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[Greenmeenie]

I dunno about the 12.9”....but my 11” ipad pro compliments my new mini5 quite nicely! Use the 11” around the house and my mini for when i am out & about. Perfect combo. If i had a 12.9” instead of the 11” I would definitely get the mini5 over the air.

 

[ssledoux]

I dunno about the 12.9”....but my 11” ipad pro compliments my new mini5 quite nicely! Use the 11” around the house and my mini for when i am out & about. Perfect combo. If i had a 12.9” instead of the 11” I would definitely get the mini5 over the air.

You are not helping my cause at all. I have been trying to convince myself that a mini is too close to the size of an 11" and I don't need one. Now you're saying it's a perfect combo. I totally need that 12-step program. ;-p

 

[xraydoc]

I’ve ordered an iPad mini 5 to try out. It’s a nice problem to have. X

When I had a (gen. 1) 12.9” iPad, I also bought a mini 4. They make a good combo.

I’m using now a single 11” iPad Pro instead, but I felt like simplifying things this time around.

 

[Greenmeenie]

You are not helping my cause at all. I have been trying to convince myself that a mini is too close to the size of an 11" and I don't need one. Now you're saying it's a perfect combo. I totally need that 12-step program. ;-p

Lol. Sorry. But it’s true! ;-P

 

[ssledoux]

When I had a (gen. 1) 12.9” iPad, I also bought a mini 4. They make a good combo.

I’m using now a single 11” iPad Pro instead, but I felt like simplifying things this time around.

Yeah that's what I thought when I got my 11" pro - more minimalist. Then the dang mini came out, and I wound up buying the iMac. I can be minimalist with so many things, but Apple goodies get me every time.
[doublepost=1558190390][/doublepost]

Lol. Sorry. But it’s true! ;-P

So would you share how you use them? When does the mini make more sense? I really need to find a way to fit that mini into my life.

 

[ericwn]

Yeah that's what I thought when I got my 11" pro - more minimalist. Then the dang mini came out, and I wound up buying the iMac. I can be minimalist with so many things, but Apple goodies get me every time.
[doublepost=1558190390][/doublepost]

So would you share how you use them? When does the mini make more sense? I really need to find a way to fit that mini into my life.

As a shareholder I want to thank you that you’re trying so hard to find a reason to justify yet another device.

 

[xraydoc]

Yeah that's what I thought when I got my 11" pro - more minimalist. Then the dang mini came out, and I wound up buying the iMac. I can be minimalist with so many things, but Apple goodies get me every time.
[doublepost=1558190390][/doublepost]

My iPad tends to be my main device, so a big win for simplicity.

I have an iMac in my basement that acts as the household iTunes server for our AppleTVs, backup device for my cloud storage and as the Time Machine drive for my wife’s & kids’ MacBooks, and I donate some of its CPU time to a couple @ Home projects.

My only other non-iPad home computer currently is a Microsoft Surface Book 2 (better for me due to work issues).

But this is way simpler than my setup used to be (two different iPads, a MBP, a Mac mini, the iMac and a home office desktop PC).

 

[ssledoux]

My iPad tends to be my main device, so a big win for simplicity.

I have an iMac in my basement that acts as the household iTunes server for our AppleTVs, backup device for my cloud storage and as the Time Machine drive for my wife’s & kids’ MacBooks, and I donate some of its CPU time to a couple @ Home projects.

My only other non-iPad home computer currently is a Microsoft Surface Book 2 (better for me due to work issues).

But this is way simpler than my setup used to be (two different iPads, a MBP, a Mac mini, the iMac and a home office desktop PC).

Yeah I was iPad only for several years. I had the 1st and 2nd gen 12.9, but decided to go a bit smaller for portability (figured I could use it at the desk on a stand with bluetooth keyboard, and take it with me when I went places). Ultimately, I just wound up leaving it in the stand and using it pretty much like a desktop.

I wound up getting the iMac because there are just a couple things I have not been able to find a simple way around on the iPad (making good photo books is the main personal thing), and then I had an offer from the photographer I work for to do some of my office management work from home, which requires me to have access to full websites, mouse support just for ease, a device with more storage, and a bigger screen. It'll be totally worth it if I'm able to do the work from home, plus it's gonna be a tax write-off as well.

My iPP is definitely gonna be my portable device now. I'm adding the keyboard folio, which is gonna make it perfect for when I meet clients.

I'm still just trying to find that little niche the mini can fill so I can justify the purchase. ;-p

 

[MacMandy]

I have a MacBook Pro 13 which is my work machine and for things that the iPad can’t do. My iPad 12.9 is my main device when I’m not working, but I do some work on it sometimes. I didn't want to carry the iPad 12.9 out with me all the time, so a mini is great for being out, travelling, and reading ebooks in bed as it’s so light.

 

[thadoggfather]

I’m finding my 12.9 2017 and mini5 to be an excellent combo

Don’t have to worry about not having a headphone jack or not having Touch ID/home button on tablet, and lightning charge port for my million cables and chargers. And I can use the same gen1 pencil

It’s a perfect hand off set up imo

 

[MacMandy]

I’m finding my 12.9 2017 and mini5 to be an excellent combo

Don’t have to worry about not having a headphone jack or not having Touch ID/home button on tablet, and lightning charge port for my million cables and chargers. It’s a perfect hand off set up imo

I haven’t had a mini since mini 2. How are you finding mini 5 in your usage?

 

[thadoggfather]

I haven’t had a mini since mini 2. How are you finding mini 5 in your usage?

I haven’t had a mini since the 2 either and I haven’t had a mini2 for years (since I upgraded to air2 I think)

It’s a super solid leap