iPad iPad dilemma! Pro vs mini!

[BigMcGuire]

I had this same debate over the last couple of weeks. I don't like using iPad Pro as my main driver anymore, but still love iPads and was missing my trusty Apple Pencil. The iPad mini 6 was the iPad mini I had been waiting for YEARS for, so I was ecstatic to see them finally do it, but didn't bother buying one because I had just gotten rid of my 12.9" Pro and already had a 13 Pro Max.

So then, I started wondering--wouldn't an Air or 11" Pro be the better buy? And I almost went that direction, but I really just want the iPad to be my portable book/notebook/magazine. It's my "tablet" in the truest sense of the word. I almost wonder, now that the forehead and chin are gone and it's really more like an iPad Pro mini without some of the bells and whistles. And it has the latest A chip in it, unlike the Air.

I think the new mini is exactly what I need an iPad to be at this point in time: the not-iPhone not-Mac that I can grab and go and do some really specific things with. It's not much bigger than my 13 Pro Max, but that's not really the point. It's a completely different kind of device with much more comfortable aspect ratio for games and movies.

As an owner of an M1 iPad Pro 11 - I’ve been thinking the same thing. I know I can just drag my MacBook around if I really need a keyboard/mouse - and the iPad Pro 11 is not easy to read on without support (I use a body pillow). The idea of having a kindle size like device to read books again would be nice. But I’m afraid I’d miss the screen of the 11. The fact that no store here has had them available and the high price of the mini has kept me from entertaining the mini. The refurbished 5 has been tempting (To go for a pure book reader).

Did you end up getting a mini?

 

[spiderman0616]

As an owner of an M1 iPad Pro 11 - I’ve been thinking the same thing. I know I can just drag my MacBook around if I really need a keyboard/mouse - and the iPad Pro 11 is not easy to read on without support (I use a body pillow). The idea of having a kindle size like device to read books again would be nice. But I’m afraid I’d miss the screen of the 11. The fact that no store here has had them available and the high price of the mini has kept me from entertaining the mini. The refurbished 5 has been tempting (To go for a pure book reader).

Did you end up getting a mini?

You already know this from another thread I think, but I did get one. Have barely been able to put it down. Really enjoying it.

 

[Pezimak]

I have a 9.7” iPad Pro. It’s a bit tired so I will replace it with an iPad Mini 6. I have looked extensively at the new iPad Pro’s, and thought about them heavily too. But for me I have found iPad OS to lack the abilities to replace a computer OS for me, even in some basic tasks. So I don’t see the point of paying for another Pro model. Also in my mind the M1 chip your paying for is totally under utilised in the iPad.

I also like smaller devices and will get the Apple Pencil for it. To me the iPad Mini makes more sense along with a computer for heavier tasks.
I only use my iPad for home use though, I don’t use it for work really.

For me one of the best tech devices I ever had was the original first generation Nexus 7, it was compact and for the time powerful and I took it almost every where! Which just proved to me even more I prefer smaller devices.
I still have an iPhone XR, I don’t think I’ll get a Max and may get a iPhone Mini next. Unless they make the Pro 14 lighter in weight, it’s my only camera really so would appreciate an iPhone Pro.

But we are all different and we all have different use cases for devices. If I had to use an iPad for work I would have a Pro for sure.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I really, really love the mini form-factor. I am considering adding an 11" Pro to my lineup, but I just used my wife's for a few minutes and I'm not entirely sure that it would be necessary. I think I would end up using my mini and 14" MBP in the vast majority of situations.

I'd definitely prefer for the mini to have ProMotion, because I miss that feature a ton when I'm using it, but the delight and ease-of-handling of the form factor still just make it a better device for me for casual tablet usage.

 

[calstanford]

I was in the same situation and ended up selling my mini and kept the 11.
The mini is horribly laggy. Something is off with either the screen, software or whatnot. It got better in 15.2 (15.1 was unusably laggy) but still it somehow "felt" like 5 years behind the Pro, even though an A15 clearly is not. I think it might just be the crap screen that's installed. It didn't "feel" like 60fps. More like 15-20 when using animations and that just seemed really off.
Combine that with the odd jagged line effect when scrolling, no external keyboard and I couldn't see myself keeping the lower spec device.

 

[spiderman0616]

I have a 9.7” iPad Pro. It’s a bit tired so I will replace it with an iPad Mini 6. I have looked extensively at the new iPad Pro’s, and thought about them heavily too. But for me I have found iPad OS to lack the abilities to replace a computer OS for me, even in some basic tasks. So I don’t see the point of paying for another Pro model. Also in my mind the M1 chip your paying for is totally under utilised in the iPad.

I also like smaller devices and will get the Apple Pencil for it. To me the iPad Mini makes more sense along with a computer for heavier tasks.
I only use my iPad for home use though, I don’t use it for work really.

For me one of the best tech devices I ever had was the original first generation Nexus 7, it was compact and for the time powerful and I took it almost every where! Which just proved to me even more I prefer smaller devices.
I still have an iPhone XR, I don’t think I’ll get a Max and may get a iPhone Mini next. Unless they make the Pro 14 lighter in weight, it’s my only camera really so would appreciate an iPhone Pro.

But we are all different and we all have different use cases for devices. If I had to use an iPad for work I would have a Pro for sure.

I went the same route. I was doing the iPad-as-laptop thing for several years, and it was really cool to be able to do that, but my workflows have unfortunately moved beyond what iPadOS can currently do. When I swapped the iPad Pro out for an M1 MacBook Air, the only things I REALLY missed were the Apple Pencil and having something to take notes/read on. I also accidentally discovered that when I use my LG UltraFine monitor to charge it, it actually automatically mirrors to the monitor and I can use it on the big screen with keyboard and mouse.

It’s a powerful little machine and I’m really enjoying it.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Why not keep both especially as you didn’t pay for the mini. I have an iPad mini 6 and 11 inch pro and find they work well for my needs.

 

[spiderman0616]

I really, really love the mini form-factor. I am considering adding an 11" Pro to my lineup, but I just used my wife's for a few minutes and I'm not entirely sure that it would be necessary. I think I would end up using my mini and 14" MBP in the vast majority of situations.

I'd definitely prefer for the mini to have ProMotion, because I miss that feature a ton when I'm using it, but the delight and ease-of-handling of the form factor still just make it a better device for me for casual tablet usage.

I have loved the mini form factor since the original, but never found them to be practical computing devices due to screen real estate and never seeming to have the latest guts compared to other models. This new one had addressed all of that. USB-C, the removal of the forehead and chin, A15, and the addition of Pencil 2 support makes this almost feel to me like the ideal iPad. I really hate that it doesn’t have ProMotion, but everything else it offers makes it hard not to love.

 

[jdb8167]

I have loved the mini form factor since the original, but never found them to be practical computing devices due to screen real estate and never seeming to have the latest guts compared to other models. This new one had addressed all of that. USB-C, the removal of the forehead and chin, A15, and the addition of Pencil 2 support makes this almost feel to me like the ideal iPad. I really hate that it doesn’t have ProMotion, but everything else it offers makes it hard not to love.

Yup, the one thing I would add to the mini 6 is ProMotion. Otherwise it is nearly perfect. I guess if Apple could solve the burn in problem with OLED and give a higher brightness, I wouldn't mind that either but there is a reason Apple doesn't use OLED for larger displays.

 

[eneisch]

I have both the 2021 iPad mini 6 and 2018 12.9 iPad Pro. I use the mini more often, but there are certain things that are better on the Pro. For example magazine/comic book reading on 12.9 Pro is vastly superior as the page size closely matches the real thing and does not require any zooming whereas the mini does for my old eyes. Some games, such as Civilization VI are also better suited to the bigger screen.

 

[iPad Bro]

I’m growing tired of the Pro platform myself. I like the speakers and the Mini LED is cool when you actually get to use it, but I do more tactile things on it that don’t require such a big screen necessarily.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I have and use 3 iPad's. I have a 2020 11" Pro, a 2021 12.9 Pro and now the mini 6. Basically the 12.9 sits in my home office, the 11" in my bedroom and the mini goes everywhere with me. If you got the mini for free why not just keep both iPad's?

 

[petvas]

I have both a 11” Pro and an iPad Mini 6. I of course prefer the quality of the display of the iPad Pro and Promotion, but apart from that and for most cases I prefer to use the mini. Especially on bed and many times also on the couch. I am currently not traveling too much, but I guess I would take the mini with me to complement my 14” MBP and my iPhone Pro Max. I think that I would leave the 11” Pro at home, but that of course depends on the task.
Anyway, I think that the ideal situation would be to use each device in the scenario where it fits best.
I just wish the Mini had a better display, on par with the Pro.

 

[rui no onna]

I am currently not traveling too much, but I guess I would take the mini with me to complement my 14” MBP and my iPhone Pro Max. I think that I would leave the 11” Pro at home, but that of course depends on the task.

Personally, unless I have a specific need for a laptop (e.g. telecommuting, file/media server, iTunes backup), I'm more likely to carry iPad Pro 11/Air 4 + Kindle Paperwhite + iPhone SE when going on vacation.

Anyway, I think that the ideal situation would be to use each device in the scenario where it fits best.

Agreed albeit best fit also depends partly on user preference.

 

[spiderman0616]

Personally, unless I have a specific need for a laptop (e.g. telecommuting, file/media server, iTunes backup), I'm more likely to carry iPad Pro 11/Air 4 + Kindle Paperwhite + iPhone SE when going on vacation.




Agreed albeit best fit also depends partly on user preference.

I would even argue the best fit is ENTIRELY based on user preference. I know people who get all their work done on iPhones and iPad minis. Not as many as I know that get all their work done on Macs and iPad Pros, but plenty of people do exist that don't necessarily want the giant-est screen they can put up with for the situation. That's why most iPad users walking around in public are NOT carrying the largest/latest models. It's usually either a base/Air model or an iPhone. The iPad Pro and iPad mini are not mainstream models, as much as Apple wants them to be.

 

[rui no onna]

I would even argue the best fit is ENTIRELY based on user preference.

Not necessarily. The choice might be limited by software availability.

Excel on iOS is pretty basic so if I need to work on complex spreadsheets without RDP, that's automatic laptop or desktop. Sames goes for accessing government websites.

I've also seen plenty of developers here complain about the lack of Xcode on iPadOS.

 

[spiderman0616]

Not necessarily. The choice might be limited by software availability.

Excel on iOS is pretty basic so if I need to work on complex spreadsheets without RDP, that's automatic laptop or desktop. Sames goes for accessing government websites.

I've also seen plenty of developers here complain about the lack of Xcode on iPadOS.

Sure, but even then, you have other much better options. The only reason software availability is a problem is if you're married to the concept of absolutely all software being available and fully featured on iPad someday. I'm actually pretty convinced that day isn't coming, because that's just not what the iPad is.

Xcode is one exception I think should be considered. You should be able to use the platform to make more software for the platform. Other than that, I'm not sure there's truly a significant amount of people that want to do complicated Excel sheets on an iPad, even if that version of Excel COULD handle it. It's a legacy task designed for legacy hardware, and I think that's probably where it ought to stay. The kind of sheets most people create for Excel or Numbers are usually well within the limits of what iPadOS can do if needed.

 

[JLOAKS]

Why not use 2 iPads? The differences between the iPad mini + 12.9 justify owning one of each. Mini being the ultimate vertical tablet experience, and 12.9 being the ultimate horizontal laptop experience.

 

[cthompson94]

I too fairly recently picked up a mini 6 and I have a iPad Pro 11" 2018. While I do love the iPad Pro, I found that most of the times I personally found it just a little too big for my need (originally I had a 16" mbp so the 11" iPad was a good middle ground). I have since changed my mbp a while back to the m1 13" and most of the time when I thought about using the iPad I found that I would gravitate to the mbp instead. I then got the mini 6 and I love that I can basically bring it anywhere and it has been great paired with a drone instead of my phone as the screen when using that. I have noticed that i use the apple pencil much less due to the size, I have since put a beefy all around case on the 11" and let my little girl use it for her kids show which works because the screen size is perfect for her so that i can have the living room tv back lol, i have occasionally taken the 11" out of the case to use the pencil and see if i miss it, but not so much anymore

 

[petvas]

I have a similar setup and I think I have a good balance between all available display sizes. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max, an iPad mini 6, an 11" iPad Pro, a 14" MBP and a 24" iMac. I have for each device a different usage scenario or situation. Sometimes I do think of getting the 12,9" iPad Pro instead of the 11" and maybe the 16" MBP instead of the 14", but I actually think that my setup is almost perfect for me. When I need to do serious work I use my iMac or my MacBook Pro. For casual consumption on the couch I mostly use my 11" iPad Pro and in the bed I use my iPad mini. I also think that when traveling I will be taking the iPad mini and the 14 MBP with me. The 11" iPad Pro would stay home.

 

[subjonas]

Xcode is one exception I think should be considered. You should be able to use the platform to make more software for the platform. Other than that, I'm not sure there's truly a significant amount of people that want to do complicated Excel sheets on an iPad, even if that version of Excel COULD handle it. It's a legacy task designed for legacy hardware, and I think that's probably where it ought to stay. The kind of sheets most people create for Excel or Numbers are usually well within the limits of what iPadOS can do if needed.

Just jumping in here. I pretty much agree with your first paragraph but I find the points in this paragraph rather questionable.
So aren’t you then saying that an iPhone should be able to make more software for an iPhone, and an Apple Watch for an Apple watch, etc.? I have no opinion on whether or not Xcode needs to come to iPad, but that argument doesn’t make much sense to me.
And to say that complicated Excel sheets is something not a lot of people need or that it is a legacy task (replaced by something else?) is quite a bold statement, and I’m positive that it is incorrect. Not sure how I would prove it though, other than calling up the people I know in various fields who need complicated Excel sheets to do their jobs.
Let me know if I’m misinterpreting what you said.

 

[jdb8167]

Xcode is one exception I think should be considered. You should be able to use the platform to make more software for the platform.

With Swift Playgrounds, you can now use an iPad to both make iPadOS software and release it on the App Store. So if your only reason for wanting Xcode on the iPad is that then apparently Apple agrees and the issue is covered.

 

[spiderman0616]

Just jumping in here. I pretty much agree with your first paragraph but I find the points in this paragraph rather questionable.
So aren’t you then saying that an iPhone should be able to make more software for an iPhone, and an Apple Watch for an Apple watch, etc.? I have no opinion on whether or not Xcode needs to come to iPad, but that argument doesn’t make much sense to me.
And to say that complicated Excel sheets is something not a lot of people need or that it is a legacy task (replaced by something else?) is quite a bold statement, and I’m positive that it is incorrect. Not sure how I would prove it though, other than calling up the people I know in various fields who need complicated Excel sheets to do their jobs.
Let me know if I’m misinterpreting what you said.

Within reason, of course. Like, I think it's reasonable to expect to be able to make iPad software using an iPad, given that it's laptop-like enough to do so and certainly has the power available. I would think that would be limited to iPad though. My point was really that iOS itself doesn't have a hardware resident in the lineup that can make iOS software. You still need to also have a Mac to do those things. As long as it got added to iPad, you could fill that requirement. I'm saying all of the above as a non-developer, so I admit that it could all be wrong and misguided. For example, I believe RAM might still be a major limitation at the moment.

About my Excel comments--I know a LOT of people who I would consider "advanced" Excel users, but I work in a field where it's typical to know those types of people. These are VERY advanced sheets they're making and some of them help drive very large companies. Those types of users simply cannot do that kind of work on an iPad because of software limitations and would never try.

Now if I myself were building a spreadsheet? Even one with some formulas, cross referencing, automations, whatever else? I'm a lot more advanced than the common Excel user, and iPadOS Excel or Numbers fits my needs and then some. I'm no accountant or data scientist, but I do use many advanced Excel features, and they're pretty much all there in iPadOS.

Long story short: iPad Excel/Numbers as it is probably satisfies the needs of the vast majority of iPad users that need to build spreadsheets. My point was that I doubt many of them are sitting there fretting over what device they're doing it on. They just make the spreadsheet where they're comfortable making it. Doesn't make much difference what device it is, and certainly doesn't require a high end Mac, PC, OR iPad in most cases.

 

[jdb8167]

My point was really that iOS itself doesn't have a hardware resident in the lineup that can make iOS software. You still need to also have a Mac to do those things. As long as it got added to iPad, you could fill that requirement. I'm saying all of the above as a non-developer, so I admit that it could all be wrong and misguided.

Except it now does. Swift Playgrounds. See my previous post so you can stop sending out inaccurate information.

 

[DeepSix]

If I was made of money I would have both and keep the pro at home. But if Apple comes out with bigger ipads like a 40" then maybe wait for that?