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zlogs

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 27, 2013
33
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I am still using the iPad Mini 2, and am still surprised at how well it holds up even in (almost) 2019. I knew it was something that would last a long time when it was announced. Same processor and internals as the newest iPhone at the time as well as a beautiful Retina display. Not to mention, the networking module has always been super reliable and never drops. As an example, I'm out in Afghanistan and my iPhone xS can't keep a reliable LTE OR EVEN 3G signal. My iPad stays connected to LTE, even when I go into all metal buildings. I have been using the iPad on IOS 9.0.0 jail broken and it is my mobile router with T-Mobile roaming (grandfathered consumer global plus on T-Mobile = unlimited overseas Internet) and I am the only one out here needless to
Say that has internet at all times. The battery is still excellent and works almost as good as it did launch day. I hope with the new iPad, we get something as special and niche as the mini 2. I never upgraded to the 3 and 4 because they both used the same processor. What are your takes/personal opinion on a new iPad mini, and what do you think it should take away from past iPad mini models? I am curious to see this forums take on it.
 
I never upgraded to the 3 and 4 because they both used the same processor. What are your takes/personal opinion on a new iPad mini, and what do you think it should take away from past iPad mini models? I am curious to see this forums take on it.

Actually, the 4 has an A8 processor, upgraded from the A7 in the 2 and 3, plus twice the RAM.

I get what you’re saying about the 2 though. It was the best mini at launch. The only one with identical specs to the larger model that launched with it, making it so that you didn’t have to sacrifice anything to you favoured the smaller form.
 
Actually, the 4 has an A8 processor, upgraded from the A7 in the 2 and 3, plus twice the RAM.

I get what you’re saying about the 2 though. It was the best mini at launch. The only one with identical specs to the larger model that launched with it, making it so that you didn’t have to sacrifice anything to you favoured the smaller form.
Ahh, that's what it was. It was the 3, that had the last gen processor.
 
Ahh, that's what it was. It was the 3, that had the last gen processor.

Yes, though when the Mini 4 launched with the A8, the iPhone 6s also launched with the A9, so although the Mini 4 is a notable upgrade over the 3 and 2, it never had the latest A-series processor. The most current full-sized iPad at the time, the Air 2, had an A8X with 3 cores rather than the 2 in the A8, so even though it launched later, the Mini 4 was never quite as powerful as the then flagship iPad.

As you said, the Mini 2 was the only Mini to launch with Apple’s best mobile specs.
 
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I am still using the iPad Mini 2, and am still surprised at how well it holds up even in (almost) 2019. I knew it was something that would last a long time when it was announced. Same processor and internals as the newest iPhone at the time as well as a beautiful Retina display. Not to mention, the networking module has always been super reliable and never drops. As an example, I'm out in Afghanistan and my iPhone xS can't keep a reliable LTE OR EVEN 3G signal. My iPad stays connected to LTE, even when I go into all metal buildings. I have been using the iPad on IOS 9.0.0 jail broken and it is my mobile router with T-Mobile roaming (grandfathered consumer global plus on T-Mobile = unlimited overseas Internet) and I am the only one out here needless to
Say that has internet at all times. The battery is still excellent and works almost as good as it did launch day. I hope with the new iPad, we get something as special and niche as the mini 2. I never upgraded to the 3 and 4 because they both used the same processor. What are your takes/personal opinion on a new iPad mini, and what do you think it should take away from past iPad mini models? I am curious to see this forums take on it.


I too have a mini 2, bought a year after it was introduced and it is still going great guns, (in London not the battle front) and I too have never been able to really justify purchasing the two succeeding models, as this model has and continues to operate well. I look forward to an genuine update, which should take into consideration;
  • USB-C port
  • >2 GB RAM
  • Face ID/ Touch ID
  • A12 processor
  • Pencil support
Without serious consideration of the hardware, by Apple, they might as well not carry the model, any further.It is remarkable that with the popularity of the form factor that it has been abandoned or marginally upgraded.
 
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The Mini 2 is a gem. It really helps that Apple decided to maintain the iPhone 5s which resulted in additional support.
We bought one for our childcare and I can't believe that its been over 5 years ago!
Here's hoping the newest iPad Mini holds up just as long.
 
I would argue the Mini 4 is even less gimped than the Mini 2, mainly because of the 2GB RAM. The Mini 2 became almost unusable for me after 2 years due to constant app refreshing when multitasking, whereas I cannot find one fault with my Mini 4 after 2 years.
 
Apple they has lost it way in term of updating their models and then the trend toward cheaping the new versions with lowest quality components and limiting RAM!
 
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