iPad Mini 4 still worth it?

[bubulol]

If this is the last iPad mini generation, then I'm so glad I have one – it's the first true perfect reading device among other things. iOS 11 is fine on it.

Is it better to buy the new iPad Pro? Putting aside the considerations of cost and whether you like the iPad mini's size and weight more, yes.

I had Mini 4 and Air 2 for couple weeks and definitely prefer 7.9 Mini size
At that time, i couldn't see a single difference from both in term of performance (under iOS 9)
Now i higly regret it for not keeping it (Mini 4 lol, Air 2 is too big and heavy for my use)
The thing is i am not the typical Apple user which having preference for bigger display device
I currently own a SE, i could say iOS 11 doesnt run smoother than iOS 10
Big shame on Apple who discontinued iPad Mini because they want to make more benefit, then making bigger iPad does help them, Apple Mini is way too affordable as iPad device

 

[newellj]

The displays on the iPad mini 3 and the iPad mini 4 have the same specs, according to Apple:

• 7.9-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display
• 2048-by-1536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

The 4 also has:

• Fully laminated display
• Antireflective coating

But those are coatings on the display, not a change to the display itself. I've held the mini 3 in one hand and the mini 4 in the other to compare, and I don't see any display difference to justify the upgrade. I'm satisfied with the display. I would like significantly better performance, especially now with iOS 11, and perhaps better battery life, and the compatibility with things like ARkit. The mini 4 delivers none of that.

Read the tests I posted. The Mini 2 and 3 displays have about as much in common with the Mini 4 as the display on the 13" MBA has with a 13" rMBP. Yeah, I hear you that the pixel count is the same, they're both retina. The color rendering is night and day different. I can also tell you, as a former Mini 2 owner who owned both side by side for over a year, that the Mini 4 is way faster than the 2.

I totally agree with you on performance, though. Sadly, very sadly because I really love the Mini form factor, if we get an update (which I believe we will), Apple will almost certainly stick with their policy of keeping the Mini a generation (or more?) behind the regular iPad line (whatever that means with the iPad lineup as it has developed).
[doublepost=1507404519][/doublepost]

I had Mini 4 and Air 2 for couple weeks and definitely prefer 7.9 Mini size
At that time, i couldn't see a single difference from both in term of performance (under iOS 9)
Now i higly regret it for not keeping it (Mini 4 lol, Air 2 is too big and heavy for my use)
The thing is i am not the typical Apple user which having preference for bigger display device
I currently own a SE, i could say iOS 11 doesnt run smoother than iOS 11
Big shame on Apple who discontinued iPad Mini because they want to make more benefit, then making bigger iPad does help them, Apple Mini is way too affordable as iPad device

It's a little like Monty Python and the Holy Grail...everyone's saying "bring out your dead"...I will say "I'm not dead yet!"

 

[GGJstudios]

The color rendering is night and day different.

To my old eyes, the difference is completely unnoticeable. It's like improving the audio quality of a dog whistle that I couldn't hear to begin with.

I can also tell you, as a former Mini 2 owner who owned both side by side for over a year, that the Mini 4 is way faster than the 2.

I'll take your word for it. After trying several of my most common functions with the mini 3 in one hand and the mini 4 in the other, I found no noticeable evidence of improved performance. That may be different with iOS 11, which appears to respond noticeably slower on my mini 3. Doubling the RAM would be somewhat noticeable in certain scenarios, but I'd like a bigger bump than that before upgrading. I tend to skip generations, with fairly good success: iPhone 4, then iPhone 6, etc. I'm just hoping there will be a new mini generation to skip to!

 

[sorcery]

My 70 year old eyeballs detect no appreciable display difference and since I only use the device as a reader/mailer, the speed increment is irrelevant. So I got a 2 at bargain price.
I shall still upgrade next year, hopefully to a 5, if not, then a 4 will suffice and may even outlast me...

 

[Ghost31]

There's an identical thread running here now.

It's not likely discontinued, and that's your real problem. You have no idea whether to buy a frankly dated piece of tech or to wait for the next gen, because none of us have any clue when Apple will update the Mini - but like the iPod Touch, I'm sure it will happen.

If you like the form factor, the 10.5 will feel huge. I have a Mini 4 and an Air 2, which is a less extreme difference, and even there the Mini goes with me in a lot of cases where I simply wouldn't bother with the 9.7" Air 2.

Another thing I love about the Mini that I don't see mentioned much. It's the perfect size (for me) to do two-hand thumb typing. The phones (even the Plus) are too small, and the 9.7" or bigger iPads are two big. The Mini is exactly right.

The iPad mini’s refresh cycle is reminding me of the Mac mini’s

 

[newellj]

You may feel the way I did (do still) about my iPod Touch Gen 5. I

The iPad mini’s refresh cycle is reminding me of the Mac mini’s

Ugh. Yeah, well, notice that three of the products in my sig are the iPod Touch, the iPad Mini and the Mac Mini.

 

[Leo90]

iPad Mini is unfortunately on its last legs with the advent of bigger screen smartphones. If you need a Mini so bad, I would advise you to get an iPhone Plus maybe. My current setup is absolutely perfect for me, I have an iPhone SE and an iPad Pro 10.5. Most media consumption I do is on my iPad so I dont need or want a bigger iPhone than my iPhone SE, plus iPad Pro is definitely the way to go in terms of personal computers/tablets. But if I didnt need a tablet, I think I would choose an iPhone Plus to do the job the iPad Mini does for you.

 

[Ffosse]

The 9.7 " iPad is the new Mini. I can see Apple dropping the Mini 4 soon.

 

[007p]

It's been said before, but the plus phone is not a replacement for the mini - it has less than half the screen estate, and also costs twice as much for that matter.

While I guess the cheaper iPad 2017 could become the only non pro iPad, it needs to be quite a bit thinner & lighter to match the portability of the mini - and that's not even getting into the display differences currently. Personally still hoping they bring the iPad 2017 in line with the mini 4 display and release iPad 7.9" & 9.7" with an A10 in March but guess we have to wait and see.

 

[Starfia]

Big shame on Apple who discontinued iPad Mini because they want to make more benefit, then making bigger iPad does help them, Apple Mini is way too affordable as iPad device

?

Well, they haven't discontinued the iPad mini – it's still in their current product line and they've made no official indication they're planning to discontinue it. And the 9.7" iPad with comparable specs is cheaper than it.

 

[bubulol]

They havent but they wouldn't make new successor either
iPad Mini is on the edge of being extincted
10.5 is the real new classic iPad and it costs like 2 iPad Mini 4, not affordable for most of people

 

[newellj]

iPad Mini is unfortunately on its last legs with the advent of bigger screen smartphones. If you need a Mini so bad, I would advise you to get an iPhone Plus maybe. My current setup is absolutely perfect for me, I have an iPhone SE and an iPad Pro 10.5. Most media consumption I do is on my iPad so I dont need or want a bigger iPhone than my iPhone SE, plus iPad Pro is definitely the way to go in terms of personal computers/tablets. But if I didnt need a tablet, I think I would choose an iPhone Plus to do the job the iPad Mini does for you.

You may be right for the broad market, but I tried a 6S+ for a few weeks on the theory that maybe I could ditch my iPhone 6 and Mini. It didn't work at all for me. It was too big to carry easily as a phone in a work environment, and it didn't provide either the functionality or the screen size of the iPad. I assume I'm a minority and that Apple's lack of interest in the Mini at this point is driven more by market demand than Steve Jobs' doctrinal views, but I really find the Mini a perfect iPad.

Someone else pointed out that there are quite a few Apple products in the "about to be extincted" category, if you look at product refresh cycles: the iPod Touch, the Mac Mini and the iPad Mini are all in some sort of slo-mo product cycle. But they're not dead till Tim says so.

 

[JPack]

The 9.7" iPad is the replacement for the iPad mini.

Surveys have shown an overwhelming majority of tablet consumers use their device at home for entertainment. The iPad mini doesn't serve well at home nor as a mobile device. The display is too small for home use (compared to 9.7") and too big to carry around (compared to phablets).

Consumer preferences have changed, just like the demand for 4" phones. I'm sure there are plenty of who are happy the iPad mini, but it's simply not representative of the larger market.

 

[subjonas]

The 9.7" iPad is the replacement for the iPad mini.

Only if the sole purpose of the mini was to offer a cheaper iPad, which many here will argue it wasn’t.

The display is too small for home use (compared to 9.7")

I think the size is perfect for home entertainment use. The bigger iPads are better for productivity but more of a chore to hold.

too big to carry around (compared to phablets)

But much better to carry around compared to bigger iPads. Mainly because they’re the biggest a screen can be while still being able to fit in a coat pocket.

There is a very wide range of preferences and uses. We can’t really make definitive statements about the demands of the masses based on the little data we have. There are too many factors to take into account, some unknown. Until someone does a very thorough mass survey that asks something like “If all specs and prices were equal, what size iPad would you prefer? And how would you use it? And what other devices do you have?”—until then it’s ultimately conjecture.

 

[newellj]

The 9.7" iPad is the replacement for the iPad mini.

Surveys have shown an overwhelming majority of tablet consumers use their device at home for entertainment. The iPad mini doesn't serve well at home nor as a mobile device. The display is too small for home use (compared to 9.7") and too big to carry around (compared to phablets).

Consumer preferences have changed, just like the demand for 4" phones. I'm sure there are plenty of who are happy the iPad mini, but it's simply not representative of the larger market.

You've actually pretty much described my iPad usage. At home, I use a 9.7" iPad, but I commute to work on commuter rail 5x days/week, and the Mini is perfect for carrying, for email/quick document review/web browsing on the train, and it's easier to carry. It's a niche use, just like the doctors who can carry a mini easily in a coat pocket but can't do the same with a 9.7" or bigger iPad. I don't disagree with your analysis about the market demand issues, but I don't think the slow refresh cycle means that Apple has given up on the Mini - yet.

 

[JPack]

There is a very wide range of preferences and uses. We can’t really make definitive statements about the demands of the masses based on the little data we have. There are too many factors to take into account, some unknown. Until someone does a very thorough mass survey that asks something like “If all specs and prices were equal, what size iPad would you prefer? And how would you use it? And what other devices do you have?”—until then it’s ultimately conjecture.

Apple's actions suggest they've done the survey. And the results are in.

Apple has stopped selling the 32GB iPad mini. They haven't refreshed the mini line and instead introduced bigger and heavier 9.7" iPad.

The research data referenced in this Adweek article suggests tablets are used outside of the home less than 15% of the time. Given the "stay at home" role, the portability aspect of an iPad mini has little value. A few posters have emphasized the "pocketability" benefits of iPad mini, but in reality few people do that.
[doublepost=1507491608][/doublepost]

You've actually pretty much described my iPad usage. At home, I use a 9.7" iPad, but I commute to work on commuter rail 5x days/week, and the Mini is perfect for carrying, for email/quick document review/web browsing on the train, and it's easier to carry. It's a niche use, just like the doctors who can carry a mini easily in a coat pocket but can't do the same with a 9.7" or bigger iPad. I don't disagree with your analysis about the market demand issues, but I don't think the slow refresh cycle means that Apple has given up on the Mini - yet.

I agree it's a niche use and that's the main problem. Perhaps if current fashion weren't skewed towards skinny or muscular clothing, the mini would have a better market. For the average consumer, carrying two devices when one phablet can do the job (until they get home or to the office) makes more sense.

 

[GGJstudios]

The 9.7" iPad is the replacement for the iPad mini.

That is true for some people, but not others. There are many who prefer a more portable iPad, which is certainly not the same as a phablet.

The display is too small for home use (compared to 9.7") and too big to carry around (compared to phablets).

That is one opinion. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the iPad mini to be the perfect size for emails, picture and video viewing, web browsing, note taking, and many other functions. The display is certainly not too small for these things, being much larger than the iPhone display. It's also quite portable and easy to handle. If I really need a bigger screen, I can just use my MBP. For me, the mini is the perfect size in between the phone and the computer.

 

[subjonas]

Apple's actions suggest they've done the survey. And the results are in.

Apple has stopped selling the 32GB iPad mini. They haven't refreshed the mini line and instead introduced bigger and heavier 9.7" iPad.

The research data referenced in this Adweek article suggests tablets are used outside of the home less than 15% of the time. Given the "stay at home" role, the portability aspect of an iPad mini has little value. A few posters have emphasized the "pocketability" benefits of iPad mini, but in reality few people do that.

It suggests that Apple found people don't prefer the mini size, but since they haven't told us, for all we know there could be dozens of reasons and factors that the mini is being phased out other than that people don't prefer them. Apple has been known to do things people don't like and not do things people do like. And while it's probably true that most people use their iPads mostly at home, all that survey is saying is that people use their iPads mostly at home. To say that people don't prefer using the mini at home is a logical leap. Yes, the mini is better for portability out of the home, but that's not its only function. It is also a more comfortable device to use whether at home or out.

You may be right, and it's fine to have theories, and I agree the facts are suggestive, but they are nowhere close to definitive.
[doublepost=1507497353][/doublepost]

the mini is the perfect size in between the phone and the computer.

I very much agree with this.

Especially as one who prefers a small phone.

But that said, I also have a 12.9 iPad, but its main purpose is for digital sketching. If I didn't draw, I probably wouldn't have it.

 

[masotime]

My theory is that the next iPad mini is the iPad X (name may be different given that it’s a long way to the 10th anniversary of the iPad...)

An edge to edge, Face ID enabled OLED iPad in the form factor of the iPad mini, it’s basically the ultimate “consumer” version of the iPad reimagined in place of the current iPad mini.

That makes sense to me given that the higher end iPads are now “pro” devices rather than consumer devices, I think Apple is planning a high end consumer iPad X. Given the production difficulties involved Apple is probably going with the iPhone X first to wait for the tech to mature before introducing it on the iPad.

This will be absolutely awesome and I’m looking forward to it.

 

[newellj]

One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned about the Mini that I truly love is that for me (tall male, big hands) thumb typing on the Mini is a dream. Typing on any size iPhone, even a Plus, is a real chore. 9.7" or larger iPads are too much hunt and peck. On a Mini, I can hold it in both hands and fly across the keyboard.

Very personal but it's part of what I love about the Mini. Obviously a lot of people are going to have different opinions on what size keyboard works best for them.

 

[bubulol]

iPad Mini isnt about portability
Why i love iPad Mini, its about ergonomic, you can handle with one hand with ease
Fair comparison is while bigger iPad look more like comics/magazine, iPad Mini is more like a pocker book in hands
People usually prefer bigger iPad, they have no idea that size doesnt matter depending of eyes' distance
Indeed, easier to type on iPad Mini keyboard than 9'7 which requires bigger hands

 

[masotime]

Well... maybe still no iPad mini, but I'm definitely looking forward to an iPad with an edge-to-edge screen - https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/09/ipad-pro-2018-truedepth-camera/

 

[GGJstudios]

Well... maybe still no iPad mini, but I'm definitely looking forward to an iPad with an edge-to-edge screen - https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/09/ipad-pro-2018-truedepth-camera/

... except nothing in that article has anything to do with an edge-to-edge screen. That only talks about the TrueDepth camera system, for Face ID. An edge-to-edge screen is not a priority for an iPad, which has plenty of screen real estate to work with. It's more important for an iPhone, to maintain the balance between needing a small form factor and a larger display. An edge-to-edge display on the iPad would make them harder to hold with one hand.

 

[masotime]

... except nothing in that article has anything to do with an edge-to-edge screen. That only talks about the TrueDepth camera system, for Face ID. An edge-to-edge screen is not a priority for an iPad, which has plenty of screen real estate to work with. It's more important for an iPhone, to maintain the balance between needing a small form factor and a larger display. An edge-to-edge display on the iPad would make them harder to hold with one hand.

Well if you have Face ID, it doesn't really make sense to retain Touch ID with the home button. You could... but that seems inconsistent with its removal from the iPhone.

Without a home button, there's little reason to retain the bottom bezel. As for holding it with one hand... that was solved long ago with the iPad mini.

 

[GGJstudios]

Well if you have Face ID, it doesn't really make sense to retain Touch ID with the home button. You could... but that seems inconsistent with its removal from the iPhone.

Without a home button, there's little reason to retain the bottom bezel. As for holding it with one hand... that was solved long ago with the iPad mini.

The bezel can be retained, even if there is no home button. And as for one-handed operation, this thread is about the possible discontinuance of the iPad mini, which still leaves all the other iPad models that can't be held easily without a bezel. They're not going to implement a new design on the mini that isn't also used on the larger iPads. The reverse is far more likely. The edge-to-edge design is a necessity to get decent display size from a small phone. It's unnecessary for an iPad which, even with a bezel, still has plenty of space to work with.