All iPads iPad mini 5 vs iPad Air 3

[buin20]

Currently have an 8 plus but will likely upgrade to an 11 around christmas time. Debating between the mini and air with 256gb. Will use the iPad to watch netflix before bed, surf the web on the couch, and while traveling on long flights several times over the next year.

Air or mini?

 

[EugW]

Currently have an 8 plus but will likely upgrade to an 11 around christmas time. Debating between the mini and air with 256gb. Will use the iPad to watch netflix before bed, surf the web on the couch, and while traveling on long flights several times over the next year.

Air or mini?

Whatever you prefer.

I personally dislike 8" tablets, but others really don't like 10-11" tablets. No idea what you'll like. Note that you don't really need 256 GB to watch Netflix or downloaded videos on flights, and to surf the web. I find 64 GB is more than sufficient for that usage. OTOH, if you want to edit videos and do other stuff like that, 64 GB may be too little.

FWIW, my current setup is a 7 Plus 128 GB with 10.5" iPad Pro 64 GB. I will probably be upgrading eventually to an iPhone 12 Pro Max next year, along with an 11" iPad Pro this year, hopefully at 128 GB.

Ever since I got my Plus-sized phone, 8" tablets just seem superfluous to me. The main issue is that web surfing, esp. with desktop sites, is just too annoying on small tablets. They're more readable with the mobile sites, but in that case I may as well just use the iPhone in many cases. IOW, for me:

Mobile sites = iPhone Plus/Max
Desktop sites = 10"+ iPad.

 

[buin20]

Whatever you prefer.

I personally dislike 8" tablets, but others really don't like 10-11" tablets. No idea what you'll like. Note that you don't really need 256 GB to watch Netflix or downloaded videos on flights, and to surf the web. I find 64 GB is more than sufficient for that usage. OTOH, if you want to edit videos and do other stuff like that, 64 GB may be too little.

FWIW, my current setup is a 7 Plus 128 GB with 10.5" iPad Pro 64 GB. I will probably be upgrading eventually to an iPhone 12 Pro Max next year, along with an 11" iPad Pro this year, hopefully at 128 GB.

Ever since I got my Plus-sized phone, 8" tablets just seem superfluous to me.

Do you use your tablets entirely in hand or for productivity? 256GB is a necessity for me with the number of shows and movies I like to travel with.

 

[EugW]

Do you use your tablets entirely in hand or for productivity? 256GB is a necessity for me with the number of shows and movies I like to travel with.

Fair enough with the videos. Mind you, if you are taking videos to watch on your 2 week vacation, that's different from downloading Netflix movies and TV shows to watch on the plane. I find for the latter, I only need about 10-15 GB of free space.

I use an Apple Smart Keyboard with my 10.5" iPad Pro. When I get my 11", it will also have an Apple Smart Keyboard.

It has transformed the way I use my tablet. Even just answering email is much more convenient with that full-sized keyboard. Fortunately, it's very easy to detach the keyboard when I want to use it hand held.

As for productivity, it depends on what you mean. I will type letters and emails do some remote VPN stuff with it. I also occasionally edit a video or something, but I'm not composing songs or designing websites or anything like that.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Currently have an 8 plus but will likely upgrade to an 11 around christmas time. Debating between the mini and air with 256gb. Will use the iPad to watch netflix before bed, surf the web on the couch, and while traveling on long flights several times over the next year.

Air or mini?

The iPad mini 5 sounds like it'd fit your needs well.

 

[Herrpod]

The mini was too close to my XR so I returned it for an Air. A much more noticeable upgrade in screen size and capability (can multi-task much more comfortably on the larger screen). I also use it to watch TV on while I'm doing other things, and it destroys the smaller screen in that regard for obvious reasons. But as others pointed out, only you know which size tablet you're more comfortable with.

 

[gdourado]

I have a XS Max.
And I have a mini 4. I love the mini 4.
But since the hardware is getting ancient, I picked up an iPad Pro 11.
It has the same footprint as the air 3, but a bigger display.
It has all the bells and whistles, like pro motion, 4gb of ram, the beast a12x, quad speakers...
But in most cases I still pick up my mini 4!
The form factor is just so good!
It is so light, comfortable and excellent for thumb typing.
So much that I am considering selling the pro 11 and mini 4 and just get a mini 5 and some money on my pocket.

 

[Puppuccino]

I just got a Mini (5G). If you’re travelling a mini seems better, personally.

 

[pdaholic]

I can hold the mini in one hand for a long time without fatigue. All other iPads are much more noticeable. If you will be using it like a laptop propping it up, get an Air. If you will be holding it like a book, the mini is perfect.