iPad mini lovers, what size phone do you have?

[subjonas]

I thought it would be interesting to see the breakdown. I expect as the phone size decreases the number of mini users increases. But then supposedly the biggest group of iPhone users is the 5.5", so it may even out somewhat. In any case, this won't be indicative of much. It's just out of curiosity.

If you have multiple phones, just indicate your largest phone.
Feel free to elaborate in a comment.

 

[pika2000]

I have the 6S as my primary iPhone.
I hope Apple updates the mini as ARKit is only supported on A9 and up. An iPad mini would be an awesome portable tool (for its size) in the age of AR.

 

[subjonas]

I have the 6S as my primary iPhone.
I hope Apple updates the mini as ARKit is only supported on A9 and up. An iPad mini would be an awesome portable tool (for its size) in the age of AR.

Very true. It does seem like the ideal size for AR + portability.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don't currently have an iPad mini but I do prefer the form factor for travelling. If Apple would be honest about about their intentions for the iPad mini then it would help me decide if I'm going to buy the iPad mini or not. Anyhow I've owned the iPad mini 1,2 and 3. I've always used a phablet sized phone alongside them (galaxy note, iPhone plus model).

 

[Josieb1]

i have the iphone 6s +, i'd never have a smaller phone again. I also have as my only ipad a mini 4.

 

[Huginnmuninn]

6S Plus, and I love it.

In fact, given the recent rumor out of South Korea that next year Apple is testing iPhones with 6.4" screens, I'm seriously thinking about not upgrading this year.

For me the smaller iPad size (I'm using mine right now) is because I like to read in bed and type lying down, and the bigger iPads just don't work as well for that.

 

[joeblow7777]

I have a 4.7" iPhone 6 at the moment, but I will likely upgrade to either the "iPhone 8" or "7s Plus", so either way I will probably have a larger phone soon. I don't expect that to lessen my appreciation for my iPad Mini though. There's still a significant difference between a 5.5-5.8" phone and a 7.9" tablet with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

 

[sparksd]

I don't have a mini but in addition to my Air 2 I do have an 8" Galaxy Tab S2 - a size I really like. My phone is a Galaxy S7 Edge (5.5").

 

[rkuo]

I have the 7 after two years of using the 6 Plus and 6S Plus. The Plus is just very large in the pocket to the point where it was uncomfortable. The Plus also utilizes the extra screen space very poorly. Safari frequently displays perhaps one or two extra lines of text and just wastes the rest of the space zooming in and padding the formatting out horizontally.

The new iPhone will help a bit by reducing the ridiculous screen bezel size. I think I can swing that.

 

[subjonas]

Kind of interesting. Supposedly, the larger the phone, the less compelling it is to have a small tablet in addition, but here we see so far that the number of mini users increases as phone size increases. But it could still be true. I'm guessing this pattern is more an indication that there are just that many more big phone users than small, at least here in MR.

edit- I guess this poll would be more telling if we first had a poll to find out the phone size distribution of everyone in MR.

 

[Huginnmuninn]

Kind of interesting. Supposedly, the larger the phone, the less compelling it is to have a small tablet in addition, but here we see so far that the number of mini users increases as phone size increases.

This is not a representative sample by any stretch. For me, the answer is that even the biggest iPhone is too small for reading (but great as a portable info/communications device that takes calls), while the larger iPads are too heavy for one-handed reading. So yes, the larger the iPhone gets, the less need I'd find for my mini, but the iPhone isn't big enough yet. But if the rumors from a couple of days ago are right, in a year we'll see 6.4" iPhones that, if bezel-less, could conceivably be the same size as the current iPhone Plus phones. I'd definitely buy that, then I'd throw my iPad mini 2 out the window.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

No smartphone. iPad Mini with Cellular covers both bases well for me. The rare times I need to make a voice call works just as well as a dedicated phone using buds with microphone. IMO, texting & Internet usage is far superior on a bigger screen. But, most importantly, using AT&Ts 2GB data for $25 for 3 months means my annual cellular cost is up to $100 in total ("up to" because there are times when ready wifi access allows me to get by just fine without the cellular option).

I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything and it's nice not paying $40/month or more for the same benefits. Is this for everyone? Of course not. But it serves the iPhone purpose for me just fine.

 

[sonicrobby]

I've had the 5S, 6, and 6 plus. Honestly my favorite was the 5S. Not only in the size, but the actual design of the phone. I am really keen on the idea of replacing my phone altogether with my LTE mini, but the only reason I am not able to is:
-Portability of the mini in social outings in the town (theft is high, and my phone is easier to carry around and hold on to discretely).
-Pictures taken on the mini aren't as good as the ones on my SE.

However, if the LTE watch has the ability to call and text without a phone around. I would easily drop my phone in exchange for the watch, and just sacrifice the picture aspect.

 

[Hastings101]

I have a 7+, but I think the iPad Mini is the perfect size for gaming. It allows easy typing, use of gyroscope, and less screen space to focus on for racing and action while still being bigger than a Plus iPhone for strategy games. If Apple ever updated the line and got more serious about gaming accessories I would own one.

 

[rrayborn38]

7+, but I'm thinking about downgrading to this:

Seriously - I've come to hate smartphones. I'll probably keep mine, but I would always prefer to carry around the iPad Mini 4 rather than a big, bulky phone that will never be big enough.

 

[bensisko]

I have the 5.5" iPhone and it's still to small to consider it a replacement for the Mini - it would have to be at least 7" before I can say "maybe I don't need the Mini...".

Personally, I really don't want/need a phone. A mini would suffice, but there's too much that's tied to the phone and isn't on the iPad (health/watch, Apple Pay [physical locations], etc.) that I still need/want for the phone.

if the mini had a better camera and the missing iPhone features, I could use the mini as a phone (I never bring the phone up to my face, it's always AirPods (previously EarPods).

 

[subjonas]

7+, but I'm thinking about downgrading to this:

Seriously - I've come to hate smartphones. I'll probably keep mine, but I would always prefer to carry around the iPad Mini 4 rather than a big, bulky phone that will never be big enough.

Intriguing. I do often reminisce about and miss my Motorola razr flip phone.

 

[LibbyLA]

Galaxy Note 5 and no plans to leave the Android ecosystem. I'll happily enjoy my iPP 10.5, iPP 9.7, and iP Mini 4 but have no interest at all in an iPhone of any sort.

 

[Jimbo Limbo]

I just use my iPad mini 2 LTE 128Gb. I use the Freetone app to make calls and do SMS messaging to non IOS phones. I do not make calls with headphones. Instead, I hold the bottom of the ipad mini to my ear, and the top closer to my mouth. The iPad does not have ear rejection, so I hold the microphone end out a bit from my head. Yes, I wish for a better camera, 2 gb of RAM, and pencil support. I occasionally want something smaller when I am biking, running, paddling, sailing. The new watch sounds interesting, but I do not know whether it can work with an LTE ipad instead of a phone.

The mini is pocketable in my dress pants, but not my jeans. It is the perfect size for gaming, reading, everything.
I have considered buying a used Iphone SE for occasions when I need smaller.

Regarding photos, I will pull out my Canon SLR and lenses when it is something I like to shoot. For family events, I let my wife take them on her Iphone 6. Wildlife, birds in flight, airshows are not great photo subjects for iphones. 50D with 400mm 5.6L is much better. 7Dmk2 would be even better.

 

[onepoint]

I just use my iPad mini 2 LTE 128Gb. I use the Freetone app to make calls and do SMS messaging to non IOS phones. I do not make calls with headphones. Instead, I hold the bottom of the ipad mini to my ear, and the top closer to my mouth. The iPad does not have ear rejection, so I hold the microphone end out a bit from my head. Yes, I wish for a better camera, 2 gb of RAM, and pencil support. I occasionally want something smaller when I am biking, running, paddling, sailing. The new watch sounds interesting, but I do not know whether it can work with an LTE ipad instead of a phone.

The mini is pocketable in my dress pants, but not my jeans. It is the perfect size for gaming, reading, everything.
I have considered buying a used Iphone SE for occasions when I need smaller.

Regarding photos, I will pull out my Canon SLR and lenses when it is something I like to shoot. For family events, I let my wife take them on her Iphone 6. Wildlife, birds in flight, airshows are not great photo subjects for iphones. 50D with 400mm 5.6L is much better. 7Dmk2 would be even better.