All iPads iPad mini or 11” Pro as companion device?

[ofarlig]

I am using my 12.9” as a laptop more or less and have felt I want some device to just use as a tablet without any keyboards and such. Something to read on and use more as a companion device to bring with me when walking around the home. But I cannot decide if I want to go ultra lightness or still have some power. If I decide for the mini I might wait for whatever the refresh will turn out to be but I’ve been thinking of a 2021 11” Pro as well.

You guys who have a similar setup with a 12.9” or a MBA/MBP and also a tablet, are you using a mini or a Pro/Air? What are some positives and negatives?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Since you already have the 12.9," it wouldn't make much sense to get an 11." I would wait and see what a possible refresh looks like for the mini.

 

[ofarlig]

Since you already have the 12.9," it wouldn't make much sense to get an 11." I would wait and see what a possible refresh looks like for the mini.

Maybe, I used to run the 11” as my only device before and it was a good compromise. It is a tad heavy to hold in one hand to read and such but the screen is def big enough. I am wondering if the mini gets too small in the long run though, it was ages since I had a mini so can’t really compare it. Been looking at them in the store but that doesn’t tell the entire story either.

 

[rui no onna]

I've got all 3 size classes (8", 10/11" and 13") and I never really use the mini. I prefer to use iPads in landscape and the mini just seems too small for my taste.

 

[ejin222]

I am using my 12.9” as a laptop more or less and have felt I want some device to just use as a tablet without any keyboards and such. Something to read on and use more as a companion device to bring with me when walking around the home. But I cannot decide if I want to go ultra lightness or still have some power. If I decide for the mini I might wait for whatever the refresh will turn out to be but I’ve been thinking of a 2021 11” Pro as well.

You guys who have a similar setup with a 12.9” or a MBA/MBP and also a tablet, are you using a mini or a Pro/Air? What are some positives and negatives?

Before I gave my Mini to my daughter, it was my most used iPad (I have the 2021 12.9”). As a companion tablet, it did everything I needed: book reader, video, web browsing. Basically, whenever I put my 12.9” down, I picked up my Mini 5.

I am eagerly waiting for the often rumored Mini 6. I have gift cards saved to purchase it and be able to whip out my Mini from my jacket pocket.

With the rumored Mini 6 being bigger than 7.9”, I would expect this would be more than enough to substitute for the 11” and weight much less too.

Also, if this is going to be just an accompanying device, why not just get the Air?

 

[ofarlig]

I've got all 3 size classes (8", 10/11" and 13") and I never really use the mini. I prefer to use iPads in landscape and the mini just seems too small for my taste.

Yeah, although I found that I never used the 11” in landscape when using safari since it showed to little of the web page for me. It was mostly in portrait mode, but it is mainly for some video and games where I am wondering if I’d want the 11” over a smaller one.

Before I gave my Mini to my daughter, it was my most used iPad (I have the 2021 12.9”). As a companion tablet, it did everything I needed: book reader, video, web browsing. Basically, whenever I put my 12.9” down, I picked up my Mini 5.

I am eagerly waiting for the often rumored Mini 6. I have gift cards saved to purchase it and be able to whip out my Mini from my jacket pocket.

With the rumored Mini 6 being bigger than 7.9”, I would expect this would be more than enough to substitute for the 11” and weight much less too.

Also, if this is going to be just an accompanying device, why not just get the Air?

Yeah it is about what I am looking for, I also got the 2021 12.9” that I use as a laptop more or less and it never leaves the magic keyboard. Which is why I am looking for a secondary device to use as a pure tablet to carry around or be the device I bring with me and so on. I‘ve never been someone to bring my laptop with me and that haven’t changed with this big tablet, but a small enough device without any keyboard case would probably work for that.

How are playing games on the mini? I am thinking of games like Civilisation or Tropico and such, are they involving enough?

Reason for not going with the Air over the 11” Pro? Probably just because I like the 120 Hz displays and the extra RAM, also I do find FaceID to be a much better experience.

 

[The Game 161]

Since you already have the 12.9," it wouldn't make much sense to get an 11." I would wait and see what a possible refresh looks like for the mini.

Dunno about that if you use the 12.9 purely as a laptop type replacement the 11 inch would be ideal if you are using it as a tablet and the 12.9 with a keyboard

 

[The Game 161]

I am using my 12.9” as a laptop more or less and have felt I want some device to just use as a tablet without any keyboards and such. Something to read on and use more as a companion device to bring with me when walking around the home. But I cannot decide if I want to go ultra lightness or still have some power. If I decide for the mini I might wait for whatever the refresh will turn out to be but I’ve been thinking of a 2021 11” Pro as well.

You guys who have a similar setup with a 12.9” or a MBA/MBP and also a tablet, are you using a mini or a Pro/Air? What are some positives and negatives?

I bought the M1 12.9 but due to a screen defect it’s gone back to Apple to see if they can fix. I picked up the M1 11 inch and thinking hard if to keep the 12.9 when it returns or just get the refund

 

[ofarlig]

I bought the M1 12.9 but due to a screen defect it’s gone back to Apple to see if they can fix. I picked up the M1 11 inch and thinking hard if to keep the 12.9 when it returns or just get the refund

Yeah, I do like the 12.9" a lot more with the magic keyboard than I did the 11". In landscape I think the 11" cuts off too much of the page so I always held it.

Choosing between a mini and the Pro is quite hard, even if I assume the mini will get the rumoured features.

 

[Digitalguy]

I have the 3 sizes and the mini is used only in bed and when I travel. At home I use either the 12.9 or 11... The mini is too small and the 11 is very light already. But if the new mini is large enough it may change things. Better to wait a couple more months

 

[ofarlig]

I have the 3 sizes and the mini is used only in bed and when I travel. At home I use either the 12.9 or 11... The mini is too small and the 11 is very light already. But if the new mini is large enough it may change things. Better to wait a couple more months

Yeah waiting isn‘t my strong suit but it might be best, unless I get something to use in the meantime.

The mini might be a tad small, but I do know the 11” is too heavy for me to one hand for longer periods. So reading on it isn’t perfect but it works.

 

[jagolden]

Really depends on your usage for the secondary device.
I have a 12.9 and a mini.
The mini is great for travel and most other things. The “biggest” apps I run on the mini is Affinity Photo and Designer. No complaints.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I have both the iPad mini AND the 11” iPad Pro. The 11” iPad Pro is actually my laptop replacement. And I use the iPad mini when I want to travel really light. I think the 11” is the perfect size for a tablet. It’s just small enough to feel like a real tablet, but large enough to be super comfortable to read,watch movies & work on. I can hold it easily and type with my thumbs in portrait mode, and in landscape it is a real pleasure visually. My iPad mini is strictly for when i want to travel light, but my iPhone is too small to surf the web on or be productive on for too long. So it serves it’s purpose. But if you want the ultimate sized tablet experience, I’d say go with the 11”.

 

[Surfman]

Yeah, I do like the 12.9" a lot more with the magic keyboard than I did the 11". In landscape I think the 11" cuts off too much of the page so I always held it.

All I have now is the M1 12.9 and MKB, i just pull it off and use with no case around the house, i also have the folio but only use it for work day trips to show customers photos.
Holiday or overnighters i take the MGK.

I had a 11” for 2.5 years and didn’t like the the MGK with it, have a 12 pro max that gets plenty of use too.
A mini with full screen and FID would be a better pair if ever comes.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I am using my 12.9” as a laptop more or less and have felt I want some device to just use as a tablet without any keyboards and such. Something to read on and use more as a companion device to bring with me when walking around the home. But I cannot decide if I want to go ultra lightness or still have some power. If I decide for the mini I might wait for whatever the refresh will turn out to be but I’ve been thinking of a 2021 11” Pro as well.

You guys who have a similar setup with a 12.9” or a MBA/MBP and also a tablet, are you using a mini or a Pro/Air? What are some positives and negatives?

Wait for the iPad mini 6 with a refreshed design.

 

[elmarjazz]

I had a mini 4, and it was the best size I felt for a personal device; web, movies in the hand, emails, and just with me everywhere without a thought for its portability. Then I got a iPP 10.5 to use for a combination of work and personal use and gave my mini to my son. I still miss the mini, but the larger screen size of my now iPP M1 11” just enhances the personal experience use. It’s the perfect all around use size, and a true tablet, not a laptop replacement for me. Any iPad will have advantages and comprises. Since you have a 12.9”, maybe a ultra-portable mini will give you something really different in use, and compliment the bigger. You can’t go wrong with an M1 11”, I love mine, or wait and get a refreshed mini when they come out.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Keep in mind that rumor has it the iPad mini will be updated with slimmer bezels & the flat edged design of the ipad pros later this year. The screen will be bigger because of the slimmer bezels, so that and the 12.9” might be good companions. That is if you can wait for a rumor that may or may not happen.

 

[One2Grift]

I am using my 12.9” as a laptop more or less and have felt I want some device to just use as a tablet without any keyboards and such. Something to read on and use more as a companion device to bring with me when walking around the home. But I cannot decide if I want to go ultra lightness or still have some power. If I decide for the mini I might wait for whatever the refresh will turn out to be but I’ve been thinking of a 2021 11” Pro as well.

You guys who have a similar setup with a 12.9” or a MBA/MBP and also a tablet, are you using a mini or a Pro/Air? What are some positives and negatives?

I have an MBA M1 and it’s a very light,small form factor. It definitely has its place from the desk with a monitor to the couch. But it is a laptop. I also have the iPad mini. For me, I love the very small form mini gives me. Emails, reading, light tasks, light surfing, super easy to take with me, easy to sit in any reclined position or in bed to do all of it.

 

[ericwn]

I might get an 11 as the couch computer.

 

[ofarlig]

Yeah I decided to get the 64 GB Wifi mini 5 to try it out, most likely I’d want a larger storage capacity and maybe even cellular once they update it but this will be a good thing to try the size paired with the 12.9” with. And then we will see when Apple decides to update it.

 

[sracer]

Yeah I decided to get the 64 GB Wifi mini 5 to try it out, most likely I’d want a larger storage capacity and maybe even cellular once they update it but this will be a good thing to try the size paired with the 12.9” with. And then we will see when Apple decides to update it.

Good decision IMO. Try testing it hard within your return window. You should be able to get a good feel for how, or if, it'll serve the purpose you intended. Better to find out now than wait another 3 months for the mythical Mini 6 only to discover that it won't be released.

I have the 256GB Mini 5 and it is a little powerhouse. Works great with the Apple Pencil 1.

 

[ofarlig]

Good decision IMO. Try testing it hard within your return window. You should be able to get a good feel for how, or if, it'll serve the purpose you intended. Better to find out now than wait another 3 months for the mythical Mini 6 only to discover that it won't be released.

I have the 256GB Mini 5 and it is a little powerhouse. Works great with the Apple Pencil 1.

Yeah, and with the cheaper one I do limit my loss if I decide to keep it until a refresh happens. And since traveling won’t really start becoming big again until the fall I can manage with the 64 GB no cellular.

 

[Cosmo M3]

I actually sold my iPad mini 5 when I picked up my new 11” iPad Pro 2020 over the weekend. I really love both and will probably end up with a Mini 6 whenever that comes out.

 

[ofarlig]

I am finding that it was the perfect size for what I wanted with it, although I wouldn’t be sad if they release a Mini 6 that has a bigger screen in the same external sized housing. I am missing USB-C, FaceID, 120 Hz display though, I am not holding my breath for all of that since that would mean they are releasing a ”Mini Pro”. I also feel I am lacking some RAM and CPU power compared to my Pro models even in every day tasks, but hopefully a Mini 6 gets 4 GB of RAM and the A14 at least.