For those of you that have the iPad mini, what do you use it for primarily? And is it the only iPad you have or is it in addition to bigger iPads?
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iPad iPad mini
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However, it doesn't come with Cellular... I find that more important the smaller the device is, since it adds a lot more to its portability.
My Mini 4 is my best travel companion. Perfect size for reading books and doing pretty much everything else. I don't need the Cellular version as it adds another Cellular account to deal with. I have my iPhone with me at all times and it's so much more convenient and practical to hotspot with it when I need it.
Im not one of those that thinks a Mini can replace an Iphone Plus, the difference is still too big imo. but if i already have an iphone plus I use that for cellular stuff, and wouldnt need my mini to have cellular.
Agreed, but I have an iPhone Plus and it is no way a replacement for my Mini.
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Interesting... for me the iPad mini replaces my iPhone Plus unless in the most cramped of situations. My usage pattern probably explains why I'm dead set for having a cellular iPad mini.
There really is no comparison - the screen is so much larger that the iPhone Plus' screen is completely outclassed.
There really is no comparison - the screen is so much larger that the iPhone Plus' screen is completely outclassed.
Yea if i decide i want to move down to a 4inch screen for my phone. Then a cellular Mini is more enticing. Probably still wont need cellular but more enticing nevertheless.
My carrier doesn't care how I consume my data, whether I do hotspot or use it directly on my phone. Having a data only sim card to use on a Cellular iPad introduces another account with its fixed monthly charges. So, it is much simpler and economical for me to hotspot and use a WiFi only iPad.
The battery drain never became a problem so far, because with the abundance of a free WiFi signal pretty much wherever I go, I only have to resort to doing a hotspot when there is no free WiFi available or I'm in the middle of nowhere where there is only Cellular signal available. Such scenarios are limited in nature and usually when I find myself in one of those situations, usually there is a wall outlet for me to plug my phone into.
The battery drain never became a problem so far, because with the abundance of a free WiFi signal pretty much wherever I go, I only have to resort to doing a hotspot when there is no free WiFi available or I'm in the middle of nowhere where there is only Cellular signal available. Such scenarios are limited in nature and usually when I find myself in one of those situations, usually there is a wall outlet for me to plug my phone into.
I have a 32GB iPad Mini 4 to complement my 128GB 12.9 iPad Pro. I find the Pro too large to use on a plane and so I take the mini with me when traveling. I also use it around the house when I feel like using something a bit more of a "handheld".
My usage is primarily for casual gaming, light web surfing, watching short video clips.
Battery life is great. Portability is nice.
Having said that, if I were in the market for an iPad, I'd seriously consider the 2017 9.7 iPad. It's only $30 more than a Mini 4 at comparable storage size. Heck, I'm seriously considering getting rid of both 12.8 Pro and mini 4 in exchange for that 2017 iPad.
I use my Mini for almost everything. I take it with me when I go out and the majority of my computer use at home is on it. I mainly use it for reading which is one of the reasons the mini is the best size for me as I find a smaller and lighter device easier to hold for hours, which is important even at home. I'd rather not read for hours or watch videos on my phone, both due to it's smaller size and 16:9 aspect ratio. I don't have the plus, but even if I did I wouldn't want to read on it for more than a short period. The 8 inch form factor is the perfect size for my use.
The mini is my only iPad, I honestly can't think of a use for the 9.7 size that would make it worth buying. It would be better for movies, but I'd rather have portability over a bigger screen while traveling and at home I'm more likely to watch a movie on the tv.
For me the cellular version is essential, since I take the mini with me all the time. I'd rather not tether my phone because battery life is already a problem for my phone due to some of the apps I run. Also my home internet is flaky, so if it drops I can just switch to cellular.
The mini is my only iPad, I honestly can't think of a use for the 9.7 size that would make it worth buying. It would be better for movies, but I'd rather have portability over a bigger screen while traveling and at home I'm more likely to watch a movie on the tv.
For me the cellular version is essential, since I take the mini with me all the time. I'd rather not tether my phone because battery life is already a problem for my phone due to some of the apps I run. Also my home internet is flaky, so if it drops I can just switch to cellular.
rechargable battery pack?
which is your favorite brand for the rechargable battery pack?
I have a 32GB iPad Mini 4 to complement my 128GB 12.9 iPad Pro. I find the Pro too large to use on a plane and so I take the mini with me when traveling. I also use it around the house when I feel like using something a bit more of a "handheld".
My usage is primarily for casual gaming, light web surfing, watching short video clips.
Battery life is great. Portability is nice.
Having said that, if I were in the market for an iPad, I'd seriously consider the 2017 9.7 iPad. It's only $30 more than a Mini 4 at comparable storage size. Heck, I'm seriously considering getting rid of both 12.8 Pro and mini 4 in exchange for that 2017 iPad.
That is my dilemma. I never bought the 12.9 Pro because it was just too large for my needs, so i got myself the iPad mini 4 few years ago for travel and use around the house. However, i'm finding it very hard on my eyes to watch my DVR shows or Netflix. I'm definately gonna upgrade to a bigger iPad, just not sure which model yet and whether to keep my mini4 in addition to the new bigger ipad.
I'm not there yet. I need a device that is bigger than my iPhone and mini 4 cuz i have kids so can't always watch my big tv when they're underfoot. I take my iPhone with me when i'm out and about, not finding a need for me to bring my mini4 unless i'm traveling.
The 4:3 ratio makes viewing films on the iPad mini less efficient. Actually if your use case is mostly watching 16:9 or 16:10 films, a tablet with that same aspect ratio makes more sense IMO.
For typical tablet uses, 16:9 (and to a lesser extent 16:10) are awkward ARs. They're too wide in landscape, and too narrow in portrait.
I have found that the suitability of a tablet's aspect ratio for viewing video has everything to do with the type of video one watches.
Older TV shows are in the Academy AR (close to 4:3). Older films are wider than 16:9. That comprises the majority of what I watch on my tablets so I've resigned myself to pillarboxing and letterboxing being an unavoidable reality.
Even most modern theatrical films have ARs different than 16:9. For someone who watches mostly modern films/videos, 16:9 AR tablets are indeed preferable.
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I have a Mini 4. It is the only iPad that I have ever owned. I use it for web surfing, social media, watching videos, emails, reading and sometimes editing documents, messaging, my calendar, Google map directions, light gaming, and various other usages.
I primarily use my mini 4 for reading books. It's just barely big enough to comfortably display a PDF document, while being just small enough to fit in a suit jacket pocket and go everywhere with me. I also use it for GPS, which is why I have the cellular model. Sure a phone can do GPS, but I find the screen size of the mini to be more comfortable when viewing a map while still be small enough to be highly portable. I also use it when not at a desk for e-mail, browsing the web, storing documents, and taking notes.
I also have a 12.9" iPad pro. It's primary use is as a virtual whiteboard with the pencil, as I teach for a living. It also makes an excellent notebook for handwritten notes, particularly involving mathematics. And while I wouldn't have bought it for this purpose alone, it's very pleasant for watching movies and such. If I didn't teach for a living, I'd probably just have the mini.
I also have a 12.9" iPad pro. It's primary use is as a virtual whiteboard with the pencil, as I teach for a living. It also makes an excellent notebook for handwritten notes, particularly involving mathematics. And while I wouldn't have bought it for this purpose alone, it's very pleasant for watching movies and such. If I didn't teach for a living, I'd probably just have the mini.
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