iPad iPad Pro 11" vs iPad Mini 6

[1BadManVan]

For me, my 13 pro max covers what a mini 6 would. Not everyone’s opinion but that’s definitely been it for me. I have the iPhone for anything I need that requires ultra portability and I have my 11” M1 pro I use for at the desk and on the couch etc.

I don’t own a laptop myself, I don’t need one for work and my iPad covers all the basis I need for a computer.

Xbox series X for gaming needs
iPad Pro for computing needs
iPhone for all other ultra portable needs

 

[Cosmo M3]

I bought the iPad mini 6 as my "go to" device whenever I'm on the go (my EDC bag, around my home, etc) while my iPhone 13 mini stays in my pocket, backpack or on my charging dock at home as I want to just use it as a "phone" and not a consumption device. I sold both my 2020 iPad Pro 11" and 12.9" to consolidate to just this setup. I have a 14" MBP for my productivity device when I need to do things that require more than a lighthearted action in life.

This has worked for me and months later, still going strong.

 

[spiderman0616]

I bought the iPad mini 6 as my "go to" device whenever I'm on the go (my EDC bag, around my home, etc) while my iPhone 13 mini stays in my pocket, backpack or on my charging dock at home as I want to just use it as a "phone" and not a consumption device. I sold both my 2020 iPad Pro 11" and 12.9" to consolidate to just this setup. I have a 14" MBP for my productivity device when I need to do things that require more than a lighthearted action in life.

This has worked for me and months later, still going strong.

The 12.9" iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil was the setup I had for quite a while. It was wonderful. But I was really missing the "iPad" part of the experience. That's too big of a tablet for me to want to casually walk around the house with it watching a video or lay in bed reading a novel on it. I eventually stopped bothering ever taking it off the Magic Keyboard, and then finally realized it wasn't the ideal model for me anymore. I need iPhones and iPads to be fun too. When I'm always on a laptop or even a tablet standing in for a laptop, I feel like I'm always working. I pushed the iPad too far toward the laptop paradigm and learned an important lesson about how I work.

 

[Cosmo M3]

I eventually stopped bothering ever taking it off the Magic Keyboard, and then finally realized it wasn't the ideal model for me anymore.

This was my experience as well (11" iPad Pro with Smart Folio and 12.9" with Magic Keyboard and Pencil) - it was now a pseudo-laptop that we forced into laptop duty. Nothing ever works well when you try to fit a circle in a square peg and having to workaround the iPad's limitations. You might as well spend the same amount of money on an actual laptop (M1) without the restrictions of iPadOS.

 

[spiderman0616]

This was my experience as well (11" iPad Pro with Smart Folio and 12.9" with Magic Keyboard and Pencil) - it was now a pseudo-laptop that we forced into laptop duty. Nothing ever works well when you try to fit a circle in a square peg and having to workaround the iPad's limitations. You might as well spend the same amount of money on an actual laptop (M1) without the restrictions of iPadOS.

And it's those very "restrictions" that sometimes make the iPad-as-iPad experience feel truly special, right? I think people need to get rid of the notion that it must look/function like a laptop (or be an actual laptop) to be a productive device. I've sent work email replies from my Apple Watch before. That makes it one of my "work computers", albeit one I rarely use for work tasks, doesn't it?

These days, when I get out my iPad, it's because I want a more organic, graphical, touch based experience that flows nicely in my hands without the need for any inputs from peripherals. If I want to take notes or do a quick photo edit, I'll grab the Apple Pencil. If I want to type War and Peace, I'll go to my office and use it with my monitor/keyboard/mouse setup.

I no longer feel like it has to be much more complicated than that. For me it all comes down to 1) What kind of computing will I be doing, 2) Where will I be doing it, 3) What kind of screen is best for the task at hand? If I want a large screen and keyboard, I take the Mac. If I want to read, sketch, browse, whatever, iPad will definitely work in place of the Mac. If I want to not have to carry anything around and can get by with a small screen and keyboard or know that I'll definitely need a camera, iPhone is my guy. At the very least, I always have my Apple Watch on. I guess that makes it my "daily driver".

 

[Infinitewisdom]

And it's those very "restrictions" that sometimes make the iPad-as-iPad experience feel truly special, right? I think people need to get rid of the notion that it must look/function like a laptop (or be an actual laptop) to be a productive device. I've sent work email replies from my Apple Watch before. That makes it one of my "work computers", albeit one I rarely use for work tasks, doesn't it?

These days, when I get out my iPad, it's because I want a more organic, graphical, touch based experience that flows nicely in my hands without the need for any inputs from peripherals. If I want to take notes or do a quick photo edit, I'll grab the Apple Pencil. If I want to type War and Peace, I'll go to my office and use it with my monitor/keyboard/mouse setup.

I no longer feel like it has to be much more complicated than that. For me it all comes down to 1) What kind of computing will I be doing, 2) Where will I be doing it, 3) What kind of screen is best for the task at hand? If I want a large screen and keyboard, I take the Mac. If I want to read, sketch, browse, whatever, iPad will definitely work in place of the Mac. If I want to not have to carry anything around and can get by with a small screen and keyboard or know that I'll definitely need a camera, iPhone is my guy. At the very least, I always have my Apple Watch on. I guess that makes it my "daily driver".

Very well said. I’ve been using an iPad Pro 12.9 as a laptop replacement and it works beautifully. Yes, my workflow is different. And I stress “different”, not worse. I can get most of what I want to do done at the same speed if not quicker. And there’s something about the one-app-at-a-time paradigm on iPadOS that just feels better. I love iPad apps in general. Sure, there are some quirks I wish Apple would fix. And the Files app really needs to be upgraded, so that I don’t have to use a third party app.

Having said all this, I do have a Mac at home and at the office. So in those rare instances where I do need to use MacOS, I can just remote in pretty easily. Works very well.

 

[F-Stop]

Some great experience’s shared here, along with possible solutions for the op to consider. I think it’s becoming increasingly obvious that our personal real world uses for our Apple products dictate which works best or are most appropriate for the individual.

I’m just very thankful that we have a wide selection of choices of Apple devices to keep us interested…although sometimes this proves to be to the detriment of our bank balances… first world problems I guess

Andy

 

[UltimateSyn]

And it's those very "restrictions" that sometimes make the iPad-as-iPad experience feel truly special, right? I think people need to get rid of the notion that it must look/function like a laptop (or be an actual laptop) to be a productive device. I've sent work email replies from my Apple Watch before. That makes it one of my "work computers", albeit one I rarely use for work tasks, doesn't it?

These days, when I get out my iPad, it's because I want a more organic, graphical, touch based experience that flows nicely in my hands without the need for any inputs from peripherals. If I want to take notes or do a quick photo edit, I'll grab the Apple Pencil. If I want to type War and Peace, I'll go to my office and use it with my monitor/keyboard/mouse setup.

I no longer feel like it has to be much more complicated than that. For me it all comes down to 1) What kind of computing will I be doing, 2) Where will I be doing it, 3) What kind of screen is best for the task at hand? If I want a large screen and keyboard, I take the Mac. If I want to read, sketch, browse, whatever, iPad will definitely work in place of the Mac. If I want to not have to carry anything around and can get by with a small screen and keyboard or know that I'll definitely need a camera, iPhone is my guy. At the very least, I always have my Apple Watch on. I guess that makes it my "daily driver".

An incredibly eloquent expression of the way I feel about my computing devices, too. Are you a writer by trade?

 

[Nahaz]

The main reason my iPad mini sits in the drawer when I go away is because of 1 thing it lacks, and that is the addition of a Smart Keyboard.

The iPad mini now spends more time being a mapping device than anything else. I also find the price on the second hand market drops fast on the mini.

 

[DeepSix]

The main reason my iPad mini sits in the drawer when I go away is because of 1 thing it lacks, and that is the addition of a Smart Keyboard.

The iPad mini now spends more time being a mapping device than anything else. I also find the price on the second hand market drops fast on the mini.

Why in the world would you want to use a keyboard to the mini, it's made to be used handheld. Do you want a keyboard for your phone too?

 

[spiderman0616]

An incredibly eloquent expression of the way I feel about my computing devices, too. Are you a writer by trade?

That’s incredibly nice of you to say! I tried it once. Not a very easy industry to crack, unfortunately.

 

[Nahaz]

Why in the world would you want to use a keyboard to the mini, it's made to be used handheld. Do you want a keyboard for your phone too?

I understand that and I think you miss the point of what I was trying to convey. I find the iPad Pro more useful and easier to use with a Smart Keyboard than any iPad without it, including the mini. I bought the mini for my trip to Japan but I found myself wanting the bigger device with the keyboard compared to swiping my fingers to form words while I was typing in Facebook etc.

 

[DeepSix]

I understand that and I think you miss the point of what I was trying to convey. I find the iPad Pro more useful and easier to use with a Smart Keyboard than any iPad without it, including the mini. I bought the mini for my trip to Japan but I found myself wanting the bigger device with the keyboard compared to swiping my fingers to form words while I was typing in Facebook etc.

I get it now. I know what you mean. If I had an ipad larger than the mini 6 I would for sure have a keyboard to go with it because it's just easier to use it with one. I had an Air 1 many years ago and even at 9.7" it was cumbersome to tthumb type on it. But I find the mini 6 excels so well for it's form factor that thumb typing (even touch typing with it on your desk or lap) is easier. I basically a blown up smartphone that's meant to be used handheld, but everyone is different.

I don't like putting extra weight onto ipads, I think it totally defeats it's purpose. But I also have a Surface Pro that fills that void for me so I have no use for a larger ipad with a keyboard.

 

[Pezimak]

Man, I'm running out of return period for both these devices and no clearer picture of what I want to do yet. Let's start with what I currently have:

-MBP 14" - spec above base model
-iPhone 13 Pro Max

I thought by writing out my particular use - cases and then writing the pros and cons of each device would get me a little closer to deciding-- maybe it's in front of my face and I'm not seeing it, hence the post.

Use cases:

-e Book reading (I don't read books often but want to start more)
-in bed consumption device
-occasional side car usage
-MBP 14" companion for writing notes when learning/working
-Traveling (eventually)

here goes:

iPad mini 6 Pros

-Small footprint (perfect "tablet" size), overall form factor
-Cheaper than iPad Pro (at least the model I'm debating against by roughly $400)
-Seems like a great companion to MBP 14 with exception of side car
-Minimal overlap to MBP 14"
-Good note taking size
-Great for travel
-I think of it as an awesome footprint to use as a hotspot device for MBP 14" without wasting battery on my iPhone
-Recently refreshed, next refresh maybe 1-2 years out? if not more/
-Great content consumption, especially in bed
-Better potrait device than iPad Pro 11

iPad mini 6 Cons

-Expensive for what it is.. cellular version basically $813 after taxes
-Some overlap with iPhone 13 Pro Max for certain use cases
-Display 60 hz, just not the best display Apple has
-Poor UI scaling for iPad OS
-Less accessory options, more of a pure tablet
-Good note taking size but not as much surface area for note taking maybe when on a table
-Is it basically just a slightly 'blown up' iPhone 13 Pro Max?

iPad Pro 11 Pros

-Larger screen for note taking
-More future proof with M1 chip
-120 HZ display, easier drawing/writing, smoother
-More accessory options and greater flexibility
-Better landscape device than iPad mini 6
-No JS
-Less overlap with iPhone 13 Pro Max
-Better sidecar experience with MBP 14" but admittingly, probably won't use this feature much

iPad Pro 11 Cons

-More expensive, by the tune of $400 or so since I want the cellular model with either version
-Takes more space in bag
-Overlap in some use cases with MBP 14"
-Not so good in terms of bed device for e-reading, because of size
-Likely to be refreshed semi soon? As early as this year? Mini Led?


That's what I've come up with for now.. and I almost wish I didn't try the Mini. The other thing the Mini has going for it as that I've resold every iPad Pro I've had up until this point, including the iPad Pro M1 I had right after I got the MBP because I didn't think I needed it anymore. Now I want an iPad again as a companion device to my MBP and for use cases listed above.

I‘ve been thinking about this myself. I am also split between the two. I’m not fussed about any potential upgrade this year as the Pro is already good enough for me. But I’m not sure which to buy. But the M1 should last longer as you said, not slow down.

 

[Pezimak]

I should add the thing that annoys me no end is the constant reloading of You Tube on my current iPad Pro 9.7”. Every time I go off it and then back to it I have it reloading.
So my worry is will I get apps reloading on the iPad Mini in a few years time as opposed to the M1 Pro with 8GB RAM not having any issues with that?

 

[rui no onna]

I should add the thing that annoys me no end is the constant reloading of You Tube on my current iPad Pro 9.7”. Every time I go off it and then back to it I have it reloading.
So my worry is will I get apps reloading on the iPad Mini in a few years time as opposed to the M1 Pro with 8GB RAM not having any issues with that?

Based on my experience with 4GB RAM iPads + iOS 15, no need to wait for a few years. It reloads pretty often now.

 

[Pezimak]

Based on my experience with 4GB RAM iPads + iOS 15, no need to wait for a few years. It reloads pretty often now.

Oh dear that's not good then. Thanks for the info.

 

[Pezimak]

I was comparing pricing today, I could get the WiFi and 5G iPad Mini with Apple Pencil 2 and smart case for around £150 less then the base model 11” Pro WiFi only with Apple Pencil and smart case. That’s quite a saving plus you get 5G, leave the 5G off and it’s another £140 less. Lots to think about. I think I’ll visit an Apple store next week and have a play and buy one. I’ll trade in my old iPad Pro which according to Apple is worth £95!

 

[FranApple]

If you're going to be keeping this for a while, I'd go with the Pro. The 11" is really quite portable and the processor will stay "future proof" for a while. The 120hz screen is also noticeably nicer than the mini's screen.

If you have a big screened phone, I'm not sure I see a compelling reason to get the mini. Yes, I know the mini's screen is bigger and the aspect ratio is different, but it's not going to seem like a big difference after a while.

 

[Pezimak]

If you're going to be keeping this for a while, I'd go with the Pro. The 11" is really quite portable and the processor will stay "future proof" for a while. The 120hz screen is also noticeably nicer than the mini's screen.

If you have a big screened phone, I'm not sure I see a compelling reason to get the mini. Yes, I know the mini's screen is bigger and the aspect ratio is different, but it's not going to seem like a big difference after a while.

The Mini is quite a bit bigger screen then a phone. I stick now to the 6.1" iPhone models.
Whilst the Pro is powerful, in essence you are paying more for something that iOS will never fully utilise, I believe iPad iOS still places a cap of 5GB RAM maximum being addressable by apps, which means your paying for an additional 3GB you can't use.

I appreciate Apple fitted the M1
In the iPad for economy of scale finances, but it does seem to be a waste. It's the screen size and 120HZ that really differentiates it.
However as you say a plus with the M1 is it should last for years and should ensure it's faster then the other models for years too, only being beaten by newer iPad Pro models. And that is certainly a consideration.

I'll have a good play and think about what I want next week, I plan to leave the Apple store with an iPad though.

When you trade in an old iPad to buy a new one at Apple in an Apple store, will they transfer your data across for you n the store? I have 200GB iCloud to back it up to also.

 

[Dfds]

@Pezimak i was looking to buy a new iPad late last year to replace my iPad mini2. Oiginally I was looking at the new mini6 but after playing with it in store for a while it didn’t grab me the way my old mini did. So I had a play with the iPad Pro & was really impressed with it so ended up buying one. Now having had it for a couple of months I wouldn’t change it plus I prefer faceID to the touchID of the mini. Oh & centre stage is great too.

 

[Pezimak]

@Pezimak i was looking to buy a new iPad late last year to replace my iPad mini2. Oiginally I was looking at the new mini6 but after playing with it in store for a while it didn’t grab me the way my old mini did. So I had a play with the iPad Pro & was really impressed with it so ended up buying one. Now having had it for a couple of months I wouldn’t change it plus I prefer faceID to the touchID of the mini. Oh & centre stage is great too.

Thanks for the reply. Interesting it didn’t grab you. I have a feeling I’ll see the bigger screen and want the Pro anyway. But I’ll need to have a good proper play with both to know for sure. Both tablets have pros and cons.

 

[Dfds]

Thanks for the reply. Interesting it didn’t grab you. I have a feeling I’ll see the bigger screen and want the Pro anyway. But I’ll need to have a good proper play so what both to know for sure. Both tablets have pros and cons.

Indeed they do, I really wanted to like the mini 6 after having my mini 2 for so long but I’m glad I got the pro as the bigger screen is excellent & split screen is quite useful too.

 

[Pezimak]

Indeed they do, I really wanted to like the mini 6 after having my mini 2 for so long but I’m glad I got the pro as the bigger screen is excellent & split screen is quite useful too.

I use that a lot on my current 9.7” Pro. I have thought about that being too small on the Mini.

 

[rovex]

Mini is a wonderful machine held back by poor software. It’s the ideal tablet size IMO. I went from a 10.5 pro. No regrets at all.