iPad iPad Pro 11" vs iPad Mini 6

[weeesss]

I went from an 11 Pro to a Mini 6 and have no regrets. I use it mostly in bed and found the other a bit cumbersome. I gave the Pro to my son and he moved it evenness though it’s his only Apple device.

 

[BigMcGuire]

As someone who has used an iPad Pro 11 from 2018-2022 - I have made the switch to the mini 6 and am surprised at how happy I am with this move. But, I was always a super light iPad user - mostly reading, article consuming, and some video watching. Now that I'm 100% remote, I find I do most of my article consuming and video watching on my MBP with an external monitor - this meant my iPad got less and less use. So I tried to just make due with MBP and iPhone but nope, reading a book on an iPhone just hurts.

So went with the mini and yeah, wow. Shoulda done this sooner. For book reading and news/article reading it's perfect. I am pretty happy with the occasional video/youtub'ing too. Forgot what it was like to be able to hold a device in one hand and read for hours. Don't even notice it in a back pack.

 

[DeepIn2U]

re-reading this and your use cases - you don’t need the Pro TOO expensive for your use cases really.
iPad mini 6 no modem.

 

[DeepSix]

Phones within a year will be as large as the mini6. No point buying a mini 6 since phones are getting bigger every year.

 

[sparksd]

Phones within a year will be as large as the mini6. No point buying a mini 6 since phones are getting bigger every year.

Depends on whether you want a phone that large in lieu of a tablet at that size - I certainly wouldn't. The phone is always with me when out - the Mini 6 only as needed.

 

[jdb8167]

Depends on whether you want a phone that large in lieu of a tablet at that size - I certainly wouldn't. The phone is always with me when out - the Mini 6 only as needed.

It’s interesting to me that I carry my mini 6 with me as often as my iPhone 12 Pro. But that might be because it is winter and the coat I wear all winter has a large pocket that fits the iPad mini 6. It is light enough and with the pocket there really isn’t any reason not to bring it along. I wonder if I’ll carry it around as much in the warmer months. I’ve never owned a iPad mini before so I don’t have any experience with it in summer.

 

[sparksd]

It’s interesting to me that I carry my mini 6 with me as often as my iPhone 12 Pro. But that might be because it is winter and the coat I wear all winter has a large pocket that fits the iPad mini 6. It is light enough and with the pocket there really isn’t any reason not to bring it along. I wonder if I’ll carry it around as much in the warmer months. I’ve never owned a iPad mini before so I don’t have any experience with it in summer.

Same here but with the 12 Pro Max. I'll likely take it out less when not wearing the jackets with large pockets - and why I wouldn't buy a phone as large is the Mini 6. The Mini is an optional take-along, the phone is not.

 

[jdb8167]

Same here but with the 12 Pro Max. I'll likely take it out less when not wearing the jackets with large pockets - and why I wouldn't buy a phone as large is the Mini 6. The Mini is an optional take-along, the phone is not.

While I almost always bring my iPhone, it is actually optional for me if I have the mini 6, my cellular Apple Watch and AirPods with me. I can do everything my iPhone does with those. Sometimes when I go out for lunch, I leave the iPhone at home since I’ll be on the iPad while at the diner anyway.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Phones within a year will be as large as the mini6. No point buying a mini 6 since phones are getting bigger every year.

iOS vs. iPadOS

And the sixth-gen iPad mini offers 85% more screen real estate than an iPhone 13 Pro Max, while still offering a form-factor that can be gripped with one hand. Nothing to sneeze at.

Visual TV Size Comparison : 8.3 inch 2266x1488 display vs 6.7 inch 2778x1284 display

Visual size comparison of a 8.3 inch 2266x1488 display vs 6.7 inch 2778x1284 display

displaywars.com

 

[BB1970]

I see it this way.
Pro if that’s your only computer
Mini if you already own a computer.
I always use the “Star Trek“ metric on buying things.
If I already have a mothership, then all I need is a shufflecraft.

 

[DeepSix]

Depends on whether you want a phone that large in lieu of a tablet at that size - I certainly wouldn't. The phone is always with me when out - the Mini 6 only as needed.

I couldn’t justify having the mini 6 that’s only 1.5” larger than my phone. But with the aspect it feels like more. But no doubt next year we see 8” phones.

 

[DeepSix]

iOS vs. iPadOS

And the sixth-gen iPad mini offers 85% more screen real estate than an iPhone 13 Pro Max, while still offering a form-factor that can be gripped with one hand. Nothing to sneeze at.

Visual TV Size Comparison : 8.3 inch 2266x1488 display vs 6.7 inch 2778x1284 display

Visual size comparison of a 8.3 inch 2266x1488 display vs 6.7 inch 2778x1284 display

displaywars.com

Yes the mini has more screen real estate than any phone but it wasn’t enough of a difference to justify carrying both. Now that I got the 11 Pro, this is a noticeable step up for screen size and it’s just as portable as the mini 6.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I've never been able to decide so I've always generally had both. My first iPad was actually the first iPad mini I loved it and after a while I wanted to try a bigger iPad. So I got the first iPad Air. Thought I woudnt need the mini anymore so I got rid of it. But after a few months I ended up getting a mini again and I've always had a mini alongside a bigger iPad. If you put a gun to my head and said I had to have only one I'd pick the pro. Simply because it's bigger and I suppose more versatile. But I just keep both.

 

[Shanghaichica]

For all those who say the mini is not worth it if you have a max iPhone I will take an updated picture of my iPhone 12 pro max and iPad mini 6 side by side tomorrow. Last set of pictures I took is the mini 5 and iPhone 12 pro max. However here is the 12 pro max and the iPad mini 5. Massive difference in real estate.

 

[sparksd]

For all those who say the mini is not worth it if you have a max iPhone I will take an updated picture of my iPhone 12 pro max and iPad mini 6 side by side tomorrow. Last set of pictures I took is the mini 5 and iPhone 12 pro max. However here is the 12 pro max and the iPad mini 5. Massive difference in real estate.

View attachment 1966315

View attachment 1966316

Yep. I have the 12 PM and the Mini 6 - no comparison, the Mini wins by a mile.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I've never been able to decide so I've always generally had both. My first iPad was actually the first iPad mini I loved it and after a while I wanted to try a bigger iPad. So I got the first iPad Air. Thought I woudnt need the mini anymore so I got rid of it. But after a few months I ended up getting a mini again and I've always had a mini alongside a bigger iPad. If you put a gun to my head and said I had to have only one I'd pick the pro. Simply because it's bigger and I suppose more versatile. But I just keep both.

Awesome response. I'm going to start including both in my 'ideal' tech setup once the next-gen Pros come out.

 

[Rafterman]

For all those who say the mini is not worth it if you have a max iPhone I will take an updated picture of my iPhone 12 pro max and iPad mini 6 side by side tomorrow. Last set of pictures I took is the mini 5 and iPhone 12 pro max. However here is the 12 pro max and the iPad mini 5. Massive difference in real estate.

View attachment 1966315

View attachment 1966316

For watching videos, I have no issues doing it on the iPhone. The size difference is negligible to me. But for web browsing, an iPad 6 is clearly superior. I hate browsing on a phone.

 

[DeepSix]

For all those who say the mini is not worth it if you have a max iPhone I will take an updated picture of my iPhone 12 pro max and iPad mini 6 side by side tomorrow. Last set of pictures I took is the mini 5 and iPhone 12 pro max. However here is the 12 pro max and the iPad mini 5. Massive difference in real estate.

View attachment 1966315

View attachment 1966316

I don't have the mini 6 anymore (thank god because i don't miss it) but it was maybe 30% larger than my phone. It wasn't that much of a difference. And because the scaling completely sucks on the mini 6, the text often felt larger on my phone on some websites. Now comparing my phone to the Pro 11", now that's a significant step up in screen size.

 

[DaphneV]

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.

My exact same ecosystem I have been trying real hard to find a reason to buy either the iPad 11" or the 12.9" pro but have finally realized that the iPhone mini 13+iPad mini 6 on sidecar mode+MacBook 14" simply make for the perfect setup on my small desk, while the iPad mini plays nice with the iPhone mini for everywhere else! An iPad Pro might maybe serve as a Netflix device in bed, but apart from it being overkill for that use, reading a good book on the kindle is so much more easier on the eyes before sleep

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.

 

[DaphneV]

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.

 

[stanza.richi]

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.

Considering something similar for me. A lot of time ago I bought an iPad Mini 2 as first iPad because was perfect to fit my white coat pocket. Now I’m still thinking about it and probably want to try again a Mini iPad.

 

[Dealmans]

My exact same ecosystem I have been trying real hard to find a reason to buy either the iPad 11" or the 12.9" pro but have finally realized that the iPhone mini 13+iPad mini 6 on sidecar mode+MacBook 14" simply make for the perfect setup on my small desk, while the iPad mini plays nice with the iPhone mini for everywhere else! An iPad Pro might maybe serve as a Netflix device in bed, but apart from it being overkill for that use, reading a good book on the kindle is so much more easier on the eyes before sleep

I went the opposite. 13 max, 12.9” iPad and 24” iMac.