iPad mini Is 5 to 6 really an upgrade? Feels mostly like a form factor change.

[*~Kim~*]

For me yes, had they released what was thought a few months ago with touch ID under the screen, I’d have passed on it thinking that the next update would be the true Air 4 style mini.

Granted the storage options staying the same while the base iPad catches up aren’t great, I think they’re the next lazy update because it isn’t often Apple gives mini some love. But the Mini 5 to 6 certainly feels like more of an update than iPad 8 to iPad 9. We have a three generation processor change and extra RAM instead of the same RAM and one generation forward.

I was also set on passing until 5G and while it isn’t as extensive as the Pro, I can’t see that being a problem in the UK as our cellular isn’t on the level of the US.

 

[Mac47]

The aspect ratio is highly subjective preference and isn’t really a valid way to assess the worth of the upgrade in the general case. Either you like it or you don’t.

The new physical size of the iPad mini 6 is actually SMALLER (height wise) than previous iPads, which maybe is a minor thing for most but is hugely welcome from my end. I always felt the removal of the bezels should be used to trim the size of the iPad, not just add screen space. And by golly they actually did it.

Yes.

46 pixels of width. That’s literally the _only_ thing that the Mini 5 has on the Mini 6. Most of us won’t notice it, or will rather appreciate the extra 218 pixels of height.

 

[mashinhead]

What's interesting about the speakers is they say it only works in landscape?

 

[IJBrekke]

The aspect ratio is highly subjective preference and isn’t really a valid way to assess the worth of the upgrade in the general case. Either you like it or you don’t.

The new physical size of the iPad mini 6 is actually SMALLER (height wise) than previous iPads, which maybe is a minor thing for most but is hugely welcome from my end. I always felt the removal of the bezels should be used to trim the size of the iPad, not just add screen space. And by golly they actually did it.

It’s all subjective preference when you boil it down, honestly. The person I responded to listed: “Better aspect ratio for watching movies” as an upgraded feature of the 6. Recognizing that it may or may not be a downgrade for other viewing activity (time will tell) feels valid under this premise. Will text and websites actually look smaller in portrait orientation? We’ll find out on the 24th.

I agree that the removal of the bezels is an overall win.

 

[turbineseaplane]

liquid retina screen vs regular retina, whatever that difference means.

very convincing! Lol

 

[Crow_Servo]

What's interesting about the speakers is they say it only works in landscape?

The speakers are on the left and right when you have it in landscape, just like the Air 4. If you have it in portrait, the speakers are no longer on the left and right, so it doesn't have the same effect.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Huh?

• Larger screen (7.9” -> 8.3”)
• New design (from the design that went basically unchanged since 2012 -> updated design with a rounded display and Touch ID in the top button)
• Three generation leap in CPU / GPU (A12 -> A15)
• New colors
• Significantly improved FaceTime camera (7MP -> 12MP) with support for Center Stage
• New connector accessory support and data transfers (Lightning -> USB-C)
• Significantly improved cellular connectivity (4G -> 5G)
• Support for the vastly superior 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, can now just snap onto the side
• Dramatically improved rear camera (8MP f/2.4 -> 12MP f/1.8 with a new flash)
• 4K video recording
• Landscape stereo audio speakers

I mean… how would that not be a massive upgrade? Almost every component of the tablet was significantly overhauled and improved.

Depends on how important any of those features are to an individual.

• Larger screen (7.9” -> 8.3”)- I already have an 11 inch pro so don’t need a larger screen
• New design (from the design that went basically unchanged since 2012 -> updated design with a rounded display and Touch ID in the top button)- Ok but I don’t mind the older design. Would prefer Touch ID not to be on the power button. Or Face ID.
• Three generation leap in CPU / GPU (A12 -> A15)- I don’t think I would notice the difference. I don’t find the A12 in my current mini to be lacking for anything I use it for. Of course the A15 will be supported for longer, however I can’t really tell the difference in performance between my iPhone 12 Pro Max, mini 5 and iPad Pro 11. I use them all for the same things, like web browsing, social media, videos, colouring etc. I don’t do any photo or video editing or play any demanding games.
• New colors- Not a good enough reason to upgrade.
• Significantly improved FaceTime camera (7MP -> 12MP) with support for Center Stage- I don’t use FaceTime often and I have so many other apple devices, the mini wouldn’t be front of the queue for face time
• New connector accessory support and data transfers (Lightning -> USB-C)- I still use an iPhone which has a lightning connection. I’ve never taken advantage of the USB C connector on my iPad Pro 11. I only use it for charging.
• Significantly improved cellular connectivity (4G -> 5G)- I never get cellular iPads. I tether from my iPhone.
• Support for the vastly superior 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, can now just snap onto the side- charging is better and more convenient elegant. However I don’t use either of my apple pencils often and only for colouring a few times a week. It’s a nice improvement but I wouldn’t get the benefit.
• Dramatically improved rear camera (8MP f/2.4 -> 12MP f/1.8 with a new flash)- I don’t use my iPads for photos or videos.
• 4K video recording- don’t use my iPads for videos
• Landscape stereo audio speakers- This is the only new feature that I really like and would find useful.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Depends on how important any of those features are to an individual.

• Larger screen (7.9” -> 8.3”)- I already have an 11 inch pro so don’t need a larger screen
• New design (from the design that went basically unchanged since 2012 -> updated design with a rounded display and Touch ID in the top button)- Ok but I don’t mind the older design. Would prefer Touch ID not to be on the power button. Or Face ID.
• Three generation leap in CPU / GPU (A12 -> A15)- I don’t think I would notice the difference. I don’t find the A12 in my current mini to be lacking for anything I use it for. Of course the A15 will last longer.
• New colors- Not a good enough reason to upgrade.
• Significantly improved FaceTime camera (7MP -> 12MP) with support for Center Stage- I don’t use FaceTime often and I have so many other apple devices, the mini wouldn’t be front of the queue for face time
• New connector accessory support and data transfers (Lightning -> USB-C)- I still use an iPhone which has a lightning connection. I’ve never taken advantage of the USB C connector on my iPad Pro 11. I only use it for charging.
• Significantly improved cellular connectivity (4G -> 5G)- I never get cellular iPads. I tether from my iPhone.
• Support for the vastly superior 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, can now just snap onto the side- charging is better and more convenient elegant. However I don’t use either of my apple pencils often and only for colouring a few times a week. It’s a nice improvement but I wouldn’t get the benefit.
• Dramatically improved rear camera (8MP f/2.4 -> 12MP f/1.8 with a new flash)- I don’t use my iPads for photos or videos.
• 4K video recording- don’t use my iPads for videos
• Landscape stereo audio speakers- This is the only new feature that I really like and would find useful.

Yeah, look, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re going to argue that significantly improving nearly every aspect of the tablet isn’t an important upgrade because you “don’t use those parts of the tablet,” then frankly that’s ridiculous. It is the biggest ever upgrade / overhaul to the iPad mini. Point blank period. Screen, design, cameras, processor, RAM, pencil input, connectivity are all improved.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yeah, look, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re going to argue that significantly improving nearly every aspect of the tablet isn’t an important upgrade because you “don’t use those parts of the tablet,” then frankly that’s ridiculous. It is the biggest ever upgrade / overhaul to the iPad mini. Point blank period. Screen, design, cameras, processor, RAM, pencil input, connectivity are all improved.

Well I’m giving my own opinion. If they are good upgrade for you then that’s all that matters. At the end of the day the only person that matters is the person that has to use the device.

It’s like the M1 iPad Pro’s. Great for many but as I would never use all that power I’m not interested now because it’s a waste for me.

 

[*~Kim~*]

I only have the one iPad and will be upgrading because like you say, it’s a significant upgrade. The loss of the headphone jack is a downgrade for me but everything else outweighs that where previous rumoured specs would have seen me hang on to the Mini 5. I had also intended to wait for refurbs as the Mini 5 is still plenty capable, but that went out of the window when I saw the new design and specs.

However, I would likely come to the same conclusion if I were in Shanghaichica’s position. For a secondary device the bar is higher for an upgrade, since at the end of the day you have to get the use out of the new device and its features to justify the money. If iPads were free we’d all be walking around with Pros and/or Mini 6’s according to size preference and the product line would be a lot simpler.

Getting the same storage options as the 9th Gen can only be seen as a downgrade. Maybe a 128GB base would have tipped the scales to an upgrade for some who just can’t justify 256, but if 128/512 becomes a thing I expect it to start out on the Air as a sweetener to Air 4 owners shocked to see the Mini get 5G and a camera flash before them.

 

[Digitalguy]

Yeah, look, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re going to argue that significantly improving nearly every aspect of the tablet isn’t an important upgrade because you “don’t use those parts of the tablet,” then frankly that’s ridiculous. It is the biggest ever upgrade / overhaul to the iPad mini. Point blank period. Screen, design, cameras, processor, RAM, pencil input, connectivity are all improved.

That's not ridiculous, that reality for some people. You can upgrade a lot of things in a device but most of them mean nothing or very little to some people, and there is nothing wrong about it...
My car manufacturer may sell a new model of my car that costs $10000 more but has upgraded looks and features. But mine is still more than fast enough and very reliable and has all the features that I need. For me it's not a worthy upgrade.
Why shouldn't these people express their opinions?
As far I am concerned upgrading from a mini 4 changed everything, moving from a barely usable device to an extremely fast one, with pencil support... Most of the feature of the 6 are not a game changer to me

 

[Digitalguy]

I only have the one iPad and will be upgrading because like you say, it’s a significant upgrade. The loss of the headphone jack is a downgrade for me but everything else outweighs that where previous rumoured specs would have seen me hang on to the Mini 5. I had also intended to wait for refurbs as the Mini 5 is still plenty capable, but that went out of the window when I saw the new design and specs.

However, I would likely come to the same conclusion if I were in Shanghaichica’s position. For a secondary device the bar is higher for an upgrade, since at the end of the day you have to get the use out of the new device and its features to justify the money. If iPads were free we’d all be walking around with Pros and/or Mini 6’s according to size preference and the product line would be a lot simpler.

Getting the same storage options as the 9th Gen can only be seen as a downgrade. Maybe a 128GB base would have tipped the scales to an upgrade for some who just can’t justify 256, but if 128/512 becomes a thing I expect it to start out on the Air as a sweetener to Air 4 owners shocked to see the Mini get 5G and a camera flash before them.

yeah the storage is disappointing, and for me the RAM is even more disappointing, at only 4GB, which doesn't make much difference from 3GB. When the mini gets 6GB RAM or even 8GB in a few years, that will be a worthy upgrade from my 5, and I don't even care about oled etc. RAM and possibly storage are a bigger deal.
And yes upgrading when you only have 1 iPad is a much more obvious choice than when you have several that are already complementary among them...

 

[Yr Blues]

Not a fan of the large speaker holes and no leather folios. I can't think of anything else I don't like … as I type on my mini 2.

 

[Yr Blues]

For 500 we shouldve got more color choices and leather folio options

 

[rkuo]

That's not ridiculous, that reality for some people. You can upgrade a lot of things in a device but most of them mean nothing or very little to some people, and there is nothing wrong about it...
My car manufacturer may sell a new model of my car that costs $10000 more but has upgraded looks and features. But mine is still more than fast enough and very reliable and has all the features that I need. For me it's not a worthy upgrade.
Why shouldn't these people express their opinions?
As far I am concerned upgrading from a mini 4 changed everything, moving from a barely usable device to an extremely fast one, with pencil support... Most of the feature of the 6 are not a game changer to me

OK, but in the context of iPad upgrades, it's objectively one of the biggest upgrades ever for the iPad Mini ... maybe even the biggest.

I really don't find the perspective of someone who just web surfs from the couch very interesting in terms of evaluating iPad's, and I just don't believe that's what people are thinking about when this question is asked.

 

[turbineseaplane]

OK, but in the context of iPad upgrades, it's objectively one of the biggest upgrades ever for the iPad Mini ... maybe even the biggest.

Case design, yes
Performance? No

The 4 to the 5 was a much more substantial and relevant (in terms of user experience) upgrade.

 

[UltimateSyn]

That's not ridiculous, that reality for some people. You can upgrade a lot of things in a device but most of them mean nothing or very little to some people, and there is nothing wrong about it...
My car manufacturer may sell a new model of my car that costs $10000 more but has upgraded looks and features. But mine is still more than fast enough and very reliable and has all the features that I need. For me it's not a worthy upgrade.
Why shouldn't these people express their opinions?
As far I am concerned upgrading from a mini 4 changed everything, moving from a barely usable device to an extremely fast one, with pencil support... Most of the feature of the 6 are not a game changer to me

I’m not saying the opinion should not have ever been expressed, I’m just saying I consider arguing that these new minis are not a significant upgrade to be a ridiculous position.

They are objectively significant upgrades. They are objectively the biggest upgrades that the mini has received since its inception 9 years ago. There could always be an argument that “oh, but I don’t need that feature!” Imagine the new minis had a 40 hour battery life - think of how asinine it would be to attempt to diminish the significance of that by arguing that you personally because you never use your iPad away from a charger. It’s an exaggerated example, but follows the same principle. It’s fine if it’s not enough for someone to upgrade, but the implications of the questions posed in the title about it “being an upgrade” and simply a “form factor change” are way way way out there and I felt it needed to be challenged.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They are objectively the biggest upgrades that the mini has received since its inception 9 years ago.

Not on performance it's not.

The 4 to the 5 was a much more important performance upgrade.

External design wise, this one is the most substantial, yes.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Not on performance it's not.

The 4 to the 5 was a much more important performance upgrade.

External design wise, this one is the most substantial, yes.

Yeah, I admittedly broadened the scope of my argument a little bit too much there. The heart of what I’m trying to say is in all the sentences after that.

 

[Digitalguy]

I’m not saying the opinion should not have ever been expressed, I’m just saying I consider arguing that these new minis are not a significant upgrade to be a ridiculous position.

They are objectively significant upgrades. They are objectively the biggest upgrades that the mini has received since its inception 9 years ago. There could always be an argument that “oh, but I don’t need that feature!” Imagine the new minis had a 40 hour battery life - think of how asinine it would be to attempt to diminish the significance of that by arguing that you personally because you never use your iPad away from a charger. It’s an exaggerated example, but follows the same principle. It’s fine if it’s not enough for someone to upgrade, but the implications of the questions posed in the title about it “being an upgrade” and simply a “form factor change” are way way way out there and I felt it needed to be challenged.

Yeah, but I never said it wasn't if you read my previous posts and I didn't write the title of the thread.
I said that the mini 6 is a big upgrade, but may not be worth it for some mini 5 users, unless they care a lot about things like the new design, usb c and pencil 2.
What I also said, but that's different, is that the mini 6 upgrade, compared to the mini 5 upgrade, is over-hyped online.
The mini 5 made a tablet that had been slowed down to a crawl by OS upgrades extremely responsive and gave it pencil support. That was a huge upgrade. But the media and comments didn't give much attention to that.
The mini 6 is being considered a game changer, a revolution, like if Apple had done nothing since the mini 1, when in terms of performance it's going to change very little, the screen size is barely going to increase (much less than the 0.4in would suggest) and other marketing stuff like liquid retina (= rounded corners) are just BS that people cite as upgrade (without even knowing what they mean), people say no bezels... Seriously? Those bezels are thicker than the side bezels of previous mini, that's why the screen did not increase much...It's just symmetry, which is beautiful, but definitely not a "full screen" device... I think the mini 5 was a huge upgrade and it's still an amazing device and the price did not increase. I don't know which one is the bigger upgrade, I guess it depends on priorities, but I still believe there is too much hype, driven in part by Apple marketing machine...

 

[Digitalguy]

OK, but in the context of iPad upgrades, it's objectively one of the biggest upgrades ever for the iPad Mini ... maybe even the biggest.

I really don't find the perspective of someone who just web surfs from the couch very interesting in terms of evaluating iPad's, and I just don't believe that's what people are thinking about when this question is asked.

that's definitely not my perspective, I don't web surf from the couch, ever.... I have a much more sophisticated use of my many iPads pro and mini, and I guess I am in the minority, most iPad users probably do precisely what Steve Jobs said the iPad was for...
And by the way I am waiting for what I consider more substantial upgrades before I move from my mini 5, like a significant increase in RAM, as with every OS upgrade reloads are increasing. RAM is something basic users don't even know how much they have... but has always been iPads bottleneck (first 1GB RAM, then 2GB and now even 3 and 4 are starting to become annoying in terms of reloads with iPadOS 15...)

 

[PTLove]

Im waiting for impressions of the speakers. On such a small portable device, a good speaker system is a large part of its draw to me. Im not expecting a dedicated speaker sound, but how good is it? Big thing for me.

 

[masotime]

The screen is 8.3" now, but it's a wider aspect ratio and the screen area isn't much more at all. Depending upon preference, going away from 4:3 is a lateral move, if not downgrade slightly. I really like taller screens in landscape myself (such as still preferring 16:10 monitors).

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with it, but long ago, Google released several tablets to try and compete with Apple. None of them were really very impressive - with one important exception - the Nexus 7 (2013).

That tablet is good.

It featured a narrower screen (I know you call it “wider” but to me it’s “narrower” from a portrait perspective) - and although traditionally you’d go with 4:3 as being better for books and comics - this was (and still is) an amazingly ergonomic tablet. It was the only Android that I still miss today.

I think the iPad mini having a narrower form factor is actually better - it’s going to fit more easily into pockets, and be easier to hold with one hand. In other words - it’s going to be even better at what it is designed to be - a portable tablet.

 

[rui no onna]

It featured a narrower screen (I know you call it “wider” but to me it’s “narrower” from a portrait perspective) - and although traditionally you’d go with 4:3 as being better for books and comics - this was (and still is) an amazingly ergonomic tablet. It was the only Android that I still miss today.

Maybe for Golden or Silver Age but modern comics, the 16:10 aspect ratio of the Nexus 7 is pretty spot on.

 

[KPOM]

Just going through spec comparisons it is dawning on me that while yes, it's 2 years newer and thus the internals are bumped to the "latest" (which is always great of course), it feels like more of a form factor change than a massive upgrade and mega change to me.

The screen is 8.3" now, but it's a wider aspect ratio and the screen area isn't much more at all. Depending upon preference, going away from 4:3 is a lateral move, if not downgrade slightly. I really like taller screens in landscape myself (such as still preferring 16:10 monitors).

Specs of the screen are essentially identical save for the new one being "Liquid Retina" -- which is just a made up Apple marketing term.
Both are 500 nits, both are laminated & anti-reflective, both are P3, both are True-Tone, both are 326ppi..

The cameras got better. Full agree there.
More speakers - that is very nice!

No home button and slight bezel changes (Touch ID now on power button) -- all just lateral stuff honestly.

I guess Pencil 2 support if you're into that?

USB-C if you care for that.
To me that would be not so great as I have lightning all over the house for household iPhones. Great if you do a lot of data transfer for sure.

No headphone jack (for me that sucks - I'm sure many don't care)

I don't know. Big form factor change if that's important to some, but to me this seems less of change "experience of using it" wise vs the iPM 5 than one might think.

If you already have a 5 (as I do), I'm struggling to justify the big outlay to upgrade.

Please - if you're super excited about the new one - go on being so!
I just wanted to bring up a somewhat dispassionate analysis of what's actually changing here.

Curious how many are changing out from their iPad mini 5 and the thought process and/or why?

Apple jacking the base entry price by 25% ($399 to $499) is really a bit of a face slap considering it still starts at 64gb as it did with version 5.

View attachment 1833140

Please know - I'm in no way trying to be negative or kill anyones excitement.

I just prefer to cut through the hype and Apple marketing a bit and zero in on what the new offering, value and changes truly are here.

It's a really great product if you don't already have its' predecessor.

Since I do have a 5 now, I'm analyzing it through the lens of "worth it or not to upgrade".

If you go to this press release page, a full 50% of the page is talking not about iPad mini 6, but about iOS 15 and "iPad and the Environment"

Apple unveils new iPad mini with breakthrough performance in stunning new design

Apple today introduced the powerful new iPad mini with a larger 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display in four gorgeous finishes.

www.apple.com

It’s a little perplexing they made the screen slightly narrower, but I think it is a decent update to what was already an impressive device. There is an extra GB of RAM, USB-C is welcome, and Apple Pencil 2 is a better setup than Apple Pencil 1 as charging for Apple Pencil 1 was awkward at best. The camera is now better than the one on the more expensive iPad Air. The extra landscape screen space should come in handy.