Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad mini Is 5 to 6 really an upgrade? Feels mostly like a form factor change.
- Thread starter turbineseaplane
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple already gave them to you, they gave you a ppi and the resolution. So for you to be right either the ppi is wrong or the resolution is.
What is discussed here is of course the square screen, Apple is going with rounded corners which will cut off a small part there.
yeah but there is too much speculation here, moving the inches from 7.9 to 7.87 and from 8.3 to 8.33 of course changes the screen area... anyway personally I couldn't care less if it's 5.2%, 5.5% more or even 7% as you claim, so at this point it's a waste of time
The increase of physical pixels, pixels that usually don’t display content, is less than the increase in usable screen area. In real world use the screen area has increased by ~7.2%.
Last edited:
I mean you can get the increase in screen area just from the pixels as well if you want to double check, and that also comes to just shy of 7.2%. And that number is no speculation at all and just information given to us by Apple directly.
And even the actual screen sizes down to more valuefigures aren’t really speculation since they can be derived from the numbers Apple provided so they aren’t really speculation either. It is just a matter of calculation.
I agree that it doesn’t really matter regardless but one reason there is a lot of speculation on different sites is because people aren’t doing the math with the numbers that are available to us from Apple.
My intention was not to claim 7.87" and 8.33" are the true numbers (@klasma already did a far more accurate calculation of the exact diagonal sizes, which I saw afterwards) but I was saying that given what we do already know (that the rectangular equivalent screen area increased by 7.18% because of pixel density and counts) the numbers I chose provide a much more accurate delta in area than 4:3 7.9" vs 14:9 8.3".
The point is that Apple doesn't provide screen sizes past one decimal, so those should not be used, but the PPI and pixel count numbers allow us to make more accurate calculations of the screen area.
I guess the screen change just does very little for me personally since quality wise it’s the same and I am not somebody who watches a ton of video content on my iPad mini…
Much more so browsing the web…
For me I’m bummed about losing 4 x 3
I’m one of those that just hates the screens getting wider and not as tall even on the computer side also..
This is one change that is just very subjective
Much more so browsing the web…
For me I’m bummed about losing 4 x 3
I’m one of those that just hates the screens getting wider and not as tall even on the computer side also..
This is one change that is just very subjective
Realistically, it's rare that any product gives a dramatic bump in features from X to X+1. People say the same thing about iPhones all the time. Annual bumps in specs tend to be quite incremental. 10% or 15% is hard to perceive or value. But there was a recent thread here where someone was complaining bitterly about the lack of macro focus capability in the iPhone 12 series (and earlier). I suspect the addition of macro focus for the new models is a big deal for them (well me, too).
Believe it or not, most people don't go from X to X+1, they go from X to X+2 or X+3, or beyond. The cumulative effect of several years of small bumps can be substantial. I'm really looking forward to going from a true "X" (iPhone X) to X+4 (iPhone 13 Pro). The change in cameras is substantial. Ditto for when Apple releases a 27-30-inch iMac with M-series SOC, which will replace a 27-inch Late 2013 iMac. It'll be a dramatic change in many ways.
Of course, in the case of going from nearly any Intel Mac to its M-series counterpart, even an X to X+1 is likely to seem dramatic, but how often does system architecture change so dramatically from one year to the next? Motorola to Power PC, Power PC to Intel, Intel to Apple... so just three times in the history of Mac.
On the other hand, my 12.9-inch iPad Pro First Gen is still doing just fine for me, so the X+4 (Fifth Gen), although clearly an improved and changed product, doesn't offer me anything I've been yearning for. I could dismiss the 5th Gen a "lateral move" because it isn't a step up for my needs, but it doesn't mean the product has gone unchanged.
The whole "lateral" thing is a matter of perception. You value things that you want, you dismiss things you don't. I'd like to "move up" to another position with my employer. However, my employer considers that particular move to be "lateral." In a sense, it is lateral - the pay scale is the same, the level of authority and responsibility is the same. However, I'll need to learn/add new skills, and it will open opportunities for me that don't exist in my current position. So for me, the "stretch" and the opportunities make it a vertical move. To another person in my position those same "verticalities" my not seem to be a step up at all - they may agree with my employer that it's totally lateral.
Believe it or not, most people don't go from X to X+1, they go from X to X+2 or X+3, or beyond. The cumulative effect of several years of small bumps can be substantial. I'm really looking forward to going from a true "X" (iPhone X) to X+4 (iPhone 13 Pro). The change in cameras is substantial. Ditto for when Apple releases a 27-30-inch iMac with M-series SOC, which will replace a 27-inch Late 2013 iMac. It'll be a dramatic change in many ways.
Of course, in the case of going from nearly any Intel Mac to its M-series counterpart, even an X to X+1 is likely to seem dramatic, but how often does system architecture change so dramatically from one year to the next? Motorola to Power PC, Power PC to Intel, Intel to Apple... so just three times in the history of Mac.
On the other hand, my 12.9-inch iPad Pro First Gen is still doing just fine for me, so the X+4 (Fifth Gen), although clearly an improved and changed product, doesn't offer me anything I've been yearning for. I could dismiss the 5th Gen a "lateral move" because it isn't a step up for my needs, but it doesn't mean the product has gone unchanged.
The whole "lateral" thing is a matter of perception. You value things that you want, you dismiss things you don't. I'd like to "move up" to another position with my employer. However, my employer considers that particular move to be "lateral." In a sense, it is lateral - the pay scale is the same, the level of authority and responsibility is the same. However, I'll need to learn/add new skills, and it will open opportunities for me that don't exist in my current position. So for me, the "stretch" and the opportunities make it a vertical move. To another person in my position those same "verticalities" my not seem to be a step up at all - they may agree with my employer that it's totally lateral.
I’m not sure what I’ll make of the new aspect ratio, but the overall package has won me over. Can’t wait, made the mistake of updating my 5 to 14.8 yesterday (heard 15 was a RAM hog, so thought that 14 would make it and its 3GB RAM usable for longer when passed down.) It’s killed the battery, that insulting trade in value suddenly looks appealing if this continues…
I can't wait for mine to get here!!!
I only bought the mini 5 this spring, used, barely - got a great deal on it..... Originally I came from the S Note Series - I loved having the stylus with my phone.... Since that may never happen with the iPhone, I got the mini 5 - did not want to wait....
So I primarily got it for taking notes at church, I use it in landscape mode, multi-tasking. that extra on the sides will make a huge difference, I think.... Also, my other main devices (more than my Mac mini) is my iPad Pros. I am a graphic designer / artist - the pencil 2 is SOOOOO much better than the 1. With the form factor of the new mini - I think I will actually use it for Procreate while I am waiting for family etc.... If I am going to be awhile, I bring my 12.9".... I also read with the Kindle app at night on the mini - without glasses. The larger letters are so much nicer as my eyesight is getting a bit worse as I age LOL
I did also upgrade to the 256 gb, since I think I will be using it more with Procreate. MY daughter has my 11" now - so the mini is my smaller device.
I only bought the mini 5 this spring, used, barely - got a great deal on it..... Originally I came from the S Note Series - I loved having the stylus with my phone.... Since that may never happen with the iPhone, I got the mini 5 - did not want to wait....
So I primarily got it for taking notes at church, I use it in landscape mode, multi-tasking. that extra on the sides will make a huge difference, I think.... Also, my other main devices (more than my Mac mini) is my iPad Pros. I am a graphic designer / artist - the pencil 2 is SOOOOO much better than the 1. With the form factor of the new mini - I think I will actually use it for Procreate while I am waiting for family etc.... If I am going to be awhile, I bring my 12.9".... I also read with the Kindle app at night on the mini - without glasses. The larger letters are so much nicer as my eyesight is getting a bit worse as I age LOL
I did also upgrade to the 256 gb, since I think I will be using it more with Procreate. MY daughter has my 11" now - so the mini is my smaller device.
Out of curiosity I tried to see how much trading in my iPad Air (1) would be worth - but couldn’t find a button to click that says ‘it doesn’t have Touch ID or Face ID’ ?
It feels so much faster. Almost too fast. Plus you need to adjust to the new way of working with it. Aka swipe to homescreen etc.. TouchID on the top or left/right. It does need some adjusting. But after 1/2 day of usage it feels lightning fast. The Mini 5 was fast enough, no problems here, no slow downs. But Mini 6 seems like a race car when compared. I don't think the M1 can be faster under normal usage. If it is it seems almost unusable to me. Maybe for really big tasks, but normal usage M1 can't feel faster than the A15 on the Mini.
I need to get used to the power button. Still doing it wrong many times. Have both forefingers set up twice, different positions. But still sometimes it isn't recognized because my finger position is not perfect enough. But when getting it right, holding it perfectly, THEN pressing power, it is much faster then Mini 5 to me.
As I watch videos on the Mini on the go quite a lot it has the perfect form factor for me. Not to narrow and wide, just perfect. And of course 5G and Qualcomm modem is so nice when I am out and about. The Mini 5 must have had an Intel modem from 2018, really crappy, still better than many newer iPhones. So I expect so much more from the Mini 6 5G Qualcomm.
Only problem, I wanted to do a full restore from iTunes aka Big Sur Finder, which I always do with new devices or new FW releases. But I can't do it. It always gives me an error 1, could not restore device. Never had that problem before. Anyone else here? Macbook 12 Big Sur. Restore via Finder as there is no iTunes anymore.
And my Power Button is a bit loose. It wiggles a bit. Thinking about retiring it but I don't have other issues. Good display and no to almost no jelly scrolling like others. Hmmm....
But I would say, if this is not an upgrade from the last version, what is an upgrade?
EDIT: I always liked my Mini 5 display. But compared to my new Mini 6 it is piss red. Never noticed it that extreme but holding it next to each other without any display setting turned on, the Mini 6 looks much whiter/cooler and my Mini 5 really reddish.
Last edited:
New iPad mini 6 is considerably faster, less stuttering than I remember, I sold a previous iPad mini about a year ago and from memory this is much smoother and responsive. Very happy with it so far.
i received my mini 6 yesterday and compare with mini 5, current I am usin. Mini 6 is really fast. More smoothly, only thing I dislike is mini 6 give up 3.5 port. I like new design in general. For something is not well - mainly from iOS 15. Nothing with the mini.
Mini 5 is just as fast and responsive as the 2018 and 2020 pro, since they have the same single core speed, which is what really make the difference in terms of perceived speed. Mini 6 has the same single core as the M1 pro so it's faster than previous gen just like the current gen pro is faster than the previous gen. Not that the previous gen pros (or the mini 5) were laggy or stuttering. It's moving from very fast to even faster.
It’s not quite as fast at single core as the M1 or the A15 in the iPhone 13Pro but it is still plenty fast.
Geekbench -
Mini 6:
Single core: 1594
Multi core: 4550
Metal compute: 13679
2021 12.9 M1:
Single-Core : 1710
Multi-Core : 7263
Metal Compute : 20934
The change in aspect ratio does have one advantage, the mini now almost fills a 16:10 screen:
(via some reddit thread)
(via some reddit thread)