iPad mini My experience with the iPad Mini

[Isamilis]

iPad mini (obviously) has limitations (and advantages) over other iPads. Some people don’t really care, some really concern. People are different. It’s just a tools anyway, use whatever works for you.

 

[1rottenapple]

It’s always a matter of perspective.

I went from pro 2018 to mini in 2021 and love the Touch ID.

I’m only contemplating the 11 pro now for other purposes (external display, journaling).

But I do like using the mini for its size.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm a Mini 5 guy
Returned the 7 as I didn't find the value there and I also really prefer the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio

I didn't realize how important that was to me, particularly so on the Mini screen size, to have that extra vertical real estate/specific shape when in Landscape

It just "feels right" to me
I really really love the Mini 5

 

[Digitalguy]

I'm a Mini 5 guy
Returned the 7 as I didn't find the value there and I also really prefer the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio

I didn't realize how important that was to me, particularly so on the Mini screen size, to have that extra vertical real estate/specific shape when in Landscape

It just "feels right" to me
I really really love the Mini 5

Same here, I am not upgrading my iPad mini 5, I even bought a second one I found for cheap as a backup.
The audio jack allows me to use my music apps with high end headphones (bluetooth has latency for playing instruments).
The smart cover makes it lighter than the successors.
I still have several airpods with lightning so I need a cable anyway.
I love home button touch id.
It has a physical SIM, which is a must since some of the laptops I have can only use a physical SIM (so no eSIM for me for the foreseeable future).
I don't think I'll upgrade in this decade...

PS I am leaving mine on iPadOS 17, I have read that 18 slows it down quite a bit (and I don't see any major features for the mini 5)

 

[Lioness~]

I have 5 & 6, and prefer the 6 - the 5 is more or less only a meditation timer and a backup to connect to iCloud files and such.

When I think of it, it's rather important things of planning that I actually do on the mini, on end and beginnings of days.
Using my Things - app, a lot on it - that is my planning app and adding all stuff that it's on the horizon. Reading MacRumors must count as important too, right?

Well, I'm Passing the 7, and will probably buy 8 later.

 

[turbineseaplane]

PS I am leaving mine on iPadOS 17, I have read that 18 slows it down quite a bit (and I don't see any major features for the mini 5)

I wish I could downgrade mine

Smart move on your part

 

[AeroSatan]

It's all relative. To those who use not for certain niche things like putting it into a cockpit of a small plane or a boat, read some books, watch a few movies, send a quick email and for me taking notes with the pencil pro makes it a perfect device. For everything else it's my M4 Pro MacBook Pro all day.

 

[Performa460]

To be honest, I didn't love my mini in the beginning, either. I got it primarily to replace a broken Kindle, but over time it grew on me and it's my most-used device right now. I started out using it ONLY as an e-reader, but since I used it so much for that and always pretty much had it with me, I guess I just transitioned to using it for other stuff as well. For example, I think it's the perfect size for apps like Koala.

 

[Cunir]

I prefer the mini over my larger iPad. My only gripe is the text size can be a bit small on some of the apps. Its okay with all the Apple ones because the text resizer always works, but some apps don’t let you adjust it

 

[Saturn1217]

Typing this on my iPad mini 7.

For me personally having a small iPad trumped all the things that are wrong with this device (and there are a lot). I’m the kind of person who gets the iPhone Pro Max because I want the biggest screen I can get while on the go. But Apple is never going to make a +7” iPhone. Even if they did they definitely aren’t ever going to increase the aspect ratio back to something wider and less tall. And they continue to not update iOS so you can actually do MORE on a larger screen. So having the shrunk down iPad OS on a device I can carry with me anywhere I can bring my phone is brilliant.

If the size isn’t as important to you, I can easily see not wanting to put up with all the iPad mini shortcomings.

If they could just do something about this screen sometime this decade that would be nice.

 

[topocalypse]

to me personally,

the mini MUST have:
- 120hz

Should have:
- UI scaling option. at least make them UIs and tabs slightly bigger. this isn't rocket science. apple should make this simple software option.
- OLED
- external monitor support (non-mirroring). as such, maybe a M-chip.

without these, i cannot justify buying an ipad mini DESPITE it having the absolute best form factor. i fly a lot and i fly economy. anything larger than a mini almost doesn't get used because it requires a backpack, which might as well be in the overhead cabin.

i want devices that fit in my sling that goes with me 100% of the time on the plane (for safety). ipad mini would have been perfect for that but alas, apple is just being insufferable.

 

[dmr727]

want devices that fit in my sling that goes with me 100% of the time on the plane (for safety). ipad mini would have been perfect for that but alas, apple is just being insufferable.

A lot of us have been dreaming of what's essentially a Mini Pro for a long time, but there's no indication that'll ever happen. The $399 deals that pop up (one is going on now) at least make it easier to swallow the Mini's shortcomings.

 

[FlyingDutch]

I decided to return the iPad Mini. I should preface, I’m not a “returning” type. I typically keep most things that I get because I did the research and such. But some things you just need some time with (even briefly) to understand. Such was the case with the Mini. If you’re considering one, keep in mind these things.
1. It’s small. So the tap targets are constantly having to be pressed repeatedly to activate. Like closing a tab or such. Surprisingly, the iPhone is a lot easier and more precise in this regard because it’s not iPadOS scaled to a smaller form. It became really annoying, fast.
2. The Touch ID is just cumbersome. I’m coming from a Face ID iPad Pro (still use it) and I can’t tell you how many times I just “expected” something to open and was like, “oh yeah, Touch ID.”
3. The lack of an ultra wide camera. I know it’s a niche thing but I bought this as essentially a video camera that has fast transfer speeds to the Pro for editing (my pro has 2TB storage). And for that, it worked nicely. But because of the smaller form factor, it’s closer to being iPhone sized and you’re not that “iPad as a camera guy” that people find obnoxious. So an ultra wide may have tipped the balance to keep it.
4. While I didn’t find it performed badly, there were some here or there moments where it felt “laggy”. Not some repeatable way, just here and there. Like it’s (almost) M1 but.. just not quite there.
All in all..it wasn’t for me. But if your fingers are more nimble than mine, you may have better luck with the tap targets. It was just too frustrating for me.

I’ve tried the Mini two times , because I like the portability it offers, and both times I ended up selling it after 1 year, mostly because of some the points you highlighted above (minus the camera, not a point for me since I just need it for document’s scanning).
It is just too small for a tablet.

 

[geta]

I’ve tried the Mini two times , because I like the portability it offers, and both times I ended up selling it after 1 year, mostly because of some the points you highlighted above (minus the camera, not a point for me since I just need it for document’s scanning).
It is just too small for a tablet.

Obviously, your experience with an iPad Mini is minimal at best, if any.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Obviously, your experience with an iPad Mini is minimal at best, if any.

2 years of daily usage, and I’m still using one. I wouldn’t call that minimal.

 

[Channan]

How are you still using it when you said you’ve had two and sold both?

 

[FlyingDutch]

How are you still using it when you said you’ve had two and sold both?

My job.
We have dozens of Mini.

 

[StoneJack]

Mini is fine for minimal things