iPad mini Tempted but....

[TeacherToo]

I also bought the mini for the same reasons - traveling, reading on the couch, media consumption on the go, etc... It fits nicely in the back pocket of my jeans.

I am tired chasing after larger screens on the iPhones. I have a iPhone 15 Pro Max but the next purchase can now be a smaller iPhone or iPhone Pro.

I can have the best of both worlds - a lighter and smaller iPhone in my pocket at all times (still readable) and a larger screen when I do lots of reading that still fits in a pocket.

I also have an Apple watch, so a lot of the time I do not have to take my iPhone out of my pocket. (answering calls, checking weather, calendar, listen to music, etc) So why carry around a big iPhone when it stays in my pocket most of the time? The few times when I do need to look at the screen, I can live with a smaller screen. But a lot of the time when I am sitting and reading, the larger screen of the mini is really a pleasure.

I am also banking on the idea that it will get a lot of use with Apple Intelligence and the other features coming up. Apple says it will be the AI for the rest of us, so I am thinking it will actually be useful and fun to play with.

 

[Matsamoto]

If you have an iPad Pro M4 13" ...and are considering an iPhone 16 Pro Max

...I can't even begin to describe how disappointed you'll be with the iPad Mini screen

😬

You know that the Mini’s display has the highest ppi of all iPads, including the fancy and expensive Pro M4 13”?

 

[turbineseaplane]

You know that the Mini’s display has the highest ppi of all iPads, including the fancy and expensive Pro M4 13”?

PPI is but one metric and so much more goes into a great display

The Mini has the worst screen quality experience of any new product Apple sells

 

[Matsamoto]

PPI is but one metric and so much more goes into a great display

The Mini has the worst screen quality experience of any new product Apple sells

I don’t agree with you at all.
My wife have a iPad Mini 5 and I don’t think it’s the worse screen Apple has made.
I haven’t seen jelly scroll on it and I think it’s quite good.

I’ve been using a iPad Pro 11 2020 since they released it so I have a quality screen to compare to.

The price for worst screen quality goes to the iPad 9th gen (which is not for sale any more), and the 10th gen iPad.
None of these have a laminated screen and they also lack of antireflective coating.

 

[Johnny365]

People have been spoiled by OLED, Mini-LED, of the later devices, that’s why. But in it’s own ways, LCD iPads are still serviceable and look fine.

 

[transmaster]

I am not tempted anymore, and if I had a Mini 6 I would not upgrade unless I had aging batteries or damage.

 

[goodthymes]

I'm starting to think there are multiple vendors for the Mini LCD and ifixit got one of the bum ones. That or am just rationalizing my purchase - haha - yes I'm perfectly happily using my Mini 7.

BTW, My M4 13Pro is one of the ones that has a warm reddish OLED, while I've seen other's where it's nice and cool with good contrast. So Apple definitely does this even on their top tier product lines.

 

[Saturn007]

The price for worst screen quality goes to the iPad 9th gen (which is not for sale any more), and the 10th gen iPad.
None of these have a laminated screen and they also lack of antireflective coating.

Yet, many of us are perfectly satisfied with the iPad 9's screen — bright, crisp, good colors, easy on the eyes — and particularly enjoy it being PWM-free!

 

[turbineseaplane]

My wife have a iPad Mini 5 and I don’t think it’s the worse screen Apple has made.

I think we are talking past each other a bit

The Mini 5 screen is great! I agree -- I have one and love it

I was specifically referring to the Mini 6/7

 

[turbineseaplane]

The price for worst screen quality goes to the iPad 9th gen

I don't agree here at all - I have a 9th gen right next to me that I use as a "TV Pad" and it actually looks better than my Mini 5 -- richer colors and just much more pleasing than my Mini 5 .. which I really like

The mini 6 introduced a fairly low quality, for Apple, IPS panel ... I'll have more in hand comments on the 7 this weekend as my cousin bought one and I'm going to visit

 

[Matsamoto]

I don't agree here at all - I have a 9th gen right next to me that I use as a "TV Pad" and it actually looks better than my Mini 5 -- richer colors and just much more pleasing than my Mini 5 .. which I really like

The mini 6 introduced a fairly low quality, for Apple, IPS panel ... I'll have more in hand comments on the 7 this weekend as my cousin bought one and I'm going to visit

I can’t comment on the screen quality of the new ones, like the 9 and 10.
But I do know that before my iPad Pro 2020 I was using a 5th Gen iPad, and the screen quality was really bad.
If I sat near a window (no sun, just a cloudy day) I couldn’t see much on the screen because of the reflections, and the colors was washed out.
Perhaps the newer one is better, beside reflections due to no antireflective coating?

If you want, come back here and give us a update on your cousin’s Mini 7😊

 

[Matsamoto]

I think we are talking past each other a bit

The Mini 5 screen is great! I agree -- I have one and love it

I was specifically referring to the Mini 6/7

Maybe we do.
I bring up the Mini 5 because some say that it has jelly scroll, but not so much like the newer ones.
I haven’t noticed though.

I’m also quite impressed about the Mini 5, so I’m tempted to buy one.
It probably won’t get iPadOs 19, but if I buy it now it probably get 3 years of security updates from now🙂

 

[Realityck]

iPad Mini is like the iPod Touch. While it is a pretty much fun device, it will probably be discontinued in future.

If you want something EXTRA LARGE AND BOLD there is always iPhone Pro Max out there or the Plus regular model. At least, iPhone got a full-featured and non-pixelated Instagram app🤣🤣🤣

There are differences between iOS 18.x and iPadOS 18.x interface you know, especially looking at the app interfaces. Want to compare Apple Music on a IPhone 16 Max and a iPad mini 7?

 

[Pezimak]

You know that the Mini’s display has the highest ppi of all iPads, including the fancy and expensive Pro M4 13”?

Maybe but let’s be honest, the iPad Pro screens utterly destroy the iPad Minis screen in several areas. Go and compare them in a store and you’ll see what I mean. It’s why I am going back and forth on the Mini. But I won’t be upgrading my iPad till next year so have plenty of time to settle on one.

 

[rovex]

Maybe but let’s be honest, the iPad Pro screens utterly destroy the iPad Minis screen in several areas. Go and compare them in a store and you’ll see what I mean. It’s why I am going back and forth on the Mini. But I won’t be upgrading my iPad till next year so have plenty of time to settle on one.

I wouldn’t notice the difference unless they were side by side. My OLED pixel screen is just as satisfying to look at as the Mini 6. It’s the brightness that holds it back outdoors.

 

[Pezimak]

I wouldn’t notice the difference unless they were side by side. My OLED pixel screen is just as satisfying to look at as the Mini 6. It’s the brightness that holds it back outdoors.

Oh I’m a sucker for OLED. Mind you the Mini LED screen on my MB Pro is also great. My iPad Pro looks a bit plain next to it and my OLED devices and TV. Hmm may need to change that next year 😉 and swallow that price…

 

[shadowboi]

There are differences between iOS 18.x and iPadOS 18.x interface you know, especially looking at the app interfaces. Want to compare Apple Music on a IPhone 16 Max and a iPad mini 7?

Are these differences really problematic to live with? Especially since iPhone has display zoom modes so apps do not look tiny on large displays.

If I was in a market for a large device, I doubt I would have looked at iPad Mini at all since there is almost no point in having one – it is still not a computer, has limited filesystem (i.e. Files app) and has almost the same interface as an iPhone. Back in the days when I got my first (and to be honest it would be last, I dislike iPads now) iPad Air 2 I thought I would be using it to edit my photos (which I did), but over time I realized I can do it much more effectively on my newer iPhones. Now iPad is used to stream pirated movies and for occasional Minecraft (specifically installed old version so it doesn’t lag), not really “collecting dust” but fairly close to it, don’t even see a reason to upgrade🤣

 

[Realityck]

Are these differences really problematic to live with? Especially since iPhone has display zoom modes so apps do not look tiny on large displays.

If I was in a market for a large device, I doubt I would have looked at iPad Mini at all since there is almost no point in having one – it is still not a computer, has limited filesystem (i.e. Files app) and has almost the same interface as an iPhone. Back in the days when I got my first (and to be honest it would be last, I dislike iPads now) iPad Air 2 I thought I would be using it to edit my photos (which I did), but over time I realized I can do it much more effectively on my newer iPhones. Now iPad is used to stream pirated movies and for occasional Minecraft (specifically installed old version so it doesn’t lag), not really “collecting dust” but fairly close to it, don’t even see a reason to upgrade🤣

Makes sense. I use a much larger 16" MBP or a 24" iMac most of the time, along with iPhone Pro's. The iPad mini 7 serves best for economical larger display device when I need to watch content via many streaming content host apps or edit/explore/fact find the web. There also the taking notes as I go aspect. With a slim case it's ultra compact for carrying everywhere at home along with my iPhone Pro compared to same with 16" MBP.

For me it not a necessity, but it sure easier to use to kill time when mobile and stationary for so much time.

Good video showing a iPhone 16 Max with a iPad mini 7 to see why some own both, obviously they can be used together.

 

[GregoriousMan]

I wouldn’t notice the difference unless they were side by side. My OLED pixel screen is just as satisfying to look at as the Mini 6. It’s the brightness that holds it back outdoors.

Yeah, the iPad mini 6 and 7 are really fine devices.

 

[DSTOFEL]

and yes and no, but mostly yes.

I am anti e-waste and excessive consumerism, but if everyone in US becomes frugal and stops having overlapping devices with maxed out specks, then the economy would collapse. If one can not stop the riot then one needs to join and rule it.

I came to truly appreciate that other people spending more money helps me spend less money. My bestbuy open box macbook air m1 was bought for $500 off because smn returned it. Bestbuy sells new M2 Air laptops for $750 cause everyone votes with their wallet for new and shiny M3. I get to buy $500 dollar cars because the first owner got tired of it in 10 years and so on and so forth.

You have a $500 M1 and a $500 car? Lucky…I compute with an Abacus and take the bus. Sorry, had to channel some Deadpool humor