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iPad mini Thinking about the Mini 6

I'm afraid these are subjective questions, and the only way to answer them is to try out the mini yourself. Try it in the store, and if that's not good enough, take advantage of the two week return period (if you live in the right area for that).

I bought the original mini for reading PDF documents, and for me it's brilliant at that. I typically read them in landscape, though I can read them in portrait. On the other hand, I have poor handwriting, and it helps me to have a larger device for taking handwritten notes (I have a 12.9" pro for that).
 
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3SQ Machine said:
Yes, it’s not fixable via software but it is “manageable” by adapting how you use the device. If I scroll slowly in portrait orientation, it’s less noticeable. Oddly, it’s more noticeable in dark mode.

not a deal breaker for me, but I could absolutely see why it might drive some heavy readers crazy.
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You shouldn't have to adapt that much to a device honestly, tech should work for you. Scrolling slowly, use landscape only, dark/light mode only, etc. People, including iPad owners, took a huge dump on the M1 IPP when iPadOS 15 was announced and kept telling folks they shouldn't have bought hardware based on future software or lack thereof. Now folks are giving a pass on the Mini 6 which is not only flawed out the gate from a UI perspective but also a hardware one with at least two display issues with one affecting EVERY Mini 6. Hell, you can get a refurbished 11' IPP from Apple for the price of the Mini 6 and have twice as much storage.

If people don't notice it or don't care then great but it exist so why are so many quick to give out a free pass on a $500 device? Other than the form factor, the new Mini 6 is a software blunder that Apple may or may not fix (probably the most niche Apple product so why bother) and it will forever be known for its poor display. Personally after the bad press I see the iPad Mini going the way of the iPhone Mini and getting cancelled after this gen.
 
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Sheepish-Lord said:
Personally after the bad press I see the iPad Mini going the way of the iPhone Mini and getting cancelled after this gen.
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Just a question but what do you consider bad press? Discussions on rumor forums are not press. Most of the YouTube reviews videos from seasoned reviewers do discuss it but its not a big issue for them. BTW The iPhone 13 mini has gotten good comments also, the battery life is improved.
 
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Realityck said:
Just a question but what do you consider bad press? Discussions on rumor forums are not press. Most of the YouTube reviews videos from seasoned reviewers do discuss it but its not a big issue for them. BTW The iPhone 13 mini has gotten good comments also, the battery life is improved.
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There's articles about it on all the big tech websites and even Forbes. That's press. Like I said, it might not be an issue to some but it is an issue regardless. Apple has supposedly already cancelled the iPhone Mini based on what happened from the 12 Mini so unless it comes out of left field from Apple that line is toast.
 
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Realityck said:
All 60 HZ IPS displays have is occurring to some degree it part of how they work. The Air 4 shows it a bit in landscape if I am not mistaken.
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yes but the display controller has a preferred orientation to negate this effect. All the non-mini iPads prioritize landscape which makes sense, and the ProMotion on the IPP greatly reduces the effect even further. Apple in their odd wisdom changed the preferred orientation for the Mini to landscape yet advertises it mostly in portrait mode which is honestly how a lot of people use it.
 
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Sheepish-Lord said:
There's articles about it on all the big tech websites and even Forbes. That's press. Like I said, it might not be an issue to some but it is an issue regardless. Apple has supposedly already cancelled the iPhone Mini based on what happened from the 12 Mini so unless it comes out of left field from Apple that line is toast.
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Sales would determine the fate of the iPad mini. If it sells at least enough to meet Apple’s expectations, then they’ll likely keep the line going. The iPhone mini is rumored to be cancelled due to disappointing sales, not due to any defects.

Chances are majority of iPad mini 6 buyers aren’t even aware there’s a jelly scroll issue anyway. It’s just tech enthusiasts that pay attention to these things. Until it makes it to normal news channels (like #batterygate did), I don’t think the average Joe would even know. 🤷‍♀️
 
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Sheepish-Lord said:
yes but the display controller has a preferred orientation to negate this effect. All the non-mini iPads prioritize landscape which makes sense, and the ProMotion on the IPP greatly reduces the effect even further. Apple in their odd wisdom changed the preferred orientation for the Mini to landscape yet advertises it mostly in portrait mode which is honestly how a lot of people use it.
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Perhaps there is ample reason to use the mini in landscape, after its aspect ratio is noticeable wider that axis and the speaker placement which might be a reason why parts were relocated are optimally placed for landscape stereo. Time will tell how we see how the mini works out. It's how I hold it looking at VoD, YouTube all the time.
 
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Sheepish-Lord said:
There's articles about it on all the big tech websites and even Forbes. That's press. Like I said, it might not be an issue to some but it is an issue regardless. Apple has supposedly already cancelled the iPhone Mini based on what happened from the 12 Mini so unless it comes out of left field from Apple that line is toast.
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99% of the buying public are never going to see or read that stuff. I've shown the issue to several people and the general response was "So what's the problem?".
 
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Back in 1982, I paid $1895 for an Osborne 1. 64K RAM (which was a ton back then when 8K or 16K were big time), two 90K 5.25” floppy drives, and a 5” monochrome text-only screen in a 30+ pound “portable” package. I wasn’t thrilled at paying about $1100 (including tax) for a 256G cellular Mini 6, Apple folio, and pencil, but when I consider that I spent way more on something way less capable (on quite a few computers over the years), it helps me put things into perspective at how wondrous current tech gadgets are.

First world problems.
 
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LibbyLA said:
Back in 1982, I paid $1895 for an Osborne 1. 64K RAM (which was a ton back then when 8K or 16K were big time), two 90K 5.25” floppy drives, and a 5” monochrome text-only screen in a 30+ pound “portable” package. I wasn’t thrilled at paying about $1100 (including tax) for a 256G cellular Mini 6, Apple folio, and pencil, but when I consider that I spent way more on something way less capable (on quite a few computers over the years), it helps me put things into perspective at how wondrous current tech gadgets are.

First world problems.
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I'm still remembering the Altair from '74 - cost the equivalent of $3000 today. The good old days - who needs a stinkin' monitor or keyboard? Wish I had kept that stuff.
 
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I think the best thing for me to do is to first go to the Apple store nearby and see the Mini in person and test it to the extent possible in the store. If I feel good about it, I will buy it and try it out within the returns timeframe and take it from there. That would also allow me to assess the redundancy factor.
 
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kristalsoldier said:
I think the best thing for me to do is to first go to the Apple store nearby and see the Mini in person and test it to the extent possible in the store. If I feel good about it, I will buy it and try it out within the returns timeframe and take it from there. That would also allow me to assess the redundancy factor.
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That’s really the only way, I did that before I made my decision.
 
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I'm going to return the Mini 6 256GB today after using it for a few days due to the poor display quality, that the jelly effect was getting worse by the day, and I noticed jittery video playback on it.
 
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3SQ Machine said:
Yes, it’s not fixable via software but it is “manageable” by adapting how you use the device. If I scroll slowly in portrait orientation, it’s less noticeable. Oddly, it’s more noticeable in dark mode.

not a deal breaker for me, but I could absolutely see why it might drive some heavy readers crazy.
Click to expand...

I guess not a huge deal for me, as I've never been a speed reader or a rapid-scroll reader. I'm also planning to buy the iPad Mini 6.... but may wait for any sales or discounts coming in the pre-Holiday weeks. I don't need one immediately.
 
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Wondered if I would see the jelly effect as I mainly use my old mini 2 for reading novels in Amazon Kindle app.
So went ahead and bought one. Its going back next week.

The size comparison between the new and old mini shows differences, not really any better but in some ways worse.. The new one's usable screen is taller but slimmer that the old one. It's obviously designed for landscape mode/usage

In my view, the Mini 6 is far from better. The black bezels on each side look bigger when used in portrait mode for reading due to the change in viewable size, a taller but narrower screen.

Really disappointed especially when Apple are using words that seem to suggest Edge to Edge but in actuality still have wide black edges.

Hopefully my Mini 2 will work for a long time yet
 
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Silverlox said:
In my view, the Mini 6 is far from better. The black bezels on each side look bigger when used in portrait mode for reading due to the change in viewable size, a taller but narrower screen.
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If portrait mode usage is a primary concern (as it is for me, and it sounds like you also), the Mini 6 design and implementation (jelly) is honestly a step backwards.

Apple clearly seems to have switched the focus a bit towards landscape (major bummer for some of us).
 
turbineseaplane said:
If portrait mode usage is a primary concern (as it is for me, and it sounds like you also), the Mini 6 design and implementation (jelly) is honestly a step backwards.

Apple clearly seems to have switched the focus a bit towards landscape (major bummer for some of us).
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Looking at several of the commercials yes seen a lot more landscape examples. FaceTime on a table. A lecturer doing airplay to a projector in a class room. Gaming. Business app use with multiple editing apps have been shown frequently in landscape.

In the iPad mini Pilots review by Scott Oglesby - Apple Insider - shows the pilot using both his mini 5 and holding the mini 6 in landscape. Some images from his video. Pretty much everything is landscape is how he uses it.


Screen Shot 2021-10-15 at 2.10.56 PM.png

where he mounts his usually
Screen Shot 2021-10-15 at 2.09.24 PM.png

Commenting on what he is looking for as is replacement which is usually every three years. (mini 6 example)
Screen Shot 2021-10-15 at 2.12.51 PM.png
 
turbineseaplane said:
If portrait mode usage is a primary concern (as it is for me, and it sounds like you also), the Mini 6 design and implementation (jelly) is honestly a step backwards.

Apple clearly seems to have switched the focus a bit towards landscape (major bummer for some of us).
Click to expand...
Yes, if I use it, I would be using it mostly in portrait mode.
 
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