I love the size and weight of my iPad mini 2. It's starting to slow a bit, but is not intolerable for my usage - email, internet, and the Amazon app mostly. The only use for which it has become too sluggish is a cycling app. I'm wondering if I should get the mini 4 (refurb) to enjoy the form factor as long as I can, since it doesn't appear that there will be another iteration. Thoughts? How is the mini 4 doing with iOS 11 if you've updated (I'm not updating my mini 2)?
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Thoughts on replacing Mini 2 with Mini 4 to enjoy the form factor for as long as possible
- Thread starter Bozley0621
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I would suggest getting the mini 4. Comparing my mini 4 to my brothers mini 2 on iOS 10, it is much faster! I havent personally upgraded to iOS 11 yet on my mini because I still use 32 bit apps. From what Ive read on the forums, the mini 4 performs well on iOS11. I would highly recommend upgrading.
I feel your struggle though. I may actually be keeping my mini 4 on iOS10 indefinitely and use it until it dies.
I feel your struggle though. I may actually be keeping my mini 4 on iOS10 indefinitely and use it until it dies.
I did exactly the same when Best Buy was offering the $150 trade in on the 2 and the $299 price for the higher memory 4 earlier this year. Total no brainer. Was very happy I did this. The 4 does seem a lot quicker and handles memory issues better (multiple safari tabs, playing games, etc.). So far it’s working great on ios11. No problems with drag and drop, split screen, etc!
I just bought a Mini 4 from a gentleman on the forums. I felt we struck a really fair deal so I pulled the trigger. We may not get another Mini and even if we do, I think the guts of the Mini 4 are solid enough to perform for the next 2-3 years - especially for my usage. It's going to live in my living room/kitchen and be used for day-to-day stuff and nighttime browsing. It'll be great for when I need to follow a recipe in the kitchen or even just to toss in my backpack if I'm running out for a bit and want to have it on hand. I'll use it like this for a couple of years and then probably sell it off; if they do actually bail on the Mini iteration, I could envision there being a good resale market. People love this size for their kids.
I did this as well. It's not a monumental update, but it does get rid of the most noticeable stutters. For the $150 net after selling my Mini 2 I felt it was worth it. FYI, still iOS10 here.
Just don't expect that brand new feeling from it. It's the equivalent of doubling the RAM on your old computer.
Just don't expect that brand new feeling from it. It's the equivalent of doubling the RAM on your old computer.
What I would add is that the screen on the Mini 4 is better than the 2. Colours are better (noticeably so) and it has a laminated screen which (to me) was again much improved - the 2’s screen seemed to feel quite plasticky. The Touch ID was a bonus having got used to it on my iPhone.
The only negative I can think of is that being thinner & having a slightly different proportion means that the cases made for the 2 don’t fit the 4.
I still love the size of the Mini - great for travelling & commuting - but its days seem to be numbered. I hold out little hope that it will get a revamp.
The only negative I can think of is that being thinner & having a slightly different proportion means that the cases made for the 2 don’t fit the 4.
I still love the size of the Mini - great for travelling & commuting - but its days seem to be numbered. I hold out little hope that it will get a revamp.
I'm in the same boat as well, but I refuse to buy it because it's so old and not worth $399. If Apple would've just simply given the mini the A9 chip at the time they released the 2017 iPad, I would have one right now.
I upgraded my mini 4 to iOS 11 and it runs pretty smooth.
There are HUGE differences in performance between the Mini 2 and the Mini 4. You are also incorrect because the Mini 4 has 2 GB RAM. Overall, performance between the 2 and 4 is night and day.
There are HUGE differences in performance between the Mini 2 and the Mini 4. You are also incorrect because the Mini 4 has 2 GB RAM. Overall, performance between the 2 and 4 is night and day.
Might wanna wait a month or two, lest the 4 gets a chip refresh, unless you're unhappy with your 2. Mine still runs great, on IOS 10. Only use it as reader and emailer.
If iphone he Mini 4 has 2GB then that makes a difference! But Phone Arena list it as 1 GB.
I bought a new iPad Pro 10.5 a month or so ago and debated for a while over whether or not to sell my Mini 4. But one night of trying to watch Netflix in bed ruled that out. Mini is now primarily a consumption device when I'm in bed or on the elliptical, and it's absolutely perfect for that. I won't be getting rid of it anytime soon; it's simply a great form factor.
You are correct in that the original A8, that is used in the iphone 6, only had 1gb. Apple released a new A8 for the Apple TV and iPad mini 4 that had 2gb of RAM a year later.
On topic, I'm holding out for March/April 2018 - if the iPad 2017 gets updated to A10 with no mini update, it's over imo. There might be another 'mini like' device at some point, but the ipad mini as we know it will be done.
Personally I'm hoping they go down the road of iPad (7.9" & 9.7") and iPad Pro (10.5" & 12.9"), with bringing the iPad 2017 screen more in line with the mini 4's today.
We've already seen patents for the use of Apple pencil on other 'non ipad pro' devices, so I don't think we need to wish for a mini pro to gain pencil support anymore.
I love the form factor, too. I had a Mini 2 that I replaced with a Mini 4. Everything is better: faster, better display, better sound. When Apple introduced the Mini 4 the SOC was already a generation behind the Air 2. I do think we will probably get at least one more generation Mini, and I expect it will be similarly handicapped, but I don't think Apple will abandon it - just neglect it.
Mini Pro?
Where? When?[doublepost=1506278202][/doublepost]
This is what I expect also. The iPod touch is the living example of this situation as of now. Perhaps the iPad mini will have the same fate.
Actually mini 4 uses a overclocked A8 with 2GB ram. Minin2 uses the normal clocked A7. A8’s GPU is also far superior to the A7.
The Mini 4 is awesome, I use it nightly since getting it two years ago and I love it to death. I highly recommend getting one because you're right, it's unlikely we'll get an update and the 4 is real solid, still. It will hitch a bit compared to the later models, but it's exactly on par with the iPad Air 2 which isn't in danger of going completely obsolete in the next few years.
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I think I said this before, but I strongly agree. I had both at the same time for about six months - the 4 is a quantum leap from the 2.
Just wanted to add my name to the list. I have done exactly what the OP is asking about - replaced my iPad Mini 2 with an iPad Mini 4 - and am very happy with the move. I've been waiting and waiting for an update. When the Mini 3 came out I, like many, laughed at the pitiful update. When the Mini 4 came out I was more impressed but happy with my Mini 2 still. Last summer I said when Apple update it again in the autumn I'll make the leap straight away. Nothing came. I wanted and waited hoping something would come but when the iPhone 8 and X announcement came and went with no mention of the iPad Mini getting an update, and nothing silently appearing on the store, I made the leap and picked up an iPad Mini 4 from John Lewis in the UK. They were offering an additional year's warranty (taking it to three years) and I price matched another retailer for a small (£8.64 or thereabouts) reduction. Bought a new case for it (my iPad Mini 2 case, at four years old, was dropping to bits) and a new super tough case for the Mini 2. The Mini 2 is now with a friend for them to use and my old-old Mini 1 which they had used previously has been handed down to my niece (or her mum and dad) to use.
If Apple update the iPad Mini again I'll be very torn as to what to do. I don't think we're going to see anything until at least early next year (March/April) and even then I'm not sure. I do have to wonder if Apple have abandoned the iPad Mini line - although you could have thought that about the 4-inch iPhone but then the iPhone SE came out and I love mine.
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If Apple update the iPad Mini again I'll be very torn as to what to do. I don't think we're going to see anything until at least early next year (March/April) and even then I'm not sure. I do have to wonder if Apple have abandoned the iPad Mini line - although you could have thought that about the 4-inch iPhone but then the iPhone SE came out and I love mine.
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I've actually been thinking about taking the plunge and getting the iPad Mini 4 from John Lewis because of that extra guarantee.
But the hardware is so behind and it just bothers me paying full price for it. I'm still holding out to the end of next month and then making a decision on whether to purchase it.
Out of curiosity, are you running iOS 11 on it and if so, how is it?
Bottom line, it really is the ideal size, just a shame it's been neglected this long.
I can fully understand your reluctance to pay full price for a device which is two years old already, I had weighed it up for a good while before taking the plunge.
I am running iOS 11 on it, I installed the GM on the day I received the iPad. I find it runs very well indeed, but it is worth bearing in mind that I have not experienced iOS 10 on it. My iPad mini 2 ran iOS 10 perfectly well for me and I don't regret installing iOS 11 on this iPad. I did an immediate iOS upgrade on receiving the iPad and then installed the apps I wanted, most of my apps store their data in the cloud in one form or another so I didn't need to put a backup onto it. Sort of akin to a clean install I felt.
Whatever you choose to do, buy the mini 4 or wait for an update, I hope you don't find the decision too agonising