I have an iPad mini 2 right now and I’m considering upgrading to either the mini 5, iPad Air 3 or 2018 iPad Pro 11 inch. I like the mini but want a change but was thinking the air might be too big as I mainly use it while lying down in bed. I also like the pro because of the bezels but I only use my iPad to watch shows and movies so thought it might not be worth it. What would you suggest?
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All iPads What iPad to get?
- Thread starter Ky09
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The 10.5” seems very big to me. I have a Mini 5. Can you go to a store, check out the sizes and see what suits you?
Perhaps a refurb 9.7” if like me you find the 10.5” Pro/Air too big. The 11” does seem OTT for your use. Any generation of Pro has the quad speakers which the Air doesn’t have.
Perhaps a refurb 9.7” if like me you find the 10.5” Pro/Air too big. The 11” does seem OTT for your use. Any generation of Pro has the quad speakers which the Air doesn’t have.
I would go with one of two strategies:
1) You want an iPad to use on the go, to have with you when travelling, and for texting, communicating, reading books etc. In that case, get the iPad mini 5.
2) You want to be very productive with your iPad, editing videos or pictures, writing large documents, taking notes in class with Notability on one half of splitscreen, and your text book pdf open on the other, you want to do music creation, notation, or use your iPad to store all your sheet music. For these usage cases, get the iPad Pro 12.9.
For the best of both worlds, one of each! 😁
I would love to see in iPad Pro mini, with the new design language, speakers on both ends, and apple pencil 2 support. This way I could do the buy both iPads and only need one generation of pencil for both.
To me, the 9.7 and 10.5 inch range options are too large to take around everywhere with you, and also are limited with productivity as they do not support two apps in splitscreen remaining in ipad mode. They switch to iphone mode on all ipads smaller than the 12.9.
Go small or go big, or go both!
1) You want an iPad to use on the go, to have with you when travelling, and for texting, communicating, reading books etc. In that case, get the iPad mini 5.
2) You want to be very productive with your iPad, editing videos or pictures, writing large documents, taking notes in class with Notability on one half of splitscreen, and your text book pdf open on the other, you want to do music creation, notation, or use your iPad to store all your sheet music. For these usage cases, get the iPad Pro 12.9.
For the best of both worlds, one of each! 😁
I would love to see in iPad Pro mini, with the new design language, speakers on both ends, and apple pencil 2 support. This way I could do the buy both iPads and only need one generation of pencil for both.
To me, the 9.7 and 10.5 inch range options are too large to take around everywhere with you, and also are limited with productivity as they do not support two apps in splitscreen remaining in ipad mode. They switch to iphone mode on all ipads smaller than the 12.9.
Go small or go big, or go both!
Since you want a “change” from mini 2, mini 5 might not be the answer (But it definitely will be faster than your 2).
Based on what you use it for, even Air 3 maybe overkill. I watch media, live tv, surf internet on mine, plus texting.
I have 7th gen. 2019 iPad 10.2” which is same body size as 10.5” air 3, but lot cheaper. Happy with it in general.
But to be honest, miss my 2017 9.7” iPad’s bit smaller body size. You wouldn’t think it would make any significant difference, but it does, especially one hand holding..10.2” is a little “floppier” to hold one handed, and little heavier than the 9.7”. The “floppier“ part is the main thing.
I upgraded from mini 2 to the 2017 9.7” iPad 2 years ago. The snappier speed was amazing...but you will experience that too no matter what you get. The A10 or A12 processor (in the 3 iPads you are considering plus the 2 others I mention here) will all blow you away (even in your usage case) vs. the A5 processor in mini 2. Same with the 2 to 4 Gb ram vs. 1 GB in mini 2.
But bigger screen was amazing too...will never go back to mini.
If you think you would like to try a larger screen, the 9.7” iPad 2018 6th gen. might be the one to try. Less of a body size step vs. the 2019 10.2” or air 3 10.5”. It was a current model a month ago. I’ve seen it on sale new for $250 in stores.
Based on what you use it for, even Air 3 maybe overkill. I watch media, live tv, surf internet on mine, plus texting.
I have 7th gen. 2019 iPad 10.2” which is same body size as 10.5” air 3, but lot cheaper. Happy with it in general.
But to be honest, miss my 2017 9.7” iPad’s bit smaller body size. You wouldn’t think it would make any significant difference, but it does, especially one hand holding..10.2” is a little “floppier” to hold one handed, and little heavier than the 9.7”. The “floppier“ part is the main thing.
I upgraded from mini 2 to the 2017 9.7” iPad 2 years ago. The snappier speed was amazing...but you will experience that too no matter what you get. The A10 or A12 processor (in the 3 iPads you are considering plus the 2 others I mention here) will all blow you away (even in your usage case) vs. the A5 processor in mini 2. Same with the 2 to 4 Gb ram vs. 1 GB in mini 2.
But bigger screen was amazing too...will never go back to mini.
If you think you would like to try a larger screen, the 9.7” iPad 2018 6th gen. might be the one to try. Less of a body size step vs. the 2019 10.2” or air 3 10.5”. It was a current model a month ago. I’ve seen it on sale new for $250 in stores.
If you're just using it to watch media I would say that Pro is massive overkill! The design is nice but why pay over $800 USD when an iPad less than half the price will perform the same function?