iPad mini What tasks is the iPad mini better at?

[nepats81]

I've only had full size iPads - currently using a 10.5 pro. I'm curious which one of you grabs a mini more often, and what do you use it for?

I find that I grab my M1 MacBook Air if needing to do stuff so the iPad Pro doesn't get much use.

I'm wondering if you guys prefer the mini for reading and YouTube?

Please advise

 

[ElectronGuru]

Reasons to buy are usually about more. But Mini doesn’t have more, it has less. Less size and less weight. These offer less obvious advantages.

You want less when holding a pad for periods. You want less when moving a pad from room to room or building to building. If these sound appealing but not currently possible, mini may be for you.

 

[sparksd]

I have a 2021 WiFi 12.9 and I'm considering an LTE Mini for out and about use, probably not much around the house where I'll use the 12.9.

 

[imdog]

Being more comfortable to hold and feeling like an actual tablet. I'm downsizing from the 11" Pro because I feel like I've just used it as a watered down laptop and not actually like a tablet.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Hand holding - gripping - very nice for reading casually with something light in hand

 

[Yr Blues]

Watching streaming content in bed, 'cos it weighs less and is easy to hold. Browsing the internet while standing in line at the coffeeshop. Reading novels, because it's the same size as a book. Carrying it to the park is less cumbersome. Playing games is more like the Nintendo Switch sized. Taking notes like a pad of paper.

 

[skaertus]

Imagine you want a portable device to carry with you all the time, which can access the Internet and which fits in the pocket of your coat. The iPad mini may be perfect for that if you do not need to make or receive calls. It is taller and much wider than an iPhone 13 Pro Max, which provides a much better experience for browsing the web, for instance. Yet, it is much cheaper.

 

[snipr125]

The ipad Mini 6 can fit in a Man bag, so a very portable tablet but still gives you a 8.3 inch screen with serious performance, productivity and media capabilities.

 

[Htsi]

Being more comfortable to hold and feeling like an actual tablet. I'm downsizing from the 11" Pro because I feel like I've just used it as a watered down laptop and not actually like a tablet.

Feel the same with my 12.9 and magic keyboard

 

[skaertus]

The ipad Mini 6 can fit in a Man bag, so a very portable tablet but still gives you a 8.3 inch screen with serious performance, productivity and media capabilities.

Or in a pocket. My sister is a physician and constantly uses an iPad mini, which has the advantage of being larger and wider than a smartphone.

 

[DeepIn2U]

while @ElectronGuru stated the mini doesn't have more, it has less ... although true, where it can be used means it can be used more.

I used to work for an I.T. / H.R. research firm who's main office was in a 100yr+ old concert hall, which events are STILL used public/private. The concert hall area has all their amps, microphones (wireless Bose), speakers and lighting systems all connected and interfaced over a specific WiFi to an iPad Mini 4.

Every morning my task was to ensure:
Stage Lights, Floor Lights, back stage lights,
Polycomm VC system (for meetings/town halls - latter in a different room),
Speakers and levels,
Amplifiers and finally wireless mics and PC projection to projector were ALL working. The convenience of walking around with an ipad mini to check all systems including the meeting rooms that overlooked the area was super convenient. Especially being able to screenshot an error or issue, send email to our ticket system which from there I can add notes, resolve, or escalate.

Bonus was ability to dock the mini on the wall for when a concert or presentation by a public party was needed vs running up to my PC.

PS: I'll try to find a pic to show for relevance.

 

[nepats81]

while @ElectronGuru stated the mini doesn't have more, it has less ... although true, where it can be used means it can be used more.

I used to work for an I.T. / H.R. research firm who's main office was in a 100yr+ old concert hall, which events are STILL used public/private. The concert hall area has all their amps, microphones (wireless Bose), speakers and lighting systems all connected and interfaced over a specific WiFi to an iPad Mini 4.

Every morning my task was to ensure:
Stage Lights, Floor Lights, back stage lights,
Polycomm VC system (for meetings/town halls - latter in a different room),
Speakers and levels,
Amplifiers and finally wireless mics and PC projection to projector were ALL working. The convenience of walking around with an ipad mini to check all systems including the meeting rooms that overlooked the area was super convenient. Especially being able to screenshot an error or issue, send email to our ticket system which from there I can add notes, resolve, or escalate.

Bonus was ability to dock the mini on the wall for when a concert or presentation by a public party was needed vs running up to my PC.

PS: I'll try to find a pic to show for relevance.

This would be helpful to understand use cases. I feel like I would use the mini more than my current 10.5 pro

 

[Burebista]

Imagine you want a portable device to carry with you all the time, which can access the Internet and which fits in the pocket of your coat. The iPad mini may be perfect for that if you do not need to make or receive calls. It is taller and much wider than an iPhone 13 Pro Max, which provides a much better experience for browsing the web, for instance. Yet, it is much cheaper.

While I share your sentiment, I'd like to point out to anyone considering buying a Mini as a smartphone replacement of sorts that wifi-only models don't come with a GPS. Which will handicap it in many of outdoors use cases, regardless of whether you need to make phone calls or not. To have a GPS on your Mini you have to buy a cellular model, which starts at $650.

OP: as for me, over the years that I used Mini I found it by far the best device for ebook reading- your hands never get tired and it works with all kinds of apps and formats. Also very for good casual web-surfing and content consumption. Typing short texts is very easy with thumbs in portrait orientation - something that's not possible on larger iPads. Finally, it's hard to beat as a multi-purpose travelling computer when you travel light - takes very little space, adds very little weight and having a small frame is robust af.

 

[MhaelK]

IMO

The mini is a fantastic iPad, but it is also an either you absolutely love it or you don‘t really get the value kind-of-product. So if you haven’t grabbed your iPP and thought “Man, I wish this was just a tad smaller, lighter or more portable” or you dont find the iPhone Pro Max too small for your daily portable needs.

Then you are most likely in the second and largest group, which prefer a bit larger screen when watching youtube or Reading on the couch, or dont really enjoy using a tablet at all?

IMO

 

[Amplelink]

While I share your sentiment, I'd like to point out to anyone considering buying a Mini as a smartphone replacement of sorts that wifi-only models don't come with a GPS. Which will handicap it in many of outdoors use cases, regardless of whether you need to make phone calls or not. To have a GPS on your Mini you have to buy a cellular model, which starts at $650.

OP: as for me, over the years that I used Mini I found it by far the best device for ebook reading- your hands never get tired and it works with all kinds of apps and formats. Also very for good casual web-surfing and content consumption. Typing short texts is very easy with thumbs in portrait orientation - something that's not possible on larger iPads. Finally, it's hard to beat as a multi-purpose travelling computer when you travel light - takes very little space, adds very little weight and having a small frame is robust af.

Love how such an eloquent and articulate post ends with "robust af"! ?

 

[jagolden]

Use it for most of the same task as 12.9 - writing, reading, surfing, emails, affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Numbers, some games, whaterver I need.
I don’t feel ANY iPad has a particular use case more than another iPad. I think whatever suits the users need is their best iPad.

 

[sracer]

Use it for most of the same task as 12.9 - writing, reading, surfing, emails, affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Numbers, some games, whaterver I need.
I don’t feel ANY iPad has a particular use case more than another iPad. I think whatever suits the users need is their best iPad.

Same here. I heavily used my 12.9 Pro daily for all sorts of tasks. I replaced it with a Mini 5 and haven't skipped a beat.

 

[Cosmo M3]

I’ll say it again…toilet

 

[Danoc]

Probably web browsing: pages look big enough to feel like a desktop browsing experience rather than a smartphone experience, but without having to move the hand too much, which is often a feeling with larger iPad.

 

[ElectronGuru]

while @ElectronGuru stated the mini doesn't have more, it has less ... although true, where it can be used means it can be used more.

Not a perfect analogy but it’s like describing the advantage of a convertible automobile. You’ve removed an entire part of a car making it ‘less car’ but all kinds of people prefer convertibles. Because the experience is better.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Not a perfect analogy but it’s like describing the advantage of a convertible automobile. You’ve removed an entire part of a car making it ‘less car’ but all kinds of people prefer convertibles. Because the experience is better.

Yeah not a good analogy hehe but I understand what you mean.

this iPad Mini is some good kit. Finally deserved the proper love it deserved from Apple.

next version should get FaceID and start at 128/256/512GB, if not the former next year definitely the latter.

all iPads with this design should have FaceID already - it’s cheap enough and with the bezels Apple solved hiding any notch with the 2018 iPad Pros. Give us 120hz ProMotion, maybe with oled but give microLED to the Pros and those should start at 256/512Gb/1-2TB storage options (Pros).

 

[Sammio2]

I’ll say it again…toilet

This is an under-appreciated post

 

[Nozuka]

Being more comfortable to hold and feeling like an actual tablet. I'm downsizing from the 11" Pro because I feel like I've just used it as a watered down laptop and not actually like a tablet.

Same happened to me. Which is why i got a Macbook Air as soon as the M1 one arrived and sold the iPad and the old Macbook Pro with ****** intel. Never looked back. Runs as smooth as the iPad did, wakes up as fast and makes no fan noise or gets hot like Intel. Multitasking still better than iPad.

Been using the old Mini 4 for when i actually need/want to use a tablet, but it is showing its age. When you got other devices that run smoother it becomes less of a joy to use. So i'm upgrading it to the 6.