iPad mini Why I’m keeping my IPad Mini 6

[RickTaylor]

When I first picked up the mini 6, I was surprised how it felt lighter and smaller than my mini 5. I wasn't expecting that; objectively, the difference between the two is small (they're both cellular models, so the mini 6 is 11 grams lighter than the mini 5). Perhaps it was a subjective reaction due to the new design with thinner bezels and rounded corners, or the expectation a new device ought to be lighter. For whatever reason, it made me smile when I picked it up. I'm one of the lucky ones who can't see the jelly effect (and I usually use it in landscape mode anyway).

Since buying it, I've been trying it out over the 2 week period, and I don't see any reason to return it. I didn't need a new mini, my mini 5 was doing fine (albeit with a cosmetic crack to the corner, muted speakers, and a weathered battery). But then a colleague of mine fell ill and I ended up taking over one of their classes for both extra work and extra pay, and so I decided to treat myself. I like the new design, narrower bezels and rounded corners, and I like the feel of the device. The battery life is much better (the battery in my mini 5 was getting old), and the speakers are a plus. I no longer have to find and put on headphones just to hear something clearly. And it feels just a bit snappier (though I don't know how much of that is a subjective reaction to the excitement involving a new device). I'm definitely happy with it. The only minus for me that I've noticed is losing the head phone jack; a dongle for when I use it in the car seems to take care of that (that's the only place I used the headphone jack anyway). I'm quite pleased with it.

Add: My most important use for the mini is reading PDF documents in landscape. Because the mini 6 is a bit wider in landscape mode, the text is a little bit bigger, which is nice.

Add: The extra memory is another plus. I was able to play a game, and it was less likely to reset it when I switched to other apps.

Add: And the new Touch ID seems to work fine. I'm still getting used to the button placement.

 

[chrisclover]

I was really worried about the jelly scroll and did many search on it. Today I finally made my mind and got this mini6. I am fine with it except that the edge is always pushing my palms

 

[Realityck]

I was really worried about the jelly scroll and did many search on it. Today I finally made my mind and got this mini6. I am fine with it except that the edge is always pushing my palms

As a comparison, back when the redesigned 24” IMac was first looked at someone on Reddit/Youtube commented that they had iMac that was really tilted and it was talked up so much on MacRumors that one went to the Apple Store anticipating they were all like that. So I went to couple stores and found none of them were like this. Now this jelly issue was objectively discussed at first but then it became the same. Again I am at the Apple store this time for a little under a hour with the four examples. After examination I found it was not the problem it was made out to be for myself, so soon as I found one locally I bought it.

I think once it’s in a MIL-STD case it will feel bettor for you rather than the flat edges pushing.

One addition observation was while at the store all the people that came up to check it out were positive about the redesign, none of the online FUD effecting whether that would scare them away.

I hope it is as neat a iPad redesign for you, as I have found it over the last two weeks.

 

[chrisclover]

As a comparison, back when the redesigned 24” IMac was first looked at someone on Reddit/Youtube commented that they had Mac that was really tilted and it was talked up so much MacRumors that one went to the Apple Store anticipating they were all like that. So I went to couple stores and found none of them were like this. Now this issue was objectively discussed at first but then it became the same. Again I am at the Apple store this time for a little under a hour with the four examples. After examination I found it not the problem it was made out to be for myself, so soon as I found one locally I bought it.

I think once it’s in a MIL-STD case it will feel bettor for you rather than the flat edges pushin

One addition observation was while at the store all the people that came up to check it out were positive about the redesign, none of the online FUD effecting whether that would scare them away.

I hope it is as neat a iPad redesign for you, as I have found it over the last two weeks.

Thanks I will get a plastic case for my iPad mini.
What do you think of the new design? I miss the old days when edges were rounded. The other day I heard someone said that this design is retrogressive, even to the point of industrial garbage.lol

 

[Realityck]

Thanks I will get a plastic case for my iPad mini.
What do you think of the new design? I miss the old days when edges were rounded. The other day I heard someone said that this design is retrogressive, even to the point of industrial garbage.lol

From a usability perspective, having speakers at both ends really improved audio separation. The wider aspect ratio in landscape is noticeably larger for watching VoD, or YouTube. USB-C port allows many options. To be honest I liked the original iPad design, but going to a flat edge design like other more expensive iPads and latest iPhones makes this much more eye catching in the store.

 

[bluespark]

I picked up an iPad mini 6 Space Gray 256gb 5G model. I love it so much! I have been a fan of the mini and have owned several of the earlier iterations.

If I look really hard, I can somewhat see the jelly scrolling but in normal day to day use, I don't notice it at all.

I love how portable the mini is. It can fit in my jacket pocket or my small sling bag, so I don't even need to carry a backpack. I also love having the 5G connectivity. I use it mostly for browsing twitter, RSS, reading articles I save for later, playing Apple Arcade games, & watching YouTube.

Is it a perfect device? No, nothing is. My M1 iPad Pro 12.9 has a way better screen, my 12 Pro Max has much better cameras, & Mac OS is very powerful on my MacBook Air. But for what it is, the mini is very special.

Just got mine as well. I see the jelly scrolling -- maybe even a bit more than I expected to -- but I also love the form factor overall. For me, the trick will be learning not to try to read as I'm scrolling.

 

[bluespark]

Well I sold my mini 5 today so definitely keeping my mini 6. It was one of the quickest and easiest sales ever. I think it was only live for 3 hours before someone bought it.

Did you use Craigslist or something with wider reach like Ebay?

 

[Shanghaichica]

Did you use Craigslist or something with wider reach like Ebay?

Facebook market place.

 

[bluespark]

Facebook market place.

Thanks. I'm going to sell my 5 as well.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I have the mini 6 and love it. Love the form factor, can't see the jelly scroll and just find it a pleasure to use. I also have the 12.9 iPad Pro which now sits predominantly on my office desk. The mini is so convenient to use on the sofa or to carry around anywhere you wish to go.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Love the form factor

All the Mini form factors are fantastic, I totally agree

Mini 6 specifics (like Jelly Scroll) are subjective.
Glad to hear it's not something you notice or are bothered by!

Enjoy!

 

[youchew]

Just received mine a couple days ago and I hate how low quality and choppy (ignoring the jelly issue since that doesn’t matter to me) this screen is compared to the other 60hz displays apple has on their devices, but nothing can truly beat this form factor, which is why I’m keeping it.

I have reduce motion enabled to help offset the jittery animations but this is everything a tablet should be for me, portable and light, in fact reducing motions makes things very smooth. My 2018 Pro 11 inch is cumbersome to hold in comparison, and I will also be using this as my main note taking device for school (cracked my Pro and didn’t want to shell out double the money for the bigger iPad)

 

[turbineseaplane]

Just received mine a couple days ago and I hate how low quality and choppy (ignoring the jelly issue since that doesn’t matter to me) this screen is compared to the other 60hz displays apple has on their devices

It's a really interesting point and one I agree with

Some have speculated that maybe Apple went cheap on this panel in some way and it's hard to argue against.

To your point...even just comparing it to other 60hz screens they've released over the years, it seems on the "lower end" for sure.

 

[Rafterman]

It's a really interesting point and one I agree with

Some have speculated that maybe Apple went cheap on this panel in some way and it's hard to argue against.

To your point...even just comparing it to other 60hz screens they've released over the years, it seems on the "lower end" for sure.

I conpletely disagree, the Mini 6 display is just as good quality as other 60hz displays, jelly or no jelly.

 

[sonstar]

I wouldn't mind trying a mini but can only get one where there is no return, unless I go for Apples looong wait.
But what would I do with it with a 13 max, 12.9 M1 iPad and a Kindle?
Also going back to TID after 3 years seems backwards imo.
Would probably just return it anyway, I like a quality screen.

 

[Rafterman]

I wouldn't mind trying a mini but can only get one where there is no return, unless I go for Apples looong wait.
But what would I do with it with a 13 max, 12.9 M1 iPad and a Kindle?
Also going back to TID after 3 years seems backwards imo.
Would probably just return it anyway, I like a quality screen.

If you have an Apple Store nearby, check inventory daily. Most places, within a week you can find one in the trickle that come in.

 

[sparksd]

If you have an Apple Store nearby, check inventory daily. Most places, within a week you can find one in the trickle that come in.

When I bought a device, the store app said out of stock locally, but the web site correctly showed in stock. Or call them early in the day.

 

[sonstar]

If you have an Apple Store nearby, check inventory daily. Most places, within a week you can find one in the trickle that come in.

6 hour drive for me

 

[Rafterman]

6 hour drive for me

That's brutal. I did a three hour drive once (6 hours both ways). Never again.

 

[rui no onna]

6 hour drive for me

Yikes, that's awful.

I've got 2 (Glendale Galleria & Americana at Brand) within walking distance. Pretty convenient when traffic and finding parking are impossible due to holiday shopping.

 

[sonstar]

That's brutal. I did a three hour drive once (6 hours both ways). Never again.

That's nothing in Australia, I drive 2300kms over 3 days for work sometimes, first day is 10.5 hours straight, 1100km's, stop halfway for 20 mins.
Not doing it for a iPad though haha.

 

[F-Stop]

Both myself and my wife have had new minis each since Christmas Day…and we both love them. I can easily see the mini taking over from my 11” iPad Pro for 80/90% of the time.

I don’t notice any ‘jelly Scroll’ whatsoever which is something that did concern me prior to getting the mini but now it’s totally a non issue for me which just enhances my use of it either further ?

As an additional bonus I used it as the screen whilst flying my Dji Mini 2 drone yesterday for the first time and it was excellent…I think this iPad mini is rapidly becoming a favourite device for me ??

 

[Shanghaichica]

Both myself and my wife have had new minis each since Christmas Day…and we both love them. I can easily see the mini taking over from my 11” iPad Pro for 80/90% of the time.

I don’t notice any ‘jelly Scroll’ whatsoever which is something that did concern me prior to getting the mini but now it’s totally a non issue for me which just enhances my use of it either further ?

As an additional bonus I used it as the screen whilst flying my Dji Mini 2 drone yesterday for the first time and it was excellent…I think this iPad mini is rapidly becoming a favourite device for me ??

Easily my favourite iPad. My 11 inch pro rarely gets used now. It’s challenging my iPhone for the most used device.

 

[Rafterman]

That's nothing in Australia, I drive 2300kms over 3 days for work sometimes, first day is 10.5 hours straight, 1100km's, stop halfway for 20 mins.
Not doing it for a iPad though haha.

Sounds like you need to buy yourself your own plane or helicopter

 

[turbineseaplane]

I don’t notice any ‘jelly Scroll’ whatsoever which is something that did concern me prior to getting the mini but now it’s totally a non issue for me which just enhances my use of it either further ?

You "didn't notice Jelly Scroll" ....
...and that is somehow "enhancing your use of (the iPad) further?"

Can you please elaborate on what you mean there?