iPad mini How bad is the screen on the iPad mini?

The iPad 2 and Mini have the same screen resolution (1024 x 768). However, the Mini has a smaller screen, so it has a higher pixel density (closer to Retina). It wouldn't be at the level of the 5, but it would be better than the 2's display.

Only you can decide...

I went from ipad2 to a mini and I'm pleased.

nigameash said:

My main purposes for the iPad mini would be for reading books/news articles and playing games. I find the N7 is too small for reading books, though awfully convenient as it fits in my pant pockets. How do you find reading books on the iPad mini vs iPad 2?

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The Mini is fine for your uses.

The screen on the Mini will not be as nice as the Nexus 7. I have had both and the Nexus 7 is ahead on screen for reading etc. And in my view its a better size for reading. Getting a Mini cellular delivered this week and have a few days to decide what to keep. The Nexus 7 3G or the Mini.

Just buy the Mini and try it on for size and clarity. Most retailers have a liberal return policy for the holidays.

For the web, you can use an alternate browser and increase the font size. Or use landscape or zoom on Safari.

nigameash said:

My main purposes for the iPad mini would be for reading books/news articles and playing games. I find the N7 is too small for reading books, though awfully convenient as it fits in my pant pockets. How do you find reading books on the iPad mini vs iPad 2?

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If you're not use to retina- it's not bad.
Games and videos look pretty good.
Unfortunately, it's basic reading- books and magazine- where it really fails compared to full size iPad or even the Kindle HD and Nook HD.
It doesn't do a great job with small fine letters.

The nook HD is an excellent e-reader that can do a few extra things.

But like I said- if you haven't been spoiled by the retina- you will be fine.

nigameash said:

I have been spoiled by the retina I like the mini for the size but the retina seems to be a deal-breaker for me. But I don't know if I can wait 11 months for a new Mini with the retina.

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There is no "retina"...it's just a very high resolution display...

Text is fuzzy like your trying to focus on something but it doesn't quite render sharply. Think of a bigger iphone 3G. Not quite as bad but pretty close.

If the ipad 2 isn't to your liking, then the Mini won't be either.

I have had my mini for two days now. I love the size and don't mind the screen at all. I also have the iPhone 5.

I have an iPhone 5 and an iPad 3, and the screen on the mini doesn't bother me at all. Yes, I can see it's inferior, but it's still quite usable.

iSensei said:

There is no "retina"...it's just a very high resolution display...

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There is no iPad...it's just a tablet.

Dlanod said:

The screen on the Mini will not be as nice as the Nexus 7. I have had both and the Nexus 7 is ahead on screen for reading etc. And in my view its a better size for reading. Getting a Mini cellular delivered this week and have a few days to decide what to keep. The Nexus 7 3G or the Mini.

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tried the nexus 7, it lags when playing netflix and hbogo. the mini doesnt

I like the screen on the iPad mini a lot. It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. Those people are just upset because Apple didn't use retina on it. From a 1-10, I give it a 7.5.

The screen issues are way over blown. Compared to a standard size paperback book the text is more clear then the muddied up off white that most books display. You just cant compare it to a retina screen is all..

The mini is a girl thats a 7 in the looks department, but cooks, cleans, and your friends like her to be around. The full size is a 9 in the looks dept but has an attitude.. Looks great but hard to live with.

It's bad! (If you use ANY Retina device from Apple)

I couldn't tell it was bad at first...but going back and forth between my iPhone 5 and the Mini my eyes could definitely tell.

I exchanged it for an iPad 4.

stevo8 said:

The screen issues are way over blown. Compared to a standard size paperback book the text is more clear then the muddied up off white that most books display. You just cant compare it to a retina screen is all..

The mini is a girl thats a 7 in the looks department, but cooks, cleans, and your friends like her to be around. The full size is a 9 in the looks dept but has an attitude.. Looks great but hard to live with.

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You should get your eyes checked if you really believe that the mini displays text better than a real, printed book.

EMAN19 said:

I like the screen on the iPad mini a lot. It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. Those people are just upset because Apple didn't use retina on it. From a 1-10, I give it a 7.5.

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Giving the iPad mini a 7.5 out of 10 is insane. That is if 10 is a retina.

OP you won't like it if you don't think the iPad 2 is adequit. In fact I think it looks a tad worse than the iPad 2 for some reason

MisterKeeks said:

the Mini has a smaller screen, so it has a higher pixel density (closer to Retina). It wouldn't be at the level of the 5, but it would be better than the 2's display.

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That's not how it works.

Higher PPI+smaller screen =/= automatically better.

Would a 1" ipad with a 6000 PPI be better to read?

syd430 said:

That's not how it works.

Higher PPI+smaller screen =/= automatically better.

Would a 1" ipad with a 6000 PPI be better to read?

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Actually that's exactly how it works. Higher ppi means a sharper clearer picture. Of course after a certain point higher ppi is just pointless because of the limits of your eyes. The mini is nowhere near that limit, so you can still appreciate the extra clarity. But if texts are too small, it strains the eyes. That mainly the problem with the mini.

iapplelove said:

Giving the iPad mini a 7.5 out of 10 is insane. That is if 10 is a retina.

OP you won't like it if you don't think the iPad 2 is adequit. In fact I think it looks a tad worse than the iPad 2 for some reason

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Why is it insane? I think it's a pretty good screen.

Judas1 said:

Actually that's exactly how it works. Higher ppi means a sharper clearer picture.

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MisterKeeks said:

It wouldn't be at the level of the 5, but it would be better than the 2's display.

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When did I say a higher PPI doesn't result in a sharper picture?

My extreme example was given to illustrate that MisterKeeks blanket statement that a higher PPI is always better is false.

The threshold you are are talking about with a 1" screen refers to the point where you can't make out anything on the screen at all.

At 7.9" I am obviously not saying that you can't make out anything on the screen.

I am saying that with the current font rendering of iOS, the 9.7" screen with lower PPI is more optimal in terms of ease of readability than 7.9" at a higher PPI.

Again it has to do with the way iOS renders fonts, which were not scaled correctly when they crammed the same 9.7" OS in to a smaller form factor.

Please don't discuss issues that you have little knowledge about.

I'm sure you will get a few up votes anyway because BS that sounds correct on MacRumors always wins out to more accurate, boring sounding statements

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iapplelove said:

In fact I think it looks a tad worse than the iPad 2 for some reason

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My post above explains why this occurs.

Is it naive to think the font issue will be fixed in an update?

Regardless I'm currently on my ipad 4 and yes it looks much better. But the mini will go with me everywhere and this things gonna be my ipad tuxedo and only leave the house for special occasions.

I was slightly jarred by the screen when I first picked the thing up but within an hour I got over it.