Buying an iPad soon. I kind of like the small form factor of the Mini, but am drawn to the power of the Air 2. I'll mostly use it for lounging around on the couch and playing games and movies while traveling. Any thoughts? Anyone have both? Having an iPhone 6, I'm worried that the Mini may turn out to be a bit small. I used to have an iPad 4.
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Air 2 vs Mini 4
- Thread starter shanshor
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I agree. ^^^ The strong point of the Mini (IMO) is portability, and your described uses don't put much of a premium on that. You'll enjoy the extra power of the A8X (and probably the bigger display, too).
We get this question multiple times a week. I think I need to write up a response and then copy/paste.
The bottom line is both devices have their advantages and their ardent fans. Which one is best is mostly a subjective decision, and only you can decide which is right for you.
Having said that, I'm a big fan of the mini; for me it's the perfect form factor. It's just barely small enough to slip into a suit jacket pocket and go everywhere with me, and just large enough to comfortably display pdf files which aren't easily reformatted for a smaller screen (again that's for me; a few have complained the smaller print is hard to read). My mini goes everywhere with me, and never gets in the way, even when I'm holding it one hand to use GPS in a shopping mall with a bag in my other, or when I'm reading problems out of it while writing them on the chalkboard for my students, or when I'm reading it standing in a line somewhere, or using it as a GPS in my car. Reading books feels a little more natural to me on the more modest screen. Some have compared the mini to a paperback book and the Air to hardback.
On the other hand the Air is a beautiful machine, and may be the right choice for most. The OS was originally designed with the Air in mind, and buttons and controls can be a little finicky to press on a smaller device. To me, movies look nicer on a bigger display, and text can be a little less cramped. While not as small as the mini, it's impressively sleek and svelte. For me, the incredible portability of the mini trumps the advantages of the Air, but for others the reverse is going to be the case.
The bottom line is both devices have their advantages and their ardent fans. Which one is best is mostly a subjective decision, and only you can decide which is right for you.
Having said that, I'm a big fan of the mini; for me it's the perfect form factor. It's just barely small enough to slip into a suit jacket pocket and go everywhere with me, and just large enough to comfortably display pdf files which aren't easily reformatted for a smaller screen (again that's for me; a few have complained the smaller print is hard to read). My mini goes everywhere with me, and never gets in the way, even when I'm holding it one hand to use GPS in a shopping mall with a bag in my other, or when I'm reading problems out of it while writing them on the chalkboard for my students, or when I'm reading it standing in a line somewhere, or using it as a GPS in my car. Reading books feels a little more natural to me on the more modest screen. Some have compared the mini to a paperback book and the Air to hardback.
On the other hand the Air is a beautiful machine, and may be the right choice for most. The OS was originally designed with the Air in mind, and buttons and controls can be a little finicky to press on a smaller device. To me, movies look nicer on a bigger display, and text can be a little less cramped. While not as small as the mini, it's impressively sleek and svelte. For me, the incredible portability of the mini trumps the advantages of the Air, but for others the reverse is going to be the case.
I agree with everything @RickTaylor said.
I am an ardent fan of the Mini form factor. It is more portable than the Air and that is what I prefer. But your question can only be answered by you. Best bet is to go handle them with a specific set of tasks that you routinely do and make your decision then.
I am an ardent fan of the Mini form factor. It is more portable than the Air and that is what I prefer. But your question can only be answered by you. Best bet is to go handle them with a specific set of tasks that you routinely do and make your decision then.
This is the same delima I just went through. There really are no answers anyone can give you. You'll just have to go through a process of figuring out what attributes are most important to you ( i.e. Small form factor, best performance, best for video, etc....), evaluate the options, handle/test both, then decide. Everybody is different and values differs things.
In the end, I opted for the Air 2 because I prefer the display size and felt it was a bit more future proof with the A8x. The Staples $150 off sealed the deal! Others prefer the Mini 4 and have their own reasons. Apple made it tougher this time by making the Mini 4 so good. It's not an easy choice! On the plus side....there is not a bad answer!!!
Go to an Apple Store or any electronic retailer and perform a hands on test, see what feels natural to you in terms of the usage you plan to get out of it. You should then be able to answer the question better than any of us can.
