All iPads Anyone going from iPad mini to iPad Pro M5?

[AppleMan2015]

Hey everyone, been a while since I posted.

I just bought an M5 iPad Pro today! I am super torn.

My current set up is: M1 Pro MacBook Pro and iPad mini 6th gen.

I absolutely love the MBP - 4 years later and the thing is an absolute beast. I don’t think it’s slowed down any bit! I love the screen real estate. Overall super happy with it.

The iPad mini on the other hand… First thing, I do LOVE the size of the iPad mini. It’s exactly what I want when I want quick functionality and don’t want to lug around my Mac. However, the screen being so low-res is really starting to become noticeable and the limitations of the chipset in the mini seem to be really clear with the iPad OS 26 update.

My idea was that I would just get the M5 11” and use that as a replacement for the mini. Being with it for *checks time* 3 hours now, I don’t know how I feel. The screen is astonishing on the M5. The thinness is surreal. The M5 chip just blazes thru everything- hell everything downloaded in like 5 minutes onto this iPad. BUT it’s still a bit of a big machine, especially compared with my mini.

I was then debating about getting an Apple Studio Display and just using the M5 11” as my primary computer, getting rid of the MacBook. But I don’t exactly like how I have to essentially re-learn all of the ins and outs of the computing experience going this way.

Has anyone gone from the mini to the Pro? Should I just take the plunge and go full on iPad?

I have 14 days to really try this out, but as of right now I think I’m just going to return the M5 and keep my MBP and mini, hoping the mini gets a screen bump and decent chip bump and maybe even thinner next update.

What do the Apple fans say?

 

[Momof9]

I don't get rid of my iPads lol, I have many uses for each one.... plus I couldn't get enough out of them as trade in's and replace if needed.

So recently I switched from using the iPad mini 6 at night to read in bed to an 11" iPad Air. It's more an eyesight thing - plus in the morning I relax a bit before getting up and watch a bit of YouTube. It's not been long, that occasionally I think - "did I grab the mini by mistake" - especially in landscape mode.

 

[zenmacx]

Hey everyone, been a while since I posted.

I just bought an M5 iPad Pro today! I am super torn.

My current set up is: M1 Pro MacBook Pro and iPad mini 6th gen.

I absolutely love the MBP - 4 years later and the thing is an absolute beast. I don’t think it’s slowed down any bit! I love the screen real estate. Overall super happy with it.

The iPad mini on the other hand… First thing, I do LOVE the size of the iPad mini. It’s exactly what I want when I want quick functionality and don’t want to lug around my Mac. However, the screen being so low-res is really starting to become noticeable and the limitations of the chipset in the mini seem to be really clear with the iPad OS 26 update.

My idea was that I would just get the M5 11” and use that as a replacement for the mini. Being with it for *checks time* 3 hours now, I don’t know how I feel. The screen is astonishing on the M5. The thinness is surreal. The M5 chip just blazes thru everything- hell everything downloaded in like 5 minutes onto this iPad. BUT it’s still a bit of a big machine, especially compared with my mini.

I was then debating about getting an Apple Studio Display and just using the M5 11” as my primary computer, getting rid of the MacBook. But I don’t exactly like how I have to essentially re-learn all of the ins and outs of the computing experience going this way.

Has anyone gone from the mini to the Pro? Should I just take the plunge and go full on iPad?

I have 14 days to really try this out, but as of right now I think I’m just going to return the M5 and keep my MBP and mini, hoping the mini gets a screen bump and decent chip bump and maybe even thinner next update.

What do the Apple fans say?

The size differences between my iPad mini 7, Pro 11 & Pro 13 is substantial enough that they each play unique and different roles in my workflow.

The mini fills a special role, the Pros with the Magic Keyboard also have certain use cases in the work I do.

That said, none of them will ever replace my primary 16” M4 Max MacBook Pro. For fast efficient input nothing beats the excellent keyboard of the MacBook. Nor does iOS come even close to the flexibility and functionality of macOS.

I appreciate and take full advantage of each of these on a regular basis, none could be a substitute for the other.

 

[wilberforce]

I have the same, M1 MBP, 6th gen ipad mini, and (now) M5 11” iPad Pro. The latter is to replace a 2018 11” iPad Pro which finally died.
I just traded in the iPad mini (for $200). The 11” iPad Pro is far better, and I am used to using an 11” iPad. The only advantage of the iPad mini is its portability, in every other way it is a poor compromise.

I do not consider the iPad Pro as a substitute for a real computer like the MBP, not even close. There are very few people who can really make this work efficiently, maybe those focused only on graphics creation or similar. I am sure there are some who will chime in and say it is just fine, but they are the minority.
Only you can decide if the $1000++ extra cost for the M5 iPad is worth it to you, but it is unlikely to mean you can save on the cost of a real computer, IMO.
However, everyone has different needs.

Btw the 6th gen iPad mini is not “low-res.” It has the highest pixel density of all the iPads, at 326 ppi. Check the specs. Only the first gen mini was low-res (which I had previously; it was pretty bad).

 

[zenmacx]

I do not consider the iPad Pro as a substitute for a real computer like the MBP, not even close. There are very few people who can really make this work efficiently, maybe those focused only on graphics creation or similar. I am sure there are some who will chime in and say it is just fine, but they are the minority.

Yes indeed for advanced work an iPad is completely irrelevant.

Computers are required for tasks that demand significant computational power, specialized software, or specific hardware interfaces not available on tablets.

These include complex programming and software development, which require full-featured code editors and integrated development environments (IDEs) that are not typically available on tablet platforms.

Running simulations for scientific research, conducting advanced data analysis, and performing machine learning tasks all require the use of a computer.

For heavy computing there's simply nothing as fast, effective and satisfying to use like my 16” M4 Max MacBook Pro.

 

[Meedoss]

Same boat.
Have had a mini 7 as my iPad for 6 months, I mainly just use it for reading and apps on lounge or in bed, as I have a MacBook and Studio Display in my home office.
Have had the 11” M5 since Wednesday, obviously it’s great but the size is annoying me for my uses, and def overkill, leaning on returning it.

 

[FlyingDutch]

How is the iPad mini display “low res” ? 🤔 it is not.
I don’t like the Mini form factor, because the screen is just too small for my needs, but it has even higher pixel density than a Pro 11”, so it definitely is not low res by any means.

 

[MacRazySwe]

First of all, I would never try to replace a computer with an iPad. That's just me.

I have a similar combination of devices today, an iPad mini 6 and an iPad Pro 11" (albeit from 2018).

What I can say is, I love the form factor of the mini, but I simply don't enjoy using it. The UI elements are too small (weird, since I never had that issue with the previous gen mini), the "Jelly scrolling" makes the device feel sluggish when scrolling, and it really does feel slow.

I have tried to find a good use case for it - bringing it to the gym, using it as a bedtime device for reading, et.c. but every time I'm just annoyed with it. I've preferred sticking to the iPhone at the gym and my iPad Pro 11" for everything else (home use, travel et.c.)

I think the 9.7" iPad was really the perfect size, but for now the 11" model remains my go-to.

 

[Meedoss]

I have tried to find a good use case for it

Apple folio is best case for mini, keeps it thin and light.

 

[Student of Life]

It all depends on what you where using the iPad mini for and how you are using the iPad Pro 11 inch. One thing you will love is that the 11 can be used as an extra screen via side car or whatever apple calls it today. It just extra screen size that can help.

 

[MacRazySwe]

Apple folio is best case for mini, keeps it thin and light.

Use-case. Not case.

But yes, I have the Apple folio for both my iPad Mini and iPad Pro.