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Anyone switched from 9.7 to Mini?

Actually, if I understand your post correctly, the specs aren't the same. The Air 2 is running a three-core A8X SoC, while the Mini 4 is running a dual-core A8.

I've kinda lost track of where you started. If you own an Air 1 and are reasonably happy, do nothing. If you own an Air 1 and want a smaller device, either buy the Mini 4 if you want relatively up-to-date hardware or if you want a bargain, buy a Mini 2 refurb or better yet buy my still-under-warranty LNIB Mini 2 and olive brown Smart Case, I'll make you one helluvadeal. If you own an Air 1 and like the larger size but have technolust, you're on your own to make your own decision. ;)
 
newellj said:
Actually, if I understand your post correctly, the specs aren't the same. The Air 2 is running a three-core A8X SoC, while the Mini 4 is running a dual-core A8.

I've kinda lost track of where you started. If you own an Air 1 and are reasonably happy, do nothing. If you own an Air 1 and want a smaller device, either buy the Mini 4 if you want relatively up-to-date hardware or if you want a bargain, buy a Mini 2 refurb or better yet buy my still-under-warranty LNIB Mini 2 and olive brown Smart Case, I'll make you one helluvadeal. If you own an Air 1 and like the larger size but have technolust, you're on your own to make your own decision. ;)
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That's kinda where I was going. If I like the bigger size it makes sense to just stick with the air 1. If I want a smaller iPad, it makes sense to get the mini 4 now. So basically I should only upgrade if I want a more portable iPad.
 
I sold my Air 1 and bought an Air 2 really only because I wanted to play with the iOS 9 beta. TouchID is certainly convenient because I get my work email on my iDevices and that requires a strong passcode (or TouchID, hence the convenience). Other than that, there's not much difference - except that my Air 1 was the absolute king of battery life.
 
newellj said:
I sold my Air 1 and bought an Air 2 really only because I wanted to play with the iOS 9 beta. TouchID is certainly convenient because I get my work email on my iDevices and that requires a strong passcode (or TouchID, hence the convenience). Other than that, there's not much difference - except that my Air 1 was the absolute king of battery life.
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Yeah I think ultimately the iPad Air 2 would have some nice features, but my air 1 is fine for now. If I want the smaller size, then that makes it worth it; otherwise, no.
 
I understand where you're coming from. You're fine where you are. Make yourself a promise to not think about it for a month and re-evaluate then. :)
 
JerTheGeek said:
True, true. The specs are the same. I guess it really depends on what size I want. I would expect both would be upgraded with 3D Touch and a9 probably next year right? So it would be silly to buy based on what is coming out next year, considering it is a year away?
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I would have bought a decently updated mini last year if one had come out. The Air2 at that time was clearly superior.
Get the mini 4 now and if they come out with an improved Air3 when it arrives get that also. No point now in getting an Air2 when we know changes in that are coming. There likely will not be a mini5 next year so don't sweat it.
 
Well, I just thought of something that makes me decide almost 100% to get the mini. As mentioned earlier, my main use of my iPad is as my textbooks for homeschool. I hold it for 45 minutes or longer at a time while reading and studying. I know the .65 lb mini 4 will be much more comfortable for this than my air 1 (or an air 2). I also often want to hold the iPad one handed while doing this, and the mini will make this easier i know. Since I sometimes need to bring the iPad out and about for school, the smaller form factor of the mini makes it a better choice for this use as well.
And for the other things i use my iPad for, which is just basic stuff like web, YouTube, email, occasional games, etc. the lighter weight will make it nicer as well. This is a HUGE reason for me to get the mini 4. Im gonna plan on getting it now.
 
JerTheGeek said:
Well, I just thought of something that makes me decide almost 100% to get the mini. As mentioned earlier, my main use of my iPad is as my textbooks for homeschool. I hold it for 45 minutes or longer at a time while reading and studying. I know the .65 lb mini 4 will be much more comfortable for this than my air 1 (or an air 2). I also often want to hold the iPad one handed while doing this, and the mini will make this easier i know. Since I sometimes need to bring the iPad out and about for school, the smaller form factor of the mini makes it a better choice for this use as well.
And for the other things i use my iPad for, which is just basic stuff like web, YouTube, email, occasional games, etc. the lighter weight will make it nicer as well. This is a HUGE reason for me to get the mini 4. Im gonna plan on getting it now.
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If you can, I recommend loading one of your textbooks onto a mini 4 somewhere to view it (this might be possible via dropbox). Often textbooks can't be reformatted for a smaller screen, and some find it too small for that purpose. Personally, one of my main uses of the mini is viewing technical pdfs and djvus, and I find it perfect for that purpose; but I've always had good close-up vision.
 
RickTaylor said:
If you can, I recommend loading one of your textbooks onto a mini 4 somewhere to view it (this might be possible via dropbox). Often textbooks can't be reformatted for a smaller screen, and some find it too small for that purpose. Personally, one of my main uses of the mini is viewing technical pdfs and djvus, and I find it perfect for that purpose; but I've always had good close-up vision.
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I have good close up vision as well, and I imagine it will be fine, but certainly thank you for the tip, and I'll be sure to check it out in store.
 
I made the switch from iPad Air 2 to the Mini 4 and it was worth it for me and what I use it for. As others have said I love the form factor. So much easier to take it on the go. With the iPad Air you lose the screen real estate, but for me that wasn't a problem.

The new features in iOS 9 it works great on the Mini. Makes the iPad that much more useful. Overall I love the choice that I made.
 
I switched to the mini 2 from iPad 4, and never bought larger iPads since then. The first mini was interesting, but the move to retina was a no-brainer for me. The extra portability is great, and I can do things more comfortably than on a phone.

The only thing that made me interested into getting the larger iPad now is the multi-tasking feature of iOS9. Before, I didn't feel any advantage of the larger canvas, thus the mini won me out. Now, however, I am considering the larger iPad again.
 
I think my first iPad was a first gen iPad mini. I wasn't struck on tablets early days. When I started it was Kindle fire and Nexus 7 2013, cheap to justify justify having something I wasn't sure about.

My wife started with an iPad 2 going to an iPad Air.

I eventually got an iPad 2 > iPad Air > retina mini. Gave up and returned a few times rebuying the last two.

I have now re bought an iPad mini 2. I thought having a Surface 3 I wouldn't need one but... I miss the iPad every time I sell it. Can't justify an almost 10" tablet having a full OS Surface so... The mini suits me. If I had just my HP laptop I would likely have an iPad Air/Air 2.
 
Just checked out the mini 4 in a Verizon store. WOW that thing is light!
So comfortable, felt like I wasn't even holding anything. And thumb typing was a breeze. I could tell that it was just a much more comfortable experience. Definitely getting it to upgrade my air 1.
 
AlexH said:
I switched from an iPad Air 1 to a Mini 4. It was all about size for me. I find the Mini to be the perfect sized iPad. It's just light enough that my wrists don't get sore, and it's still large enough and powerful enough to produce an enjoyable tablet experience. It compliments my iPhone 6 quite well. The Air and the Mini are both very portable devices, but I do find myself taking the Mini with me more often. It's just so easy to carry around.
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Ditto.... The smaller size is great for couch surfing and coffee shops.
 
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I am a 6.2 guy and hitting the gym 4 times a week but still i cant hold my iPad Air 2 comfortably on the couch for more than 5 minutes.....you have to always strech your fingers in order to type even on split screen keyboard and the edges are sharp on air 2. Also on bed it is far more comfortable to use a MBAir where you can also have better viewing angles. I will miss the big screen but i am going back to the mini factor.
 
DJTaurus said:
I am a 6.2 guy and hitting the gym 4 times a week but still i cant hold my iPad Air 2 comfortably on the couch for more than 5 minutes.....you have to always strech your fingers in order to type even on split screen keyboard and the edges are sharp on air 2. Also on bed it is far more comfortable to use a MBAir where you can also have better viewing angles. I will miss the big screen but i am going back to the mini factor.
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I am also! I think the lightness and extra portability and better comfort when you hold it will make up for the larger screen.
 
When the Mini first came out I switched to it because both its size and weight were much better for travel and comfortable one handed viewing.

This year I did the reverse, switched from my Mini 2 (retina 2nd Mini I've owned ) to the Air 2. Why? The Air 2 is lighter, easier to view and can be done one handed easily. It also makes a great second screen (via DUO) for my 12" MB.
 
JerTheGeek said:
Im curious to see if anyone has done this, and what their thoughts are on it. Has anyone switched from the full sized iPad to the mini? If so, what prompted your decision?
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I downsized from the full size 9.7 iPad 64GB to an iPad mini 3. Apple discontinued the iPad mini 3 but I got a great deal on a refurbished iPad mini 3 with 128GB Wi-Fi in gold for $439 from the Apple online store. It has the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, a Retina display 2048 by 1536, and Touch ID. Not bad considering this model was released just last year and already discontinued. I was not happy nor impressed with the iPod touch I got a few months ago. The volume slider on the iPod touch was very hard to control and it would disappear when the iPod touch was rotated landscape mode and would only displayed useless album cover artwork instead. I got this iPad mini for a very specific purpose, as a dedicated music player and mixer to use with my MacBook Pro for my DJ gigs.
 
iPad Air 2 is very light if you compared to iPad 1st gen. But still...it's the weight distribution that is the problem for me. iPad Mini has lesser surface area and has less weight distribution thus it is easier to hold although the weight difference is not that much compared to Air 2.
 
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I've been trying to decide between the Air 2 and Mini 4 the past few days. I've decided to go all the way to an Apple Store myself to actually see them 'in the flesh' and see how they compare. Hopefully then I'll finally be able to make a decision.
 
Cakefish said:
I've been trying to decide between the Air 2 and Mini 4 the past few days. I've decided to go all the way to an Apple Store myself to actually see them 'in the flesh' and see how they compare. Hopefully then I'll finally be able to make a decision.
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Browse a few text-based web pages (maybe ideally a newspaper site like NYT) and watch a video if you can to see if you feel like the screen size is going to matter to you. Different people come to different conclusions on this. You are the best judge of what will work for *you.*
 
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