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The Touch ID is a requirement for me and I refuse to use Face ID. This is why I'm using an iPhone SE 2020, because they repeatedly fail to use the touch ID power button on the flagship phones (and Touch ID through the screen seems to be vaporware). If the iPad Mini 6 lacked Touch ID I would not have pulled the trigger and remained on my iPad Mini 5. That's how strongly I feel about this feature.
I really wish Apple implemented a TouchID sensor on the logo on the back of the phone, along with FaceID.

That's one thing I miss from my Samsung, the choice to log in as appropriate.

And I really don't like the top-button TouchID on the iPads.

Alas, it is what it is, and I still think the mini is a kickass upgrade to the previous model.
 
Anyone else trying to decide how to put their current iPads to good use? I'd like to keep mine on my desk at work, but use as a secondary display has never proved all that useful. Open to suggestions. Thanks!
I trade mine into Apple when getting a new one (because I'm too lazy to sell it myself).

Aside from that, iPads are my primary devices at home (I use a work issued PC otherwise).

As of this year I am (sorta) Mac-less.
 
Typical apple fashion. Understanding 64 is too small so people spend more on 256 they don’t need. 128 is perfect for the majority.
I used to think that, but it depends on how much the user is into streaming their content.

Nowadays cloud services are fast, reliable, and relatively inexpensive, so on-device storage is not as necessary as it used to be.

In my case, 256GB is too small.

However, I have over 20 years of photos, videos, purchased music, and docs for a large family, that I partially back up to the cloud but fully to local and external local storage.

My Macs now sit in the OFF state, unless something breaks on my iPad... ;)
 
In the wake of a lot of very eyebrow-raising privacy reversals that Apple has presented I'm hesitant to continue to support them moving forward, but the iPad Mini 5 I have currently is my primary (and dedicated) mobile gaming device. Thusly it's mostly irrelevant to any privacy issues as it contains nothing but games and is not paired with iCloud except for the game center.

Seeing this iPad Mini 6 announcement I can't find a reason that this isn't a fantastic upgrade. The trade value I was offered on my WiFi-only 64GB 5th Gen was $225. That brings a new Mini at 256 within acceptable range for me, and I pre-ordered one.

Massive gaming selling points:

  • 80% GPU performance improvement (reportedly)
  • True stereo speakers (finally!)
  • USB-C allows use of a better HDMI accessory that allows me to capture and stream gameplay without hitching or degradation. (The existing Lightning AV adapter has very poor artifacting, hitching, and resolution due to the bandwidth... interesting write-ups can be found about what's in that thing....)
  • Better screen technology, and slightly larger screen real-estate
  • Potentially more RAM for demanding game titles (guess we'll see, but it can't be less) Edit: Now revealed at 4GB, up from 3GB on the previous model. This now matches the base iPhone 13 RAM size, which is a good thing for games only being tested against the phone models.
  • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Faster charging and (hopefully) better battery life
  • (Subjectively for me) an opportunity to upgrade from 64GB to 256GB
 
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Too bad the new Mini has A13. My 2018 iPad 12.9 has a A12X...I don't suspect there will be a huge (if any) performance increase? I just wanted something smaller, but I guess I'll keep my 12.9 for a little while longer.

Is there any advantage to the new Mini iPad over my 2018 12.9 iPad Pro? I don't use the camera on it, at all. Is the screen on the Mini better than mine in any way?
I think the new mini as the A15.
 
Interesting...what is it about Face ID that you dislike so much? Not arguing ...just curious.

Face ID for me falls short in a few ways (certainly a debatable topic, I understand):


  • Face ID is less secure from a social perspective. It's a lot easier to get a false or unintended Face ID unlock than a biometric fingerprint. In fact, I've requested to Apple that we have auto-passcode options to require the passcode in certain circumstances (similar to what happens when the device reboots), like the device being moved a certain distance from the last unlock, or a certain length of time passes. All being optional, of course.
  • It is less convenient. For my current iPhone SE 2020 I can pick it up and unlock it without looking at it. Although we're not supposed to do so while driving, in my state we also are prohibited from looking at a phone at a stop light or stop sign, which is annoying for me personally. Having to hold up a phone and avert my gaze long enough to unlock it is more blatant and longer in time than doing to with my hand while looking ahead.
  • Touch ID is a more "positive intent" action; you must physically place the registered finger onto a specific portion of the device. Face ID just needs to see your face, which means you could unlock your phone without wanting to, or accidentally appear as if you're trying to unlock when you're not and have the device lock you out (this last one I had a coworker accidentally cause when showing off the first Face ID enabled phone, causing him to have to go through hoops to get it unlocked)
  • Face ID has been shown to be less convenient in the pandemic with masks and other face coverings causing problems.
I'm sure there's more but that's the list I could think of off the top of my head. There seems, for me, to only be drawbacks or compromises and no actual benefits over Touch ID. I actually use full-finger biometric devices for my Windows 10 PCs as well, because it's easier than Windows Hello cameras, which would be the nearest equivalent scenario.

Finally I should comment that because the iPad Mini is only a game device for me, either security method is probably a bit of overkill for this device. But on an iPhone that leaves the house and can be stolen or worst-case mugged off me and unlocked with Face ID... that's a security nightmare. Arguably your primary mobile phone device is the #1 most security-sensitive device we own in 2021. There is no want for compromise, and that's why I keep the iPhone SE 2020 in my pocket. (It also looks like an ancient iPhone and deters theft by appearance alone I guess!)
 
Face ID for me falls short in a few ways (certainly a debatable topic, I understand):


  • Face ID is less secure from a social perspective. It's a lot easier to get a false or unintended Face ID unlock than a biometric fingerprint. In fact, I've requested to Apple that we have auto-passcode options to require the passcode in certain circumstances (similar to what happens when the device reboots), like the device being moved a certain distance from the last unlock, or a certain length of time passes. All being optional, of course.
  • It is less convenient. For my current iPhone SE 2020 I can pick it up and unlock it without looking at it. Although we're not supposed to do so while driving, in my state we also are prohibited from looking at a phone at a stop light or stop sign, which is annoying for me personally. Having to hold up a phone and avert my gaze long enough to unlock it is more blatant and longer in time than doing to with my hand while looking ahead.
  • Touch ID is a more "positive intent" action; you must physically place the registered finger onto a specific portion of the device. Face ID just needs to see your face, which means you could unlock your phone without wanting to, or accidentally appear as if you're trying to unlock when you're not and have the device lock you out (this last one I had a coworker accidentally cause when showing off the first Face ID enabled phone, causing him to have to go through hoops to get it unlocked)
  • Face ID has been shown to be less convenient in the pandemic with masks and other face coverings causing problems.
I'm sure there's more but that's the list I could think of off the top of my head. There seems, for me, to only be drawbacks or compromises and no actual benefits over Touch ID. I actually use full-finger biometric devices for my Windows 10 PCs as well, because it's easier than Windows Hello cameras, which would be the nearest equivalent scenario.

Finally I should comment that because the iPad Mini is only a game device for me, either security method is probably a bit of overkill for this device. But on an iPhone that leaves the house and can be stolen or worst-case mugged off me and unlocked with Face ID... that's a security nightmare. Arguably your primary mobile phone device is the #1 most security-sensitive device we own in 2021. There is no want for compromise, and that's why I keep the iPhone SE 2020 in my pocket. (It also looks like an ancient iPhone and deters theft by appearance alone I guess!)
Thank you for your detailed response. I would agree with you on some points.
 
I really wish Apple implemented a TouchID sensor on the logo on the back of the phone, along with FaceID.

That's one thing I miss from my Samsung, the choice to log in as appropriate.

And I really don't like the top-button TouchID on the iPads.

you're touching it wrong.

they want you now to buy a $279+ watch to unlock your phone.
 
Do you have any info/link on the flick feature..? I tried to find a clip from The Expanse on youtube, but no dice. The show is worth watching though.
Check out Universal Control in the macOS Monterey preview. I think that's what you're looking for.

 
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I love my iPad Pro, don’t get me wrong it is an amazing device. But as a Gen 1 mini owner at launch, though I haven’t had one since I do admittedly miss that form factor. The Gen 1 was simply a shrunken down iPad 2 and all of the drawbacks it had made me swap it for an iPad 4 back in the day, but that weight and thinness made it an ultra portable tablet that I dearly miss at times.

With that said, if I was to go for one of these, it’d cost the full $799 because I simply have to have cellular abilities on any iPad I own and no way would I settle for a 64GB version so it’d be a 256. I think that price might be a bit high considering it would not be my primary iPad, just something I would bring along when leaving the house for an extended period.

I am certainly tempted but maybe that’s just the Apple RDF kicking in :p
 
Just reporting back, trade in my ipad 10.5 in store, 5mins in-and-out
It’s somewhat more convenient for me to mail in. But I’ve never traded in before and I am somewhat concerned about being bait and switched (up to $225 turns into $150 or some such). Since we’ve been discussing profit maximization behaviors…
 
It’s somewhat more convenient for me to mail in. But I’ve never traded in before and I am somewhat concerned about being bait and switched (up to $225 turns into $150 or some such). Since we’ve been discussing profit maximization behaviors…
That's the very reason I do not want to mail in. If I trade in store, I can make a decision there itself whether to trade or not. In my case, I got exact $$$ apple website said.
 
What’s interesting is that Apple probably could have make the bezels all around on the mini 6 the same width as the notch on the iPhone. Consider that the physical shell is narrower (portrait mode) on the iPad mini 6 compared to the height of the iPhone 12/13 6.1”. Imagine a bezel no thicker than the notch on the mini, I wonder how much screen real estate would be gained maybe instead of a 8.3” it would have been an 8.6” 🤔
 
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Just tried to pre order iPad mini 6 from Apple website but it is all greyed out so won’t let me does that mean it’s not been launched as planned?
 
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