Best Buy has iPad mini 4 128GB for $300, it's the lowest I've seen. I'm looking for a spare iPad to go along with my pro. Choices are down to ipad 2017 and this mini 4. Both are same prices. I'm leaning toward the mini 4 due to better screen and the more compact size since I already have a 9.7" Pro. But the A8 processor and the fact it's been out on market for two years now ready have me paused. Which one would you pick?
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iPad mini Are iPad mini 4 worth buying?
- Thread starter kevjen888
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I have the mini 4 cellular version, and have been very happy with it. Typing on it now. Bought it four months ago.
I think it all comes down to intended use. I take mine with me all the time. The size is perfect for on the road use. Email, web, a few games, Facebook, runs 'em all just fine.
I think it all comes down to intended use. I take mine with me all the time. The size is perfect for on the road use. Email, web, a few games, Facebook, runs 'em all just fine.
Between the two decisions of the iPads, it comes down to completely to the screen size. The iPad mini has a fully laminated display, which the 2017 9.7 iPad does not have. Also, I think the iPad mini is still plenty powerful and capable for its age and has the portability factor.
Being you already own the 9.7 Pro, I think the iPad mini wins hands-down is the situation and for $300, it's an easy target to purchase and enjoy.
Being you already own the 9.7 Pro, I think the iPad mini wins hands-down is the situation and for $300, it's an easy target to purchase and enjoy.
The only advantage that he 2017 iPad has over the Mini 4 is the A9 processor rather than the A8. If you prefer the size and the display of the Mini 4, you just have to decide how much the faster processor matters to you. I don't have a faster model to compare it to, but I personally have not found the speed of the Mini 4 to be lacking for the tasks like web browsing, email, streaming, and light gaming that I use it for.
My wife has the Mini 4 and loves it. She travels a lot and prefers that size as she has to cart around her company issued laptop.
If you need the smaller size, yes.
I bought to use for flying my drone but found it too small and moved up to an Air2.
I am afraid Apple is going to let the mini die.
I bought to use for flying my drone but found it too small and moved up to an Air2.
I am afraid Apple is going to let the mini die.
yes, that's the main gripe i have for the mini 4, i noticed my retired mini 1st gen had significant slower internet browsing speed compare to my Pro and dauther's ipad Air 2. are older processors to blame for that?
[doublepost=1497882166][/doublepost]another reason i'm leaning toward the mini 4 is it could be the last mini ipad from Apple, so it holds some sentimental value, especially the latest variant of the mini with 128GB.
I was still happy with the performance of the Mini 2, but this is precisely the reason why I jumped on the last Best Buy deal and bought the Mini 4. Who knows if there will be a replacement. If its discontinued, at least I'll be stuck with the latest generation and can use it for a few more years.
I must say, my Mini 4 is starting to feel a little slow. I can't use Gboard (Google keyboard) due to the annoying lag in appearing, hiccups, etc. on my Mini. For comparison, Gboard runs perfectly on my new 10.5 which is what leads me to believe it's a CPU/memory thing.
The Mini 4 is absolutely worth it, especially at the price point. I took advantage of the Best Buy deal myself last week. I didn't need 128GB, but at least I don't have to worry about storage space the next time I travel when I download movies and shows from Netflix, Amazon Video and Starz locally to my Mini.
If you can find one cheaper sure. I am holding out until Best Buy marks them down to the $200 which is what I would pay for one now.
As someone who previously owned a mini 4, it was the only iPad I loved until this new 12.9". I do hope Apple does not throw in the towel with this wonderful little iPad. It's great for on the go and the screen is still beautiful.
As someone who previously owned a mini 4, it was the only iPad I loved until this new 12.9". I do hope Apple does not throw in the towel with this wonderful little iPad. It's great for on the go and the screen is still beautiful.
Bought the mini 4 last week even though my mini 2 was fine. I love the size for carrying around while the 9.7 (now replaced with the 10.5) stays home and didn't want to take the chance of it disappearing.
Even at $300, imo, it's not worth it due to the A8 chip being just shy of three years old. I'd wait and see if there's any possible hope that Apple does something with the mini lineup in the fall.
I just don't understand why Apple didn't give it the same treatment as the low budget iPad. Give it the A9 chip and sell it as a new model.
I just don't understand why Apple didn't give it the same treatment as the low budget iPad. Give it the A9 chip and sell it as a new model.
Because Apple already tried it with the iPad mini 3 and mini 4.
Those were new models but it resulted in lower sales in 2014 and 2015. I'm not surprised Apple doesn't want to fall into the same trap.
Yep. Think of it this way, the iPad Air 2 is roughly 5x as fast as the original iPad mini/iPad 2 in terms of processor and significantly faster when it comes to graphics.
That said, the A8X chip in the Air 2 is already comparable to Intel Atom performance while the A9X (Pro 9.7 and 12.9) onwards, it starts to compete with Intel Core chips. Unless webpages become significantly more complex that your typical laptop would be slow rendering them, I reckon we're at the point of "good enough" and further improvements would offer diminishing returns unless you perform a lot of tasks that are heavy number crunchers.
My main criticism with the iPad mini 4 is the GPU on the A8 still isn't quite good enough. Really would prefer if they upgrade to A9/A10. That said, if you love the form factor, $300 for the 128GB iPad mini 4 on sale ain't a bad deal.
That's not what they did in either case. The Mini 3 was literally just the Mini 2 with TouchID, and they sold it at the same premium price as when the Mini 2 was new (and on par with the full sized model). The Mini 4 was an upgrade and slight re-design putting it almost on par with the then flagship Air 2, again sold at premium price. Neither of these models represents the strategy that was suggested above.
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Don't bother with Mini 4, they are short lived. 2017 iPad is really Mini 5 and brand new this year.
It's exactly the same strategy, just presented in a different way. I'm surprised you don't see it.
The introduction of the iPad mini 3 in October 2014 resulted in the iPad mini 2 being dropped to $299. This is the n-1 strategy. Take the current tech, back up a generation, and lower the price. The latest tech in 2014 was Touch ID and A8. The iPad mini 2 used A7 and lacked Touch ID.
In 2017, the latest tech is A10 and laminated display. Apple applied n-1. The iPad (2017) uses A9 and non-laminated display. Price is $329.
When Apple launched the iPad mini 4 in September 2015, the iPad mini 2 dropped to $269.
Apple has tried the n-1 strategy on the mini. Then they tried n-2. It failed twice. The iPad mini sales volume continued to drop and including the mini's proportion of iPad sales.