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iPad mini Can you make a case for the iPad mini retina over the iPad Air?

S

saintforlife

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 25, 2011
1,046
329
At $329, the iPad mini retina would have been a no brainer. But the $70 price increase coupled with Apple decreasing the weight and size of the full size iPad is making my decision tougher.

For people that have used both the full size iPad and the iPad mini, which do you prefer and why? Do stuff on the mini screen ever get so small as to become annoying....like hitting menu keys and back buttons and stuff?

I am also torn about the 326 ppi vs 264 ppi. I am so used to my iPhone 5 and also having played with some of the 1080p phones, I don't think I can ever get used to a touch screen with jagged edges or pixelation. Is the 264 ppi on the full size, really 'Retina' or can you make out the lower quality from lower pixel density?

Help convince me to go with one over the other. I am open to suggestions, ideas and discussion.
 
You should go to an Apple Store and use them yourself side by side and make your own determination... personal preferences are always different
 
.27 pounds :). The full size screen has no jagged edges or pixelation. You have to try each one for ergonomics preferences. I need to do the same.
 
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No, every review I've heard/seen has said "now that the full sized iPad is this thin and light, I don't see the point of the mini". I'll be getting an Air for sure.
 
VinoGrande said:
No, every review I've heard/seen has said "now that the full sized iPad is this thin and light, I don't see the point of the mini". I'll be getting an Air for sure.
Click to expand...

Unless, of course, you prefer a smaller, lighter and cheaper device. Then there is a point. Three actually.
 
ZBoater said:
Unless, of course, you prefer a smaller, lighter and cheaper device. Then there is a point. Three actually.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah. But in terms of weight, I think that was their point. The old iPad was so unwieldy compared to the mini. Now that issues is much less existent.
 
Checked out an Ipad 4 today and was not impressed with the screen resolution. Amazon's website had all kinds of pixelation on it (especially when zooming in). It was better than the mini however, no where near my Iphone 5's screen resolution.

I'll definitely be acquirng the mini 2.
 
saintforlife said:
For people that have used both the full size iPad and the iPad mini, which do you prefer and why?
Click to expand...
I have and use both. If I had to choose one, it would be the mini. The full-sized iPad is too large to fit into places like coat pockets. I use my mini at work, and my full-sized iPad at home. Occasionally the full-sized iPad comes outside in place of my laptop. The mini could take the role of the full-sized iPad, but the reverse isn't physically possible.

saintforlife said:
Do stuff on the mini screen ever get so small as to become annoying....like hitting menu keys and back buttons and stuff?
Click to expand...
No. I don't type essays with the virtual keyboards, but the mini's keyboard doesn't feel any worse than the full-sized iPad's, either (and both are superior to the iPhone's keyboard).

saintforlife said:
Is the 264 ppi on the full size, really 'Retina' or can you make out the lower quality from lower pixel density?
Click to expand...
It's "really Retina."

My favorite test of Apple's screens is to look at the battery indicator. I find it to be the easiest place to discern individual pixels. They're horribly noticeable on an iPad 2, and if I move my iPad mini (1st generation) slightly closer to my eyes than I'd normally hold it then I can easily see the pixels, too. On my iPhone 4S I need to put the screen as close to my eyes as I can see, and even then I struggle to see the pixels. My iPad 3 is similar to the iPhone, although I have a slightly easier time making out the pixels. But if you're holding it like normal, even at a similar distance as you would hold your iPhone, the pixels are not noticeable.

Unless tear-downs reveal that the iPad Air and retina iPad mini don't share the exact same hardware, as we're all assuming, then the only true differences are the size, weight, and cost. If you're indifferent about all of those, then larger screens are nicer to work with and the iPad Air is the way to go. Otherwise, the point of the iPad is that it's highly portable. An iPad Air may be more portable than a traditional laptop, but it doesn't do you any good if you can't easily bring it with you.
 
I don't think there's a general thing here, just personal.

Too many variables for a general case.
 
One thing to consider is typing. I find the full size much easier for typing, both two hands and one handed. The keyboard is effectively the same size as the Apple keyboard when in landscape mode.

Then again, the BT keyboard makes it so much better than either on-screen keyboard.

You'll really have to hold and try both. I think the 9.7" retina screen is quite amazing as is. You are unlikely to suffer from unsightly lines and curves due to pixels.

Good luck! I think many are having the same debate. Now that the mini has the full blown specs (or just about), and the Air is substantially thinner, it really is a toss up!
 
Way better pixel density, better form factor in my opinion, and same specs for cheaper. It's a no brainer.
 
surjavarman said:
Mini is $100 cheaper for the same specs. I think this is a no brainer really.
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Totally and completely disagree. Price is a factor but the main drive behind any purchase decision should be use. I'm actually going to end up with both - the Mini as a work device, Air as my personal purchase - because they fill very different needs.

The Mini will be used primarily as a document viewer. Access to all my work files via either the work wireless network or, on the rare occasions I'm off-site, VPN as well as the usual work stuff (email, web apps etc), note taking and the occasional editing of documents where necessary. Size and price are the main drivers here and every mm makes my life that little bit easier.

The Air, on t'other hand, will be a personal device and mainly reside at home. It's used for gaming (especially now we're getting superb board game conversions), web browsing, video watching, ebooks and digital comics. For all those uses the bigger screen is easily worth the extra money and makes a huge difference to the user experience.

So to the OP - it really will depend on what you're going to use the device for. I'd say if you were at all unsure and the extra size and money isn't an issue then the Air is the safer bet but you may decide otherwise. Sorry but there isn't a straightforward answer to this one! :D
 
saintforlife said:
For people that have used both the full size iPad and the iPad mini, which do you prefer and why? Do stuff on the mini screen ever get so small as to become annoying....like hitting menu keys and back buttons and stuff?
Click to expand...

The main annoyance visually on the mini is that many developers still expect a 10 inch spread on their content and do not offer ways to enlarge text for comfortable reading at a distance. And this carries over to the web, where 'portable' aware web sites will lock you in with no ability to zoom or rotate your way in.
 
I currently use both an iPad mini and iPad full size. My preference is for the iPad mini, even though it does not have retina display. But there were some shortcomings with the old ones such as slower speed for the mini, and also weaker Wi-Fi antenna. I see the new mini has the same A7 chip as the full size iPad, and also retina display. I have ordered both for my business and will use both. I have a feeling, I will end up doing what I do now, a strong preference for the mini and will end up using the Mini everywhere other than when watching Netflix in bed.
 
I'm on the same boat, the issue for me is that the Mini will apparently be hard to get while the air looks like it will be more widely available..
So comparing to to the hassle it has been to get the Iphone 5S especially in certain colors, another question is do you really want to go trough the same thing for the mini or get the more readily available air..
 
The mini $399 retina will be the best iPad seller. Let's agree with that even though I prefer the full size iPad (air).
 
But i am not sure if that is what you asked for.
 

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I've used a full size iPad for a few years and an iPad mini. The weight/size of the mini really blows my mind. I'd go mini for sure compared to the current size iPad, but the iPad Air is interesting. Need to hold it in person to really get an idea.

For myself I'm looking for a reason to get the Air over the Mini retina.
 
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