iPad mini Crazy text scaling out of the box

[woolypants]

This is just an observation, and not a request for help or anything. It's just caught me by surprise and I can't believe Apple allows it to happen.

Got a new iPad mini today. Once setup, I found websites had incredibly small text. I mean, it's like reading the small print on a bottle of tablets. Mail, too, had really very small text. News, too.

OK, so I admit I'm middle-aged and wear reading glasses. But almost immediately I had to bump up the Display Dynamic Text Size setting to a notch above centre, and increase Safari's default zoom to 150%. Furthermore, I was able to set Reader to automatically activate whenever I read a story at certain sites like BBC News, which really helps (and actually improves the experience given the mini is really a media consumption device).

Furthermore, there's a setting for "large" icons that does nothing except remove the text from beneath the icons!

During the setup routine, I was asked if I wanted more or less space, but I can't find this setting anywhere now.

 

[MacCheetah3]

During the setup routine, I was asked if I wanted more or less space, but I can't find this setting anywhere now.

Are you perhaps mistaken, confusing devices?

The iPad mini doesn’t support the More Space display zoom — which is not the same as accessibility Zoom (i.e., display magnifier).

Customize the text size and zoom setting on iPad

On iPad, customize the text size and zoom setting to magnify the screen.

support.apple.com

iPad mini Display Zoom setting is missing… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

 

[woolypants]

I am entertained by your concept that I thought I'd bought and was handling a iPad mini, but was actually holding a different kind of iPad.

The display scaling option definitely appeared during the setup wizard. I could choose three settings. I assume it's a bug, then.

As for changing the size of icons, if you have an iPad mini, do this:

1. Press and hold a blank area of the screen.
2. Tap Edit, top left.
3. Tap Customise.
4. Switch between Small and Larger sliders below. The text beneath icons will appear and disappear but the icons will not change size or location.

 

[woolypants]

The display scaling option definitely appeared during the setup wizard. I could choose three settings. I assume it's a bug, then.

Rather entertainingly, if you search for Display Zoom in Settings on an iPad mini, it appears as a result. But tapping on it does nothing because, of course, the feature is not present.

 

[russell_314]

I am entertained by your concept that I thought I'd bought and was handling a iPad mini, but was actually holding a different kind of iPad.

Never ever assume something is impossible regardless of how simple or crazy it sounds when helping someone with technical issues. My iPhone won’t power on. You could assume that they charged it but that would be a mistake.

IMO iOS/ iPadOS is much more buggy than it used to be. Apple is in an arms race with Google to add so many features that they’re also adding bugs.