iPad mini Deciding between 64 vs. 256 GB iPad Mini 6

[crodonline]

I would like to get an iPad mini 6, but I’m stuck on configuration. I already own a iPad Air 4, 256 Cellular model. I have to admit that I’ve become disenchanted with the iPad in general, but the iPad mini would be perfect on the go and reading. I think I will definitely get the cellular model since all my iPads have been that since I’ve first bought one (which was a mini 2). But 64 vs. 256. That’s my only dilemma. I can’t even figure out how much space I use since my Air has that bug with the Zero KB being displayed when I look at storage. I know I haven’t even touched the half way point and I’m actually cleaning up my iPad to stuff I would actually use. Maybe I could live with 64? This is a secondary iPad. But I’m also unsure!

 

[ericwn]

For reading eBooks and magazines I’d pick 64 GB. If you plan on storing lots of other media locally, get 256 GB.

 

[Realityck]

I would like to get an iPad mini 6, but I’m stuck on configuration. I already own a iPad Air 4, 256 Cellular model. I have to admit that I’ve become disenchanted with the iPad in general, but the iPad mini would be perfect on the go and reading. I think I will definitely get the cellular model since all my iPads have been that since I’ve first bought one (which was a mini 2). But 64 vs. 256. That’s my only dilemma. I can’t even figure out how much space I use since my Air has that bug with the Zero KB being displayed when I look at storage. I know I haven’t even touched the half way point and I’m actually cleaning up my iPad to stuff I would actually use. Maybe I could live with 64? This is a secondary iPad. But I’m also unsure!

Update the air to iPadOS 15.1 beta 3 (beta profile from beta.apple.com) will likely show you the correct storage. The Mini 6 I use has 40+ GB left with apps, streaming music, video, a few videos, pics. Unless you have your entire pict or music collection, use it a lot with documents, installed games, download many HD movies, a typical casual user doesn't use that much storage.

 

[sracer]

For reading eBooks and magazines I’d pick 64 GB. If you plan on storing lots of other media locally, get 256 GB.

I second this recommendation. The 64 GB should be fine, especially since you'll have internet access nearly everywhere you go with the cellular option. If you need media that's not on the device, you can pull it (from the cloud).

 

[deaglecat]

Of course, for many 128Gb is the optimal answer for $50 more than the base. But sadly that is not a recognised price point.

 

[wilberforce]

My suggestion and experience: if you use iCloud (and have everything checked On) and "optimize photos" and enable "offload unused apps" then 64GB is fine, especially as a secondary iPad. One negative: if you need to reload something from iCloud and are on cellular, this can eat up your data plan if you have a limit.
If you don't use iCloud etc., get 256GB.

 

[Hallstar]

I have offered my opinion to this in other threads..

In previous iterations of the Mini (or other iPad models!), cellular would be required to overcome the annoyance of repeating the tethering process following each time the iPad was out to sleep and the connection subsequently disconnected.

The cellular also offered GPS for ability to locate device via Find My.

However, the latest iOS/iPadOS offers immediate tether to local/confirmed device. (Mine picks up my iPhone immediately).

If also -assumed using NFC- detects and alerts when the Mini 6 becomes separated from iPhone.

I wear and Apple Watch and carry an iPhone 13, and am alerted to both if I leave my Mini 6 in car etc, though I am not alerted if I leave my home address without Mini 6.

In regard to storage. I have 64GB onboard storage and have Samsung T7 Touch to offload large photo/video files etc.

The benefits of this being;

- Cheaper increased storage than upgrading onboard through iPad configurations
- Wider ability to connect to other platforms to view/edit content

Just my thoughts.

 

[xraydoc]

I use mine as a main work and personal device, so I went with 256GB — 64 wasn’t enough but not likely to fill 256. Not really a gamer so no big games to occupy space. But I do keep work files & apps loaded.

If it were strictly a leisure device, 64GB probably would have been sufficient.

 

[wilberforce]

I I think I will definitely get the cellular model since all my iPads have been that since I’ve first bought one

You might reconsider the cellular. Both my iPads have cellular, but mainly because I have a special need for the GPS chip (which only comes with the cellular). The GPS chip, however, is not really necessary in urban environments where location can be determined instead from wifi stations.
You might try experimenting with the cellular disabled on your iPad 4, and use your phone's hotspot instead. If this works for you, you could spend on the storage instead. Also save on the data plan monthly fee.

 

[crodonline]

Thanks everyone! I like to have cellular iPads because my internet is provided by my apartment building and I’m don’t have cable so everything is streaming in my place. When the internet has gone down for hours or overnight, a cellular iPad has really helped.

My phone doesn’t have a hotspot! Something with the kind of plan I have with Sprint and until I can move all the phones on my plan to the T-mobile side, I can’t add it on.

I just upgraded to Apple One with my partner so we now have 2 TB iCloud space. And I was just hitting the 200 GB with that so I think if I use it more for a secondary device, I would be okay. I don’t think we would fill that up even with us plus my mom (her stuff barely takes up space on iCloud.)

I am also very Google-centric for certain things I do so I do have Google Drive to help me out and I use Mega’s cloud service for all of my cloud storage needs for all of my media, device backups, etc. And some work I do for a lit non-profit is on Dropbox so you can say I’m very cloud-centric

I think I’m so used to having that sweet spot in storage. Ever since I had a 16 GB iPad mini 4 (this is before they came out with the larger storage), I’ve been gung-ho about having at least that mid-tier of storage.

If Apple would have made a 128 tier, it would be perfect! I get why they don’t but honestly I feel like it would do well.

I’m a writer who promotes stuff on Instagram and creates graphics to go along with my writing and sometimes book reviews. I’m also a web designer, social media manager for a lit org on the side and I deal with content for my day job.

My use cases would be note taking, some graphic design, reading, research for all of the work I do. For leisure, more reading, then playing some games and YouTube. I try to use apps that I can sync via cloud or are available on multiple platforms. I have a Surface Go 3 for my web design and for on the go with my day job if I don’t want to carry the work laptop. I like compact devices and I’ve missed with mini ever since I gave it to my mom. Perfect size for reading and it might work for a creative writing project I want to do with erasure and PDFs.