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All iPads Deciding between iPad mini and iPad Retina (a guide)

deaglecat

deaglecat

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 9, 2012
669
857
For those (like me) struggling to choose, hopefully this will help put an end to the endless posts about which of these two superb products to spend your hard earned cash on..

Instructions: score the questions on a scale of 0=Not at all to 5=Very much

Factors for the iPad mini

How much do you value the cost saving of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced weight/increased portability of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the thin bezel, newer industrial design of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the stereo speakers in the mini over the mono speakers in the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced charge time (2.5 hrs vs 6-7hrs with 12w charger) of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)

TOTAL for iPad mini =

Factors for the iPad retina

How much do you value the retina iPad display over the lower resolution mini (0-5)
How much do you value the 9.7" screen of the iPad retina over the 7.9" screen of the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the better screen quality (blacks, gamut etc) of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the increased speed of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the future proofing of the iPad retina 1024Mb RAM vs mini 512Mb RAM (0-5)

Total for iPad retina =

Whichever scores higher wins !

(And if you don't like the answer that you get ... well then maybe that has helped make your decision too :D )


Deag.
 
deaglecat said:
......

Factors for the iPad mini

1. How much do you value the cost saving of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
2. How much do you value the reduced weight/increased portability of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
3. How much do you value the thin bezel, newer industrial design of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
4. How much do you value the stereo speakers in the mini over the mono speakers in the retina iPad (0-5)
5. How much do you value the reduced charge time (2.5 hrs vs 6-7hrs with 12w charger) of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)

TOTAL for iPad mini =

Factors for the iPad retina

6. How much do you value the retina iPad display over the lower resolution mini (0-5)
7. How much do you value the 9.7" screen of the iPad retina over the 7.9" screen of the mini (0-5)
8. How much do you value the better screen quality (blacks, gamut etc) of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
9. How much do you value the increased speed of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
10. How much do you value the future proofing of the iPad retina 1024Mb RAM vs mini 512Mb RAM (0-5)

Total for iPad retina =

............
Click to expand...

1. 0
2. 5 (I would like to give this a 7 out of 5)
3. 2.5
4. 2
5. 3.5

Mini = 13
==========

6. 2
7. 0
8. 2
9. 4
10. 4

ipad = 12
 
danpass said:
1. 0
2. 5 (I would like to give this a 7 out of 5)
3. 2.5
4. 2
5. 3.5

Mini = 13
==========

6. 2
7. 0
8. 2
9. 4
10. 4

ipad = 12
Click to expand...


Too close to call dude... you would be happier with either. As a trained scientist, I would say this is within the margin of error of the test !
 
deaglecat said:
For those (like me) struggling to choose, hopefully this will help put an end to the endless posts about which of these two superb products to spend your hard earned cash on..

Instructions: score the questions on a scale of 0=Not at all to 5=Very much

Factors for the iPad mini

How much do you value the cost saving of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced weight/increased portability of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the thin bezel, newer industrial design of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the stereo speakers in the mini over the mono speakers in the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced charge time (2.5 hrs vs 6-7hrs with 12w charger) of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)

TOTAL for iPad mini =

Factors for the iPad retina

How much do you value the retina iPad display over the lower resolution mini (0-5)
How much do you value the 9.7" screen of the iPad retina over the 7.9" screen of the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the better screen quality (blacks, gamut etc) of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the increased speed of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the future proofing of the iPad retina 1024Mb RAM vs mini 512Mb RAM (0-5)

Total for iPad retina =

Whichever scores higher wins !

(And if you don't like the answer that you get ... well then maybe that has helped make your decision too :D )


Deag.
Click to expand...

Is the ipad 4 really more future proof?
 
For me the scores are

mini 4,3,2,2,3 = 14
retina 5,2,2,2,2 = 13

Mini is the winner (for me)... just.
 
I didn't score it like that, but the mini won out for me. I considered the lightness/portability/less cost/newer design to be more important for me than the retina/larger screen/faster internals.

And edited to add, I had both right in front of me, and had the money to purchase either of them right then and there, and had to make a decision (and I hate making decisions like that), and went with the mini.
 
Last edited:
How much do you value the cost saving of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5) = 0
How much do you value the reduced weight/increased portability of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5) = 4
How much do you value the thin bezel, newer industrial design of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5) = 0
How much do you value the stereo speakers in the mini over the mono speakers in the retina iPad (0-5) = 0
How much do you value the reduced charge time (2.5 hrs vs 6-7hrs with 12w charger) of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5) = 0

TOTAL for iPad mini = 4

Factors for the iPad retina

How much do you value the retina iPad display over the lower resolution mini (0-5) = 3
How much do you value the 9.7" screen of the iPad retina over the 7.9" screen of the mini (0-5) = 4
How much do you value the better screen quality (blacks, gamut etc) of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5) = 0
How much do you value the increased speed of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5) = 5
How much do you value the future proofing of the iPad retina 1024Mb RAM vs mini 512Mb RAM (0-5) = 0

Total for iPad retina = 12


Mini = 4
iPad 4 = 12

No contest.

Side note: The mini speakers may be stereo, but head to head I find the iPad 4's speaker better in overall tonality and quality.
 
I think you're missing one very important attribute for the mini. Its real world battery life is incredible. Much longer than the rated 10 hours. This has been well documented on Anandtech and is a significant benefit over the iPad with retina.
 
Whichever scores higher? This isn't a guide; more like a chick magazine survey but iPads replaced men. :)
 
I never got these type of surveys. Simply put the person is going to put more emphasis on what they already want. That is I want an iPad mini so I'm going to consciously pick what makes the iPad mini a better choice for me.

The bottom line, pick the product that best fits your needs. Do you want a retina display, then get the iPad 4, need or like the smaller form factor of a 7" tablet, then get the mini. Simple :)
 
Struggling to choose is accomplished by trying out what you are interested in, not by this whatever scoring thread.
 
Improved guide:

Want a small iPad? Pick the iPad mini.
Want a big iPad? Go with the regular iPad.
 
maflynn said:
I never got these type of surveys. Simply put the person is going to put more emphasis on what they already want.
Click to expand...

I think you DO "get" these surveys after all.

They're a silly construct to help people realize they actually do know what they want.

Regards,
Tom
 
maflynn said:
I never got these type of surveys. Simply put the person is going to put more emphasis on what they already want. That is I want an iPad mini so I'm going to consciously pick what makes the iPad mini a better choice for me.
Click to expand...

yup ! that's kinda the point.

They're a silly construct to help people realize they actually do know what they want.
Click to expand...

and yup again.

All it does is list the differences and perhaps help folk consider how much they value the differences.... and maybe we get in 1 less "which iPad should I buy ?" thread that seem so popular on this board.
 
deaglecat said:
For those (like me) struggling to choose, hopefully this will help put an end to the endless posts about which of these two superb products to spend your hard earned cash on..

Instructions: score the questions on a scale of 0=Not at all to 5=Very much

Factors for the iPad mini

How much do you value the cost saving of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced weight/increased portability of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the thin bezel, newer industrial design of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the stereo speakers in the mini over the mono speakers in the retina iPad (0-5)
How much do you value the reduced charge time (2.5 hrs vs 6-7hrs with 12w charger) of the mini over the retina iPad (0-5)

TOTAL for iPad mini =

Factors for the iPad retina

How much do you value the retina iPad display over the lower resolution mini (0-5)
How much do you value the 9.7" screen of the iPad retina over the 7.9" screen of the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the better screen quality (blacks, gamut etc) of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the increased speed of the iPad retina over the mini (0-5)
How much do you value the future proofing of the iPad retina 1024Mb RAM vs mini 512Mb RAM (0-5)

Total for iPad retina =

Whichever scores higher wins !

(And if you don't like the answer that you get ... well then maybe that has helped make your decision too :D )


Deag.
Click to expand...

0
5
3
2
3
=13

4
3
1
2
3
=13

Dammit.
 
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