iPad From Ipad Pro to Ipad Mini 6? Feedback please

[Kiki_box]

Hello guys!
I am looking for people who are owners of an Ipad Pro 11 and purchased an Ipad Mini 6. I would like to have a feedback from your experience!!
I am considering of replacing my Ipad Pro for a mini, mainly for the portability. I understand that many things are really better on the Ipad Pro (speakers, video quality, Promotion) and I need to clear my thoughts on that. I use it a lot for note taking (for my work), reading, videos. Although I would not say that the Ipad Pro 11 is too big, I would rather prefer having a lighter device in my hands for traveling and note taking too.
That's why I'll be glad to hear any feedback from people who swapped Ipad pro 11 for a Mini 6. Do you like the experience? Are you missing things on the Mini? Thanks

 

[840quadra]

Just picked mine up, too early to post any details on it but I plan on doing some benchmarks and posting on MR my experience and Real life benchmarks.

First off I like how it is easy to hold as compared to my 11 pro, and will be testing it's capabilities for my tasks in the coming hours. I process RAW photos from a Canon EOS R and R5 out in the field, and the fact that it has USB-C for transfers makes the iPad far superior for my needs as compared to an iPhone.

I just have the WIFI version for now, I may exchange for a cellular if it really fits my needs.

 

[klasma]

@Kiki_box: You need to try it yourself. It totally depends on personal preference and usage. I switched from the 9.7 iPad 2 to the mini 3(?) back then (now 4, upgrading to 6) and never looked back. In the meantime I also got a 12.9 for specific, non-mobile use cases, but the mini remains the iPad I use 90+ % of the time.

 

[Kiki_box]

@840quadra Thanks for sharing your first impressions! I'll be glad to hear more about your experience.
Yes @klasma, I agree with you, that it totally depends on my usage. I tried it in an Apple store this afternoon and I was completely blown away by this little wonder. I just wanted to have feedback from others on this topic!

 

[chemasevi]

My ipad mini comes with pixel dead.Returned

 

[Deanster]

My iPad mini 6 just arrived, it’s still busy downloading, but I’ve been an avid mini user since the first one came out.

As others noted, it’s all about how and when you’re using it. The Mini 6 brings a lot of updates, but it’s ultimately still an iPad mini.

If you actually needed the power, screen size, keyboard direct connection, etc. of the 11” iPad Pro, the mini will most likely fall way short of your needs. OTOH, if you feel like you overspent on the iPad Pro, and are wishing for an ultra-portable device somewhere between an iPad Air and an IPhone Pro Max, then the Mini is for you.

Where the Mini really shines for me is when I’m traveling or actually in-transit. The small size is a wonder for reading or watching movies on a plane, or doing basic tasks on public transit/when parked waiting to pick up my kids, etc. There are many other use cases, of course, but the longer I’m sitting down in one place with a table in front of me and using the device, the more I want a larger iPad.

The Mini is an absolute star for using in my hands, for quick checks, for cramped airplane/transit seats, etc. It’s great for coming in and out of my sling back a few times an hour to do something that would be cramped and unpleasant on my phone.

But if I’m going to the coffee shop for an hour to answer a few emails and maybe write a few paragraphs to go on our website, I’ll take the 11” iPad Pro with Keyboard. If I’m going somewhere to do real work, I’ll grab my MacBook Pro and throw the Mini in my bag to read on the subway.

IMHO, it’s all about what you consider the most useful midpoint between phone and laptop to be for your needs - is it a handheld portable monster that you’re using in-hand and typing with your thumbs like a giant phone? Or is it a primarily landscape-oriented midsize screen with a keyboard attached? I have both right now, and I’m hoping to move my iPad Pro 11” on, but we’ll have to see.

 

[840quadra]

I have completed some comprehensive tests between the two iPads, and just finishing up with the M1 Mac. In short, the New Mini is as fast (if not a touch faster) at some of my workload than the A12x iPad Pro 11" that I own and will continue to enjoy.

Full results, photos and comprehensive test data to follow after my M1 Tests are complete.

 

[Kiki_box]

@Deanster Thanks for your comments! I forgot to say that I have a Macbook Air. I'm a psychologist and my Ipad is mainly for taking notes during session. Apart from that, a lot of reading. I don't have a keyboard as I have my MBA if I want to type this. When I travel, I take both too. Ultimately, my Ipad Pro feel a little bit too powerful for my use. But Still wondering if writing a lot of notes during the day is as enjoyable in a mini format than a pro format.
ps: And i'm considering of selling my Pro.. i don't need to keep 2 ipads

 

[840quadra]

(NOTE, Meant to create my own thread, so it kinda reads like that, Figured there is no point as there is discussion already on this subject in your thread).



I have purchased a new iPad mini in hopes that it will be a suitable and more portable clone of my beloved 11" iPad Pro (A12x). While processing power on this new iPad is no comparison for the new M1 Pro, or even the new iPhone 13, neither are in my wheelhouse as I wanted something smaller. The iPhone lacking USB-C killed that deal, so I wanted to see if the new Mini would communicate with my Canon Cameras via USB-C, and be fast enough for my processing. I decided to compare the new mini to the iPad Pro 11 that I own and intend to keep.

Below is the raw data from my performance tests that I completed on my 2 iPads, as well as my M1 MacBook Pro for comparison. In short, the Mini is equal to the A12x iPad Pro for my daily driving

Test performed	iPad mini 6	iPad Pro 11 (A12x)	MacBook Pro M1
Load 485 image previews on Canon R5 for import selection	52 seconds	55 Seconds	NA*
Import 100 JPEG Images (8192x5464) Canon R5 8-16mb each.	53 Seconds	56 Seconds	52 seconds
Paste editing changes to 100 photos. (Saturation, exposure, noise reduction, enhancements. (Lightroom)	1:37	1:54	NA**
Export 100 edited photos to files app	14:57	14:57	4:40
Copy 100 edited photos to SD card (Apple USB-C SD Card reader to SanDisk Extreme Gold 128GB (SDXC V30I Class 10)	1:24	1:14	19 Seconds
Export Lume Fusion Multi layer video with music / text & simple effects. 2:39.23 (1080p 30 FPS, 20mbps, h.264)	1:54	2:03	1:13
Import 20 RAW photos Canon EOS R5	27 seconds	27 seconds	25 seconds
Paste editing changes to 20 RAW photos. (Saturation, exposure, noise reduction, enhancements. (Lightroom)	20 seconds	20 seconds	NA**
Export 20 RAW Images as JPEG	3:06	3:11	1:23

*Photo Import Methods used on Mac Pro are not applicable in my test as I use a different workflow
** Photoshop Lightroom Classic was used on MacBook Pro M1, I don’t use new style Lightroom in my work.



Workflow and test details.
I do a ton of photography, and use my iPads in the field for quick (and sometimes) extensive edits of both RAW and JPEG images, as well as 1080p video files for social media and YouTube. In order for the Mini to be a reasonable option for me, it needed to cover a few key areas well. TLDR, I will keep each section short as well as test process for people to review or test on their own.


USB-C File Copy (Import from Camera)
Results = Tie (essentially)
Test Method (Import) - USB-C Cable direct to camera
Test Detail;
My key test was to ensure files pulled down from my camera were done quickly and reliably via the USB-C port on my camera. iPhones with Lightning are not able to connect to the R5 via cable, so that device is dead to me (for my needs). While this can be done using the Lightning SD card reader, the speeds are far slower than the USB-C version for iPads.



USB-C File Copy (Export to SD Card)
Results = Tie (essentially)
Test Method - Copy photos to SD card via USB-C Card reader.
Test Detail;
There are various methods I use, but often I copy edited photos and videos to SD cards, and mail them to my clients. I have had good results using this method, and prefer it to unreliable USB-A thumb drives.



Batch Process photos in Lightroom (RAW and JPEG)
Results = iPad mini was a touch faster than the A12x Pro 11"
Test Method - Paste or apply a template of changes to all photos in a gallery
Test Detail;
Make the same adjustments on all devices to a single photo, from there paste those changes to all other test photos and time the processing period on each device.
** Photoshop Lightroom classic does this a bit differently, so this test couldn't be completed on the M1 MacBook Pro.

Batch Export photos in Lightroom (RAW and JPEG to edited JPEG)
Results = iPads essentially tie behind M1 MacBook Pro.
Test Method - Export various sized batches of photos both RAW and JPEG to edited JPEG files.
Test Detail;
Export edited photos from Lightroom to files application. This tests processing power as well as internal IO speeds.




Video editing exports
Results = iPad mini was slightly faster than Pro 11", however both behind M1
Test Method - Export identical project file from 3 devices.
Test Detail;
Video consisted of 1080p Footage from various sources, mixed and edited using the exact same project file / files. Details on files and export are in test data above.

My Conclusion
I feel the new Mini is a perfect fit for my needs, as it matches the iPad Pro in speed for all the tasks I use it for out in the field, and is a lot more portable. Sure it is behind the M1, but I need something small enough to fit in a sling bag, or perhaps a tech vest or cargo pants pocket, yet still have speed to process my workload.

This device , especially with USB-C is brilliant for my needs!

 

[jdb8167]

Just got my iPad mini but I did a couple of Geekbench benchmarks to compare with my 2020 A12Z 11” iPad Pro.

	2020 iPad Pro	2021 iPad mini 6
Single core	1121	1594
Multi core	4686	4550
Metal compute	12332	13679

 

[Kiki_box]

@840quadra Impressive results from the Mini! It sounds great in such a portable device.
The only thing i'm wondering is: will I feel the difference between a Mini and a pro when I write? Because I could feel a slight difference between those two when I tested it in the apple store. Not a huge difference but quite a difference in the smoothness. That is a big question mark because i'm using it a lot for note taking!

 

[840quadra]

@840quadra Impressive results from the Mini! It sounds great in such a portable device.
The only thing i'm wondering is: will I feel the difference between a Mini and a pro when I write? Because I could feel a slight difference between those two when I tested it in the apple store. Not a huge difference but quite a difference in the smoothness. That is a big question mark because i'm using it a lot for note taking!

Sadly I misplaced my pencil so I can’t give my opinion on that subject at this time.

If you are on the fence, and have funds available, I would strongly consider purchasing one at an Apple Store, and utilize their 14 day return policy so you can return it if it doesn’t fit your needs. The policy also allows you 14 days to trade in your old device if that is your intention after your file copy and evaluation period is over.

Mine will be used for note taking for sure, once I find my pencil .

 

[Jimbo Asprilla]

Had the mini for a few hours, absolutely loving it, it’s the perfect device for killing time on the couch, it’s so much more comfortable to hold. I’ll still keep my 11” iPad Pro, but this is definitely the device I’ll be using the most.

my only complaint is that it seems that the app icon sizing seems more wasted on the screen real estate, I wish the spacing was better.

 

[laestrella]

I haven't decided what I'm to going to with my pro yet but the mini is a keeper. It really feels like a different type device at this size. I can hold it up in one hand a write with the other (using the Apple Pencil) like a piece of paper on a clipboard. It's so light and really makes the tablet experience shine.

 

[Kiki_box]

Sadly I misplaced my pencil so I can’t give my opinion on that subject at this time.

If you are on the fence, and have funds available, I would strongly consider purchasing one at an Apple Store, and utilize their 14 day return policy so you can return it if it doesn’t fit your needs. The policy also allows you 14 days to trade in your old device if that is your intention after your file copy and evaluation period is over.

Mine will be used for note taking for sure, once I find my pencil .

Yes you're right! I need to use it for a day or two to see which Ipad I'll be more confortable with.

 

[Kiki_box]

I haven't decided what I'm to going to with my pro yet but the mini is a keeper. It really feels like a different type device at this size. I can hold it up in one hand a write with the other (using the Apple Pencil) like a piece of paper on a clipboard. It's so light and really makes the tablet experience shine.

I guess so! as taking notes for a long time can be painful with an Ipad Pro. And writing with the Apple pencil makes it so convenient to keep all my files at the same place. I am sure it is easier to have the mini in one hand while writing like a normal notepad

 

[Htsi]

@840quadra Impressive results from the Mini! It sounds great in such a portable device.
The only thing i'm wondering is: will I feel the difference between a Mini and a pro when I write? Because I could feel a slight difference between those two when I tested it in the apple store. Not a huge difference but quite a difference in the smoothness. That is a big question mark because i'm using it a lot for note taking!

Yes due to promotion and reduced latency

 

[jdb8167]

Had the mini for a few hours, absolutely loving it, it’s the perfect device for killing time on the couch, it’s so much more comfortable to hold. I’ll still keep my 11” iPad Pro, but this is definitely the device I’ll be using the most.

my only complaint is that it seems that the app icon sizing seems more wasted on the screen real estate, I wish the spacing was better.

I haven’t decided if I‘m going to keep or sell my 2020 11” iPad Pro. I’m going to use the mini exclusively for a while and see if it can completely replace my iPad Pro. I was very disappointed in Apple with iPadOS 15 not actually having much in the way of Pro features. I’ve been using my M1 MacBook Air almost exclusively for anything needing a keyboard or multitasking so the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard doesn’t seem necessary any longer.

 

[ascender]

Having used it for a few hours, I think I really like it, but it’s taking some adjusting. Some of the touch targets seem insanely small and the screen obviously feels very different coming from a Pro. As others have said, it feels like the Home Screen needs reworked for the Mini.

but…. I love the size for browsing On the sofa and it’s really easy to type with your two thumbs. Its a perfect digital notebook though and I think will be great for reading books on.

 

[wilberforce]

Basically the iPad Mini 6 is half the screen area of the 11" Pro.

Yes, I know, if you calculate the screen area in square millimeters it is not half the area, but in actual use, once you take account of menu bars etc, it basically feels like half the screen area.

The new iPad Mini 6 (which I just got today) is only slightly larger in screen size than the previous iPad Mini. I would not buy it solely for this reason. I only bought it because my current iPad Mini is near-obsolete and very sluggish (Mini 2).

It is great for portability on the go and as an e-book reader, but otherwise I would recommend stick with the 11".

I would never replace the 11" with a Mini - I would only add it (i.e., have both).

 

[Aka757]

I’ll echo the sentiment here about the size, it’s really lovely. Incredible how small and light it is, it is just begging to be taken everywhere. One thing I will say is that going back to 60hz from 120hz is really jarring. Not sure if it’s because the iPad mini has jelly scrolling issues, but a lot of animations seem really choppy Hopefully it improves or I just get used to it. That’s about the only thing I’m disliking right now.

 

[estabya]

I’ll echo the sentiment here about the size, it’s really lovely. Incredible how small and light it is, it is just begging to be taken everywhere. One thing I will say is that going back to 60hz from 120hz is really jarring. Not sure if it’s because the iPad mini has jelly scrolling issues, but a lot of animations seem really choppy Hopefully it improves or I just get used to it. That’s about the only thing I’m disliking right now.

The 60hz screen is the single complaint I have as well. I will be using the mini alongside my new iPhone 13 Pro and my 2018 11” iPad Pro, so it will probably be something I think about a lot. However, I have been waiting for a redesigned mini for years, and it’s amazing so far other than the one complaint.

 

[ascender]

Day two and it really does come into its own for reading, catching up on emails etc. great for using with one hand and for me it’s quickly becoming the go-to device where I’d normally either use my phone or maybe my iPad - my phone is now upstairs and I just have the Mini.

 

[estabya]

Day two and it really does come into its own for reading, catching up on emails etc. great for using with one hand and for me it’s quickly becoming the go-to device where I’d normally either use my phone or maybe my iPad - my phone is now upstairs and I just have the Mini.

Agreed. I already find myself reaching for this over my 11” pro or phone.

 

[rui no onna]

Day 2 on the mini 6 and I feel like I'm just forcing myself to use it (at home). The small bezels makes it difficult for me to hold comfortably with one hand. Fonts are a bit too small for comfort but increasing font sizes (if even possible in app) often makes layouts go out of whack.

I'm back to using the Air for now. Oh well, the true test for the mini 6 is when I'm out and about anyway. It fits comfortably in the jacket pocket and doesn't feel like the iPad's dragging it down.