All iPads How bad is the iPad mini's screen? Or iPad 2

[chrisrosemusic1]

Love mine to bits, and I own a rMBP.

It's absolutely fine, no it's not retina and I wish it was, but it's certainly not a deal breaker or awful in any way.

 

[darngooddesign]

It's fine, but not amazing. I find m iPad 2s screen to be a little higher quality than my mini.

 

[sonicpace]

I cannot stand the display of the iPad mini. It is a terrible display. Some people might say otherwise, but for me, personally it is unusable without causing significant eye strain.

The iPad 2 display is actually a higher quality display. Better contrast and colours. It is the same resolution however, so you will not be getting a "retina" display. If jagged edges of text sounds like something that would bother you, I wouldn't recommend either device.

The retina iPad 3 & 4 have fantastic displays. If it weren't for the looming iPad 5 update, I would likely buy one.

I would encourage you to go to an Apple store to see all of these displays in person, as each of us have different tolerance levels as to what we would consider acceptable quality in a display.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[WhiteIphone5]

Higher PPI, yes, because it has the same resolution on a smaller display. The text looks a bit sharper on the mini than the 2, but still pixelated if (and only if!) you compare it with a 3 or 4.

So if you do like your mini, enjoy it, and DO NOT EVER try to use an iPad 3 or later, as you don't want to know what you're missing.

Good thing I sold my iPad 4th 🙂
But then I have an iPhone 5 and a Retina MacBook Pro 🙁

 

[bpcookson]

I think it's hard to use the iPad mini when you're used to having a retina screen. I'd really like to trade my heavy iPad 3 for an iPad mini but I won't do it until the mini goes retina. I just can't go backwards like that.

That being said, it speaks to the kind of person I am. Are you the kind of person that notices when the dashed yellow lines on the road are screwy because someone messed up? Do you cringe when someone uses poor formatting on a printed document? Do you stop to inspect doors that seem to get a little jammed up and make sure they close all the way? Do you arrange the stuff in your pockets to maximize comfort and accessibility while minimizing wear and tear?

If you don't care about the details in your everyday life then you probably won't care about the details on your iPad's screen. And you'll probably even try to stuff the dang thing in your front pocket and pretend it fits just fine. You might even believe yourself.

 

[shurcooL]

I'm really happy with my iPad mini's screen. It's not as great as a Retina display, but it's not as bad as the large iPad 2 without Retina. The colours, contrast and all that are great IMO.

Of course, once there's a iPad mini with a Retina display, I'll be looking forward to upgrade someday.

 

[emptysoul]

I was considering a mini when I bought my iPad and held it side by side with a 4. The difference was noticeable but nowhere near enough that i'd conside rit an issue.

In the end I went for the 4 purely because I read a lot of magazines and thought the screen size on the mini might be an issue.

 

[itjw]

Do this: Find all of the reviews of the iPad2 when it launched that talked about how "awful" the screen is. You can't. Because they didn't. And this was in the day and age of the "Retina" iPhone 4, so don't give me the "it was a different time, and now things are different" crap... Retina existed, and everyone STILL thought the iPad2 LCD was excellent.

Is Retina better? Yup.

Is the Mini, with it's BETTER ppi than the iPad2 "horrible" "unusable" "painful" or any of the other silly descriptions I've heard? Heck no.

As someone who's had one for 3 months now, and ALSO has had a Retina version of everything else (and has 20/20 vision), I can honestly say the screen on the mini is fabulous.

It's not AS good as a Retina, but it's still fabulous. People just want the top of the line everything, and if something doesn't have it it automatically becomes crap.

Unless they make the Retina mini as thin and light there is NO way I'd upgrade (unless it has other things I want, which it may...).

Don't let the whinings of the "I'd trade it all for a little more" crowd convince you of anythig until you see it for yourself. It's BETTER than a screen that literally had no complaints, even when Retina already existed in the wild...

 

[WhiteIphone5]

Do this: Find all of the reviews of the iPad2 when it launched that talked about how "awful" the screen is. You can't. Because they didn't. And this was in the day and age of the "Retina" iPhone 4, so don't give me the "it was a different time, and now things are different" crap... Retina existed, and everyone STILL thought the iPad2 LCD was excellent.

Is Retina better? Yup.

Is the Mini, with it's BETTER ppi than the iPad2 "horrible" "unusable" "painful" or any of the other silly descriptions I've heard? Heck no.

As someone who's had one for 3 months now, and ALSO has had a Retina version of everything else (and has 20/20 vision), I can honestly say the screen on the mini is fabulous.

It's not AS good as a Retina, but it's still fabulous. People just want the top of the line everything, and if something doesn't have it it automatically becomes crap.

Unless they make the Retina mini as thin and light there is NO way I'd upgrade (unless it has other things I want, which it may...).

Don't let the whinings of the "I'd trade it all for a little more" crowd convince you of anythig until you see it for yourself. It's BETTER than a screen that literally had no complaints, even when Retina already existed in the wild...

Amazing. Thank you

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I think it's hard to use the iPad mini when you're used to having a retina screen. I'd really like to trade my heavy iPad 3 for an iPad mini but I won't do it until the mini goes retina. I just can't go backwards like that.

That being said, it speaks to the kind of person I am. Are you the kind of person that notices when the dashed yellow lines on the road are screwy because someone messed up? Do you cringe when someone uses poor formatting on a printed document? Do you stop to inspect doors that seem to get a little jammed up and make sure they close all the way? Do you arrange the stuff in your pockets to maximize comfort and accessibility while minimizing wear and tear?

If you don't care about the details in your everyday life then you probably won't care about the details on your iPad's screen. And you'll probably even try to stuff the dang thing in your front pocket and pretend it fits just fine. You might even believe yourself.

LOL yes to all. I'm receiving the iPad mini for free today, so I'm not complaining. Hey it's free. But I'll try to use the most so I can get used to it. But then there's my 15" retina staring at me 😛

 

[WhiteIphone5]

Hey guys, just reviewed the iPad. And it's not as bad as most of you said it was. i Love it!

 

[7thson]

Hey guys, just reviewed the iPad. And it's not as bad as most of you said it was. i Love it!

Congratulations! The iPad Mini is a great device for me and for many others and now you. Enjoy!

 

[vmaniqui]

Do this: Find all of the reviews of the iPad2 when it launched that talked about how "awful" the screen is. You can't. Because they didn't. And this was in the day and age of the "Retina" iPhone 4, so don't give me the "it was a different time, and now things are different" crap... Retina existed, and everyone STILL thought the iPad2 LCD was excellent.

Is Retina better? Yup.

Is the Mini, with it's BETTER ppi than the iPad2 "horrible" "unusable" "painful" or any of the other silly descriptions I've heard? Heck no.

As someone who's had one for 3 months now, and ALSO has had a Retina version of everything else (and has 20/20 vision), I can honestly say the screen on the mini is fabulous.

It's not AS good as a Retina, but it's still fabulous. People just want the top of the line everything, and if something doesn't have it it automatically becomes crap.

Unless they make the Retina mini as thin and light there is NO way I'd upgrade (unless it has other things I want, which it may...).

Don't let the whinings of the "I'd trade it all for a little more" crowd convince you of anythig until you see it for yourself. It's BETTER than a screen that literally had no complaints, even when Retina already existed in the wild...

+1. totally agree with your observations. i too have all these retina display apple gadgets and yet i owned an Ipad Mini and love it....

 

[macingman]

I've heard and been told its pretty bad. And many people are holding back from buying due to the non-retina screen. I have an iPhone 5 and a 15" rMBP. So I know I will be able to tell the difference but how bad is it?
I've never seen the mini so I'm not sure how the quality is.
For those who may wonder how I haven't seen the iPad mini and I own an iPhone and rMBP. I ordered them online.

I don't even notice a difference. Went from iPad 3 to mini and use a 4S as currently as well. Really doesn't make a difference at all.

 

[ImpKali]

I use an iPad 2 as my go-to device, and I can say that I comfortably watch movies and play games on it with no problem. I've had the opportunity to check out a retina iPad before, and it certainly is nice, but you really won't be able to tell much of a difference.

In fact, if I remember correctly, the iPad Mini has a slightly higher PPI than the iPad 2 (163 vs 132 PPI), so the display is actually going to be slightly better in any case.

If Retina is really such a high priority to you, though, then the iPad Mini 2 is rumored to have it, but it's not a deal-breaker if you buy one now.

 

[Luuthian]

The screen on the mini is great. The IPS-LCD is just so wickedly sharp and bright it's unbelievable. Like going from the old TFT-LCD of the iPhone 4 to the IPS display of the iPhone 5, it's night and freaking day.

The lower ppi score is meaningless. The display is sharp and crisp and thanks to it being 2" smaller than an iPad2, but the same resolution, it feels more than sharp enough. Yes you can see the pixels, but it's not a death sentence.

The size of the device is just phenomenal. I love it 🙂.

 

[DMH3006]

The screen on the mini is great. The IPS-LCD is just so wickedly sharp and bright it's unbelievable. Like going from the old TFT-LCD of the iPhone 4 to the IPS display of the iPhone 5, it's night and freaking day.

The lower ppi score is meaningless. The display is sharp and crisp and thanks to it being 2" smaller than an iPad2, but the same resolution, it feels more than sharp enough. Yes you can see the pixels, but it's not a death sentence.

The size of the device is just phenomenal. I love it 🙂.

The iPhone 4 had an IPS display.

 

[annaharris]

I have iPad 2 till I don't not face any screen problem. Now, i am waiting for new apple retina. It will be a great.

 

[DesertEagle]

I have iPad 2 till I don't not face any screen problem. Now, i am waiting for new apple retina. It will be a great.

Apple retina? Do you mean "iPad mini retina"?

I have the iPad 2 as well, btw. Difficult to choose between 4, 5 and mini 2 (the choice should be obvious, though, since only one of the models exists at the moment)

 

[Luuthian]

The iPhone 4 had an IPS display.

Ack, you're right. The tech I was thinking of is different. It's the in-cell tech, and the mini doesn't have it... I still say the mini has a damn bright display though. It feels less washed out than the iPhone 4. But maybe it's my eyes deceiving me... A breakdown is here:

http://www.displaymate.com/iPad_mini_ShootOut_1.htm

 

[WhiteIphone5]

The screen on the mini is great. The IPS-LCD is just so wickedly sharp and bright it's unbelievable. Like going from the old TFT-LCD of the iPhone 4 to the IPS display of the iPhone 5, it's night and freaking day.

The lower ppi score is meaningless. The display is sharp and crisp and thanks to it being 2" smaller than an iPad2, but the same resolution, it feels more than sharp enough. Yes you can see the pixels, but it's not a death sentence.

The size of the device is just phenomenal. I love it 🙂.

Tell me about it! I love the weight and size. It's like near perfect, add retina display and you have the best tablet.

 

[richardmu]

Happy with my 2 that I've had since it was released.

Tried the mini but was disappointed with the screen at the price Apple were charging so returned it. Bought a Kindle Fire HD for almost half the price and have been very happy with it. Better screen and sound than the mini.

 

[jebbe]

As long as you're not staring at it 2 inches from your face, you will barely notice that it's not a higher resolution display.

I love my mini, people who complain about it's display are just people who want something to complain about.

 

[vmaniqui]

as long as you're not staring at it 2 inches from your face, you will barely notice that it's not a higher resolution display.

I love my mini, people who complain about it's display are just people who want something to complain about.

+1.

 

[ManicMarc]

The mini is fine - not as good as the Nexus 7 when t comes to text, but it is far less reflective and colours look less saturated, so I prefer it. The device itself is also far better in quality (as you'd expect since it costs more) - I just had to resuscitate my Mum's Nexus 7 because she let the battery run down too low (required a hard reset!) - you wouldn't get that with a Mini.

 

[richardmu]

I agree the mini is a very good product. If it was the only 7" tablet available I'd have certainly kept the one I tried. I've still got the case I bought for it!

However, there are now lots of alternatives at a much lower price. I use my iPad 2 quite a lot every day whereas the Kindle gets used much less often. It does the job for a lot less than the price of the mini.

If or when the mini gets a retina display then the Kindle will be on eBay in a flash. Hopefully the size will stay the same and I get to use the case.