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iPad Air or iPad Mini for Christmas present?

MarkX

MarkX

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 10, 2015
1,339
1,722
Fochabers, Scotland
My son hinted earlier this year that he'd like an Ipad so I'm thinking I'll get him one for Christmas.

I can't decide what size would be best. He would mainly be playing games and watching YouTube. He's 13.

What would you suggest?

Edit: I'm sorted now so no more suggestions needed. Thanks.
 
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The bigger screen would be more immersive, but for portability, I'd say the mini. Most game controls would be easier to manipulate on the mini, I believe.
 
I used a mini for 2 years and recently switched the the Air 2. I couldn't be more happy, the text is just so my easier to read because of the size. The mini downsizes the text, so I don't know how much reading the person you are given the gift too, but from my experience I recommend the Air 2 over he mini hands down! The Air 2 is still small enough to be very portable. He can really grow into the Air 2 as well as it would afford a better overall experience due to the larger screen.
 
Mini has a better ppi resolution, portable and better handheld.

Btw I hope ur referring to mini 4.
 
Appl3FTW said:
Mini has a better ppi resolution, portable and better handheld.

Btw I hope ur referring to mini 4.
Click to expand...

Too bad that better ppi doesn't equal easier to read because of the reduced text size. No doubt the mini over all is more portable, but the sacrifice on the display text size is too much difference.
 
OTACORB said:
Too bad that better ppi doesn't even easier to read because of the reduced text size. No doubt the mini over all is more portable, but the sacrifice on the display text size is too much!
Click to expand...
If the screen size and readability of the mini is an issue then you have a bigger problem to worry about.
 
OTACORB said:
Too bad that better ppi doesn't even easier to read because of the reduced text size.
Click to expand...

A 13 year old kid is likely to have baetter eyesight than adults, so smaller text shouldn't be a problem. Unless, of course, he already needs glasses.
 
Night Spring said:
A 13 year old kid is likely to have baetter eyesight than adults, so smaller text shouldn't be a problem. Unless, of course, he already needs glasses.
Click to expand...
Exactly... All these people complaining about the screen size... Are they blind? Get glasses... Or better yet get the pro.
 
Appl3FTW said:
If the screen size and readability of the mini is an issue then you have a bigger problem to worry about.
Click to expand...

No actually I don't have anything to worry about I have an iPad Air 2 and YES this has been an issue for many people. Not everyone is the same and people do have glasses or contact and the text size is still an issue. If you disagree that is fine, but unless you have my eyes or the many others then you can't speak for us. Oh and I had a Pro, just too big to lug around.

Night Spring said:
A 13 year old kid is likely to have baetter eyesight than adults, so smaller text shouldn't be a problem. Unless, of course, he already needs glasses.
Click to expand...

Valid point and of course still worth considering when making a decision.
 
Hey buddy go enjoy ur air 2. I personally hate the bloated apps. It looks so cheesy and waste of real estate. My mini 4 has exactly same rows and columns as much as the air 2. Waste of space. Mini 4 > Air 2.
 
Appl3FTW said:
Hey buddy go enjoy ur air 2. I personally hate the bloated apps. It looks so cheesy and waste of real estate. My mini 4 has exactly same rows and columns as much as the air 2. Waste of space. Mini 4 > Air 2.
Click to expand...

Hey Buddy, that is your opinion and everyone has a right to share. All I did was express a valid opinion about text size that the person may want to consider. It may not apply to you as clearly this doesn't apply to everyone. However, there are enough repeat post about this that clearly it does impact some for sure.

Capt T said:
If it doesn't matter to you the difference in price, then ask your son. I get the whole surprise thing...but wouldn't you rather he open the one he wants on Christmas?
Click to expand...

This actually makes the most sense and removes any doubt, though of course removes the element of surprise. Might could ask without giving it away totally. hehehe
 
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If I may ask, is he on the naughty or nice list?

Naughty ---> Mini 2, Mini 3
Nice ---> Mini 4, Air 2

*All recommendations are made for a 16GB device.
 
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Appl3FTW said:
Hey buddy go enjoy ur air 2. I personally hate the bloated apps. It looks so cheesy and waste of real estate. My mini 4 has exactly same rows and columns as much as the air 2. Waste of space. Mini 4 > Air 2.
Click to expand...

Hey, no need to get nasty. I have bad eyesight that isn't totally correctable with glasses, so text size happens to be a concern for me. For a 13-year old kid, it's unlikely to be an issue, but it certainly doesn't mean that the mini is better than the Air for everyone.
 
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Excellent choice! I myself chose the iPad Air 2 64GB over the iPad Mini 4. Your son will love it!
 
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13? Go for the iPad Air. The mini seems great at first glance because it's so small and you can take it everywhere, but when you want to really sit down and do things with it, the small screen feels...well..small. My daughter is 11 and she loves the hell out of her iPad Air. Now she's actually jealous of my iPad pro and hinting that she wants one! "Maybe next year when you get a new new iPad pro, you can give me your old one". Haaaaaaa. Keep dreaming kid!
 
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