iPad mini iPad Mini 1 still useful for anything in 2025?

[FeliApple]

Those versions of the operating system haven't just magically changed between then and now. You are the thing that changed, you and your expectations have been altered by the progression of technology. Don't blame the software, it did exactly what it was supposed to do.. perform consistently. Your expectations are the thing that changed.

Now, if mankind could get software working and then leave it the hell alone, then we wouldn't need new versions every year. All of this constant tinkering is why software gets outdated so quickly.

No, not my expectations. Developers’ support changes.

There’s a reason why I have to upgrade this iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 next month. It is not because I expect better; in fact, this iPhone works perfectly. But developers’ support crackles.

Websites stop working, apps cut support for iOS 12, websites either partly load or they don’t load at all.

My expectations are the same they were when iOS 12 launched, but because devs update parts and dependencies of the software, my now older version no longer meets my requirements.

But don’t be mistaken: I bought this iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 in 2019. I expect the same functionality, but developers do not provide it.

 

[joeblow7777]

Now, if mankind could get software working and then leave it the hell alone, then we wouldn't need new versions every year. All of this constant tinkering is why software gets outdated so quickly.

With this mentality, how would technology ever advance? I mean, the abacus was working pretty well. Why'd we have to tinker with it?

 

[Iwavvns]

With this mentality, how would technology ever advance? I mean, the abacus was working pretty well. Why'd we have to tinker with it?

Do you really have nothing better to do than to come up with silly excuses to discredit someone's comment when you know darn good and well the author of that comment didn't mean forever?

 

[mortlocli]

You are a very patient person if you use it with iOS 9....

No - not at all. Bought the $NZ9 version of Puffin today for my Ipad2.. cuts down data usage..and check out the speed tests on Puffin. It doesn't work with every web site but works with lots that I use. Certainly has added extra life to an 'obsolete' ipad.

 

[Digitalguy]

No - not at all. Bought the $NZ9 version of Puffin today for my Ipad2.. cuts down data usage..and check out the speed tests on Puffin. It doesn't work with every web site but works with lots that I use. Certainly has added extra life to an 'obsolete' ipad.

would never give puffin one more cent, after the scam they did on Android, by retiring the pro version we had purchased and moving to subscription only...they will not see any money from me and even less any recommendation. I'd rather use remote desktop if I want to browse fast in a old device

 

[iMac9.1lover]

It's a waste of money. My iPad 2 (same specs) can't run anything, the screen isn't retina and you need a lot of patience even to run the OS. The mini 2 is a much more usable device, forget the 1, even as a reader it's not worth it

As someone who has to daily this iPad out of necessity, I agree with you. Please, don't buy a Mini 1. It's not worth it. Buy something like a cheap used Mini 4, at the very least. You can actually surf the web and maybe watch videos online.

 

[winxmac]

iPad mini 4 - iOS 15.8.4

You can only download the latest compatible version for some apps but it should still work for the most part. Anything older than iOS 15.x is not worth using anymore.

 

[Arran]

Just pulled my old mini 1 out of a drawer. Simple built-in apps like: Photo Booth, Calendar, Camera, Clock (Alarm and Stopwatch) and Notes still work but aren't very exciting. The camera took a sharp-ish picture of text on a page - so you could use it to "photocopy" printed documents, articles or receipts for reading later?

Music and Safari were slow and crashed a few times. Maps wouldn't even load a map.

Tried installing a few simple apps from the app store but not one would load. All said they were incompatible.

Probably time to recycle it.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Today I used an iPad mini 1st generation to stream music from a Shoutcast server using the version of Safari that runs on it, listened to Pandora in their app, fired up Mango languages in their app, checked the status of an incoming flight in an app and watched my Wife’s Japanese television online using Puffin browser.

Everything worked perfectly.

Seemed pretty useful to me.

 

[FeliApple]

iPad mini 4 - iOS 15.8.4

You can only download the latest compatible version for some apps but it should still work for the most part. Anything older than iOS 15.x is not worth using anymore.

I agree. My iPhone 6s on iOS 10, my 6s on iOS 13, my iPhone 8 on iOS 14, my iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12, they’re all pretty much either used for music or stored in a drawer.

I was recently forced to retire my 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12 because the lack of compatibility can now be described as massive. Netflix stopped working asking for an update then worked again. The app I used to watch sports was discontinued and the new one does not support iOS 12. The YouTube app does not work. Many websites I like to browse no longer work. A couple of other apps also either stay blank or do not load.

Sure, you can find workarounds. If I had nothing else, I would. You can find specific usage patterns (I use the iPhone 8 for music). You can find an app, or a game, or a website that still works and use it for that. But there comes a point in which it is just easier to use a newer device, if you have it.

 

[FeliApple]

Today I used an iPad mini 1st generation to stream music from a Shoutcast server using the version of Safari that runs on it, listened to Pandora in their app, fired up Mango languages in their app, checked the status of an incoming flight in an app and watched my Wife’s Japanese television online using Puffin browser.

Everything worked perfectly.

Seemed pretty useful to me.

Yeah, you can find workarounds like these, or specific usage patterns. That’s the positive aspect of this, and a perfect example.

 

[Digitalguy]

Yeah, you can find workarounds like these, or specific usage patterns. That’s the positive aspect of this, and a perfect example.

Puffin has never really done much for me. My iPad 2 (same as mini 1) crashes on almost every app due to lack of RAM. The only apps that works great is splashtop, so technically I can remote into a laptop and do anything, including watching youtube

 

[Digitalguy]

I agree. My iPhone 6s on iOS 10, my 6s on iOS 13, my iPhone 8 on iOS 14, my iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12, they’re all pretty much either used for music or stored in a drawer.

I was recently forced to retire my 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12 because the lack of compatibility can now be described as massive. Netflix stopped working asking for an update then worked again. The app I used to watch sports was discontinued and the new one does not support iOS 12. The YouTube app does not work. Many websites I like to browse no longer work. A couple of other apps also either stay blank or do not load.

Sure, you can find workarounds. If I had nothing else, I would. You can find specific usage patterns (I use the iPhone 8 for music). You can find an app, or a game, or a website that still works and use it for that. But there comes a point in which it is just easier to use a newer device, if you have it.

My 9.7 on 13 works fine with everything I use other than youtube, which I use only on a browser anyway to avoid ads. I only retired because of screen issues, but it's usable, other than slow compared to more recent devices. And older versions of app are available for almost everything.
Honestly for your M1 I don't see the point of not updating if it gets to the point where you 9.7 pro is, standby is already bad, performance won't suffer (I know by direct experience), so it would be a waste to retire a device because of lack of compatibility. Alternatively, you may also jailbreak it and get some more functionality (my M1 is jailbroken and I can run a lot paid apps like youtube premium, youtube music premium, spotify premium etc etc for free by sideloading them...

 

[FeliApple]

Puffin has never really done much for me. My iPad 2 (same as mini 1) crashes on almost every app due to lack of RAM. The only apps that works great is splashtop, so technically I can remote into a laptop and do anything, including watching youtube

By now, I wouldn’t touch a 32-bit iOS device with a 35-foot pole. It’s just all pain and no fun.

Any 32-bit iOS device, iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, they’re just not worth the time and patience they require if you have a newer iOS device.

 

[Digitalguy]

By now, I wouldn’t touch a 32-bit iOS device with a 35-foot pole. It’s just all pain and no fun.

Any 32-bit iOS device, iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, they’re just not worth the time and patience they require if you have a newer iOS device.

totally agree

 

[FeliApple]

My 9.7 on 13 works fine with everything I use other than youtube, which I use only on a browser anyway to avoid ads. I only retired because of screen issues, but it's usable, other than slow compared to more recent devices. And older versions of app are available for almost everything.
Honestly for your M1 I don't see the point of not updating if it gets to the point where you 9.7 pro is, standby is already bad, performance won't suffer (I know by direct experience), so it would be a waste to retire a device because of lack of compatibility. Alternatively, you may also jailbreak it and get some more functionality (my M1 is jailbroken and I can run a lot paid apps like youtube premium, youtube music premium, spotify premium etc etc for free by sideloading them...

My 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12 has pretty much no browser usefulness, and the few apps I use don’t work. I have it maybe for a couple of apps that still work, but otherwise it’s powered off.

I considered updating my M1 Air running iPadOS 15, but I bought the A16 instead, for the express purpose of keeping it on iPadOS 15; this way, I have something else that’s compatible. That one is still compatible. If that one loses compatibility too, I’ll see what I do if I haven’t purchased anything else by then.

I know jailbreaks allow you to fight some of the compatibility issues, I might look into that, too. So far however, iPadOS 15 is perfect for me in terms of compatibility. I’m using it just as completely as the A16. No issues.

 

[Digitalguy]

My 9.7-inch iPad Pro on iOS 12 has pretty much no browser usefulness, and the few apps I use don’t work. I have it maybe for a couple of apps that still work, but otherwise it’s powered off.

I considered updating my M1 Air running iPadOS 15, but I bought the A16 instead, for the express purpose of keeping it on iPadOS 15; this way, I have something else that’s compatible. That one is still compatible. If that one loses compatibility too, I’ll see what I do if I haven’t purchased anything else by then.

I know jailbreaks allow you to fight some of the compatibility issues, I might look into that, too. So far however, iPadOS 15 is perfect for me in terms of compatibility. I’m using it just as completely as the A16. No issues.

Yes, 15 is still compatible with most things although I miss some advanced iPadOS features, like being able to use an external monitor without mirroring, to use the iPad speakers when connected to a monitor (introduced in 17) or being able to use the iPad as a wired monitor with any device (also 17). But we know it's a matter of time before 15 starts having more and more issues.
I am suprirsed by the browser issues on 12, I have none on 13, all pages I use work fine, but I remember that iPadOS improved safari a lot. I also use Brave for youtube to avoid ads.

 

[mortlocli]

Off mac, I know but as a iPad mini 1 n ipad2 user, this year I've moved on..and bought an android tablet ..due to cost factors. A Lenovo Tab M9. Close to an iPad mini size.

Thing is I'm finding it so capable (using the Duckduckgo browser), I'm thinking of getting rid of my desktop computers and obsolete laptops.. I can do most of my computing needs on this thing anywhere ..even in bed.