im debating which iPad to get 9.7 pro or iPad mini 4. I like the small size and being able to carry it around more but worry Apple won't support it with iOS long. Is it still worth it to get?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad mini 4 still worth it?
- Thread starter dominiongamma
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Meh it's suitable. Will likely be supported for a few years. It's perhaps not the best value, but if its portability is important then it's a good device.
Yeah I'm jumping between the 9.7 pro and the mini 4 I'm confused. I think budget is a concern for me, I will upgrade to the pro 2 when it comes out.
I would be using it for surfing the web, Netflix etc nothing hardcore
Personally, I would get the 9.7 Pro. With the Tru-Tone display and the quad speakers, those are standalone features worth the purchase. And if you're into media/Netflix, then I think the better viewing experience would be from the 9.7 Pro.
Will Apple support it for couple more years? I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger, it's 599 at Best Buy for 128 gb plus my iPad Air trade in would be 150 off with the gift card.
Honestly, I would pull the trigger. With $150 off, it brings the new Value to $450 for an iPad Pro has only been on the market for just barely over a year. It's a great iPad with excellent features. It will easily be supported for Quite some time.
And with your trade-in, that's as likely as cheap as you're going to find it. Being you mentioned you're into media and movies, the quad speakers are huge upgrade over the iPad Air 2 speakers. And, the iPad Pro would have a better resale value over the Mini 4 as well. And of course, you have 14 days if you don't like it. But I think you will end up liking it.
I have a 12.9 iPad Pro. I just bought an iPad mini 4. The size factor is amazing in regards to portability and reading on bed.
However it is markedly slower than iPad Pro.
I will return it and wait for an iPad mini pro, whenever apple decides to launch it.
I think I decided to go with the 9.7 
seems like it's more future proof and the features are great it seems. I have the air 1 so it will be a huge upgrade for me.
seems like it's more future proof and the features are great it seems. I have the air 1 so it will be a huge upgrade for me.
The mini 4 is great and still a powerhouse, but I'd say wait a month more for possible updates, otherwise it's a solid tablet. The 9.7" Pro is a good choice.
You think there will be an update for the 9.7? I'm guessing it will only be speed related?
For me it's all about the form factor. I just bought a mini 4 after the latest announcement since it doesn't appear that a mini Pro is imminent. Sure, I wish the mini 4 had an A9, but for less than $400, I really can't complain.
If the mini's small form factor is your #1 priority, then you have no choice than to get a mini 4. Otherwise, it's a no-brainer to look at the larger options.
FWIW my last iPad was an Air 1 that I never thought was speed-hampered, so for my use-case, the mini 4 is more than adequate.
If the mini's small form factor is your #1 priority, then you have no choice than to get a mini 4. Otherwise, it's a no-brainer to look at the larger options.
FWIW my last iPad was an Air 1 that I never thought was speed-hampered, so for my use-case, the mini 4 is more than adequate.
Personal opinion: Yes. (I own one).
Look at what you use it for.
I wanted portability and use primarily for email, Netflix, News, consumptive stuff.
If you do more the 9.7 might be a better fit.
The 4 should be supported for at least a couple more years or longer.
Grr I thought I decided for sure lol leaning towards a mini for now and get iPad Pro 2 or 3 down the road
I don't believe the 9.7 Pro will receive an update, primarily because Apple just released the 9.7 iPad yesterday, it wouldn't make sense to do that.
If anything, the 10.5 iPad would be more likely to supplement the iPad line with 9.7/10.5/12.9 or the 10.5 would replace the 9.7 Pro.
Sorry should have been more specific I meant the iPad Pro 9.7 that was released last year
Definitely go with the 9.7 iPP. I loved the Mini 4 as a consumption device, but that is such a good deal for an iPP. I agree with what others have said about support.
I bought one a couple of months back and it's great but the pro is greaterer. I have the cellular version of the mini 4. Typing this as we speak in my car. Depends on what you need. I like the small size so I can bring it with me.
The only thing is when I play war robots, I get maybe an hour or two of straight game playing and it's dead. It also gets warm, and the display sometimes dims and gets choppy when I am doing something graphics intensive like playing a game. I know the battery life on my cell version is not great. Otherwise it's perfect.
The only thing is when I play war robots, I get maybe an hour or two of straight game playing and it's dead. It also gets warm, and the display sometimes dims and gets choppy when I am doing something graphics intensive like playing a game. I know the battery life on my cell version is not great. Otherwise it's perfect.
I got one about a 1 1/2 years ago but returned it when I found out my work was getting me a new iPad Air. I would have trouble buying a tablet with the A8 processor and lack of fingerprint unlocking in 2017. I do love the form factor for traveling however.
It is definitely worth it now that you are getting the 128GB for that price.
I swear by this one. I use it for everything, don't see how it is any less productive and the form factor is by far the best. I feel zero lag, and have tons of professional productivity apps on it, use is as a companion device to my rMB, runs excel and email or safari for my web-based finance and accounting systems in split screen perfectly well.
Again the form factor does it. In a package smaller and lighter than an 12.9" iPad Pro w/ Smart Keyboard, I get the rMB and iPad mini 4.
The mini also serves as my sole private device in addition to secondary professional. Can't say enough good things about it. And I've owned every iPad ever sold except for the new budget 9.7".
Mine is fully updated and runs perfectly, I've never noticed any slow downs, just been burned by safari tab reloads a couple of times.
All that said, I would jump on a iPad Pro 7.9" model if it is released, which I think it will be, going of the reports of iPad model identifiers 7,1 and 7,2 being noted on website logs. Those correspond to iPad mini model numbers (iPad mini 4 is 5,1 for wifi and 5,2 for LTE) Even if it was an exact replica of the current 9.7" in terms of technical specs, just in a 7.9" form factor.
[doublepost=1490468323][/doublepost]
I swear by this one. I use it for everything, don't see how it is any less productive and the form factor is by far the best. I feel zero lag, and have tons of professional productivity apps on it, use is as a companion device to my rMB, runs excel and email or safari for my web-based finance and accounting systems in split screen perfectly well.
Again the form factor does it. In a package smaller and lighter than an 12.9" iPad Pro w/ Smart Keyboard, I get the rMB and iPad mini 4.
The mini also serves as my sole private device in addition to secondary professional. Can't say enough good things about it. And I've owned every iPad ever sold except for the new budget 9.7".
Mine is fully updated and runs perfectly, I've never noticed any slow downs, just been burned by safari tab reloads a couple of times.
All that said, I would jump on a iPad Pro 7.9" model if it is released, which I think it will be, going of the reports of iPad model identifiers 7,1 and 7,2 being noted on website logs. Those correspond to iPad mini model numbers (iPad mini 4 is 5,1 for wifi and 5,2 for LTE) Even if it was an exact replica of the current 9.7" in terms of technical specs, just in a 7.9" form factor.
[doublepost=1490468323][/doublepost]
Lack of finger print unlocking? Did you maybe have he iPad mini 2 and not know it? The 4 has TouchID...
If you are referring to the mini 4 it does have fingerprint unlocking (Touch ID) ...
I returned it 1 1/2 years ago so my memory isn't great. I do remember the Mini 4 was much slower to unlock than my iPhone 6S Plus. It reminded me of my iPhone 6 Plus which I upgraded after a year to get the quicker A9 processor. I wouldn't be too thrilled about getting that older 2014 hardware in 2017. I'm pretty particular when it comes to responsiveness but my dad isn't. He loves his Mini 4.
Last edited:
I too am deciding if it is about time to upgrade from my iPad Mini2 to the iPad Mini4.
Buying the iPad Mini2 a couple of years back turned-out to be a great decision as the smaller form factor worked-out A-OK for me.
Buying the iPad Mini2 a couple of years back turned-out to be a great decision as the smaller form factor worked-out A-OK for me.
Last edited: