iPad mini 5

[joeblow7777]

A 16:9 tablet won't display a webpage any more narrow than a 4:3 tablet with the same width. You just see more on the screen at a time. Same when the iPhone got a taller resolution. The homescreen wasn't any more cramped together. You just got an extra row of icons.

The key words there being "of the same width". Obviously the only way that a 16:9 tablet can have the same width as a 4:3 is if it is considerably taller and less portable. So basically you need a bigger tablet for a comparable web browsing experience. The 8.4" Galaxy Tab S, for example, has less width than the 7.9" iPad mini. I actually get more useful screen real estate for web browsing on the smaller tablet, in my opinion at least. It's no surprise that the Galaxy tab S2 went to 8" with a 4:3 ratio. For everything except videos, 4:3 gives you more for less.

 

[Channan]

The key words there being "of the same width". Obviously the only way that a 16:9 tablet can have the same width as a 4:3 is if it is considerably taller and less portable. So basically you need a bigger tablet for a comparable web browsing experience. The 8.4" Galaxy Tab S, for example, has less width than the 7.9" iPad mini. I actually get more useful screen real estate for web browsing on the smaller tablet, in my opinion at least. It's no surprise that the Galaxy tab S2 went to 8" with a 4:3 ratio. For everything except videos, 4:3 gives you more for less.

Portability for me is based on width. I can slip my Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 in my cargo shorts pockets. If it was still an 8.4" screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, it definitely wouldn't fit.

 

[RickTaylor]

If it went to a 16:9 aspect ratio, I would abandon the mini when it came time to upgrade. For me, the form factor of the mini is perfect. It just fits into a suit jacket pocket, yet is wide enough in portrait mode for viewing PDFs.

 

[Sleaka J]

16:9 tablets make baby Jesus cry.

 

[Night Spring]

If it went to a 16:9 aspect ratio, I would abandon the mini when it came time to upgrade.

Me too. A 16:9 iPad would *really* be just a larger iPhone. I like my tablets to be 4:3. That aspect ratio works for me, it feels more balanced in my hands. 16:9 feels too narrow, and doesnt feel comfortable in either orientation.

 

[Appleaker]

Of course they're not going 16:9, it's a worse experience and if they saw something in it they would have already done it.
Unless they do a repeat of 2014, if the iPad mini 5 is released this year/with the new iPad Pro models then it is almost guaranteed that it will have an A9. Other features we could see include Touch ID 2 and a P3 display. They probably won't make it a "7.9-inch iPad Pro" but they could bring better speakers and Apple Pencil support. I would love to see 3D Touch but dont expect it to happen this generation.
One thing they night not improve (and I really hope they don't) is the camera. The flash is a welcome addition but the camera bump that comes with the 12mp camera is very intrusive, especially on an iPad.

 

[Emily Johnson]

Oh, sorry for late reply, I read it here

 

[joeblow7777]

Oh, sorry for late reply, I read it here

None of these mini 5 "rumours" have anything backing them up. It's all "we speculate..." And "it's believed..." Where's a leaked image, or memo discussing it? Or word from a supplier who making parts for it? This is nothing. It's a site just saying, "hey, the mini 4 came out almost a year ago. Let's just assume that means a mini 5 is coming, and let's guess what it will feature." They also seem convinced that the Air 3 is coming too...

 

[boston04and07]

I absolutely love my mini 4. It's truly the best iPad I've ever used, IMO. I always prefer the portable size, since I do a lot of reading on the device. After coming from a mini 2, the screen is just out of this world. While it isn't a true tone, its clarity and vividness are really beautiful. If you haven't seen it in person I definitely recommend you check it out! I personally have no need for Pencil support so that feature of the iPad Pro wouldn't have sold me anyway.

One thing I would like is 256gb storage, but I could just see them adding that to the 4 like they did to the 12" Pro.

 

[RickTaylor]

I love my mini 4 already; it's hard to imagine how they could improve it to convince me to upgrade. Still, Apple has proven remarkably adept at convincing me in the past, so I won't bet against them. I like the pencil, but prefer to use it with the pro's 12.9 screen. For me the mini is for reading and web browsing and checking e-mail on the go. It would be cumbersome taking a mini-pencil around, and having to worry about losing the pencil. Maybe if they came out with a mini with a silo for the pencil . . .

 

[The Game 161]

don't think pencil support would be needed on a 7.9 device personally. Unless they add 3D touch to the new ipads then I can't see major reasons to upgrade

 

[masotime]

If they add pencil support, I'd really like to see a shorter pencil.

So far the iPad mini has been launched at a regular rate of once a year, I don't see why they wouldn't refresh it again on schedule, although it might be a dud of an upgrade like the iPad mini 3 which really only added Touch ID and a new color.

 

[ozaz]

I used to want a mini with Pencil support. I've now come to the conclusion that I wouldn't use it. Having digitizer support on my portable work device (a larger screen Windows 2-in-1) covers my needs.

So with no real desire or need for Pencil support from me, I really don't know what Apple could do to entice me to upgrade from my mini 4. 3D Touch certainly wouldn't do it for me.

 

[joeblow7777]

don't think pencil support would be needed on a 7.9 device personally. Unless they add 3D touch to the new ipads then I can't see major reasons to upgrade

I used to want a mini with Pencil support. I've now come to the conclusion that I wouldn't use it. Having digitizer support on my portable work device (a larger screen Windows 2-in-1) covers my needs.

So with no real desire or need for Pencil support from me, I really don't know what Apple could do to entice me to upgrade from my mini 4. 3D Touch certainly wouldn't do it for me.

I don't really care about Pencil support myself, but I think that a lot of people would find it really useful on a Mini. It's the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand while taking notes.

 

[ozaz]

I don't really care about Pencil support myself, but I think that a lot of people would find it really useful on a Mini. It's the perfect size to comfortably hold in one hand while taking notes.

I'm very pro digitiser on computing devices in general. I find them useful on larger screens.

I've also tried digitisers on smaller screen devices (5.5 to 8" Galaxy Notes). I thought I would find them useful for note-taking. But I didn't. I came to the realisation that whenever I'm doing anything work-related (including note-taking) I always want a larger screen. Of course, some will find it useful and I hope Apple do provide a mini with Pencil support. But I suspect quite a high proportion of people will end up putting the Pencil away after a few days of testing. I think the fact that Samsung have seemingly given up on Galaxy Note 8 at least partially speaks to the limited value of coupling an 8" device with a digitizer.

 

[joeblow7777]

I'm very pro digitiser on computing devices in general. I find them useful on larger screens.

I've also tried digitisers on smaller screen devices (5.5 to 8" Galaxy Notes). I thought I would find them useful for note-taking. But I didn't. I came to the realisation that whenever I'm doing anything work-related (including note-taking) I always want a larger screen. Of course, some will find it useful and I hope Apple do provide a mini with Pencil support. But I suspect quite a high proportion of people will end up putting the Pencil away after a few days of testing. I think the fact that Samsung have seemingly given up on Galaxy Note 8 at least partially speaks to the limited value of coupling an 8" device with a digitizer.

But still, the Galaxy Note phones are pretty popular. They offer stylus support on a 5.7" screen. I think people generally take advantage of it for jotting things down and annotating documents, which I think the mini would be perfect for.

 

[Andres Cantu]

If they add pencil support, I'd really like to see a shorter pencil.

So far the iPad mini has been launched at a regular rate of once a year, I don't see why they wouldn't refresh it again on schedule, although it might be a dud of an upgrade like the iPad mini 3 which really only added Touch ID and a new color.

Good points. Though I believe the only reason why the iPad mini 3 was a dud was because the mini 2 should have had an A6. If that were the case, the retina display + A7 would have made the mini 3 an ok upgrade.

 

[joeblow7777]

Good points. Though I believe the only reason why the iPad mini 3 was a dud was because the mini 2 should have had an A6. If that were the case, the retina display + A7 would have made the mini 3 an ok upgrade.

Bottom line is that the mini 3 was a dud because it literally was not an upgrade over the Mini 2, which was still available for $100 less. Frankly, I don't know why anyone bought a Mini 3. Touch ID is really nice, but it's not worth $100.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Bottom line is that the mini 3 was a dud because it literally was not an upgrade over the Mini 2, which was still available for $100 less. Frankly, I don't know why anyone bought a Mini 3. Touch ID is really nice, but it's not worth $100.

The only time the mini 3 was worth it was for $250 in a sale that best buy had a couple of months before the 4 was released ($150 off at that time). But I agree, full price not worth it.

 

[kazmac]

The iPM 4 was terrific - only returned mine because I had to replace my 2010 iMac. I miss the Mini 4 though.

iPad mini 5: just bump up the internals and add pencil support, I'd buy.

 

[Nevaborn]

I spent 3 hours on Friday teaching a lady how to setup and use her iPad mini 4 and it was really a great device. We didn't even get to settings in that time and it really made me appreciate just how much their is to these devices and how much we can do with them. The news App was beautiful on it and we ( me ) started reading an arrival from the A n American paper about the Clinton rally. The pictures and video were awesome.

If the mini 5 is even better is going to be a really nice device.

 

[thelead]

If they make a mini version of the 9.7 pro (would like to see usb3 though), it'll be the ultimate work-companion device for me. Jumping from meeting with just a mini and an Apple Pencil would be perfect.

 

[Channan]

The iPM 4 was terrific - only returned mine because I had to replace my 2010 iMac. I miss the Mini 4 though.

iPad mini 5: just bump up the internals and add pencil support, I'd buy.

My only regret in buying the iPad mini 4 was that I waited so long to do so. I'm honestly not sure which I like more now, this or my iPad Air 2.

 

[kazmac]

My only regret in buying the iPad mini 4 was that I waited so long to do so. I'm honestly not sure which I like more now, this or my iPad Air 2.

I can understand your conflict they are very close in specs now.

I find it interesting everyone has a different sweet spot (i.e. size) iPad that works for them. I also liked the 12.9" iPad Pro (largely for the pencil and speakers), but it wasn't compatible with my now former university. But I'd like something a lot more commuter friendly and not as pricey as the 9.7"

 

[Channan]

I can understand your conflict they are very close in specs now.

I find it interesting everyone has a different sweet spot (i.e. size) iPad that works for them. I also liked the 12.9" iPad Pro (largely for the pencil and speakers), but it wasn't compatible with my now former university. But I'd like something a lot more commuter friendly and not as pricey as the 9.7"

I don't have a sweet spot. At home, I'd rather use my iPad Air 2 since it has a bigger screen and I can easily type on it like a regular keyboard in landscape, but it's impractical to take out with me. I love taking my iPad mini 4 out with me because I can slip it in my pockets instead of setting it down if I need to.

I had Subway for lunch and brought my iPad mini 4 with me, and after I needed to go to the bathroom to wash my hands. I didn't want to leave my iPad on the table where someone could easily steal it, but there was no place to set the iPad down in the bathroom unless I put it on the floor, so I slipped it in my cargo shorts pocket while I washed my hands. It's not ideal to walk around with an iPad in your pocket, but it's possible with the mini if you really need to.

If I had to stick to just one iPad, I probably would pick the iPad mini and just use my MacBook Pro at home, but as long as I can afford both sizes, I'll continue to buy and use both. But even at home, the 12.9" iPad Pro is just too big for me.