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Epsilon Rho Rho

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 12, 2014
6
0
Hi.

I am looking at buying an iPad. Leaning towards iPad mini 6 or iPad Pro 11. I have a few photos of the new mini with comic books. It doesn't look all that bad.

Is the new mini decent at viewing movies? This would be for media consumption only. With the occasional zoom calls.
 
Works fine. Chips much weaker than A15 can play movies just fine. Until very recently the latest generation AppleTV- especially built for video playback- used an A10 chip. The newest one just released is using the A12.

Mini 6 vs. 11 is Apples to Oranges for this purpose though. Is a TV "decent" for watching movies vs. a Movie screen? Only you can decide the definition of "decent" here. With one, the screen is a lot smaller/larger than the other. Will you be happy watching movies at the smaller size in exchange for more portability vs. the larger size at the expense of it?

Perhaps you should find your way to a store that has both and watch some youtube videos on each to see what you think?

Both will have no problem with zoom calls.

I have Mini 6 and think it is fantastic! But I'm using it in far more ways than movie playback and zoom. It even substitutes as a phone (with buds) for me. But If I cut my usage wants down to only movies and zoom, I'd probably want a bigger screen. Both of those uses seem like they would be a bit "more" with more screen space.
 
Works fine. Chips much weaker than A15 can play movies just fine. Until very recently the latest generation AppleTV- especially built for video playback- used an A10 chip. The newest one just released is using the A12.

Mini 6 vs. 11 is Apples to Oranges for this purpose though. Is a TV "decent" for watching movies vs. a Movie screen? Only you can decide the definition of "decent" here. With one, the screen is a lot smaller/larger than the other. Will you be happy watching movies at the smaller size in exchange for more portability vs. the larger size at the expense of it?

Perhaps you should find your way to a store that has both and watch some youtube videos on each to see what you think?

Both will have no problem with zoom calls.

I watch movies and tv series on a 15" laptop. However, I took the plunge and bought an iMac M1. I really miss being able to roam the house with my laptop.

I did buy a iPad mini 5. I found it a bit cramped. But... That is the old aspect ratio. Which leads me to the mini 6.
 
Mini 5 screen vs. Mini 6 screen is only a little different: 7.9 inches vs. 8.3 inches. 0.4 inches is not dramatic. Yes, one notices if they are used to prior model screens but it is very little change. If Mini 5 felt cramped, Mini 6 will probably feel cramped too. iPad Pro 11 is 11 inches. That will definitely view (obviously) bigger than either Mini. That will be dramatic.

iPad Pro and Mini 6 too are relatively expensive for such simple uses. You might want to look to Amazon or similar for relatively dirt-cheap tablets. Those will have no problem with zoom and movie playback either but cost a fraction of what either of these will cost.

If you had more usage wants and/or some usage was an Apple "walled garden" only usage, you would potentially HAVE to shop only iPad. But for movies and zoom, pretty much any mobile screen will work and all others are relatively cheaper vs. Apple mobile screens. Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is $149. Refurb: $110. Black Friday will probably turn $149 into about $129 or so.

Yes, yes... sacrilege to suggest anything other than Apple products. But your stated uses are common uses that will work fine on pretty much ANY tablet. Competing tablets cost a fraction of Apple tablets.
 
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Mini 5 screen vs. Mini 6 screen is only a little different: 7.9 inches vs. 8.3 inches. 0.4 inches is not dramatic. Yes, one notices if they are used to prior model screens but it is very little change. If Mini 5 felt cramped, Mini 6 will probably feel cramped too. iPad Pro 11 is 11 inches. That will definitely view (obviously) bigger than either Mini. That will be dramatic.

iPad Pro and Mini 6 too are relatively expensive for such simple uses. You might want to look to Amazon or similar for relatively dirt-cheap tablets. Those will have no problem with zoom and movie playback either but cost a fraction of what either of these will cost.

If you had more usage wants and/or some usage was an Apple "walled garden" only usage, you would potentially HAVE to shop only iPad. But for movies and zoom, pretty much any mobile screen will work and all others are relatively cheaper vs. Apple mobile screens. Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is $149. Refurb: $110. Black Friday will probably turn $149 into about $129 or so.

Yes, yes... sacrilege to suggest anything other than Apple products. But your stated uses are common uses that will work fine on pretty much ANY tablet. Competing tablets cost a fraction of Apple tablets.
I hate to agree, but what he says is true hahah.

However, I justify all that I do because I'm all in on the Apple ecosystem. To me, everything just works.

For the sake of OP, I have the Mini 6 and 12.9" and since you're coming from a laptop, I would get the 11". If you're going to use an iPad JUST for movies, the bigger screen always wins.
 
I just got a Mini 6 and gave my son my 11Pro. My main usage for an iPad is in bed, where I found the 11Pro and MKB to be cumbersome. The Mini is a little small in comparison and would not be my first choice anywhere else around the house. I do agree that the Mini 6 us a little overpriced, but it works for me. Although the Pro's screen is awesome, it was kind of overkill for my needs. Might be something to consider, but maybe take a look at the base iPad since you could have that a Mini for almost the same price as a Pro.
 
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