I can never understand why apple releases products like this where the cheaper version has better specs for months. they should all be updated at the same time even if its just a spec bump.
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iPad Mini 6 vs. iPad Air 4 Buyer's Guide
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The new iPad mini SUCKS. And I also own and iPad Pro 12.9 M1, and iPhone 13 Pro Max...
The mini iPadOS widgets/icons/fonts/... are tiny. In fact, in most situations, you'll find that the text, icons, widgets on the iPhone 12/13 Pro Max are LARGER than the iPad mini and easier on the eyes. You'll then ask yourself, why did I pay for a larger device such as the iPad mini, to have smaller fonts, and screen elements than my PHONE???
The answer is that Apple's optimization of iPad OS on the iPad mini is half-baked, and a lazy afterthought. Save your money, unless you don't have a very specific need for a smaller dimension iPad.
The mini iPadOS widgets/icons/fonts/... are tiny. In fact, in most situations, you'll find that the text, icons, widgets on the iPhone 12/13 Pro Max are LARGER than the iPad mini and easier on the eyes. You'll then ask yourself, why did I pay for a larger device such as the iPad mini, to have smaller fonts, and screen elements than my PHONE???
The answer is that Apple's optimization of iPad OS on the iPad mini is half-baked, and a lazy afterthought. Save your money, unless you don't have a very specific need for a smaller dimension iPad.
Because it’s not intended for the same use. You’re not using the iPad Air and iPad mini for the same purpose. It’s just like they didn’t update the regular AirPods or AirPods Pro when they came out with AirPods Max
I had the old iPad Mini and gifted it to a family member. It just didn’t seem like it had a good used case for me because I also have the Max size phone. Perhaps if I have the mini size phone then it would be more useful.
I think it’s just in that awkward size where it’s too big to fit in a pants pocket. This means you’re either carrying it in your hand or in some sort of bag that could likely fit a larger iPad.
Maybe if you’re wearing pants with cargo pockets or if you’re carrying a purse that was too small to fit a regular iPad but would fit the mini. None of those scenarios are my used case because I rarely wear pants with cargo pockets and don’t carry a purse so 🤷♂️😂
Right now I have the iPad Air and love it!
I think it’s just in that awkward size where it’s too big to fit in a pants pocket. This means you’re either carrying it in your hand or in some sort of bag that could likely fit a larger iPad.
Maybe if you’re wearing pants with cargo pockets or if you’re carrying a purse that was too small to fit a regular iPad but would fit the mini. None of those scenarios are my used case because I rarely wear pants with cargo pockets and don’t carry a purse so 🤷♂️😂
Right now I have the iPad Air and love it!
Jason Snell and Mike Hurley had a fascinating conversation about the colors of the mini. They're apparently pretty disappointing. The purple is very close to being gray, and the starlight is very close to being silver. In both cases, in most lighting situations, it's not purple and starlight, it's gray and silver.
On the other hand the iPad Air seems more colorful.
But WHY OH WHY didn't they use the colors from the iMacs??? VIVID AND FUN AND BEAUTIFUL.
On the other hand the iPad Air seems more colorful.
But WHY OH WHY didn't they use the colors from the iMacs??? VIVID AND FUN AND BEAUTIFUL.
Does anyone have recommendations for
90% marketing.
- on iOS
- Retina was simply a high pixel count. (iPhone 4-5, iPod Touch 5-7, iPad 3-9, Air 1-3, Mini 2-5, Pro, Pro 10.5, Pro 12.4 1-2, and Apple Watch)
- Retina HD had 750 or 1080 vertical (iPhone 6-8, iPhone Plus 6-8)
- Liquid retina is a second-generation IPS display with improved backlighting (iPhone XR & 11, iPad Air 4, iPad Mini 6, iPad Pro 11 and 12.9 3-4)
- Liquid Retina XDR added mini-LED (iPad Pro 12.9 5) *
- Super Retina HD XDR is an OLED screen with greater than 1080 resolution and better than HDR contrast (iPhone X, XS, and 12-13, iPhone Pro 11-13, iPhone Pro Max 11-13, Mini 12-13)
- Retina was simply a high pixel count. (iPhone 4-5, iPod Touch 5-7, iPad 3-9, Air 1-3, Mini 2-5, Pro, Pro 10.5, Pro 12.4 1-2, and Apple Watch)
- On Macs, (only for completeness) all of them are LCD, no OLED
- iMac
- Retina 4K (21.5 inch iMac)
- Retina 4.5K (24 inch iMac)
- Retina 5K (27 inch iMac, iMac Pro)
- Laptop
- Retina (MacBook 12 inchs, MacBook Pro 13, 15, and 16 inches, MacBook Air 13 inches.
- For 13 and 15 inch devices, it was just the third release, and after
- Retina (MacBook 12 inchs, MacBook Pro 13, 15, and 16 inches, MacBook Air 13 inches.
- Monitor
- Retina 6K (Pro Display XDR)
- iMac
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I like this statement! The mini is more of a niche product. In my opinion, it’s not comfortable for a general use - browsing, emailing, watching videos, editing photos, listening to music - for all of these it offers a very low comfort. If I wanted to use it for high grade programs - like Sibelius, Autocad and Cubasis - it would be very very difficult because of the small screen. On the other hand, the 12.9” is big for some of the tasks. The Air and the Pro 11” offer good middle ground, and even the basic iPad is more than good these days.
So, comparing the Air to the mini feature by feature is not fair. One should first ask themselves what they are going to use the iPad for. If you need an eBook reader that can also access the web and do other things, the choice is obvious. Personally, I spent no more than 1 minute with the mini in the store and decided immediately it's not for me.
In an ideal word I would own an iMac to write emails on my desk, an iPad 12.9” for Autocad and Sibelius, an 11” for browsing and use on the sofa, a mini for reading ebooks, an iPhone to make those calls, a macbook Air for travelling, a Macbook Pro for the heavy lifting and upgrade them on each cycle so I don’t miss a beat. What did I miss? Mac mini? I would gladly stream music and videos from a mac mini!
Pain from defective units, display causing headaches, etc. I had multiple such experiences with the M1 MBA and MBP. And many folks here have reported issues with iPhones, iPads, iMacs, etc. with finish and/or displays.
I ordered a mini for reading journal articles. I have a desktop for writing and a 12.9 for editing.
Reading was the part that slowed me down because I like to read and walk.
More than happy with my 2020 iPad Air, but if I hadn't bought it literally a couple of months back thanks to the deals flying around, I would have most certainly bought this year's mini. Just for that sweet spot hitting size. And also the new design to go with.
Wanted to get iPad Mini to improve how I work right now on iPhone XR. I use mainly terminal SSH and mobile device is useful. XR screen is small so iPad Mini size should be good. Can still type with thumbs (correct?). But iPad does not come with WhatsApp. Also no Calculator (has to add 3rd party). Last time cannot even turn on Personal Hotspot. Now can. So I have reservation and concern on those. I wish there is iPhone 13 with big screen minus those high tech camera and unnecessary baggage… any suggestions?
I know what you’re referring to. The first couple of minis had absolutely tiny text, so small that it was uncomfortable to read. I have no problems reading on the newest mini. Text is sharp and easy to read.
It will "do", for sure, but I can't overstate how much more comfortable it is holding my new iPad Mini than my iPad Air 3 (basically the same size as the current entry-level iPad) for reading for prolonged periods or for watching stuff in bed. I just massively prefer the form factor and that's worth the extra for me.
How about calling it "my thoughts" instead? This review in a nutshell:
- Air is bigger and heavier, the Mini is smaller and lighter
- Bigger is for people who like bigger, smaller is for people who like smaller
Final thoughts:
The majority should go with the Air because it's bigger and everyone wants bigger. If, for some weird reason, you don't like bigger, buy the Mini.
Unless it’s an iPad air 6 I don’t want it.
ipad air 2 to 4- my next one would probably be 6 or the 7. Because I like to upgrade and actually be blown away if how grear they new device is. I am not going to start pulling my calcula every time there is a new I pad with 20% or 1t% this. I want features. I don’t know like a micro sd port?
ipad air 2 to 4- my next one would probably be 6 or the 7. Because I like to upgrade and actually be blown away if how grear they new device is. I am not going to start pulling my calcula every time there is a new I pad with 20% or 1t% this. I want features. I don’t know like a micro sd port?
To each their own. The regular size iPad is lighter than a hardcover book - for me
The ipad air really needs a quad speaker set-up. It's the one thing that really deters me from getting one. I like its playfulness with the colours and wish it had a higher refresh rate on the screen. Maybe ipad air 5 will deliver these features?
Tune in for our next review comparing the MacBook Air to the the Mac Pro…
Yeah, and hardback books are pretty chunky, heavy, unwieldy things.To each their own. The regular size iPad is lighter than a hardcover book - for me
