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iPad mini on iPadOS 26 as phone replacement?
- Thread starter MakaniKai
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Probably except that it’s got the terrible contrast ratio LCD panel still. People complain about 60Hz on the iPhone 16 and now you want a “phone” that doesn’t even have OLED and is of course much harder to read in sunlight or any light really due to the low maximum brightness. It’s got relatively cheap hardware all around, for example no NFC making Apple Pay at point of sale impossible and the camera is worse. All that is just off the top of my head, I am sure there will be other disadvantages compared to even the iPhone 16e let alone a 16 or 16 Pro. No wireless charging or fast charging either… the more I think about it the worse of an idea it sounds.
If you want a phablet there is the 16 Pro Max that is better in every way. The only thing it lacks compared to the iPad is the pencil support.
If you want a phablet there is the 16 Pro Max that is better in every way. The only thing it lacks compared to the iPad is the pencil support.
Good point about NFC and wireless charging. Those are two things I use a lot. Apple Pencil support for a Pro Max would pretty much be what I’m after!
If it did CarPlay then yeah but iPads don't so unless you only take public transportation then nope
I would imagine that the most attractive thing about using the iPad mini as a phone substitute via the app is the price of entry, $499 or less vs. $599 for the iPhone 16e outright. For that difference the awful LCD screen that may look like sludge to you is probably forgiveable to others since it would be much larger.
For me it's a desire to have a bigger screen and pencil support, mostly. I administer some web applications and sometimes I need to troubleshoot problems when I'm not home and have no access to my laptop. It can be really tough to do that even on the iPhone 16 Pro's screen. Having something the size of the iPad mini, and the ability to precisely "click" on things with the pencil would be massively helpful to me. Dunno, maybe I'll just start carrying two devices.
Some combination of the iPad mini and iPhone pro max would be the perfect device for me. I’d want the screen size, form factor, and pencil support of the mini but with the specs of the iPhone, such as the OLED/promotion screen, Face ID, MagSafe, CarPlay, and the front and rear cameras.
I use my mini like a phone, mostly. It's mounted on my dash and is the main device used when in the car. I use it for calls, messages, mapping, music, games when I'm parked and waiting, etc. My phone stays in my pocket. Unfortunately I dont have a car with CarPlay so it takes that place. I tried my phone in the car a few times but the screen is smaller and I would leave the car and forget it having to go back out to the car. It's easier to just leave the iPad behind.
I like Pro Max phones and agree with you that the screen on the iPad mini (which I also own) is kinda ****.
But the iPad mini has true multi-tasking (even more so now with iPad OS 26). The Pro Max phones are still running an interface designed for 6" phones, just blown up. I can do A LOT more on my iPad mini, ****** screen and all, than I can do on my iPhone thanks to the differences between iPadOS and iOS. And this is BEFORE iPadOS 26 entered the picture. It's not just pencil support that sets the iPad mini apart.
This is the size difference. In no way is the iPhone max even close to a mini table size. Also remember the iPad mini can be had for 399 so a lot of faults can be overlooked at that price point. An iPhone pro max starts at 1200, you can literally buy 3 iPad mini for thats price.
I just realized there is another huge drawback using the iPad as an iPhone replacement for any Apple Watch user. It's straight up incompatible with the watch.
I still think it's a bad idea especially compared to a 16e with significantly better battery life. And Apple doesn't replace iPad batteries. They only do full device replacements for iPads so they have stricter battery diagnostics requirements before accepting a swap to get a new battery. Third party battery swaps are still an option.
Nobody who wants a good deal will buy a 16e directly from Apple at their recommended price. Postpaid as well as prepaid carriers handed these out with significant discounts on day 1 already. But you are spot on that many people buy the iPad Mini because of its low price at least compared to other iPads. Yet there is always the used iPhone 15 or even a 15 Pro that will give you significantly better quality hardware at a lower price point and when you are looking to save money some people will accept buying used.
I still think it's a bad idea especially compared to a 16e with significantly better battery life. And Apple doesn't replace iPad batteries. They only do full device replacements for iPads so they have stricter battery diagnostics requirements before accepting a swap to get a new battery. Third party battery swaps are still an option.
That is indeed a big difference and if you really want a phablet phone you can only carry in a backpack then that's a valid option. I could probably fit this in my jeans back pocket and it would be bent the first time I forget it's there when I sit down...