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All iPads iPad mini or 11 inch iPad for bed?

thadoggfather

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Original poster
Got an 11 inch m4 iPad Pro cellular + nano (1tb) to replace my 11 inch m1 WiFi (128gb) and loving it

I enjoy using it in bed but I find that I prefer it on couch during the day and in other situations in general and mini7 at night in bed.

The lighter weight over m1 feels more doable in bed than before and
my eyes when tired prefer the bigger screen and
nano is easier on my eyes and tandem oled 120hz is like the nicest Apple display I own it greatly outclasses the satisfactory 60hz led (with high ppi though)
but yet I still keep clamoring for my mini from an ergonomic perspective when winding down

For content consumption there is no confusion at all : m4 iPad Pro all the way for size screen quality and speaker quality

Anyways, Anyone else?

… Glad to have both it’s a luxury to dual wield modern iPads.
But I find myself going back and forth on this despite the m4 being a newer purchase from 2 months ago (and mini7 at launch fall 2024)

I guess using each for their most suitable situations or either for whenever I feel like it is the way to go instead of trying to have a jack of all trades.
 
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I had a mini 7 that I gave to my wife, and got the iPad Air.

I do miss the mini, particularly as a reader / in bed. Seems decadent to have two iPads for one person but I’m considering it 😏
 
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FreakinEurekan said:
I do miss the mini, particularly as a reader / in bed. Seems decadent to have two iPads for one person but I’m considering it
Click to expand...
Same here. I had a Mini 7 that crapped out on me, so I bought an 11" M3 Air. I miss the light weight of the Mini when I'm in bed settling down to read, and have considered buying one for just that purpose. For me, it's a luxury purchase I haven't been able to justify...yet.
 
Surely subjective, but I find the comfort level of holding the Mini the bare minimum I require for a casual consumption device. Any bigger and I start to need two hands and at that point I'd rather put it down on some kind of a stand. Then at that point it might as well be much bigger. Which is why I have the largest 13" iPad in addition to my Mini. But I use the 13" for productivity and creation and occasionally on-the-go bigger screen consumption, always used with the Magic Keyboard or Pencil. For those purposes, I find 13" the bare minimum size I require. Between the Mini and 13" sizes is a kind of no man's land for me. But again, it's subjective.
 
If they do give the Mini an overhaul this year and a OLED screen it will make your choice even harder lol.
 
You are reaching for the mini at night because that is what you are used to. Keep it in another room at night for 2 weeks and you will get a new want with the 11”.
 
I still have an old iPad mini 4 and it seems tiny after years of using a 11" iPad. I still keep the mini around since it has an app on it that has been removed from the App Store. Plus the mini fits into my range bag nicely.
 
I have an M2 12.9 iPad Pro that I use as my laptop replacement and my iPad that I use for my content consumption. At night I use my mini 7 if I want to read in bed, otherwise I’m on my 17PM since it’s lighter. The iPad Pro is much too bigger and heavier to use in the bed at night.
 
Apple_Robert said:
You are reaching for the mini at night because that is what you are used to. Keep it in another room at night for 2 weeks and you will get a new want with the 11”.
Click to expand...

I have and still think I’m used to the mini more in bed 😛

To clarify when you all use full size iPads in bed is it portrait or landscape or mixed?
 
thadoggfather said:
I have and still think I’m used to the mini more in bed 😛

To clarify when you all use full size iPads in bed is it portrait or landscape or mixed?
Click to expand...
I haven’t used my 13” Nano in bed, yet. I have used my 11” and that is often in landscape mode. Having the ZUGU case makes that really convenient.
 
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thadoggfather said:
I have and still think I’m used to the mini more in bed 😛

To clarify when you all use full size iPads in bed is it portrait or landscape or mixed?
Click to expand...

Landscape for 9.7" and bigger iPads for most content. Portrait for reading American/European comics on 9.7-11" and landscape (double-page spread) on 13".

The 10.5-11" iPads are close to 2x 7.9" iPad minis side by side while the 13" iPads are close to 2x 9.7" iPads side by side.
 
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11" easily. It's the perfect size for bed use. It fits on a night stand perfectly. The mini is the same size as most phones, why bother. And the screen on the mini is horrendous.
 
DeepSix said:
11" easily. It's the perfect size for bed use. It fits on a night stand perfectly. The mini is the same size as most phones, why bother. And the screen on the mini is horrendous.
Click to expand...

I don’t get that mini = like a phone

It’s not the same as a full size iPad but it’s definitely still a different experience than even a pro max. I currently have a pro but I’ve had pro max and plus and stand by this
 
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thadoggfather said:
I don’t get that mini = like a phone

It’s not the same as a full size iPad but it’s definitely still a different experience than even a pro max. I currently have a pro but I’ve had pro max and plus and stand by this
Click to expand...

Agreed. My brother has a 15 Pro Max and the iPad mini is quite a bit wider in portrait mode. Also, I just find the 20:9 aspect ratio weird for reading.
 
thadoggfather said:
I don’t get that mini = like a phone

It’s not the same as a full size iPad but it’s definitely still a different experience than even a pro max. I currently have a pro but I’ve had pro max and plus and stand by this
Click to expand...

I love the mini size but after using 11" and 14.6" tablets the last 5 years, it's too small now, may as well just use the phone. If Apple made the mini 10.9" instead I may consider it.
 
I tried the mini 7 for a few months, mainly for graphic novels and comics in bed. But I found the text too small so bought a Pro M5 11inch and instantly found it a much better experiance for me. The M5 is probs a bit overkill for my use of mainly reading, browsing and social media.
 
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I have the 11” iPad Pro and the iPad mini 7. I love both of them for different reasosns. But i use my iPad mini mostly when I’m on the go & want to travel light. I do use it on occasion inside, but prefer my 11” when on the couch or in bed 90% pf the time. It does hurt more if it falls on my face than the mini does 😂 But i like the bigger more expansive screen when consuming media late at night.
 
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do you guys watch tv (on an actual tv) while on iPad in bed?

I find that in portrait mode against my chest, it almost gets in the way of the screen.

First world problems, I am aware.

Greenmeenie said:
prefer my 11” when on the couch or in bed 90% pf the time.
Click to expand...
doesn't bother you holding onto a bigger sized tablet?
 
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