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iPad mini Is iPad mini 2 still a good buy?

JerTheGeek

JerTheGeek

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 15, 2014
1,993
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Hello all.
I currently have an iPad mini 1. I use it mainly just for stuff like YouTube web browsing, watching NHL (go Bolts!) and other simple entertainment stuff. It has gotten a bit slow and laggy lately, and I really would like that retina screen. So would an iPad mini 2 refurb be a good buy? They're only $300 from Apple. I would likely get it within the next few months. Would it be a wise purchase, or should I hold on to my mini 1 and wait for new iPads to come out this fall?
Thanks in advance!
JerTheGeek
 
I would wait at this point. For $100 more when the Mini 4 is released (and likely much less if you wait for a good sale) you will, at the least, get a A8 processor, and at the most an A9 and more RAM.
 
I think the Mini 2 is still a solid buy, and there are great deals out there for it today.

It has the A7 processor, which is the same as in the iPhone 5S, so it's still fairly new. Also remember it was highly regarded as being a huge improvement over the prior A6 processor, when the 5S came out.

It's 64-bit, and thus should be supported at least one iOS generation past when they cut-off support to 32-bit processors. Since Apple is likely to cut off support for 32-bit processors in either iOS9 (less likely) or iOS10 (more likely), you can be pretty confident the A6 and the iPad Mini 2 will continue to receive iOS updates through iOS11 at least - which means until 2017 at least. Might be even longer.
 
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oneMadRssn said:
I think the Mini 2 is still a solid buy, and there are great deals out there for it today.

It has the A7 processor, which is the same as in the iPhone 5S, so it's still fairly new. Also remember it was highly regarded as being a huge improvement over the prior A6 processor, when the 5S came out.

It's 64-bit, and thus should be supported at least one iOS generation past when they cut-off support to 32-bit processors. Since Apple is likely to cut off support for 32-bit processors in either iOS9 (less likely) or iOS10 (more likely), you can be pretty confident the A6 and the iPad Mini 2 will continue to receive iOS updates through iOS11 at least - which means until 2017 at least. Might be even longer.
Click to expand...

I agree although the price has to be right for it to be a true steal. Technology wise it's solid though and is arguably a bette tablet than the silly mini 3 which seemed pointless wit hardly any tangible updates.
 
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JerTheGeek said:
Hello all.
I currently have an iPad mini 1. I use it mainly just for stuff like YouTube web browsing, watching NHL (go Bolts!) and other simple entertainment stuff. It has gotten a bit slow and laggy lately, and I really would like that retina screen. So would an iPad mini 2 refurb be a good buy? They're only $300 from Apple. I would likely get it within the next few months. Would it be a wise purchase, or should I hold on to my mini 1 and wait for new iPads to come out this fall?
Thanks in advance!
JerTheGeek
Click to expand...

Terrible buy imo. Especially when you consider you can get the Mini 3 for between 300 and 320 at Amazon from a retailer (only buy the ones marked Fulfilled By Amazon, since that doesn't charge tax and also carries Amazon's return policy). If you can find a new Mini 2 for 200-220, that's a good deal.

As far as performance goes obviously the 2 and 3 are identical. I love my 3. It's not as fast and doesn't have as much memory as I'd like, but it's still a wonderful little tablet.
 
If that's all you use your iPad for I believe the mini 2 is still a good buy. The mini 3 is exactly the same except it has touchid and is 100 dollars more. Nothing else is different. I'm not sure when the mini 4 will be out but if you can wait i'd wait but if your mini is sluggish and everything you'll be ecstatic with the mini 2. It's fast and it has a retina display. Same battery life. Avoid the mini 3 at all costs unless you can get it for the same price or for just a little bit more.
 
JerTheGeek said:
Hello all.
I currently have an iPad mini 1. I use it mainly just for stuff like YouTube web browsing, watching NHL (go Bolts!) and other simple entertainment stuff. It has gotten a bit slow and laggy lately, and I really would like that retina screen. So would an iPad mini 2 refurb be a good buy? They're only $300 from Apple. I would likely get it within the next few months. Would it be a wise purchase, or should I hold on to my mini 1 and wait for new iPads to come out this fall?
Thanks in advance!
JerTheGeek
Click to expand...
What am I missing? The mini 2 is 299 new, 220 or so refurbished.

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iF34R said:
I got it for $130. ;)

No scratches... logged into my accounts just fine.
Click to expand...
That is a steal! Congrats!
 
I got a 32gb open box from Best buy for $269 with 10 months of warranty left. I've been extremely pleased with it except for the tab reloads and Safari crashes.
 
It depends. I got a new sealed ipad mini 2 64gb unlocked cellular model from the company that used to be buy.com on ebay for 329.00 and couldn't be happier. I hardly use my iphone except for calls any more and use it more than my mac. I really havn't noticed any crashes or anything but I am not a heavy user.
 
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Care to share where you got the iPad Mini 2 for $130? I'm looking to pick one up myself and can't seem to find anything below about $250.
 
ipad mini and mini 2 are same spec .... just HD graphic ,,,

in this case i wont touch it , wait till ipad mini 4 in this fall ...

mini 1.2.3 all less fast now ,,,, ios 9 just new ,, need new performance to deal with
 
I got iPad air 1 from Cowboom.com. Great website, it was refurbished and in perfect condition. And I love that big screen.
 
ipadpro said:
ipad mini and mini 2 are same spec .... just HD graphic ,
Click to expand...

The iPad mini has an A5 processor with 512mb ram.
iPad mini 2 has an A7 processor with 1gb of ram. There is a huge leap in performance with the mini 2.

JerTheGeek said:
I got iPad air 1 from Cowboom.com. Great website, it was refurbished and in perfectly condition. And I love that big screen.
Click to expand...

Congrats! You'll love it!
 
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mini 1 , mini 2 , mini 3 now run ios 9 ... almost same perfomance ,,,, just bit fast loader ,,, otherwise same range
 
iF34R said:
It was someone local on facebook.
Click to expand...
Awww, just my luck :D Was hoping it was some retail deal.
I hear there's an announcement due tomorrow on the iPodTouch, so maybe prices on those will drop this week.

If the iPodTouch is larger, that'll compete with the Mini. I'd like something in the iPhone6+ size, but I'm open to most.
 
yes the iPad mini is still a good buy to get.you can get a refurbished iPad mini 2 32gb for 300 dollars in there refurbished store.i had to get the iPad mini 3 128 gb so that i could put my tv shows and some of my movies on there.and my e-books and graphic novels.
 
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