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All iPads Mini is great, but Air is vastly superior.
- Thread starter doug in albq
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I also have both but had the mini first. I think there is a noticeable difference in screen size. I use both at different times. The note is more portable as it's easier to hold but the mini is very light. It may not have swype but its still very easy to type on. I actually like the aspect ratio of the mini. It's good for Web browsing and reading. I also like the fact that it's perfectly balanced in either landscape or portrait. The 8 inch Android tablets are better, but the 10 inch ones are awful in portrait and the 7 inch ones are better in portrait unless you are watching a video.
Points well said!
For me it's all about variety and that's precisely why I spend an obscene amount of cash on both sizes of iPads, Android Tablets, and a current selection of Smartphones of most popular platforms. Just keeping them updated and playing nice together keeps me from getting bored.
My carriers AT&T and T-Mobile love me.
if you played with it a handful of times than you looked (more than) twice at it...
if you played with it a handful of times than you looked (more than) twice at it...
Confused, you are. Haven't looked twice at the air after buying and trying rMini. I played with the air when it first came out in stores. But after rMini, never any interest to play with one when I come into contact. Too big for me.
To each his own
I see both arguments. Air is better than rMini. rMini is better than Air.
I recently had to decide from the two, and I chose the Retina Mini. Not because it's cheaper (I got the 32GB $499 model) but because it's more portable. I'm 6'5 and I can fit it in my pants pocket and easily take it with me. It's the perfect size for mobile gaming, because when holding it in landscape, both of my thumbs can reach the entire screen.
Advantages I saw in the Air were color saturation, larger screen, processor slightly clocked faster, and that's it.
Advantages I saw with purchasing my rMini included better portability, lighter in weight, greater pixel density with higher PPI, suited well for gaming, double the storage of 16GB Air for same price, and screen less likely to crack due to less surface area.
I still have 13 days to return or exchange, but if you want, let me know why I should get an Air. Convince me if you can.
I recently had to decide from the two, and I chose the Retina Mini. Not because it's cheaper (I got the 32GB $499 model) but because it's more portable. I'm 6'5 and I can fit it in my pants pocket and easily take it with me. It's the perfect size for mobile gaming, because when holding it in landscape, both of my thumbs can reach the entire screen.
Advantages I saw in the Air were color saturation, larger screen, processor slightly clocked faster, and that's it.
Advantages I saw with purchasing my rMini included better portability, lighter in weight, greater pixel density with higher PPI, suited well for gaming, double the storage of 16GB Air for same price, and screen less likely to crack due to less surface area.
I still have 13 days to return or exchange, but if you want, let me know why I should get an Air. Convince me if you can.
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Ok, lol.
Last week the 32GB Air was $75 off and I got it cheaper because of an open box item.
I like the extra real estate, web text isn't squashed in portrait. I find games more fun and immersive, same with watching movies and video. The Air has better audio quality, better color saturation. I don't mind the little extra weight and size. I have some outerwear which the Air will actually fit in a pocket. I will deal without that in the warmer weather though easily enough with a small case with a handle.
Probably more but that is it off the top. Headed back to the store yet? I got the 32GB Air for basically the same price you got the Mini.
I do not hold the Air much to tell the truth. The keyboard cover or Smart Cover anchors it. When I do, I will not have to go to the doctor for fatigue or soreness, I am a gym rat.
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I agree. I had an iPad 3 previously and switched to the rMini when it came out because I had always found the full size iPad unwieldy but the display on the original Mini wasn't up to snuff. Now I find the iPad much more useable and am quite satisfied with the form factor. For the price of a regular iPad air I have both the iPad mini and the Android based Nexus 7. That too is very handy and has a flexibility which iOS lacks. Interestingly even though the overall devices are different shapes standard 16:9 videos display exactly the same size on the iPad mini and the nexus 7, though the Nexus7 is preferable for video because it has much better sound ( the speakers are properly placed for landscape mode video viewing and provide robust volume and surround sound effect.).
I knew this would be a popular thread. The near-sensationalist thread title was meant to entice...and I think it did.
Once again, I have a mini (cellular, in fact) and an Air. I use them both every day and both have advantages and detractors.
However, I like the Air much better for all reasons other than portability.
Once again, I have a mini (cellular, in fact) and an Air. I use them both every day and both have advantages and detractors.
However, I like the Air much better for all reasons other than portability.
I have had the iPad 1, 2, 3 and 4. Never owned the original mini as it was inferior at the time to what I had. Would have been going from iPad 4 back the the 2nd gen.
Once I saw the specs on the rmini I knew it was the perfect iPad for me before I had even seen it person or held it, twice as fast as the iPad 4, in performance pretty much identical to the Air, 100mhz difference in use really is nothing, and same storage size (128gb), exactly what I wanted.
Once it turned up, it was perfect, very light, very fast and perfect for gaming and reading (web sites).
I have never regretted getting the smaller size and I will never be going back to the larger model.
My main use is gaming, and the rmini I find is far better than the larger one, on screen buttons on the larger iPad can be stretched far apart, rmini everything is in very easy reach.
As for the gamut issue, it has not bothered me one bit. I compared it side by side against the iPad 4 and iPhone 5s, yes the primary colours mainly are less saturated, but it's really on a tiny amount, the screen otherwise is stunning.
I'm really pleased Apple didn't cripple the rmini performance or storage size to make the larger iPad look better.
Once I saw the specs on the rmini I knew it was the perfect iPad for me before I had even seen it person or held it, twice as fast as the iPad 4, in performance pretty much identical to the Air, 100mhz difference in use really is nothing, and same storage size (128gb), exactly what I wanted.
Once it turned up, it was perfect, very light, very fast and perfect for gaming and reading (web sites).
I have never regretted getting the smaller size and I will never be going back to the larger model.
My main use is gaming, and the rmini I find is far better than the larger one, on screen buttons on the larger iPad can be stretched far apart, rmini everything is in very easy reach.
As for the gamut issue, it has not bothered me one bit. I compared it side by side against the iPad 4 and iPhone 5s, yes the primary colours mainly are less saturated, but it's really on a tiny amount, the screen otherwise is stunning.
I'm really pleased Apple didn't cripple the rmini performance or storage size to make the larger iPad look better.
Why is this stupid? Don't buy the hype that tablets can do everything. Relax!
There are usage scenarios which require REAL computers. A tablet is certainly a nice gadget, and we all love them, but we should also not exaggerate..
5 Airs would never be able to make the job of any laptop or desktop computer...
Vastly superior is almost correct:
biggest superiority of the Air over the rMini is the color gamut. Don't even start by saying it's a non-issue - especially when you use procreate app, red don't look red; that's just not right!
Other than the screen display quality, the AIR being superior to the rMini, the size of the AIR is so nice vs the previous iPad retina's models, that it's just nearly the same "feel" as the rMini - and with that in mind, it just makes sense to go with the AIR considering it's bigger in size on paper but in reality, when you use the AIR, it just feels right. The rMini is just too small.
biggest superiority of the Air over the rMini is the color gamut. Don't even start by saying it's a non-issue - especially when you use procreate app, red don't look red; that's just not right!
Other than the screen display quality, the AIR being superior to the rMini, the size of the AIR is so nice vs the previous iPad retina's models, that it's just nearly the same "feel" as the rMini - and with that in mind, it just makes sense to go with the AIR considering it's bigger in size on paper but in reality, when you use the AIR, it just feels right. The rMini is just too small.
You don't appreciate how much smaller the Air is until you hold one. I put my Air in a hardback case and it's still small and fairly light, although weight has never been an issue with me. I stack it on top of my iPad 2 and I could see the difference.
None of these tablets are legitimate laptop replacements except maybe MS. Then again it does beg the question what are you using it for exactly. rMini is perfect for my need, color gamut zero impact. Just get what works best for you. All this going back and fourth is nonsense.
Played with an air while bringing my MBA in to get battery looked at.
Still not sure how I ever got by on iPad 3 for so long
Still not sure how I ever got by on iPad 3 for so long
Another aspect not mentioned in this thread is the greatness of a.....
Near-actual-size keyboard.
If you only type with your thumbs, this does not matter. However, if you know how to actually type, the keyboard in landscape on the Air is great.
I can create words with my fingers much faster on the Air.
Mostly not possible to touch type on the mini.
Near-actual-size keyboard.
If you only type with your thumbs, this does not matter. However, if you know how to actually type, the keyboard in landscape on the Air is great.
I can create words with my fingers much faster on the Air.
Mostly not possible to touch type on the mini.
That's what she said!
I have iPad 3rd Gen and decided to buy a Mini Retina due to its portability.
There are reasons to have either or and seems like people like to argue this over and over.
I use my Macbook Pro 13" retina for real work. Mini is for late night in bed web surfing etc.
Exactly.
Never forget your iPad at home or at work again. It will be right where you left it every time. rMini at home, for the couch, bed, and kitchen. Air at work for everything else. Take either for travel. Love them both. Nothing to hate. Life is good.