New iPad Mini Reviews: Capable Small Tablet With Nearly All Features of New iPad Air

[PickUrPoison]

Macrumors complaints before the Mini launches:

“C’mon Apple, we want a refreshed Mini with Apple Pencil Support!”

Apples response: “Here you go, an updated Mini with Pencil support.”

Macrumors complaints after the Mini launch:

“Look at the off-center home button”, Or “What, no USB-C?”, ect, ect, ect, ect.

**************************

Clearly Apple can never do anything right, at least according to the Macumors rhetoric.

Couldn’t agree more. And especially with this suddenly popular complaint about this horrible, unacceptable “off-center home button” it seems like they’re posting from a script.

The gen 5 mini actually delivered more than the core fans of the mini expected, in the form of the A12. Most only expected A11, some only A10 or A10X like the 10.5 iPad Pro. And many speculated it would have 2GB of RAM, even though it was no one’s preference. Most didn’t think Pencil support was a no-brainer, and would have been satisfied had they not gotten it.

In short, to the core mini users/fans, it’s a home run. I wouldn’t call it a grand slam, but it’s at least a two-run homer. Design language of the new Pros/FaceID and Pencil 2 would be about the only possible improvements, but neither was ever really in the cards.

 

[Joniz]

but what does it mean to be "invested in USB-C"? they happen to have a USB-C cable already that came with their laptop (or maybe an extra one or two), and they want to be able to use those same cables?

i've seen several posts from people saying that if the next iPhones don't have USB-C, then they're going to switch to Android instead, and i don't really understand why. iPhones/iPads all come with a cable themselves, so it's not like they have to go out of their way to buy any extra cables. and whenever i travel, i always have a cable for each device anyway, so i can charge simultaneously, so it makes no difference to me if i'm carrying a lightning cable or usb-c or whatever. can someone please enlighten me?

I mean they have spare USB-C cables laying about, already hooked up and ready to go. Dragging one around and keeping track of it is a pain. Or having it in the car, ready to go, means buying another one.

You know what’s also a pain? You have a Lightning cable already plugged in behind the night table and you have to charge a Kindle.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I'm still waiting for the new design language fromt he Pro to reach the other iPads. I don't need a pro. it would be ridiculous overkill. But at the same time, I love the design.

the current iPad lineups outside of the pro are just not living up to today when you compare them. So until they're updated, still not going to replace my original Air.

Your argument makes literally no sense at all. I have an iPad Air and it is like a snail caught in molasses and has been ever since iOS 10.3.3 made things snappy again, right before iOS 11 drop kicked the Air into oblivion. Although iOS 12 is not horrible, it is clear the sun is setting on the original Air. For the same price as the original Air launched ($499), you get 4x the based storage, the A12 Bionic which literally runs rings around the A7, a 10.5" laminated display (P3 and True Tone), Pencil support, Smart Keyboard support, a GPU with a Metal score 40x faster than your Air, 3x as much RAM, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5, a 7MP FaceTime HD front and 8MP rear camera.

Literally everything in the new Air is a major upgrade over the 1st Gen Air.

The current iPads are not supposed to be as capable as the Pro, you said yourself that you don't need a Pro, that it is ridiculous overkill, but that the current iPads just do not live up to today when you compare them. Compare them to what? That old antique Model T you are driving now? Guess what, even the iPad 5th Gen is a huge step up from the original Air. I should know, I have both models. I got the Air on sale (128GB & LTE) for $499 and I knew I had made a huge mistake the second I started that thing up. Probably the worst bargain hunting purchase I have ever made.

Honestly, if you can live with an Air, then you do not need an upgrade at all, anyways. Again, to each his own, but your argument just does not hold up to scrutiny, it just reads like complaining for complaining's sake.

 

[Janichsan]

I don't think so. Every other iPad since the first six 9.7" generations (except mini 3 and 4, the original iPad Air and Air 2, the first and second generation 12.9" iPad Pro, the original 9.7" iPad Pro, the 10.5" iPad Pro) had a perfectly centered Home Button, if you take an external aluminum frame into account.

Fixed that for you.

If I had the time right now, I would also make a handy graphics clearly showing that. It's not always to the same amount, but almost every iPad has the Home button off-center.

 

[PickUrPoison]

They will when they release the 10,2 iPad Pro with a roughly bigger overall size in a much more compact form factor.

Anyone who wants that will get old and grey waiting. Apple won’t be releasing a 10.2” Pro. They just upsized the 10.5 to 11.0”. If they’d wanted to go smaller instead of larger, they would have done so.

 

[whoisyourdaddy]

I’ve got Lightning cables in my desk, in my bedroom, in my car, in the kitchen, in that drawer full of electronics crap that just gets more tangled every year. Am I the only one in the world like this? I doubt it.

If my Mini suddenly has USB-C, I can’t use any of those connectors that I already have hooked up. I rather have to drag around the one that came with the device, or by extras of those.

So what is the advantage of USB-C?

(Yes, I know, faster charging, but — pfft! Faster data? I think pros worry more about that.)

At some point, just like all other cables, the majority of the people will have a buttload of USB-C cords they can’t get untangled. And USB-C will be on all devices.

Plus, in the end, it comes down to Apple saying: It’s cheaper to keep it Lightning.

If you've got "that many lightning cables" and/or the devices which used them, then it wouldn't matter if they switched to USB-C. The decision to purchase it whether it had USB-C or lightning is negligible. The cost to offer this product at a price in comparison to their next model up, etc. would have been more of a factor in their marketing decision. USB-C was on the first MacBook before the "Pro" models so this belief system just went out the window. I prefer to believe that the choice they made was more aligned with not damaging the potential sales of their higher priced products, as opposed, to a need for "Pros" vs "Non-Pros". We're not talking about an expensive addition and standardization across product lines is actually more cost effective. Even products with Thunderbolt interfaces will drop tremendously now that Intel has made it royalty-free to manufacturers. Either way, we have two different opinions.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I wouldn’t say “hamstrung”. The first gen apple pencil draws & writes beautifully. People raved about that aspect of it. But even before the apple pencil 2 came out, right from the very beginning, people were rightfully criticizing the lame charging method & the easily lost cap. True...At the time, there wasn’t a wireless charging alternative, but still...i think many agreed, it was a very unApple like solution to have the pencil ridiculously stick out the bottom of the ipad like that. Not to mention risky. Something that was made even more apparent as soon as the Apple pencil 2 was announced. The Apple pencil 2 is a perfect marraige of design & function. The ease of charging. The way it integrates seamlessly into the ipad where you don’t even have to think about it. Now thats something Johnny Ive could gush over in a product video! Lol

I seriously think if Steve Jobs were alive, he’d absolutely HATE the fact that these two pencils exist at the same time. He’d want to move away as quickly as possible from the gen 1 design as he could. You just know it.

Still... Nothing wrong with the first gen pencil as a drawing or writing tool. But it is so obvious that Apple will someday make only one apple pencil that works across the board. One pencil to rule them all! I think that will happen once the ipad pros get more new features like OLED or MicroLED screens. Then Apple will redesign the regular ipad(and hopefully mini) to accommodate the apple pencil 2 charging method.

Until then, it is what it is.

Mostly agree. I might quibble partially with the Jobs part, because there are tens of millions of Pencil 1-compatible devices. So after a 3+ year run, Pencil 1 and 2 will have to co-exist for many years to come.

But I agree, Jobs very likely would have made all subsequent devices Pencil 2 compatible. He was an idealistic perfectionist (mostly a good thing!) whereas Cook is more practical. For instance I could see Jobs releasing a $329 iPad (2019) with Pencil 2, but Cook would choose a $299/Pencil 1 alternative. Though I usually don’t trade in “Jobs would’ve’s”, I’m 99.9% sure of that

 

[ipedro]

honest question - what's the advantage of switching to USB-C, over lightning?

i keep seeing people mentioning wanting USB-C for future iphones & ipads, without any real explanation as to why it would be better, other than just wanting to be able to use the same cable that they use to charge their laptop (i literally created an account just now in order to ask this question!)...

thanks in advance for any replies! =)

Apple pitched the switch to USB-c as enabling professionals to connect their external devices to the iPad directly. To be fair, that advantage isn’t yet fully realized because it’ll require a major operating system update. That’s expected in iOS 13 later this year.

Professional photographers will be able to connect a camera directly to their iPad and import their photos into Lightroom, audio pros can hook up their mixing tables, professionals who deal with large files will be able to connect external storage. The iPad Pro can also connect an external display via the USB-c port. Effectively, any accessory that professionals connect to their Mac via USB will be able to connect to the iPad Pro. Lightning can’t do that.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[zombierunner]

Update the Macbook 12 inch.

 

[dcpmark]

Probably. . What did you think of the apple watch 4? I was so impressed by the increased screen size I replaced my AW3. When talking about smaller devices I feel little increases are quite noticeable in daily use.

You got me on that one...I went from a 38mm AW3 to a 40mm AW4, and it was a HUGE difference to me! Seems like a completely different watch. Of course, some of that is the new faces with take advantage of the increased screen real estate, which wouldn’t really apply going from 7.9” Mini to an 8.25” Mini (I redid my math). if anything, I would go the other way on the mini… Keep the screen size the same, and reduce the bezels by 3/16” all around. that would still give us enough room to comfortably hold the mini in landscape mode, although it may cause problems in portrait mode.

 

[Joniz]

If you've got "that many lightning cables" and/or the devices which used them, then it wouldn't matter if they switched to USB-C. The decision to purchase it whether it had USB-C or lightning is negligible. The cost to offer this product at a price in comparison to their next model up, etc. would have been more of a factor in their marketing decision. USB-C was on the first MacBook before the "Pro" models so this belief system just went out the window. I prefer to believe that the choice they made was more aligned with not damaging the potential sales of their higher priced products, as opposed, to a need for "Pros" vs "Non-Pros". We're not talking about an expensive addition and standardization across product lines is actually more cost effective. Even products with Thunderbolt interfaces will drop tremendously now that Intel has made it royalty-free to manufacturers. Either way, we have two different opinions.

I think this comes down to two questions:

The one you think I’m answering, which is: Why Apple stayed with Lightning.

And the one I was actually trying to provide an answer for: Why are so many comments here are about USB-C, USB-C, USB-C.

For me, the first one was answered when Apple announced that these new iPads will be compatible with the Logitech Crayon.

 

[MhaelK]

Agree that’s it’s awesome And people did like the design, including the weight balance, and that overall it just “felt right”... nothing like the stylus that Jobs correctly noted was a fail as an overall device UI.

I’ll grant you it looks somewhat ridiculous when plugged in directly to the iPad, and looks like it could snap off at any moment—even when it’s just sitting there lol. But it’s eminently practical when you’re away from your charging cable and the alternative is a dead Pencil.

So yes, while less convenient, I definitely have a problem with the word “hamstrung”. The alternative to Pencil 1 support—which would have required a non-trivial redesign, more expensive components and a smaller battery—would have been no Pencil support at all, not Pencil 2. It’s a low-volume seller, and increasing the price would only exacerbate that.

I wouldnt use the word hamstrung either, however for notetaking the mini and the pencil go hand in hand. The thought of buying an pencil that have already been improved and upgraded and will likely not work on another deviced - as i assume future iPads or maybe even iphones will support the new pencil makes it harder to justify the decision of including support for pencil 1. It would be different if the pencil 1 was also being supported by newer and Pro devices

 

[mortenandersen]

I wouldnt use the word hamstrung either, however for notetaking the mini and the pencil go hand in hand. The thought of buying an pencil that have already been improved and upgraded and will likely not work on another deviced - as i assume future iPads or maybe even iphones will support the new pencil makes it harder to justify the decision of including support for pencil 1. It would be different if the pencil 1 was also being supported by newer and Pro devices

Pencil 1 is supported by the still excellent iPad 10,5 inches. A very good device also now in 2019.

 

[MhaelK]

Pencil 1 is supported by the still excellent iPad 10,5 inches. A very good device also now in 2019.

Sure, but the likelyhood of a future device offering support is slim to none (IMO). These are very likely the last bunch of new devices which will ever offer support for the pencil1. The product has already been updated and this is just apple using their old parts in the lower tier devices.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I wouldnt use the word hamstrung either, however for notetaking the mini and the pencil go hand in hand. The thought of buying an pencil that have already been improved and upgraded and will likely not work on another deviced - as i assume future iPads or maybe even iphones will support the new pencil makes it harder to justify the decision of including support for pencil 1. It would be different if the pencil 1 was also being supported by newer and Pro devices

Fair enough, though the new iPad Air is also a Pencil 1 device. Unlike USB-C, I think Pencil 2 will (eventually) filter down to at least mini/Air. But I’m not sure the Air is on a yearly update cycle; more likely two-year. And I don’t think the mini will be updated again for maybe three years. So I’m afraid it’s going to be awhile.
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Sure, but the likelyhood of a future device offering support is slim to none (IMO). These are very likely the last bunch of new devices which will ever offer support for the pencil1. The product has already been updated and this is just apple using their old parts in the lower tier devices.

It’s less a matter of wanting to use old parts and more simply wanting to avoid a redesign and its associated increased component costs (and possible resultant price increases).

I don’t think Apple has a problem with Pencil 1. They just made something cool, i.e. a magnetically-attached, wireless charging, erase-button featured—an even better model—to entice customers to move up to the Pro tier. With the Pros’ $799/$999 entry level price points, they need to be no-compromise devices. Pencil 1 (especially the hokey charging method) wouldn’t be nearly so nice as Pencil 2 in that regard.

 

[Abazigal]

Another nail in the coffin for the galaxy fold.

 

[LauraJean]

I carry a cellular Mini 4 wherever I go that does everything for me except make phone calls, and I don’t think that the people complaining about the bezels actually use an iPad Mini the way I use my Mini. I NEED the bezels to comfortably hold the Mini without triggering the screen in some way, or obscuring my view. I use always use it in landscape except when I play a game that requires portrait, and I love the extra space to hold it.

At last, a fellow bezels lover speaks up about the usefulness of dedicated grab-space. I agree. Not only on my two Minis but even on my two MacBook Airs I am grateful for the bezels and do not find them ugly, quite the contrary.

 

[VictorBlade]

probably has been mentioned already but once you've had button-less, you never go back. Doesn't mean it's not a good device but now that have that screen real estate I don't think I can give it up anymore. If they do a mini in the design of of the new pros, I just might pick one up.

“Never go back.” Not true for everyone. I returned the 11” iPad Pro and greatly prefer my 10.5 WITH the button. Face ID and swiping is a hassle compared to the convenience of the button in several situations. I’ve noted several others with the same experience.

Glad the Mini is keeping the same design. I’ll get one next week.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Update the Macbook 12 inch.

This year for sure, at some point. It’s now on a two-year upgrade cycle with iMac, iMac Pro, probably MB Air and Mac mini, and also the 2019 Mac Pro as well. I thing MBP will be the only Mac regularly updated yearly, now that iMac and 12” MB aren’t.

The more interesting question is not when, but what? Will it have the Intel Y-series again or switch to Apple ARM? I think Intel one more time but I can’t imagine MB not getting Apple’s CPU in the following 20/21 release.

 

[whoisyourdaddy]

I think this comes down to two questions:

The one you think I’m answering, which is: Why Apple stayed with Lightning.

And the one I was actually trying to provide an answer for: Why are so many comments here are about USB-C, USB-C, USB-C.

For me, the first one was answered when Apple announced that these new iPads will be compatible with the Logitech Crayon.

LMAO...Wow! I'm just going to go with you can't be serious. Moving on to the more rational posts.

 

[iosuser]

I will likely upgrade my girls’ mini 4. My daughter is always hogging my iPP 10.5 to doodle with the Apple Pencil. I kept offering to get her the iPad 6 but she refused, only wanting the mini. But then I’m planning to get the galaxy tab S5E when it releases next month so my iPP will just sit. Maybe I won’t tell her about the new mini and just give her my iPP full time.

The Tab S5E, $399 gets you a sweet 10.5” OLED screen. It’s gonna be the best media consumption device. Apple is gonna have serious competition if Samsung shrinks it down to 8” and sell it for $299.

 

[jamesrick80]

Pencil 1 is supported by the still excellent iPad 10,5 inches. A very good device also now in 2019.

Most people wouldn’t say this once they get the bright white spot or spots .........it’s inevitable.

 

[ladodger5]

Does anyone know what ios 12 version comes with the new ipad mini?

 

[jamesrick80]

Another nail in the coffin for the galaxy fold.

2 grand for a device that does not give me the power of the current iPad Pro was its nail in the coffin for me.....