Old Mini2 Died So Mini4,IpadAir2,or new 9.7 PRO?

[Dorfdad]

I've had my Mini 2 with retina since day one. It just died and I am really having problems deciding on what would be the right choice for a replacement. Hoping you can give me some insight.

Plays Games on it Primary
Media Consumption it's my portable TV Netflix, Plex, etc
Don't need Celluar I have a 6PLUS for on the go

So my choices are

Mini 4 64gb at 499.99
Ipad Air 2 64 at 499.99
Ipad Pro 9.7 32gb at 599.99

Mini2 retina is 32gb and Im ok with that space like more but the Pro jumps $200.00 for 128 that feature pricing me out.

I love the mini size but since I have a 6SPLus its not that big a difference I feel like an 9.7 would be a better fit though not as portable.

So Im asking what is the BEST replacement for my needs for the next 2+ years

am I going to be upset I went with air 2 in 6 months to save $100?

Looking for some input from those who may have been in my shoes.

 

[ACG12]

If you want it for more than 2 years, go with iPad Pro 9.7. The A8 in the mini 4 might not be cutting it by then and the Air 2 is quite old already (though still performs excellent).

If you're going to spend $500 on Air 2, might as well spend the extra $100 and get the much better camera, sound and crazy fast A9x processor.

 

[MrGimper]

The screen size difference between the 7.9 mini and the 9.7 iPad is actually quite a bit less than the size difference between the 5.5 iPhone Plus and the 7.9 mini. So your logic would mean it makes less sense to move away from a mini to a 9.7 iPad just for screen size.

I have a 6s Plus and had a mini 2. I replaced the mini 2 with an Air 2 thinking the screen size between the 6s Plus and mini wasn't that much (like you). I then bought a mini 4 when it came out

I still have the Air 2, so have no desire to update to the 9.7 iPad Pro.

 

[Dorfdad]

so which do you prefer the mini or the 9.7??

 

[MrGimper]

If you want it for more than 2 years, go with iPad Pro 9.7. The A8 in the mini 4 might not be cutting it by then and the Air 2 is quite old already (though still performs excellent).

If you're going to spend $500 on Air 2, might as well spend the extra $100 and get the much better camera, sound and crazy fast A9x processor.

Can't see this being the case. The mini 2 and iPad Air are still very good tablets for the OP's use case. The thing that will hold these older devices back is the 1GB RAM rather than anything else in my opinion. Obviously the new devices have 2GB RAM.
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so which do you prefer the mini or the 9.7??

Me? The mini 4 is my daily driver despite the Air 2 being more powerful on paper. People have to draw a distinction between "powerful" and "powerful enough". Nowadays we're getting too dragged into Android tablet d*ck measuring.

 

[HPLouis]

Well, even though I chose the Air 2 over the Pro, in your case, I would spend the extra $100 and get the Pro.....only if you know you will not need more than 32 GB in the future.

I chose the Air 2 because, for me, it would have been an extra $300 versus the 128GB LTE Pro version. I got one for my wife too so that would have been an extra $600. We don't take pics with our iPads, we don't use a keyboard and we have no need for a pen. We also had no problem with our Mini 2 (except for the size, we grew out of it), so, for our use, the Air 2 was perfect.

 

[Dorfdad]

thanks Im starting to feel the Ipad Air 2 would be the perfect one. Right in the middle. Cant see the mini though I love the size at the same cost as the Ipad Air2 but slower. The Pro 32 might not be enough as I fill my Mini now. So..

 

[Jerhen]

I've had my Mini 2 with retina since day one. It just died and I am really having problems deciding on what would be the right choice for a replacement. Hoping you can give me some insight.

Plays Games on it Primary
Media Consumption it's my portable TV Netflix, Plex, etc
Don't need Celluar I have a 6PLUS for on the go

So my choices are

Mini 4 64gb at 499.99
Ipad Air 2 64 at 499.99
Ipad Pro 9.7 32gb at 599.99

Mini2 retina is 32gb and Im ok with that space like more but the Pro jumps $200.00 for 128 that feature pricing me out.

I love the mini size but since I have a 6SPLus its not that big a difference I feel like an 9.7 would be a better fit though not as portable.

So Im asking what is the BEST replacement for my needs for the next 2+ years

am I going to be upset I went with air 2 in 6 months to save $100?

Looking for some input from those who may have been in my shoes.

I am just curious, you say that your mini 2 died, is it the battery that died? If I was you, I would go for the Air 2 or Pro because you already have a 6s plus and the size between the 6s plus and mini isn't really too much of a difference. If you can wait till one was on sale that would be even better. I bought an Air 2 128gb back in November at one of Staples deals and got it for $150 off. I ended up getting it for $550, which was a good deal at the time.

 

[Dorfdad]

Well I need one now as I said its basically my TV lol. I use it for games, tv etc..

 

[bevsb2]

I think the iPad pro is the way to go unless portability is a priority.

 

[asleep]

Mini 4 is really good,

As in the Pro97.

Choose your preferred size.

 

[kevroc]

Between the Mini and new pro97, don't see much relevance for the iPad Air 2. If you use it that much for content you might really, really appreciate that new pro97 display.

 

[apolloa]

Well I need one now as I said its basically my TV lol. I use it for games, tv etc..

The iPad Mini 4 is great, I have only played with it in the store but it seems fast enough and smooth. But if you want to use an ipad for games and TV I would say get the new Pro, because it's got the four speakers, a better screen, and oodles of power. Put a case on it and it's still pretty portable.

 

[masotime]

If you use it for Games and TV then get the Air 3, simply because of the speakers.

 

[tom504]

My preferred setup an iphone 6s+ instead of a Mini and an Ipad Pro 9.7, which is what I have

 

[Dorfdad]

If you use it for Games and TV then get the Air 3, simply because of the speakers.

Thanks for all the replies I grabbed the new 9.7 Pro 128 had 100 in Best Buy bucks and figured id pay the extra to not have buyers remorse in 6 months over the Ipad Air 2 64gb.

Kinda big. Im not sure I can get used to that coming from a mini! LOL

 

[wdam123]

I wouldn't say that the $100 difference is justifiable for the features between the Air 2 and the Pro 9.7. If you have $$$ to blow then go for the Pro 9.7, it's basically a refined Air 2.

 

[Capt T]

Thanks for all the replies I grabbed the new 9.7 Pro 128 had 100 in Best Buy bucks and figured id pay the extra to not have buyers remorse in 6 months over the Ipad Air 2 64gb.

Kinda big. Im not sure I can get used to that coming from a mini! LOL

Congrats! Should be a nice upgrade for you.

 

[Dorfdad]

Don't have money to blow but from all I read new 9.7 has better sound quality, better processor, better battery life due to processor efficiency, better screen quality in terms of clarity / colors. Put that together and add in the fact that this will be around for a longer period than the Ipad Air2 and it just made more sense to me.
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Congrats! Should be a nice upgrade for you.

thanks! I feel like its too big lol!

 

[wdam123]

Don't have money to blow but from all I read new 9.7 has better sound quality, better processor, better battery life due to processor efficiency, better screen quality in terms of clarity / colors. Put that together and add in the fact that this will be around for a longer period than the Ipad Air2 and it just made more sense to me.
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thanks! I feel like its too big lol!

Trust me you'll get used to it, I used to have a mini too.

Congrats good choice btw.