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All iPads Torn between the ipad mini 2 and ipad air 2

A

Alundra

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 31, 2012
186
10
I sold my air to get the air 2 but I was expecting a bigger upgrade from the air 2 end. Still no splitscreen or 2 gb ram confirmation...

And also with the new prices the mini 2 now seems to be a pretty good deal.

I've had a non retina mini before, it was my fist ipad and I loved it due to it being so light my hands could almost not feel the weight.

but it is also true that I've probably gone used to the air's display size by now.

Between a 32 gb mini 2 and a ipad air 2 64gb which would you choose?
 
J

jtinch

macrumors member
Nov 20, 2011
81
26
Just impulse bought the 32GB mini 2 and already thinking about returning it. Coming from a 3rd gen iPad, the screen is hard to get used to. I have to hold the mini much closed to my face to read the time and battery status up top. Not sure what to do. May return for the Air 2
 
rgarjr

rgarjr

macrumors 604
Apr 2, 2009
6,820
1,045
Southern California
jtinch said:
Just impulse bought the 32GB mini 2 and already thinking about returning it. Coming from a 3rd gen iPad, the screen is hard to get used to. I have to hold the mini much closed to my face to read the time and battery status up top. Not sure what to do. May return for the Air 2
Click to expand...

I have the rMini and the 4 and yeah it does take time to get used to the smaller screen. The full sized iPads are just nice to view photos.
 
Cool Pup

Cool Pup

macrumors 6502a
Jun 18, 2010
724
115
Dallas, TX
Either you're a big tablet or a small tablet person. I discovered while using the Mini that I really don't need all of the extra screen real estate so, for me, it'd be hard to not have a tablet in that form factor.

The Air is a great device but it's a little too cumbersome for me while the Mini is pretty dimensional and can be used in almost any setting without drawing too much attention to yourself (another factor if you commute via public transportation).

I'd pick the Mini since you said you were stricken with the original, and the Mini 2 is far superior to the first (aside from the lightly increased weight).
 
A

AlterZgo

macrumors regular
Mar 17, 2011
110
90
I loved my original iPad mini. I didn't even mind giving up the retina screen. But once the iPad air came out, that became my primary device b/c it didn't feel all that much heavier than the mini, but has a much better screen.

Now, with the air 2 being even thinner and slightly lighter, there is no way I would choose any mini over an iPad air 2.
 
R

rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,086
638
I can put the mini in a jacket pocket.

I can hold the mini in one hand and poke at it with the other.

My eyes are still good enough to do anything that I would do on the air, on the mini instead.

Carrying around the mini is like carrying around a book. Carrying around the iPad Air is like carrying around a clipboard.

In summary, the iPad mini is a lot more personal, portable, and yet still very capable. The air is a great tablet, but will be at its best left at home on the coffee table or next to the bed on the nightstand.
 
mtneer

mtneer

macrumors 68040
Sep 15, 2012
3,177
2,712
617aircav said:
Dont think getting most bang for the buck applies to the op. He sold a perfectly working air and wants to buy a mini two. Next year he will probably do the same.
Click to expand...

Well... Probably. But he asked for others opinion and I gave him mine.
 
M

Mackinjosh

Suspended
Aug 21, 2014
1,181
1,697
KiwiAdventure said:
iPad Air2 is the way to go if you require small then why not buy the iPhone 6plus.:cool:
Click to expand...

The lack of iPad apps on the 6+ negates any attraction I might have had about that device. The iPad Mini with Retina is simply a better choice. Especially if you have no use for a phone.
 
A

AdonisSMU

macrumors 604
Oct 23, 2010
7,003
2,636
Mackinjosh said:
The lack of iPad apps on the 6+ negates any attraction I might have had about that device. The iPad Mini with Retina is simply a better choice. Especially if you have no use for a phone.
Click to expand...

Why get an old device for $100 more that was spray painted in gold with a dated slow processor? Sorry but it makes more sense to get a 6+. The apps are already being updated for 6+. By the time you actually get it in your hands most apps will already be updated for it.
 
A

Alundra

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 31, 2012
186
10
617aircav said:
Dont think getting most bang for the buck applies to the op. He sold a perfectly working air and wants to buy a mini two. Next year he will probably do the same.
Click to expand...
I am actually interested in the most bang for the buck but only in terms of what will get me the best resale value because yes, I will eventually sell whatever ipad that I end up buying, when the newer ones come next year.
 
I

iTeachMath

macrumors regular
Mar 29, 2010
104
9
Massachusetts
I had this inner debate as well...but I was thinking about a refurbished ipad mini 2. I was hoping for an ipad mini 3 with the same specs as the air 2 and 128 GB. Since the mini 3 is a joke, I thought a refurbished mini 2 would be a nice buy. But, I decided that after a year with the A7 processor, I would want to upgrade, whereas with the air 2 I'd probably feel good about it for at least 2 years. I also didn't want to wait out a possible mini upgrade (I don't think they will upgrade it until next year and continue it with year old specs). So, I ordered an air 2 with 128 GB. I will probably miss the mini's size, especially when I travel, but I think I made the right decision.
 
ColdShadow

ColdShadow

macrumors 68000
Sep 25, 2013
1,843
1,910
Get the Mini 2..it won't disappoint,and it's never been a better time to buy one (minimal upgrade on Mini 3 and decent price drop of Mini 2).

it's just the perfect size for a tablet without compromising the all important portability.

When Mini 2 was launched,I bought one but returned it and bought an Air after 2 days.to this day I regret that decision.I'm actually considering selling the Air and buy back another Mini 2.(at huge loss though).
 
Z

Zwhaler

macrumors 604
Jun 10, 2006
7,034
1,490
AdonisSMU said:
Why get an old device for $100 more that was spray painted in gold with a dated slow processor? Sorry but it makes more sense to get a 6+. The apps are already being updated for 6+. By the time you actually get it in your hands most apps will already be updated for it.
Click to expand...

Old device with dated slow processor? I don't know about you, but my iPad mini 2 with iOS 7.1.2 runs smoother than the iPhone 6 Plus which shows occasional lag... fact! If it was really dated and slow I don't think they would have kept it. Yeah it would be better with the A8, but it hasn't hiccuped on anything I've done. Yeah the tabs reload because of the RAM but if you want that fixed, don't get the iPhone 6 Plus! If the Air 2 gets 2GB, get it.
 
M

mrgossett

macrumors 6502
Mar 18, 2008
424
28
I've had both the Mini 2 and the Air 1. I bought the Air when it came out last year but exchanged it for the Mini 2. I've enjoyed having and using the Mini 2 for the past year, but there are some things it's really good for, and others that it's not as good for. It all depends on the user. For example, it's great for reading books, but not as great for web surfing, where some pages will have have micro-sized text and require zooming to comfortably read. It's also not good for reading digital versions of magazines. I subscribe to a couple that I enjoy receiving each month, but reading them on the Mini requires enlarging on lots of pages to read comfortably, and that gets bothersome, at least to me, and my vision is good. The Mini is very easy to carry around, and is less obvious if that's a concern. (I don't live in a city or ever use public transportation.) Some of you may remember the flack last year over the Mini's smaller color gamut. It has a nice screen, but I can honestly say that I could tell the difference after having the Air for a while. So after quite a bit of thinking about it, I decided to sell the Mini 2 and get the Air 2, because I think the advantages of the larger screen will, for me, outweigh whatever disadvantages there are. Like I said, It all depends on the user and how you will use a tablet.
 
masotime

masotime

macrumors 68020
Jun 24, 2012
2,458
2,082
San Jose, CA
617aircav said:
Dont think getting most bang for the buck applies to the op. He sold a perfectly working air and wants to buy a mini two. Next year he will probably do the same.
Click to expand...

If budget isn't an issue, just get all 4. iPhone 6, 6+, iPad Mini 3 and iPad Air 2. No compromises and you can mix and match what feels convenient at any time.
 
A

AdonisSMU

macrumors 604
Oct 23, 2010
7,003
2,636
Zwhaler said:
Old device with dated slow processor? I don't know about you, but my iPad mini 2 with iOS 7.1.2 runs smoother than the iPhone 6 Plus which shows occasional lag... fact! If it was really dated and slow I don't think they would have kept it. Yeah it would be better with the A8, but it hasn't hiccuped on anything I've done. Yeah the tabs reload because of the RAM but if you want that fixed, don't get the iPhone 6 Plus! If the Air 2 gets 2GB, get it.
Click to expand...

You're comparing on two different operating systems. So you are comparing apples to oranges. Old hardware doesn't run as well with the new OS as new hardware does. That's always been the case for mobile devices. My 6+ runs circles around my iPad Air. The screen is gorgeous.
 
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