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iPad mini What can iPad 4 run that iPad mini can't?

zub3qin

zub3qin

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 10, 2007
1,315
4
I know the internals of the iPad 4 are so so much better than iPad mini, but forgetting specs, for the average user, what exactly can the iPad 4 do well (besides push retina images) that the iPad mini struggles with?

My hunch is running several tabs on safari, perhaps?
Or big spreadsheets?
3D gaming?
 
Nothing.

More ram allows more stuff to fit in ram. But less ram is drawing from Flash memory quickly.

If anyone codes an app that requires a minimum of "retina" resolution (which makes just about no sense from a coder's point of view), that would be an app that would run on a "4" and not on a "mini".

Otherwise, it all runs on both, just a little faster on a "4". The "4" also delivers it at retina resolution and gives you a little more screen real estate for the content of the app. The mini gives you the smaller size, lighter weight, thinner feel, hold-in-one-hand benefits.
 
mikeray said:
Actually they have identical screen real estate
Click to expand...

I know- I am talking about the A5 vs A6X chip- not screen real-estate.
Are there apps that simply make the iPad mini grind to a halt or sluggish?
Or are running many tabs at once in Safari a problem due to the decreased mini RAM?
 
The things you listed are exactly where you would notice a difference. Larger games with a lot of on screen action will run much smoother on the 4.
 
They may exist in the future, but the iPad 4 was only just released, and was not expected. While you don't hear this a lot on this forum, the iPad mini is actually the second fastest iPad ever released. At the moment it would not make sense for a programmer to design apps that would run poorly on all iPads other than the fourth generation.
 
I noticed on a website that shows your browser capabilities, it says the screen is only 1024 x 768 on the ipad 4.

Is this the same as on the new retina Makbooks where you don't get access to the extra resolution for yourself?
 
The answer is NOTHING right now...

However in a year from now the A5 will probably go the way of the A4, become too slow to run smoothly the latest apps.

The A6 is going to have a longer life line.
 
Funny because the games on the Mini run pretty smooth and look great. Its hard to tell its not a retina screen (its mainly the text that looks pixelated, but the pictures and games look pretty good).

Compared to my 3, I can run everything on my Mini. All of my games still run great.
 
Deasnutz said:
You can look at images on the iPad 3/4, while I've heard the mini causes headaches.
Click to expand...

I find this "myth" or "rumor" about the Mini causing headaches, one of the best jokes in recent weeks.

My opinion and perspective is coming from my first hand experience with my current tablets:

1) iPad mini
2) Nexus 7
3) iPad 2
4) iPad 3
5) iPad 4

Thus my point is simply that I've got good basis for comparison.

I will be the first to admit I'm not thrilled that Apple didn't at least give the Mini a display as nice as the Nexus 7, but headaches are certainly not a side effect of using a Mini... that you can be assured of.
 
iHateMacs said:
I noticed on a website that shows your browser capabilities, it says the screen is only 1024 x 768 on the ipad 4.

Is this the same as on the new retina Makbooks where you don't get access to the extra resolution for yourself?
Click to expand...

iOS measures screen size in points not pixels, so yes, all iPads are 1024*768 points. The retina models just render each point with 4 pixels rather than 1.
 
ixodes said:
I find this "myth" or "rumor" about the Mini causing headaches, one of the best jokes in recent weeks.
Click to expand...

Because everyone has the same headache triggers as you am I right?

I get a headache when reading PDF documents with the mini, that is a FACT, not a myth or rumor.
 
AzN1337c0d3r said:
Because everyone has the same headache triggers as you am I right?

I get a headache when reading PDF documents with the mini, that is a FACT, not a myth or rumor.
Click to expand...

I did also and that is why I returned it for the 4. It's a good thing there is a so called expert here that can set us straight though.. After all he owns 5 tablets!:eek: probably slept at a holiday inn last night too!:D
 
nothing....yet


in a period of 6 months to a year, we will see the true capability of the A6X when more advanced games come out that the A5 can't handle. by that point, the iPad mini 2 will be out either with the A6 or with a Retina screen and the A6X, and the 1st gen will be a thing of the past

----------

these headaches are prob just the early onset of aluminum poisoning from all of the iOS devices, and Macbook Pro unibodies that people have owned over the last 4 years lol
 
AzN1337c0d3r said:
I get a headache when reading PDF documents with the mini, that is a FACT, not a myth or rumor.
Click to expand...
I don't doubt that some types of documents could cause eye strain or headaches. Your point is well taken.

That said what I was responding to was the posts that claim it's the displays fault, with the complaint stated as "the iPad mini" gives me a headache cause the display is crappy. Or because it's not retina. In the same vein as once you go retina, you can't go back.

I find the display is just fine for the resolution it is. Oh sure it's not as fine as retina, but it's not supposed to be. However I do understand why people want retina, and it's Apple's responsibility for not offering it in everything new going forward. After all they set the precedent, then hyped it like it was a must have.
 
zub3qin said:
I know the internals of the iPad 4 are so so much better than iPad mini, but forgetting specs, for the average user, what exactly can the iPad 4 do well (besides push retina images) that the iPad mini struggles with?

My hunch is running several tabs on safari, perhaps?
Or big spreadsheets?
3D gaming?
Click to expand...

If you use it to read magazine it may be a problem coz the text (which is not rendered as text but graphics) will be tiny and fuzzy and cannot be enlarged. I think websites are fine if you don't care constantly zooming in and moving the canvas around. Most games should not be a problem unless there are a lot of 3D elements.

----------
AzN1337c0d3r said:
Because everyone has the same headache triggers as you am I right?

I get a headache when reading PDF documents with the mini, that is a FACT, not a myth or rumor.
Click to expand...

I gave away my iPad 2 and bought the iPad 3 on the first day solely because I needed to read a lot of PDFs (I had an exam in June) and reading PDFs using GoodReader on a retina iPad is truly enjoyable. I very well understand how the experience is for reading PDFs on a non-retina iPad and that's the exact reason why I paid so much to get a maxed out iPad 3 on launch day.
 
I've owned iPad2 since day one and waiting for the iPad Mini with cellular as its replacement. Going to a smaller form factor for the weight reduction in mobility.

I don't have any issues with my iPad2 at all. I'm fine with the screen size, the non-retina display, its weight, speed and memory. Apart from browsing internet, I do a lot of reading, ebooks, epup and also PDFs. I also do a lot of PDF annotations and signing. I do some occasion gaming (racing and puzzles) and all are running fine without noticeable speed issues (latest racing game Asphalt 7 runs smooth). Some video watching from internet and also streaming from PLEX installed on my Mac Mini from my living room. All of these run perfectly fine on iPad2. I have many uses for my iPad2 and since iPad Mini has the same specs, I'm pretty sure I can do all of the above on a smaller form factor.

I welcome the new camera specs on the mini which is a huge upgrade IMO. Now FT should be a lot clearer for my parents and sister back home in Canada. The only thing I may miss is the normal iPad screen size for drawing and painting which I totally gave up doing on my iPhone 4s after a few attempts on a small screen. But it's not often I have time to draw or paint so not a big issue. Lets see.

I don't know why so many people are knocking on the mini due to the non-retina display or slower processor. Apple's reason to continue selling the iPad2 only means that its spec will be supported for a while. If surfing the internet, viewing videos, emails, photos and casual gaming is all you do, the current spec will last a long time. You only need a faster CPU and larger memory if the content significantly changes or whatever you are doing outpaces the tech.

BTW, I'm almost 40 and I had just spent some time during lunch reading an entire 60 page MSA in PDF on my colleague's iPad mini (received this morning) does not give me headaches. LOL
 
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