iPad mini Which iPad mini to buy?

[mmitsch]

Our granddaughter wants an iPad mini. We thought we would explore getting a used one and were wondering what model is the best for us to look at for future proofing a bit (i.e. - 5th or 6th generation, etc.). Also wondering if we a good / safe place to buy.

Give us your thoughts and thanks?

 

[User #07242024]

How old is she? I prefer the ergonomics of mini 4/5 than 6/7, Touch ID on home button is easier to touch than Touch ID on power button.

 

[Homme]

I’d give her a Mini 6 especially for future software support

 

[rui no onna]

Where are you located? There are some pretty nice deals for the mini 7 at Costco (US) and you may not save much going for a used mini 6.

Iirc, Costco had the iPad mini 7 128GB wifi for $355 with shipping.

 

[mmitsch]

How old is she? I prefer the ergonomics of mini 4/5 than 6/7, Touch ID on home button is easier to touch than Touch ID on power button.

She is 10. Is there a big difference between the 4 and 5? And what model numbers should I look at?

Thank you for your response!

 

[mmitsch]

I’d give her a Mini 6 especially for future software support

Thanks! Is the Mini 6 easy to use? Another member said the 4/5 is ergonomically easier?

And do you know a good place to buy used? Mainly wan to get from a place who is honest about condition.

 

[mmitsch]

Where are you located? There are some pretty nice deals for the mini 7 at Costco (US) and you may not save much going for a used mini 6.

Iirc, Costco had the iPad mini 7 128GB wifi for $355 with shipping.

I live in Indiana. I noticed Costco had a good price but they are out of stock.🥲

Thanks for your response!

 

[rui no onna]

She is 10. Is there a big difference between the 4 and 5? And what model numbers should I look at?

Thank you for your response!

Looks-wise, no.

Performance-wise, four years worth of performance increases back when there were huge year-over-year gains.

Definitely avoid the mini 4. I think that's stuck at iOS 15 so there are already some apps that you won't be able to install.

 

[Starfia]

Future-proofing: unlike the other iPad lines, the iPad mini models have been released two or more years apart, so one generation makes a real difference.

Ease of use: iPadOS is uniform enough that I would say all iPads (from all lines) are about equally easy to use. There was a form factor shift between the curved iPad mini 5 and the square-edged (and thin-bezelled) iPad mini 6. I personally prefer the later design.

Between the current and previous models: I've searched a lot since last fall. $300 for a decent-condition entry-model iPad mini 6 is about the best price I've found, and $400 for a decent-condition entry-model iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro) is about the best price I've found. (Very occasional exceptions.) The entry-model iPad mini 7 comes with the newer chip, twice the storage, and twice the memory – very much worth the difference. If Costco actually has it for $355 as Mmitsch said, I would easily go with that; let her use it through much if not all of high school.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Thanks! Is the Mini 6 easy to use? Another member said the 4/5 is ergonomically easier?

And do you know a good place to buy used? Mainly wan to get from a place who is honest about condition.

A 10 y-o will do fine ergonomically with any iPad. Newer is better, IMO minimum a Mini 6. But like others said there are often bargains on newer ones, especially Costco or Best Buy. Get the cheaper WiFi-only model. Force her to get a case of her choice because kids are hell on tablets (which is another reason to buy newer because they get built significantly tougher every generation). Remember that Apple provides an education discount if you buy through an appropriate channel.

 

[pdaholic]

Mini 5 was released 6 years ago. No “future proofing” there. Get the 6, I can tell you it runs great.

 

[TechRunner]

I've seen Mini 7s on sale at Amazon and others routinely for $399. The next best option, assuming you can find them in stock, is a refurbished Mini 6 or 7 from Apple.

My Mini 7 is a great device. A good case, as suggested above, will keep her in that iPad Mini for years.

 

[klasma]

While I prefer the mini 5 form factor (less narrow screen, rounded back edges, button placement), being a 2019 model it doesn't have many years of support left, and your granddaughter will likely prefer the narrower aspect ratio of the 6/7 for video and possibly gaming. IMO you should go for the 7, as it has double the base storage, will likely get three more years of support compared to the 6, its battery will last longer than with a used model, and (less importantly) it supports Apple Intelligence and the newer Pencil Pro.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

And do you know a good place to buy used? Mainly wan to get from a place who is honest about condition.

The way you ask about used suggests that you may perceive iPads to be like cars: find a good used one and get best value. Not true with tech. Unlike cars, tech improves hugely and for the better every year. Every year we get more value for our money.

Each new tech device generation should be perceived as a big jump over the previous generation, and devices fully done in ~7 years or less, even if the device sat unused in the box for that ~7 years. Even if the last generation seems to be the same it never is, because newer materials and engineering have been applied under the hood that even nerds here are unaware of.

Not that a device cannot be used for 7 years (probably less for tablets), because they usually can be. But buying a used tech device is almost always a poor buying proposition unless (and only if) one is a tech nerd who knows all about a specific device and chases a deal with care and expertise.

For a kid a big risk is that as a tablet ages even a few years it may no longer work with the very latest thing that her friends are into a few years from now. Buying a newer device postpones how long it will take for the device to age out on what the preteens are up to at any given time. The same process happens with us oldies and our tech, but not quite as quickly and we usually are not as sensitive to the consequences as a preteen is.

The final (and least important) reason to buy new is because new makes for a better gift.

 

[Andy_2341]

If you can get a really good deal on a base model mini 7, that’s probably your best route. Base model mini 6 is a bit low on storage considering the future and people aren’t letting their 256gb mini 6’s go for much less than new 128gb Mini 7’s. I have a 256gb mini6 that I use for school work & playing and it does great. However, the A17 in the mini 7 would do a better job all around.

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

I wouldn’t consider getting anything older than a 6 at this point. Unless I found something reeeally cheap.

 

[Lioness~]

I have both 5 & 6 - don’t buy the old 5 - I only use it as a timer - 6 is much better.
So get the very young lady a refurbed 6 at least. You might find refurbed 7 too at this point - when 8 is around the corner.
Where to buy, it depends on your location, especially refurbed.

 

[Clix Pix]

Our granddaughter wants an iPad mini. We thought we would explore getting a used one and were wondering what model is the best for us to look at for future proofing a bit (i.e. - 5th or 6th generation, etc.). Also wondering if we a good / safe place to buy.

Give us your thoughts and thanks?

What exactly does the kid think she'll be using the iPad Mini to do? Why does she want one? What do you anticipate her using it for? For how long a period (a few months, a year, several years?) do you think she'll want to continue using it?

 

[TokyoKiller]

Personal suggestion would be grab the cheapest a available Mini on Apples refurb store

 

[rui no onna]

Personal suggestion would be grab the cheapest a available Mini on Apples refurb store

I wouldn’t.

The cheapest refurb mini on Apple Store is the iPad mini 6 64GB WiFi for $379.

You can get a brand new iPad mini 7 128GB WiFi from Amazon or Best Buy for $399.

 

[metingdodo]

over the 6th one

 

[Lioness~]

What exactly does the kid think she'll be using the iPad Mini to do? Why does she want one? What do you anticipate her using it for? For how long a period (a few months, a year, several years?) do you think she'll want to continue using it?

She have no idea why she want it or what she will use it for. Of course not, she's 10.

I didn't even knew what I should use my 1st Mac for, and I was a bit more than 10 😂
But my brother (a PC-guy) told me to go and buy a combuter, and I bought a Mac - it looked so much more lovely. His respons: but then I can't help you. Me: That was the point 😜
I wanted evolve my mind in my own direction - but yes, brother had som good ideas for me at times, and some wasn't that interesting at all.

She will play witth it, things will evolve for the kid, her mind gets a new pal (the iPad) and things can go in many directions as she will evolve and play with it. It's called creativity.

 

[Andy_2341]

She have no idea why she want it or what she will use it for. Of course not, she's 10.

I didn't even knew what I should use my 1st Mac for, and I was a bit more than 10 😂
But my brother (a PC-guy) told me to go and buy a combuter, and I bought a Mac - it looked so much more lovely. His respons: but then I can't help you. Me: That was the point 😜
I wanted evolve my mind in my own direction - but yes, brother had som good ideas for me at times, and some wasn't that interesting at all.

She will play witth it, things will evolve for the kid, her mind gets a new pal (the iPad) and things can go in many directions as she will evolve and play with it. It's called creativity.

And to make that as easy as possible for as long as possible, a 7 fits the bill pretty well.

 

[User #07242024]

I mentioned ergonomics earlier just for my preference. I agree a child would most likely find no problem with either design, I bet even a cracked screen wouldn’t bother her much. So it seems $399 will get us the latest iPad mini 7 brand new—so if budget is constrained, try getting a used one for much lower price.

I’m still on mini 4 iOS 15, works fine. Mini 5 should do a lot better, 6 then 7 very much so.

 

[G5isAlive]

Thanks! Is the Mini 6 easy to use? Another member said the 4/5 is ergonomically easier?

This really is a matter of opinion. I prefer a 6 over a 4 or 5 any day for the performance. I couldn't tell you which is easier to use, they are all easy to use. easier than easy? shrugs. Doesn't impact me. Cant imagine it will impact your granddaughter. She will learn it faster than you.

The 6 will also get more software updates than the 4 or 5. The only reason from my perspective to consider the 4 or 5 is if you want to go cheap.