iPad Why iPad mini when you've got an iPad Air

[jdag]

There is no upside to the iPad Air unless you have poor vision. $100 cheaper, same specs, more portable, lighter, higher DPI screen.

This is simply nonsense. Forget screen resolution, cost, weight, speed, memory, color...forget everything else. The mini is simply too small for some people...me included?

I would love to love the mini. My wife has a mini and I have used it extensively, but it is just too small for my tastes. It could be $300 less than a full sized iPad and I would not buy it. That's just me! It does not make it a poor decision for others!

Why on earth is this a recurring debate? It is completely a matter of preference!

 

[kazmac]

...

Lighter weight, less $ and better dpi: it would be in my best interest to wait for the Retina Mini.

 

[jchung]

I went to my closest Apple Store on Friday when the Air was released to compare the Air to the Mini. Since the Retina Mini has the same processor and battery life of the Air, it would basically come down to size/weight and display. I held the Air and Mini in my hand for several minutes at a time. What I found was that the Air puts noticeably more torque on the wrist when holding with one hand than the Mini. I went back and forth a couple times comparing text size on both. The Air is easier to read but harder to hold in one hand for long periods of time. I ultimately decided the weight of the Air, although its significantly lighter than the previous iPad, still felt significantly heavier in the hand than the Mini. So I've opted to go with the Mini w/ Retina.

Joo

 

[Steviejobz]

Conclusion I have come to as well. I have a 2013 MacBook Air for home portable use and a Mini and my iPad Air is going back this morning. I'll await the retina Mini as an upgrade for my current Mini.

I was taking the subway today reading a book and then switching apps one-handed on my Mini while walking to work. The thought came that I could never do this on a full-size ipad. I'm not saying anything is wrong with full size but maybe if I had an hour long commute where I was sitting the whole time it would work. Or on a long flight. But those are not everyday events. When I travel for work, I prefer to pack light anyway and will prob have another device that I need for work. At home, I always use my laptop even though I have a perfectly good ipad 3 as well. Laptop just allows me to do more.

Retina mini is the sweet spot for me.

 

[caesarp]

If you have an iPhone, the mini is too small an upgrade in comparison. So get the Air. You also already have portability with the iPhone.

If you don't have an iPhone and need portability (take with you everywhere) -- get the mini.

If you don't need portability at all (mostly use at home), get the Air.

Simple.

 

[Deliro]

If you have an iPhone, the mini is too small an upgrade in comparison. So get the Air. You also already have portability with the iPhone.

If you don't have an iPhone and need portability (take with you everywhere) -- get the mini.

If you don't need portability at all (mostly use at home), get the Air.

Simple.

My thoughts exactly. I am often curious why folks tote around a mini everywhere and have their iPhone as well. Are you that much more efficient on a mini that a 4 inch iPhone? Is your content consumption so much easier that its worth lugging the device around? I'm curious to hear this. I had a Nexus 7, and brought it around with me.. But then it just became a burden for me (I'm a dude, so pockets pretty much my only option) and it became apparent that there was little to no advantage of the bigger screen with my every day uses.

 

[thelookingglass]

If you have an iPhone, the mini is too small an upgrade in comparison. So get the Air. You also already have portability with the iPhone.

If you don't have an iPhone and need portability (take with you everywhere) -- get the mini.

If you don't need portability at all (mostly use at home), get the Air.

Simple.

Spot on. The mini is nice, but the screen too small. Portability not a factor because I have a 4" screen in my pocket for that.

 

[ditzy]

My thoughts exactly. I am often curious why folks tote around a mini everywhere and have their iPhone as well. Are you that much more efficient on a mini that a 4 inch iPhone? Is your content consumption so much easier that its worth lugging the device around? I'm curious to hear this. I had a Nexus 7, and brought it around with me.. But then it just became a burden for me (I'm a dude, so pockets pretty much my only option) and it became apparent that there was little to no advantage of the bigger screen with my every day uses.

Yes I am much more efficient on a mini than iPhone. While actually being no less efficient than I was on a bigger iPad. I don't bring the iPad with me everywhere, but at the same time when I need to bring it with me it isn't the burden that the regular sized iPad was.
Plus I don't just use my iPad for content consumption.

 

[Brittany246]

Air superfluous for most who use laptop as main device at home. If I used a desktop, then I'd get the Air and the mini. I never use full size ipad at home b/c my laptop is better. If it is going to rest on something anyway, might as well be most powerful, easiest to type device.

Mini perfect for when not at home and one-handed comfort is paramount like when I want to read a book.

And it is cheaper.


I have a feeling the Air return rate will be very high once the Mini Retina is released

I don't personally don't think so. My laptop is heavy and bulky, and only has a 4/5 hour battery life. I can't use it longer than that without taking the big ass charging cord with it. Yesterday, I used the iPad Air until it died, and it got nearly 11 hours of battery life, so I don't even have to bother taking the charging cord with me. I only really use my laptop for surfing the internet, watching videos, and reading articles for some of my classes, so an iPad Air is perfect for me. If I had a 13 inch macbook pro or an macbook air, then I would be fine with the iPad Mini.

 

[Steviejobz]

I only really use my laptop for surfing the internet, watching videos, and reading articles for some of my classes, so an iPad Air is perfect for me. If I had a 13 inch macbook pro or an macbook air, then I would be fine with the iPad Mini.

This makes my point exactly. Everything you do on a laptop you can do on the air. So both would be superfluous. For those that do more on a laptop, it is even more superfluous. Granted, if your laptop is from the 1980s and weighs 400 pounds, then sure the comparison isnt quite the same.

 

[gerbilbox]

My thoughts exactly. I am often curious why folks tote around a mini everywhere and have their iPhone as well. Are you that much more efficient on a mini that a 4 inch iPhone? Is your content consumption so much easier that its worth lugging the device around? I'm curious to hear this. I had a Nexus 7, and brought it around with me.. But then it just became a burden for me (I'm a dude, so pockets pretty much my only option) and it became apparent that there was little to no advantage of the bigger screen with my every day uses.

Yes actually, I'm also much more efficient on screens larger than my iPhone 5s. I have above average sight, so I don't have a problem seeing text on small sizes (especially at Retina-quality), but for some reason I don't enjoy doing so on a 4-inch screen. I read at normal speeds on my iPhone but it feels like a dragging myself to get through a paragraph. Even on my 6-inch Kindle it's much more enjoyable than on my iPhone, and I can't wait to get a Retina iPad mini once it comes out. I actually prefer the screen size of the iPad Air, but I don't find the screen-size difference dramatic enough to justify the extra $100.

 

[Steviejobz]

My thoughts exactly. I am often curious why folks tote around a mini everywhere and have their iPhone as well. Are you that much more efficient on a mini that a 4 inch iPhone? Is your content consumption so much easier that its worth lugging the device around? I'm curious to hear this. I had a Nexus 7, and brought it around with me.. But then it just became a burden for me (I'm a dude, so pockets pretty much my only option) and it became apparent that there was little to no advantage of the bigger screen with my every day uses.

Is this a serious post? You do realize the Mini offer 97.5% more screen size vs. the iPhone. Whereas the Air offers a mere 22.8% increase over the Mini.

Your comparison is like saying why do people wear long pants without socks when they are already wearing underwear.

 

[HankHowdy]

I'm going for the rMini. My current tablet is a Playbook and I love that size. I just always though the IPad had too much surface area.

I have a 4S and a rMini will be a big deal to me screen size wise.

Can't wait for that to be released.

 

[caesarp]

Is this a serious post? You do realize the Mini offer 97.5% more screen size vs. the iPhone. Whereas the Air offers a mere 22.8% increase over the Mini.

Your comparison is like saying why do people wear long pants without socks when they are already wearing underwear.

But what is the percentage increase of air screen size over iPhone?

You argument suggests that if you already have an iPhone, go with the Air. You then get the best of both worlds (portability and large screen size).

If you have neither and you need portability, get the mini.

 

[darknyt]

One detail that floored me was seeing that both the retina mini and iPad Air are the SAME THICKNESS.

Had to re-read that several times. I was convinced I was getting the retina mini, but seeing how much they trimmed off the Air, it is swaying me heavily back to the Air.

Now it's really just a question of screen size.

 

[rkuo]

My thoughts exactly. I am often curious why folks tote around a mini everywhere and have their iPhone as well. Are you that much more efficient on a mini that a 4 inch iPhone? Is your content consumption so much easier that its worth lugging the device around? I'm curious to hear this. I had a Nexus 7, and brought it around with me.. But then it just became a burden for me (I'm a dude, so pockets pretty much my only option) and it became apparent that there was little to no advantage of the bigger screen with my every day uses.

Mini vs phone is a HUGE difference. Everyone's use case is going to be different, but the big iPad is just too big to fit in my jacket pocket and it's rather unwieldy to carry around. This has been greatly improved with the new iPad Air now, but the point remains ... the mini is more about portability for me in certain situations and is still a carry around device. Anything more required and i'm going to my laptop.

 

[Deliro]

Ok just in my use case I was no more productive with the nexus 7. Replying to emails, searching the web, quick edits on documents I was just as efficient on my iPhone.

 

[Blakjack]

One handed use is still not possible on the Air. The Mini is much more compact.

Make sure you say "For some people" because now that it's much smaller and lighter, many others can hold with one hand. I definitely can and am enjoying it.

 

[Marky67]

I went to my closest Apple Store on Friday when the Air was released to compare the Air to the Mini. Since the Retina Mini has the same processor and battery life of the Air, it would basically come down to size/weight and display. I held the Air and Mini in my hand for several minutes at a time. What I found was that the Air puts noticeably more torque on the wrist when holding with one hand than the Mini. I went back and forth a couple times comparing text size on both. The Air is easier to read but harder to hold in one hand for long periods of time. I ultimately decided the weight of the Air, although its significantly lighter than the previous iPad, still felt significantly heavier in the hand than the Mini. So I've opted to go with the Mini w/ Retina.

Joo

I done exactly what you done and came to the same conclusion. MiniR for sure for me, I will buy it blind

 

[Freakyshiat]

If you find the mini screen 'not big enough' compared to your 5/5s, please note that the next iphone will be a larger device, possibly 4.7/4.8 inch?

 

[Blakjack]

One handed use is still not possible on the Air. The Mini is much more compact.

I've also had the ipad 1,2,3. The weight and size of the air compared to the others is life changingly differently. I can hold it one hand with no problem. Portability has never been a conspcern with either of the iPads for me because it's the size of a magazine and more so now than ever. Those claiming the air is mor portable, I get ipwhat you are saying but that's ONLY because you put in a purse. FYI: Men don't carry purses.

 

[Naramis]

I would like to see someone using a mini one handed.

I know, right! For me, neither the Mini nor the Air can be used one-handed for long periods (>1 hour) comfortably.

I have a Kindle 3 which weights 240 grams. I can use it one-handed for long periods no problem. But if I put a cover on it (which would bring it to about the weight of the Mini, 340 grams), my hands get tired after a while. I have to remove the cover to read for long periods.

Can you check your email and a couple of websites on the Mini one-handed? Sure. But reading a few chapters of a book? You'll be switching hands and looking for something to support it on quite often, specially if you're lying down and holding it above your head..

Also, I really don't know how people fit a Mini on their pockets.. I find my Galaxy S3 already on the limit of being pocket-able.. what kind of pants are you guys wearing?

So if I'm going to need something to carry it in, and two hands to use it for long periods.. might as well get the Air

 

[shadow puppet]

After a weekend using my iPad Air, I've decided to return it.

Having never owned an iPad, I assumed I'd prefer a larger screen. After using the Air to read ebooks with my small hands (and arthritic wrists), then spending time today at an Apple store playing with a mini, I've realized the mini is a better fit for me. That was a shocker, previously I'd never considered it. I was surprised at the mini's screen size and ability to read text without having to zoom in as much as I thought I might with my aging eyes.

After waiting so long to own an iPad, it's going to be so hard to return my Air today. It's stunning & my screen didn't have any of the problems I've seen posted on the forum. But I'd rather get it back before anything happens that might make it un-returnable.

Now the really hard part: waiting for the new mini to be available and hoping I get one before they run out!

 

[C. Robert]

I know, right! For me, neither the Mini nor the Air can be used one-handed for long periods (>1 hour) comfortably.

I have a Kindle 3 which weights 240 grams. I can use it one-handed for long periods no problem. But if I put a cover on it (which would bring it to about the weight of the Mini, 340 grams), my hands get tired after a while. I have to remove the cover to read for long periods.

Can you check your email and a couple of websites on the Mini one-handed? Sure. But reading a few chapters of a book? You'll be switching hands and looking for something to support it on quite often, specially if you're lying down and holding it above your head..

Also, I really don't know how people fit a Mini on their pockets.. I find my Galaxy S3 already on the limit of being pocket-able.. what kind of pants are you guys wearing?

So if I'm going to need something to carry it in, and two hands to use it for long periods.. might as well get the Air

I actually don't think anyone can. I have big hands and I hold the mini in one hand and use the other hand to manipulate the screen. I don't think anyone has hands big enough to hold and scroll one handed.

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It's easy... You hold it in one hand and use the tips of your fingers to swipe directions for when you read. The Air is not really light enough or small enough to compactly fit into one hand comfortably in a resting position (laying down, for instance) for an extended period of time.

Not to mention...

I would like to see a video of you using it one-handed. Not just 10% of the screen but the whole screen.

 

[Gix1k]

I was a mini 1 owner. Sold for Nexus 7 simply for screen. I was dead set on when mini with retina came out I was going back to apple. I bought a 32g Air and will not be getting the mini 2. The weight and how thin the Air is is simply amazing. The extra screen for just around the house is perfect.