this. full sized ipad needs a bag, so you might as well take a laptop (a number of us have airs or 13" pro's) whereas i can carry my mini in my hoody pocket
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
All iPads Why is the iPad mini twice as popular as the regular sized iPad
- Thread starter Squilly
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
this. full sized ipad needs a bag, so you might as well take a laptop (a number of us have airs or 13" pro's) whereas i can carry my mini in my hoody pocket
Exactly, I used to lug around my 13.5 MBP but now I just bring my mini, the MBP stays at home
This. The screen is too small so I bought the regular iPad. I wish it was lighter though...
How so? The only difference between the mini and the 3rd gen is the screen and GPU/RAM to run said screen.
Differences between the mini and the 2 include:
-LTE
-Bluetooth 4.0
-Better cameras
-Siri
CPU wise the mini, 2 and 3 are all equal (all running an A5 - the A5X simply added a more robust graphics processor)
Even better - all those features I mentioned as differences from the iPad 2 are the same features found in the 4th gen.
I get the reason everyone says its an iPad 2 is the screen. But lets not forget the iPad 3 is just an iPad 2 with retina.
So one could say the "iPad mini is a smaller iPad 3 without retina" more accurately than saying the "iPad mini is a smaller iPad 2"
Last edited:
RAM is a HUGE deal to me...much more so than processor and screen...512 is not enough, bare minimum at best
Why is it the minimum? I use the iPad mini and it's not slow at all. I have no issues changing apps.
Maybe its the apps he uses, or he keeps a lot of tabs open, or his concern for future proofing it. My iPad2, which has 512MB, lags a bit and reloads some tabs. So far its not too much of a bother so I can see why your Mini runs fine, but its what he considers a minimum requirement.
I have the mini and love it. I replaced my iPad 1. It's the "right size" which is exactly the size of a Moleskine notebook which is also exactly the size of the original Kindle Keyboard.
I mainly use my iPad mini to browse the web, answer emails and read ebooks. I also have some productivity apps and some games.
The iPad mini really has several things going for it:
1 - Price: while "high" compared to the Nexus 7, the mini is the lowest priced "real iPad" people can get their hands on. I'm sure somebody at Apple spent a good amount of time doing research on what price to charge. Sure us users would rather get our hands on the thing for as little money as possible, I'm happy that Apple can protect their operating margin by not entering into a "race to the bottom" with the Android tablet crowd.
2a - Size (resolution/touchscreen): at 1024x768, the mini has "desktop class" display resolution on a relatively small device. And the iPad mini has about 4x the surface area of iPhone 5 class devices which makes things a lot easier to see and it makes it easier to hit the correct spot on the touchscreen. While it's not quite as easy to "hit the right spot" on the iPad mini touchscreen as the larger iPads, it's very good. I once owned a netbook with 600 vertical resolution and every OS and browser I tried on the thing led to frustration. It seems to be a universal software design rule that any button I needed to click was off somewhere below the 600 pixel line on the screen.
2b - Size (physical): While not pocketable in the traditional sense, the iPad mini is purse-able or coat-pocketable. I can toss my iPad mini in the same spot in my backpack that has my pencils and memory sticks, not in the cavernous compartment that holds my computer, which is where my iPad 1 used to live. Adding the iPad 1 to my backpack is like adding a candy bar or a bag of chips. Not really noticeable.
3 - Apps: At 250K+ iPad apps plus 750K iPhone apps, the iPad mini probably has the app you need.
4 - Lightning connector and 5 watt charging: Since I own an iPhone 5, having the iPad mini able to get a full charge using the same 5 watt brick as my iPhone means I need less "spare" chargers lying around and I was able to pass my 10 watt brick along to someone else along with my iPad 1. And while nobody is happy with buying new cables, I must admit I like lightning better than the older 30 pin adapter.
5 - flash: iPad 1 signaled the beginning of the end to this particular piece of crapware/trashware/adware/drmware/malware and I'm happy to see it on its way out. On all my non-iPad browsers, I run flashblock or click to play and I've lost count of how many times the last thing that happened before a browser crash is I clicked to flash on a site some idiot required flash just to view or navigate. I know this isn't an iPad mini specific feature, it's just that selling minis like hotcakes buries flash under an even deeper pile (can you say half a billion?) of devices that cannot and do not need to run flash.
I mainly use my iPad mini to browse the web, answer emails and read ebooks. I also have some productivity apps and some games.
The iPad mini really has several things going for it:
1 - Price: while "high" compared to the Nexus 7, the mini is the lowest priced "real iPad" people can get their hands on. I'm sure somebody at Apple spent a good amount of time doing research on what price to charge. Sure us users would rather get our hands on the thing for as little money as possible, I'm happy that Apple can protect their operating margin by not entering into a "race to the bottom" with the Android tablet crowd.
2a - Size (resolution/touchscreen): at 1024x768, the mini has "desktop class" display resolution on a relatively small device. And the iPad mini has about 4x the surface area of iPhone 5 class devices which makes things a lot easier to see and it makes it easier to hit the correct spot on the touchscreen. While it's not quite as easy to "hit the right spot" on the iPad mini touchscreen as the larger iPads, it's very good. I once owned a netbook with 600 vertical resolution and every OS and browser I tried on the thing led to frustration. It seems to be a universal software design rule that any button I needed to click was off somewhere below the 600 pixel line on the screen.
2b - Size (physical): While not pocketable in the traditional sense, the iPad mini is purse-able or coat-pocketable. I can toss my iPad mini in the same spot in my backpack that has my pencils and memory sticks, not in the cavernous compartment that holds my computer, which is where my iPad 1 used to live. Adding the iPad 1 to my backpack is like adding a candy bar or a bag of chips. Not really noticeable.
3 - Apps: At 250K+ iPad apps plus 750K iPhone apps, the iPad mini probably has the app you need.
4 - Lightning connector and 5 watt charging: Since I own an iPhone 5, having the iPad mini able to get a full charge using the same 5 watt brick as my iPhone means I need less "spare" chargers lying around and I was able to pass my 10 watt brick along to someone else along with my iPad 1. And while nobody is happy with buying new cables, I must admit I like lightning better than the older 30 pin adapter.
5 - flash: iPad 1 signaled the beginning of the end to this particular piece of crapware/trashware/adware/drmware/malware and I'm happy to see it on its way out. On all my non-iPad browsers, I run flashblock or click to play and I've lost count of how many times the last thing that happened before a browser crash is I clicked to flash on a site some idiot required flash just to view or navigate. I know this isn't an iPad mini specific feature, it's just that selling minis like hotcakes buries flash under an even deeper pile (can you say half a billion?) of devices that cannot and do not need to run flash.
I'd take the original iPad over the mini any day. It's the overall best tablet out due to the app store
It's just a better product, but if I wanted a smaller tab, I'd go nexus 7, easily a better tab in the smaller form factor because it's easy more comfortable to hold one handed. The iPad mini is just too wide
It's just a better product, but if I wanted a smaller tab, I'd go nexus 7, easily a better tab in the smaller form factor because it's easy more comfortable to hold one handed. The iPad mini is just too wide
You have to understand hardware to know its not enough moving forward. Download a free system app like this one:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battery-life-pro-all-in-1/id373041141?mt=8
Then check out the RAM allocation. On my mini, even with none or 1 app open and a few safari tabs the RAM is maxed out leaving me with like 40mb...
On my iPad 4 same scenario the RAM allocation was better and always have 300-600mb of RAM free keeping the OS smooth and giving apps more "breathing room"...
In the coming year RAM requirements will increase and just like the iPad 1, the mini will start to choke...
Its simple hardware knowledge...
I'll wait for a response from the person I asked. Thanks, though I am sure he will give the same answer as you, but the real reason will most likely be because it's the industry standard when comparing it to Android devices.
See my last post...
----------
I gave a real world answer based on facts, not feeling and speculation...see above
I even gave you a way to download a free app and see for yourself..
I am guessing you have no understanding of iOS. It's not just simple hardware knowledge. How does iOS manage RAM? It clears things out of RAM that you are not using, when it needs more RAM.
It's the lack of real multi-tasking that clears this RAM.
----------
Yeah thanks, and it's flawed.
It's the lack of real multi-tasking that clears this RAM.
----------
I gave a real world answer based on facts, not feeling and speculation...see above
Yeah thanks, and it's flawed.
hahaha...I tried.
You are correct, and this constant "clearing of RAM" is what slows down the iPads performance. If adding more RAM doesnt matter then why did apple increase it in the iPad 3 and 4? Believe whatever you want to believe, in the end you will anyway.
Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say RAM doesn't matter. There is definitely a minimum. I wanted to know why 1GB was the minimum. If the machine runs fine with 512mb then why go 1GB.
Why did Apple increase it in the iPad 3 and 4? Maybe because people cried that Android tablets all had at least 1GB in them.
It's a theory of better performance? I thought so, I am sure as apps get more intensive that more RAM will speed things up, but currently your human eye won't see the difference in how fast your app opens.
So you haven't touched an iPad mini, but it under performs because it doesn't have at least 1GB of RAM. I can assure you it performs fine, and if anyone tells you anything else it's in their head. Feel free to hitch a ride to your local Apple store and test one out.
Then reread my previous post and you fit into the category "it's all in your head", or return your iPad mini as it under performs due to lack of RAM. It doesn't have the minimum so it's useless.
It is not that it is twice as popular than the iPad. It is the fact that it is something new Apple made. I said this yesterday in another topic and I will say it again. Apple releases a mini and all the apple fanboys jump on it and have to have it. All of a sudden the bigger iPad is too big and heavy, so we need a mini to take with us and leave the iPad at home. How did the iPad sudden become heavy? If you have an iPad you don't need a mini you just don't. If you need a something small to read on get a kindle or a nook. If you really need a smaller tablet the nexus 7 is a much better device than the mini. These numbers in sales that say the mini is so popular are just people that already have an iPad telling themselves that apple made a new product we need it. They also come on forums and sites like this and justify their purchase with making topics about how heavy and big the iPad is. It is just stupid.
Now I love apple too I have an iPhone and an iPad 2, but I do understand that the iPad does me just fine. I also see that the iPad mini has a place in the market. The people that do not own an iPad or have some crappy tablet that does not work. Also the people that want something cheaper than the iPad. But these are not the people that are making the mini sell so well. My sister has never had a tablet just a computer, but she wants a mini and has the money from graduation money and gift cards to get one, but they are sold out at target. Why because apple keeps selling minis to people that already have iPads. OP this is why mini are selling like crazy. Look no further than the people that post on this forum.
Now I love apple too I have an iPhone and an iPad 2, but I do understand that the iPad does me just fine. I also see that the iPad mini has a place in the market. The people that do not own an iPad or have some crappy tablet that does not work. Also the people that want something cheaper than the iPad. But these are not the people that are making the mini sell so well. My sister has never had a tablet just a computer, but she wants a mini and has the money from graduation money and gift cards to get one, but they are sold out at target. Why because apple keeps selling minis to people that already have iPads. OP this is why mini are selling like crazy. Look no further than the people that post on this forum.
Differences in RAM from iOS to Android are like differences in the speed and number of cores in each device's CPU and GPU -
How does Apple keep iOS devices running as smoothly as Android devices at half the cores and less GHz? Similarly, how does Apple blow every Android device out of the water when the A6X only has 4 GPU cores versus the double digits in the Tegra 3 and others?
Better memory allocation and software optimization. What iDevices lack in raw computing power, they make up for by not only having tighter software/hardware optimization but also much better memory allocation and efficiency.
All you need to do is run geekbench to see this. Look at the 4 scores given and look at the scores for memory performance and memory bandwidth - apple's chips/RAM perform better on these scores almost every time (some by wide margins).
This (and the difference in "multitasking" between iOS and Android) is why Apple keeps specs where they are. Because the entire package is tightly optimized for maximum efficiency and overall performance that keeps up (and in some cases surpasses) the competition.
How does Apple keep iOS devices running as smoothly as Android devices at half the cores and less GHz? Similarly, how does Apple blow every Android device out of the water when the A6X only has 4 GPU cores versus the double digits in the Tegra 3 and others?
Better memory allocation and software optimization. What iDevices lack in raw computing power, they make up for by not only having tighter software/hardware optimization but also much better memory allocation and efficiency.
All you need to do is run geekbench to see this. Look at the 4 scores given and look at the scores for memory performance and memory bandwidth - apple's chips/RAM perform better on these scores almost every time (some by wide margins).
This (and the difference in "multitasking" between iOS and Android) is why Apple keeps specs where they are. Because the entire package is tightly optimized for maximum efficiency and overall performance that keeps up (and in some cases surpasses) the competition.
Cheaper.
That's the real reason. Apple could monopolize computing if it was cheaper.
The "lighter" thing makes no sense. Well, it does if you are lying on your back staring up at the iPad as you lose strength due to... self joyous activity.
That's the real reason. Apple could monopolize computing if it was cheaper.
The "lighter" thing makes no sense. Well, it does if you are lying on your back staring up at the iPad as you lose strength due to... self joyous activity.