Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

4743913

Cancelled
Original poster
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,713
Just felt redundant toting the iPad Pro 11 and a M2 Macbook Air. Am I going to have a hard time adjusting to the lack of screen snappiness or will it be barely noticeable? I picked up the 5G/256/purple. I mainly use my iPad for comics, magazines, videos.
 

wilyone

macrumors newbie
Jan 14, 2016
13
8
It would depend upon your source material. Where you are getting your magazines, comics, and videos. For videos, I haven’t noticed any difference after moving from a 12.9” iPad pro. (Other than screen size that is.) For magazines and comics, very few of the ones I have read will extend a bit beyond the screen size of the mini. I had to either rotate the device or play with some pinching / pulling to read the text on the edges. For the majority of what I read, the mini 6 works perfectly.
 

CharlesShaw

macrumors 65816
May 8, 2015
1,489
2,308
Adjusting to the smaller screen required some experimentation with text size settings that I had neither needed nor noticed before, but once I figured out that—for me—the mini is superior during “quiet time” when I’m not browsing, just reading or enjoying curated content, I decided to keep it. I also needed to accept that—for me—the mini is best more fun if I can still keep my larger iPad (no longer own a MacBook) for stuff like this post.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: VaruLV

headlessmike

macrumors 65816
May 16, 2017
1,286
2,576
You'll notice it immediately, but forget about it after a few minutes of real use. The faster refresh rate is noticeable when swiping on the home screen but not during the majority of use (such as reading things). I have a Pro and mini as well and prefer the mini.
 

4743913

Cancelled
Original poster
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,713
what about restoring a backup from M1 to iPad mini? no issues there right?
 

CharlesShaw

macrumors 65816
May 8, 2015
1,489
2,308
what about restoring a backup from M1 to iPad mini? no issues there right?
Quick Start is very helpful and I had no issues restoring my backup to and from 11, 12.9, mini, 10.5 (long story) over the past new months and it was always smooth. It can use an iCloud backup or transfer directly from the other iPad to the new iPad if you want (oddly that needed less time). It will update the new iPadOS if needed before the restore—and help you set up cellular if desired.

 

CharlesShaw

macrumors 65816
May 8, 2015
1,489
2,308
I went to Mini for about 3 months. Couldn’t make the smaller size work for me.
I get that. Unlike my iPhone mini, there is no ”grandpa mode” zoomed display resolution to switch to, so one must adjust the text size for individual apps. But most system elements remain tiny. It feels like using an 11” iPad about 24” farther away than normal.

But Apple Books in portrait mode with text set appropriately is great.* And I do like that Safari can keep track of different text sizes for different sites.

*Edit: but to be fair, Apple Books in 2-page landscape mode on an 11” is also great.
 
Last edited:

Rafterman

Contributor
Apr 23, 2010
7,103
8,509
The problem with the Mini is scaling. The Pros have the same text size, regardless of iPad size, 11 or 12.9 And you can adjust to make text and elements bigger, or more data displayed onscreen. But with the Mini, everything is small.
 

4743913

Cancelled
Original poster
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,713
Have you made the switch already? If you're like me then you'll immediately notice (and be annoyed by) the substantial degradation in screen quality. I own both of those devices.

yeah I ordered last night. I just didn't like toting an iPad + Magic Keyboard that was almost the same size as my laptop. I know there is going to be a tradeoff with screen but I was to the point where I was comtemplating just leaving my iPad at home..
 
  • Like
Reactions: VaruLV

leifp

macrumors 6502
Feb 8, 2008
370
358
Canada
Obviously everybody is different but for me, I replaced the M1 11” with an M2 12.9” specifically because I really disliked the screen on the mini. Since that’s the one I wanted, as the 11” is already too unwieldy, I decided to double down.

I imagine you can figure out how I feel about my own decision…

If I could get an iPad Pro mini without miniLED, I’d be all over that.

I blooming hate the screen on 12.9”…
 
  • Like
Reactions: leebroath and curdy

4743913

Cancelled
Original poster
Aug 19, 2020
1,564
3,713
Obviously everybody is different but for me, I replaced the M1 11” with an M2 12.9” specifically because I really disliked the screen on the mini. Since that’s the one I wanted, as the 11” is already too unwieldy, I decided to double down.

I imagine you can figure out how I feel about my own decision…

If I could get an iPad Pro mini without miniLED, I’d be all over that.

I blooming hate the screen on 12.9”…

Did you carry your iPad + laptop? Thats my main issue. If I wasn't a laptop person (ALWAYS want my laptop with me), I would prefer the 11" Pro over the Mini.
 

antiprotest

macrumors 601
Apr 19, 2010
4,066
14,338
For some the big issue will be switching from the very convenient FaceID to the ultra inconvenient power button TouchID. It's even worse than the home button TouchID. It's so bad that I disabled TouchID altogether and use passcode alone. But if you hate FaceID than you might like this better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kltmom

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,587
2,007
For some the big issue will be switching from the very convenient FaceID to the ultra inconvenient power button TouchID. It's even worse than the home button TouchID. It's so bad that I disabled TouchID altogether and use passcode alone. But if you hate FaceID than you might like this better.
You find it that bad? I agree it is slower, especially when compared to the second-gen Touch ID present on the iPhone 6s onwards, but it works fine for me on my Air 5, it doesn’t fail. Is it too slow for you? Too inaccurate?
 

antiprotest

macrumors 601
Apr 19, 2010
4,066
14,338
You find it that bad? I agree it is slower, especially when compared to the second-gen Touch ID present on the iPhone 6s onwards, but it works fine for me on my Air 5, it doesn’t fail. Is it too slow for you? Too inaccurate?
I think I am a minority case that doesn't apply to everybody. I have tried several devices with TouchID over the years -- iPhone, iPad, Mac -- and they have never remembered my prints for more than 1-3 days. I have seen comments by others who have the same problem, but I assume they are rare.

With the mini 6 (or power button TouchID), the specific issue is the placement of the TouchID button. It's on the edge instead of the front, and I find that this location is less convenient than a front home button.

However, I get it that many people have no problems with all of this.
 

nburwell

macrumors 603
May 6, 2008
5,467
2,369
DE
For what the OP stated they are using the Mini for, I think they’ll be okay. I own both the 11” M1 and Mini 6. I use both devices equally and my Mini is my go-to for reading. Though if I could have only one, it would be the 11” and let the Mini go.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,642
12,770
You find it that bad? I agree it is slower, especially when compared to the second-gen Touch ID present on the iPhone 6s onwards, but it works fine for me on my Air 5, it doesn’t fail. Is it too slow for you? Too inaccurate?

I've got an Air 4, Air 5 and mini 6.

On all of them, my right index finger works 99% of the time.

Meanwhile, my left index and left middle finger fail 99% of the time.

With the old home button TouchID, both my left and right hand fingers authenticate fine.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,642
12,770
Did you carry your iPad + laptop? Thats my main issue. If I wasn't a laptop person (ALWAYS want my laptop with me), I would prefer the 11" Pro over the Mini.

Not a fan of laptops myself. I've got a desktop for work and use iPads for pretty much all personal stuff.

About the only time I need the laptop is when working while at hotels (pretty rare).
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,587
2,007
I've got an Air 4, Air 5 and mini 6.

On all of them, my right index finger works 99% of the time.

Meanwhile, my left index and left middle finger fail 99% of the time.

With the old home button TouchID, both my left and right hand fingers authenticate fine.
That’s interesting, especially considering it works with specific digits. I hadn’t heard of that. I use one finger basically, but I’ve never had any issue with any of the fingers I’ve tried (admittedly, haven’t tried all 10).


And on a home button Touch ID it works fine? Add it to the mysterious tale, that is odd. I wonder why that is!
 

leifp

macrumors 6502
Feb 8, 2008
370
358
Canada
Did you carry your iPad + laptop? Thats my main issue. If I wasn't a laptop person (ALWAYS want my laptop with me), I would prefer the 11" Pro over the Mini.
So, that’s the second thing. I have a laptop even though I hate laptops. I keep hoping iPads can become my portable computing solution. Until now that’s a complete failure… but I will still replace my MBPro with a Studio once it makes sense…
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.