I’m planning to take advantage of Memorial Day sales and buy my first iPad mini. I got the MacBook Neo in Citrus back in March. This is an entirely subjective question, but which color in the mini 7 lineup do YOU think pairs well with the Citrus?

I have a iPad Pro 12.9, and when I’m traveling, it begins to heavy with my laptop in my backpack. I would like to buy a Mini for my trips. My main usage is Netflix, YouTube and a bit of gaming.

Should I buy the current mini or wait the OLED version? Is it worth it to add 150/200$ to get the newest version (should be released later this year).

Thanks 😊

The very first version and the most recent version of MINI...)

I have a M4 11” IPad Pro. Very happy with it, but considering a mini also. Does it pay to wait for the new mini or would an older model suffice? Casual user at best.
I usually have my Mac laptop,IPhone 15 Pro Max and my 11” M4 pro with me when I travel. Also have a Macmini on my work desk.

What apps do you use DAILY on your iPad mini?
Looking for some underrated must-haves, productivity, notes, reading, editing, games...whatever

Drop your favorites🙏🏻

any advice or recommendations? I am exclusively using it as an input device to take notes, draw diagrams, etc. no art or anything fancy like that.

I'm going with promotion 😶

Just in case we have any tech/analog people out there like myself, here ya go…

For starters, I have an iPad Pro 12.9 inch and an iPhone 17. I recently upgraded my phone from the 12, so ever since I discovered the joy of catching up to modern times once again, I've been thinking about impulsively upgrading everything I have.

I use the 17 for its intended purpose, but I use my pro *so much more* in my opinion. I use it with a magic keyboard so it's become my every-day laptop for just about anything. I used to have my phone glued to me at all times, but now I feel comfortable setting it down wherever since I can use my pro in its place. When it's not mounted on the keyboard, I prop it up at home and use it as a digital art tablet. I carry it with me as long as I'm carrying my backpack. I considered upgrading it with my phone, but I honestly think it still runs just as smoothly as when I got it. The battery health has definitely taken a hit over the 4 years I've had it, but it's just as good as my phone, so I don't think it's necessary.

However, I HATE its weight and portability. I struggle with taking it out in public spaces, like the café or library. I just feel so performative, haha. Because I have the magic keyboard, I can't safely use a case with it because it needs to access its smart connector. I hate the idea of putting on a case when I want to use it without a keyboard (which is only EXCLUSIVELY to draw usually), and taking it off when I want to use the keyboard. It currently does not have a case, but I take pride in the fact that I've kept it intact for this long. If I could choose a different keyboard, I would've opted for something that also came with a case (like a Logitech combo), but I sank money into this keyboard so I'm using it for as long as I can.

So this is where the iPad mini comes in. I've been eyeing something like it since the beginning, even before I started digital art, but I hesitated. It didn't seem that feasible to have an iphone and then getting something marginally bigger, so I went even bigger for a standard ipad 10.9 inch. I got used to the size of it, spoiled myself with the drawing space, and overall having a big shiny screen I could use instead of my phone. Once I started taking it everywhere with me though, it started to get a little embarrassing when I wanted to whip it out to draw or use it as a laptop.

It just seems so much lighter and easy to carry around with the same processing power as my current pro, maybe even better. I would use it as much as my pro ideally, but there's only one thing that really turns me off, and it's how small it is (but its the one thing that really drew me in!). I just feel like the screen is way too small to actually do any big digital art pieces on it/use with a keyboard. I'm sure I would manage (and probably get used to it), but I don't want to put down a chunk of money into it, decide I don't really like it, and reach for my pro instead. I was thinking of maybe trading it in if I decided I really didn't like it (and maybe getting the airpod maxes instead?), but that requires going to a store and interacting with employees, which sounds like extra work I don't really want to do, haha.

I would love to hear anyone else's thoughts, especially if anyone's in a similar boat as me. I'm sorry if my grammar's not that great.

I think I definitely will get it in the next couple months, but I wonder if I should just wait for a new one to come out instead. Im unsure!

What apps make the iPad worth it for you? An app that’s way more enjoyable than on the iPhone?

I have terrible vision. I have been seeing mixed reviews saying the ipad mini text size and all is too small and I have seen others saying its fine but I dont know whats true.

I want to stop straining my eyes when I have to look at a screen.

Is the ipad mini okay for vision? Is it customizable to deal with it?

I think i’ve found the near perfect official Magic Keyboard. - Strong magnets. Mini stays in place and camera cuthole is well aligned - Keys are butterfly, well layed out and no BS fn combo keys. - Charging port in hinge, like official Apple Magic Keyboard

It’s not perfect though (need improvement): - Glass feel plastic trackpad, smooth but hard to click (tap to click solves this) - Opening angle is not ideal. But it would tip over easily anyway, if used on the legs

This will never improve: - for me its impossible to use it on my lap - its too narrow and i need to sit closed legs (squeeze my b*lls)

I sound like a keyboard promoter but i am not. I just want to reach out to Mini Fam and for those that is in search of a keyboard case for the Mini. Oh and if you dont care about trackpad: look for Macally instead 🫶

Is the title possible?
For wired set up, how will it be?

Let’s assume this is a pro device with a $1000 price tag. it would allow an always on lockscreen and make an excellent e reader and note taker. Apple could also steal some market share from Amazon by doing their own vers of kindle unlimited. is this possible or am I just not understanding the technology?

My brother is selling his for 200€, only want to use it for Netflix and reading before bed, no interest in gaming or big productivity apps, also have iCloud and photos won’t eat up space, would that be enough?

Also could buy the regular iPad 11 for more 100 and something €s but for such simple use I’m thinking that it may be extra cost for nothing.. also size may be a bit too big for bed use

Cheers

So I use my Mini 7 so much, you could say it became my main device. Even 70% of my coding use cases can be done on the Mini. For the rest 30% I just take over MBP with Mini. Now to upgrade the setup for my Mini, i am now discovering how to use Mini with monitor.

I am looking for “MBP clamshell” experience. I want to be able to connect my Mini to the monitor and have 4K full display without black bars. Since the newest update, we received stage manager. So this could mean that by enabling stage manager when connected to Monitor, it should be possible to get “extended display” on the Monitor and even lock the iPad to turn off iPad screen and only the monitor.

I dont have time to test this use case. I will put time in this in the weekend. But Im curious about your experience. Have you already tested this with Mini on iOS 26.5? (The latest update with stage manager) and please share what cable, dongle, dock you are using.

TL;DR: to finalise my journey in replacing my MBP as main device (yes I do coding): the last part is display out in MBP in clamshell mode. Please share your experience with Mini and display out on latest iOS!

I’ve been hesitant to get an iPad mini, always hovering over that purchase button, but the steep price (even on sale) got me bad. I got one on best but for $329 refurbished. It just came in the male 2 days ago and already it’s my most used device. Because of all the mixed reviews, I thought thought the jelly scrolling woukd trip me up, but boy was I wrong. I love the size, I’ve already been super productive and unproductive on it. I was scared of its cycle count because of the cheap price, but it only has 29 cycles. Definitely understand why everyone here loves the form factor so much. I had the second generation and the fourth generation, and this one is by far my favorite. It feels the most like an iPad pro. I love it as a companion device to my iPad Pro I got this year, and my iPhone Air. Definitely my favorite Apple devices I’ve ever owned. Highly reccomend the mini for anyone on the fence🙌

Currently using an iPad mini the latest one, and honestly I was perfectly happy with it… until I saw the iPad Pro in person today 😭

That thing is ridiculously slim, premium, and the 120Hz display felt sooo smooth that now I’m seriously tempted.

I’m thinking of selling my iPad mini to CeX and upgrading to the iPad Pro M4. The difference for me would be around £350.

But I’m confused about whether I’ll regret losing the mini size. I mainly use my iPad for casual browsing, reading, YouTube, social media, and lying in bed with it.

What I love about the mini:
• Super light and easy to hold one-handed
• Comfortable for long reading sessions
• Easy to carry everywhere
• Feels “grab and go”

What tempted me about the Pro:
• That insanely smooth 120Hz display
• Slim and premium design
• Bigger immersive screen
• Feels very futuristic and “luxury”

My concern is:
Will the iPad Pro become uncomfortable/heavy for casual use? Especially while reading in bed or holding it for long periods? Will I miss the portability of the mini after the honeymoon phase ends?

Would genuinely love advice from people who moved from a mini to a Pro, especially if you later regretted it… or loved it.