iPad Mini 7 for field inspections, one-handed standing use. Excel checklists. Worth it?

[u/woppPt]

Considering the iPad Mini 7 + USB-C Pencil for work inspections. Always standing, never at a desk. Plan is to use Excel for checklists and type notes while standing.

Two ways I'd use it:

- Hold with one hand, write/tick with Pencil in the other (clipboard style)

- Hold with both hands and type with thumbs

Also want to use the Pencil to annotate photos of issues, circling damage, highlighting problems etc.

Also want it for reading, browsing, travelling.

Considered the Air 11" but the Mini feels better for one-handed hold and it's much lighter.

My questions:

1. Is the screen too small for typing notes in Excel while standing?

2. Which feels more natural for filling checklists, Pencil one-handed or two thumbs?

3. Pencil worth it just for photo annotation or overkill?

Anyone using it for fieldwork or standing use? How do you find it?

[u/FIXEDGEARBIKE]

I also manage a company with inspectors in the field. We tried iPad mini 7 first and both of my main guys didn’t love it. It’s definitely crowded and the screen isn’t very bright in the sun. I switched them to Airs and they’re happy. They can still one hand it with cases that have a hand strap on the back.

I kept the mini and love it as an all around personal device/reader, and I use it standing for inventory and the little I do in the field now. You can make it work, but you’ll do a lot of zooming in and out. Also excel sucks ass on any iPad. We’re using custom pdfs and web forms I created with AI help.

[u/umdterp732]

you may want to make a fillable PDF instead of excel. i could see using data entry into excel being clunky

[u/umdterp732 → u/umdterp732]

could maybe use something like smartsheets what has the form that dumps data into a excel

[u/CDC-sndlg]

The mini is perfect for your use case scenario.
1. No, it is not.
2. Pencil one handed.
3. It is worth it, it feels so natural.

[u/ThingsGotStabby]

It sucks typing on an iPad because unlike competitors there is no haptic feedback so you will have a completely dead typing experience. Speaking as someone with a Mini7.

Screen is dim on highest brightness in the Sun. Battery sucks.

[u/melancholicsoldier → u/ThingsGotStabby]

Is there no haptic feedback on any iPad model?

[u/ThingsGotStabby → u/melancholicsoldier]

Absolutely zero. I encourage you to try out how lifeless typing on an iPad is in any Apple Store. This is yet another feature Apple has yet to implement, while competitors have long had.

[u/melancholicsoldier → u/ThingsGotStabby]

Undoubtedly this is to coerce users into buying an accessory like the Magic Keyboard

[u/ThingsGotStabby → u/melancholicsoldier]

The Magic Keyboard costs almost as much as a lower spec iPad. It's a hard sell. It's more than any actual desktop keyboard by a long shot and even their own desktop keyboards. Make no sense.

[u/melancholicsoldier → u/ThingsGotStabby]

Yes that's true. Well, I cannot think of any other reason why Apple wouldn't include haptic feedback on any of the iPad models.

[u/Makingally]

Both usage for okay with ipad mini 7
You can use also 3rd party pencil for example esr geo pencil

[u/Apprehensive-Loss316 → u/[deleted]]

I second the pro. Just picked it up for 99 from amazon vs 129 at Apple

[u/Jacarape]

I used a 5 and a 6 since launch in the field for years. The screen is not daylight useable.

[u/throwaway8373469238]

sounds extra. in the field just use a notebook.