iPad Air vs iPad Mini

[applegeek911]

I just recently sold my iPad 2 to Mac of All Trades, and I'm looking to replace it. I've always been used to the form factor of the full-size iPad, but I'm willing to make the switch.

I mainly use my iPad for media consumption, but I occasionaly edit documents on there. The only concern I have with the iPad Mini is editing Pages documents on it - it seems impractical.

I'm still trying to figure out the perfect sweet spot inbetween my 13" MacBook Air and my iPhone 5

Should I save the $100 and go for the iPad Mini - or go for the iPad Air?

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Get the iPad Air 2. Other than TouchID, the new iPad mini has no hardware updates from last year's model. You'd be paying a premium for year-old internals. It's truly disgusting. The iPad Air 2, on the other hand, has all new internals and performs on-par with a 2012 MacBook Air. It's a total no brainer.

 

[pigoo3]

It's really a personal choice. Both have their positives & negatives. You just got to figure out how these pro's & con's fit into your tablet usage patterns/needs.

- Nick

 

[applegeek911]

Thanks for the advice. It's my fault for not clarifying, but I'm actually debating between the iPad Air (Original) and the iPad Mini 2. I've seen the benchmarks for the A8X, and it seems like an absolute beast of an SOC. Also, the 2048x1536 Retina Display would completely destroy my MacBook Air's 1440x900 panel.

I'm just looking for a device to hold the middle ground between my MacBook and my iPhone - not something to replace my MacBook. I'll take your advice into consideration and see if I can gather some more funds.

Cheers.

 

[applegeek911]

Thanks Nick, I appreciate you responding so quickly. I guess I'll just ponder for awhile longer

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Thanks for the advice. It's my fault for not clarifying, but I'm actually debating between the iPad Air (Original) and the iPad Mini 2. I've seen the benchmarks for the A8X, and it seems like an absolute beast of an SOC. Also, the 2048x1536 Retina Display would completely destroy my MacBook Air's 1440x900 panel.

I'm just looking for a device to hold the middle ground between my MacBook and my iPhone - not something to replace my MacBook. I'll take your advice into consideration and see if I can gather some more fund.

Well now those 2 have the exact same internals, so this is simply a personal choice of size. I would just stick with the MBA to be honest, unless you simply need something even more portable than that is already.

 

[pigoo3]

Also, the 2048x1536 Retina Display would completely destroy my MacBook Air's 1440x900 panel.

Currently my wife & I have an iPad 1 and an iPad 3 (retina display). Even when you look at them side by side the sharpness (which is what the retina display helps with) is not that dramatically different (IMHO). And if you use them separately (not side by side)…you really don't think that the iPad 1 display quality is really "bad"…it's actually quite good. Speed is a different matter!

But you're going from an iPad 2…and the performance of an iPad 2 is much better than an iPad 1.

I'm just looking for a device to hold the middle ground between my MacBook and my iPhone - not something to replace my MacBook. I'll take your advice into consideration and see if I can gather some more fund.

Your biggest decision points (IMO) between the iPad Air & iPad mini are display size and weight. If you want small & light…then get the mini. If you want larger display area…get the iPad Air.

But since you have an iPhone…if you get the mini…then you will be questioning if the mini's display is just a larger iPhone display (especially for folks with an iPhone 6+). The iPad Air display is definitely larger than an iPhone…and the iPad Air is certainly lighter & more portable than a MacBook.

- Nick

 

[Scotex89]

l.

I'm just looking for a device to hold the middle ground between my MacBook and my iPhone - not something to replace my MacBook..

I had the exact same quandary. I retired from my job and had to give back my iPad 2, which I loved, but was very heavy. I looked at the Air and the Mini in the Apple store, and read many any reviews of them both. I even posted a question to my friends on Facebook, but still couldn't decide. But since I was replacing a full sized iPad, it made sense to go for the same size, and I bought the original Air earlier this year. I got it with cellular and I used it when I travelled to the UK as my GPS. It was fabulous. The Mini would have worked for that too though.

As someone else said it is a personal choice. But I love my Air. I have a MB Air, which I use for world processing. My iPad is for fun. And it is. Lots of.

 

[applegeek911]

Well now those 2 have the exact same internals, so this is simply a personal choice of size. I would just stick with the MBA to be honest, unless you simply need something even more portable than that is already.

I've been thinking about sticking with just my MacBook and my iPhone. I'm just accustomed to having an iPad to fill that gap in the middle.

 

[applegeek911]

But since you have an iPhone…if you get the mini…then you will be questioning if the mini's display is just a larger iPhone display (especially for folks with an iPhone 6+). The iPad Air display is definitely larger than an iPhone…and the iPad Air is certainly lighter & more portable than a MacBook.

Thanks for all of the advice, I'm leaning more towards the Air after reading what you had to say

 

[applegeek911]

I had the exact same quandary. I retired from my job and had to give back my iPad 2, which I loved, but was very heavy. I looked at the Air and the Mini in the Apple store, and read many any reviews of them both. I even posted a question to my friends on Facebook, but still couldn't decide. But since I was replacing a full sized iPad, it made sense to go for the same size, and I bought the original Air earlier this year. I got it with cellular and I used it when I travelled to the UK as my GPS. It was fabulous. The Mini would have worked for that too though.

As someone else said it is a personal choice. But I love my Air. I have a MB Air, which I use for world processing. My iPad is for fun. And it is. Lots of.

Thanks for the advice, I think I'm going to go for the iPad Air. I find it amazing that you have an 11" MacBook Air and an iPad Air - I would think the experience would be redundant and one would end up replacing the other.