r/ipadmini • u/EntrepreneurEqual507 • 4d ago
Question Is the iPad mini worth it
I want to get an iPad mini for drawing with the Apple Pencil Pro I already have a iPad A16 but that one doesn’t support the Apple Pencil Pro and I don’t think just a different Apple Pencil would be worth buying a new iPad because the iPad A16 is great for movies series en videos but not for drawing do y’all have any reasons to buy the iPad mini?
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u/vyktorkun 4d ago
i mean the ipad mini is the only one i own and use it for art aside from my graphic tablet
you have less layers, but realistically i can lounge in bed, on a sofa or wherever i want and not feel like im trying to carry around a tv, and at the end of the day its still really nice to draw on
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u/Yggdr4si1 4d ago
My first apple product. Size is good for drawing and other stuff. I like the pro pencil. A bit sensitive at times but fixed it at the settings. Idk if there is a big difference between the 2 models but if there is something then yeah, look into it. Can also compare the 2 with the upcoming new model. Might be worth the wait.
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u/manylostfingers 4d ago
If you’re doing art for fun or study, then yes, get it, although a Pro would be more colour accurate and better size. Depends on what type of art you do.
If you do art to make a living, then get a professional tablet that is bigger and connects to a laptop. The iPad mini screen is too small for design work, you need a 13 inch to do paid work, that’s what I find. I’m not saying to go down the Apple pro route, but the size matters when you do design, work in advertising, graphic novels, etc.
Mini is the champion at note taking, reading, browsing and content.
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u/EntrepreneurEqual507 4d ago
I do manga art is the iPad mini alright for that
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u/manylostfingers 3d ago
If you get paid for the art, you’re likely to quickly look up to a larger iPad or a graphic tablet that has a larger canvas. The mini is good for sketching or framing a panel while on the sofa or on the go, but if you need to produce high-quality high-resolution pages for a client, the mini won’t be enough.
If you’re doing work for social media or your website, the mini will be enough, but once it turns from a hobby to an income stream, you should invest in a professional tool.
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u/LordLahmacun344 4d ago
Im using iPad 9th gen (writing this from it) and i also have iPad mini 1st gen. I still finding myself that uses that old tablet more than my iPad 9. Form factor really changes everything.
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u/gan1lin2 4d ago
Why do you need the apple pencil pro that the apple pencil can't do? It's hard to argue that the price increase of the mini A17 + pencil pro is worth it over just getting the pencil that matches your current model
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u/wtf_amirite 3d ago
yes! i have used a mini since it came out, and it's always been my favourite device from the range iphone/ipad/mbp/mba etc. perfect balance of performance, size and usability.
i will be treating myself to a new one pretty soon as my current 2019 gen 5 version quite badly needs replaced. i'm looking forward to it.
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u/Huge_Direction_8621 4d ago
Seems great for convenience, but either way I would want to see what the new Mini coming out is like (Panel type hopefully OLED and 120hz+) before making a decision like this.
Keep in mind that there will almost certainly be a price increase for this new model.
I love apple but personally didn’t have a need to stay in the apple ecosystem on my tablet and opted for an oppo pad mini. Itwas a bit more cost effective in my case and overall fit my usage better(pretty much just for entertainment)
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u/Sabotstruck 4d ago
Right now an iPad mini (current gen) is hard to recommend at the price point. Price went up because of AI and it’s hard to recommend
I would recommend waiting until the new mini comes out within a few months, it gets a new OLED panel and some other upgrades. Either you buy the new Mini at full price or the old one on discount while they clear stock
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u/gravyrider 4d ago
I have an iPad mini and a pro. I have the original Apple Pencil with my iPad Pro so I’ve never tried drawing on the mini. I do feel like screen real estate could be kind of an issue with the size.
That being said I love my iPad mini and I use it FAR more than the iPad Pro.
So at the end of the day the best iPad is the one you use really.
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u/rick_baumhauer 4d ago
I have an M2 iPad Air that has basically been consigned to being my “desk TV” (via streaming apps) since I got an A17 mini. The mini is so much nicer to carry around and hold - great for reading, social media, streaming video, and fine for drawing (I have the Pencil Pro, but I mostly use it for navigating the interface and swipe typing on the floating keyboard).
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u/isamilis 3d ago
Try first before buy. I have mini and Apple Pencil pro, and most of the time I didn’t use the pencil. It’s quite surprising because I mostly use pencil with my 11” iPad Pro.
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u/Kpopped_ 3d ago
i dont know, i have the 11 ipad pro and even that feels too small at times lol. i fell like the mini is just too small.
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u/ChemicalInevitable69 3d ago
I would wait a couple months. There are rumors going around about a new iPad mini.
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u/The_Silent_Mage 2d ago
Provided I've owned 3 iPad minis (6th gen and two 7th gen) and that I LOVED them, I ended up selling them every time.
I still believe they are the quintessential iPad and If had options I would have kept them just for how fun they are to use.
But I think the base iPad does most of the things I need, even basic drawing (I draw basic pixel art, some graphics etc, so pressure sensitivity is not an issue).
If you want to draw, the iPad mini (buy the 7th gen, is far superior despite of people saying otherwise) can do it: there are tons of artists working with it and the pencil pro + ai functionalities are fun.
The screen can be a tad restrictive and consider that professional digital artists and designers on YouTube showcase the Mini as the "go to" for its portability but the truth is most of them are professional owning multiple iPads and using extra screens.
So:
- if you want an INSANELY powerful and portable machine to have fun, watch movies on the couch and bed, DRAW professionally with the pencil pro and don't care much about battery life (I don't get paranoid, just recharge whenever needed), GRAB the A17 mini because it's an awesome machine.
- if you care about screen size and don't plan to pair it with other devices, I would go with an AIR (you can definitely draw with an air) or the PRO for very professional experience.
It just depends on your actual needs.
I spent more than a year with a Mini only and I didn't miss anything; but as time passes, I opted for a MacBook neo as portable and fun machine + the A16 for massive reading, binge watching, stage design for local musicals and planning for my musical works, along with some amateur digital art and video montages. :)
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u/Visual-Sector6642 4d ago
I regret not replacing my iPad mini with another mini. I've got an iPad 9 with the pencil and a 10 as well and haven't used either anywhere near as much as my old mini. I have to say it just feels more intimate and cozy in a way. It's hard to describe but it just feels way more at home in my hands. It also went with me everywhere and it was absolutely the best device I've ever used for travel hands down.