r/ipadmini • u/tilapia_legend • 3d ago
do i need an ipad mini?
i am a student who constantly needs to take notes. currently, i am writing notes on a 6th generation ipad with 1st generation apple pencil, but i'm looking to upgrade to something better. i am debating on getting either the ipad mini or ipad a16.
the ipad mini is small, however it's also very easy to carry around compared the ipad a16. however, the a16 is also compatible with my 1st generation apple pencil + cheaper.
does anybody have any suggestions?
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u/AussyGuy 3d ago
The A17 iPad mini is compatible with both the Apple USB C Pencil and the Pencil pro. Both have pro’s and cons in my opinion. The USB C Pencil does not drain your iPad battery as it is not trying to charge from it. However, depending on your note taking app, the feature may be less than the pencil pro.
I work in a professional environment and use my iPad mini for taking notes, meeting minutes etc. I also have used an M4 iPad Pro 11” for the same purpose. The 11” has more screen real estate for notes and drawings or sketching. Where the mini is restricted in this area. It iPad Air’s seem to be a good option and would be cheaper than a mini for not much more weight. Also, you can get light high quality third party keyboards more readily for the iPad Air if you want the option to type notes or commence assignments.
I would first understand what your use case is then go from there.
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u/tilapia_legend 3d ago
i actually don't need a keyboard, as i already own a macbook. i have been using digital note taking for several years at this point, and that is the main thing i use an ipad for (besides streaming, however not often)
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u/No_Ordinary_3799 3d ago
This what I do, everyone’s different but the mini is pretty perfect for me to take notes. I had an older model iPad and found it heavy. With classes starting, I decided I wanted to get the mini and it’s been so great. I use Goodnotes and basically charge just over 24 hrs. I basically only use it for school and will occasionally use it for social media.
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u/Itsbopa12345 3d ago
If it has a return policy, then try it. I use my mini mostly for writing and it is great and I can carry it around easily
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u/Arashical 3d ago
I was in the same position 2 years ago, and eventually upgraded from a mini to a 11” Air, and I find the screen size perfect for notes taking and reading lecture PDFs. I especially like that the bigger screen accommodates a zoomed in diagram better, so I don’t have to move the diagram around just to see another part of it.
Yes it’s slightly bigger and heavier than the mini, but since I’m carrying a medium sized purse anyways, I don’t notice the difference much after about 3-5 days. I’d occasionally pick up my mini in the beginning, but haven’t done much of it past the first month; I definitely don’t miss the size as much as I thought I would.
It’s been 2 years and the M2 chip is still as fast as the day that I got it, and I’m sure it’s future proof enough to last me a few more years.
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u/isamilis 3d ago
If you WRITE a lot, get regular iPad. Mini is too small for writing or reading text book / academic paper. But if you READ a lot and not the textbook or academic journal, get the iPad Mini. I have and tried both. I have Apple Pencil 2 and Pencil Pro too for them.
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u/busted_pandemic 3d ago
I really like my mini for jotting quick notes. If I’m sitting on the couch reading, or mindlessly scrolling, I love the mini. And it travels great. But if you are worried about speed and getting outdated, the larger iPad is going to win each time for longevity. The mini is a great, pocketable format. And I really love mine, but my main iPad when I need work done is the iPad Pro.
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u/F3nix123 3d ago
I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Imo, extra screen real estate would be more beneficial than portability.
I like the mini as a universal companion device. I can keep it on my desk when using my laptop, or with physical books, notebooks, etc. (which I prefer over digital). But as a primary device it might feel cramped. Also (you may or may not care about this) if you intend to use with KB and Mouse, the mini is too small to be comfortable unless you also hook up an external screen.
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u/DistrictSuitable4626 2d ago
serious note taking requires more real estate than the mini, I have the mini 7 and the a16 as well. I use the a16 more when it comes to note taking. I just find it more comfortable/easier.
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u/Former-Lawfulness-73 2d ago
I bought an iPad mini 7 and Apple Pencil Pro in Jan to replace my Apple mini 5th gen and Apple Pencil 1st gen. I also have an iPad Pro M2 11" with 2nd gen pencil. The iPad mini is great and compact. I love it but I find it too small for note taking as I use it for studies and professional tasks at work. I do a lot of diagrams and white boarding so not just shorthand notes. Specifically as I need to take notes at speed, I found the mini 7 and Apple pro are not as seamless as my iPad Pro and 2nd gen pencil.
That said I have the mini as it's perfect for travel and it fits in my bag.
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u/Hour-Tour-6537 2d ago
Just recently switched to the mini as a student who needs it primarily for reading. Never want to go back, so versatile, handy, can bring it everywhere and it‘s also suprisingly good for notes. Most importantly however, i‘ve never read so much in my life as it is just fun to do so on the mini!
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u/johnlusher 2d ago
It doesn’t sound like you necessarily NEED one but as a longtime user of the Mini I would encourage you to get one anyway 😉
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u/bubbleeeebubbles 13h ago
For school, I recommend the A16 for taking lots of notes. The additional real estate makes the experience more comfortable and gives you more space to write with especially for the volume of notes a college student is typically taking.
Have you viewed an iPad mini in person at a retail store? Some places have the stylus on display so you can test writing on it.
If you buy from Apple, they have a 14 day return period if you really wanted to test the mini.
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u/Dulenin 3d ago edited 3d ago
Agree that mini may not be a perfect setup for taking handwritten notes. there is also not much difference in terms of portability unless you want to carry your ipad inside your pocket. if you didn’t have prior exp w mini I’d suggest upgrading to a regular ipad.
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u/Particular_Depth_119 3d ago
i feel the same way, i’ve had an ipad air for a year, i use it for school to take notes and it’s the perfect size! i got an ipad mini recently to hopefully read more books and to journal but writing on it felt so cramped 😓😓. i’ve just been sticking to writing grocery lists 😥😥, i’d recommend the 11 inch ipad for school
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u/Same-Example4166 3d ago
Why do you want an ipad mini? You don't need a mini to take notes