Recently the iPad Air 4 got a design upgrade and the iPad got a specs refresh in the 8th generation. But one iPad which is quietly sitting on the sides since 2019 is the iPad mini 5 – with specs similar to the previous generation iPad Air 3.
Although the bigger iPads are trying hard to replace the laptop, it is still years away when it comes to power users and consultants working with advanced Excel and PowerPoint features. So when I was in the market for a new iPad, the wanna be devices were straight out of my consideration.
What I specifically needed was a device which could break the limitations of the small screen mobile phone and kill the need of opening the bulky 14” ThinkPad for petty tasks & media consumption.
Initially one may think that any iPad would do the job, but my earlier purchase of the first iPad Air with this same misconception made it sit on the shelf for 7 years without much utility. And to be emailed about my conclusion, I tried using my iPad Air for about a week and still struggled to fulfil my purpose.
At 9.7” and half a kilo, the iPad Air is too heavy of a device for the ultra portability that I sought. Similarly the new iPads, although the same weight are bigger in size, ensuring the same handling issues. While the iPad mini sits in between with its comfortable 7.9” display much bigger than the max line of iPhones enabling to accomplish much more and still be quite handle-able. Along with the size, weighing at around 300 grams does make it a lot more portable.
Also another reason why I rushed my purchase for iPad Mini 5 (2019) is that the iPad mini 6 is most likely due in Q1 / Q2 2021 and it will be much pricier as apple recently upped the iPad Air price status quo to make room to accommodate another model between iPad 8 and iPad Air 4 – so what seems to be apparent that the new iPad mini 6 will be priced somewhere close to the iPad Air 3 price in 2020
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But my entire purchase experience has been another example of what works for 80% majority may not work for you and relying on popular opinion may kill your potential.
Upon my visit to apple stores, not only did the all sales executives disappointed me with unavailable stock but also advised me against the mini and also backed their opinion by sales figure approximates at 10/15 units per month in a city of 6+ million. So upon visiting the fourth store I decided no matter what I will convince the sales guy and walk out with the mini! And finally after lot of convincing, he fetched out the last stock unit from 2019! This did certify the fact earlier stated at other stores – low sales hence no stock!
So if you are wondering what is my usage for iPad productivity, here’s a list of apps that I use on my iPad other than the basic calendar, notes, reminders, contacts what I downloaded my iPad include Messaging Apps like Zoom, Skype, FB messenger; Microsoft Business Apps like Office 365, Planner, To Do, Teams; Productivity Apps like One Note, White Board, Canva, iMovie; Education Apps like Udemy, Coursera, Kindle, iTunes University; and basic utilities as well as social media.
Although I have not been using the Apple Pencil for note taking on this iPad mini but I plan to get the Adonit Snap 2, digital stylus which is cheaper, smaller and better compliments the portable nature of the mini. And even without the hyped note talking use, this device is very well serves my productivity purpose.
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Savvy Munshi 