For most of the last few years I’ve used an 11-inch iPad Pro as an accessory to my Mac. My iPad Pro never quite made it as a laptop replacement so I ended up with a MacBook Air for traveling. But switching to an iPad mini has changed my workflow.
The iPad mini is all about compromises. But that’s not a bad thing as long as what you gain outweighs what you lose.
1 – Portability
The iPad mini is so small and light you barely notice it in your bag. Its small size makes it easy to quickly pull out of a bag and start working.
2 – Jack of all trades
There are devices that are better than the iPad mini specific tasks. Bespoke ebook readers are easier to read for long periods. Larger devices are easier to type on. The reMarkable is, for many people, a superior note-taking tool. And there are portable gaming consoles and other single-purpose devices that beat the iPad mini at specific tasks.
But the iPad mini can replace them all. Not with a “best of breed” experience but with a “better than good enough” one.
3 – A thriving app ecosystem
As a multipurpose device, there is huge potential for the iPad mini. And that potential is being met by app developers across the world. There are limits
To why the iPad mini can do. It is bound by its screen size, processor and memory. But otherwise the only limit is imagination.
All of that has come together to do something I didn’t expect. I’m using my iPad more than ever before. The smaller size means I can use it as a second screen while I’m chilling on the couch without it taking over my attention (the best way I can describe how I watch TV is ‘continual partial attention’). It’s easier to handle than a larger iPad and the bigger screen makes it easier to read than my iPhone.
I’m also using my iPhone less. Each year, when Apple releases its new iPhone I’m tempted to upgrade but I can’t see a compelling reason to do so this time around as I’m using my phone less.
All that said, the iPad mini is not perfect. It’s a lot less convenient for typing even short messages. Interestingly, I find the iPhone easier to type on as the smaller keyboard means the letters are better placed for me.
I do miss watching movies and TV shows on the larger iPad’s screen and the iPad Pro’s speaker system was vastly superior but that’s remedied by a set of AirPods. However, that’s a minor quibble given I much prefer to be immersed in what I watch on my lounge room TV with surround sound.
I didn’t expect the iPad mini to change the way I used my tech a much as it has. The form factor has, for me, the right balance when it comes to compromises I’m prepared to make.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.