Hi everyone, I’m heading to college this September and I’m stuck deciding whether I should get the iPad Mini. Is it good for taking notes? Will the battery last all day? Is it comfortable to use? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I’d personally go with the Air because of its size. The Mini is good for light notes, but in college, you’ll likely need to take a lot of notes and deal with online textbooks, slides, etc. The Mini can start to feel a bit small for all that.
@Indigo
I agree. The Mini feels more like a side device to a laptop. Not sure if you’re planning to use it as your main device, but if you are, the Air might be a better pick.
Ari said:
@Indigo
I agree. The Mini feels more like a side device to a laptop. Not sure if you’re planning to use it as your main device, but if you are, the Air might be a better pick.
I just got a MacBook. What exactly makes the Mini a good side device?
@Quinlan
It’s mainly the size. It’s small and light, which makes it handy as a second device. For me, I usually pull up a lecture on my MacBook and take notes on the Mini since multitasking on it isn’t great. You can also use it as an extra screen, and its size makes it easy to fit anywhere without taking up much room.
@Indigo
I think the Air is a good middle ground. I have an iPad Mini 5, and I love its portability, but the screen is a bit small for classroom notes. I also have an iPad 9 with a bigger screen, but it’s heavy. The Air gives you a bigger screen without too much weight. Try to get one with more than 64GB if possible, and definitely get AppleCare since you’ll be carrying it around a lot.
@Indigo
I agree. Also, running too many apps can drain the battery faster. I love my Mini, but if it had better battery life, it would be perfect.
I have the 5th Gen Mini with the Apple Pencil. It’s great, but I do wish the screen was bigger when using the pencil. Otherwise, I love the size.
I love that my Mini fits in most of my bags. I’m not a full-time student, but I use GoodNotes with a stylus for my studies and it’s been really helpful.
I think the battery life could be better, but that’s the trade-off with a smaller screen. If you bring a charger with you, that should help. I like smaller devices, which is why I also use the iPhone 12 Mini. But honestly, most students seem to go for a regular-sized iPad.
I had the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and even that felt a bit small for taking notes and doing homework. If I were to get another one, I’d go for the iPad Air or maybe a refurbished 11-inch iPad Pro.
I’d recommend the iPad Pro, either the 11-inch or the 12.9-inch. The Mini felt too small for me to really get things done.
I use my Mini for studying at work, but when I need to really get things done, I go for the 12.9-inch iPad.
I’m planning to buy one when I start med school in August, but I might wait to see if a new model comes out. It seems to be popular among med students and residents because of its size. It’s easier to pull out a tablet during short breaks or rounds compared to a phone.
@Soren
Yeah, they also use it in airplanes!
I have one and I love it! Super easy to carry around, and the battery does last all day. You might need to buy a good note-taking app, though—mine cost about $10. If you like drawing, Procreate is awesome on it too!
@Sage
Do you use GoodNotes? I think the full version costs around $10.
Arun said:
@Sage
Do you use GoodNotes? I think the full version costs around $10.
Yep, I use GoodNotes and I love it!
I’ve been using the Mini since it first came out, and it really depends on what you’re used to. If you’re okay with writing in smaller notebooks, the Mini will work for you. I love using mine in college because it’s super portable and the battery lasts all day if I’m only using it for notes. If you’re doing more than that, you’ll want to bring a charger.
You came to an iPad Mini fan forum to ask that? Yes, go for it! But keep in mind, there might be an update in September.