On reflection, the pro does have the best screen, and that’s the way you interact with it, so that’s quite a factor in its favour aside from cost.
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An inadvertent pun Mike?
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Exactly. An iPad for bigger needs, phone for pocketable portability, but the iPad Mini has neither the usable size benefits of an iPad nor portability of a phone, so to me is pretty pointless.
Apple refurbs are excellent. A friend of mine who used to work for Apple told me they change out a lot of the internal parts with new parts, so it’s just not a cursory check over and wipe down!
Also with regard to keyboard use, I got an Apple Magic Keyboard for my iPad. It does add a fair bit of weight but it does work very well, if you don’t mind the price!
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You seem to be confusing ‘I have no use for an iPad mini’ with ‘there’s no point to the iPad mini because I have no use for one’.
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Yes, this.
It’s literally their third biggest seller. Outsells the main iPad but is just behind the Air and Pro.
Students love it and lots of older people love it because they don’t need a smartphone but can use stuff like Audible and Kindle apps rather than carry the equivalent Amazon device.
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I’ve tried the refurbs and generally found that nothing has been changed bar the faulty element, and, battery life is remarkably diminished. Magic keyboard is far better than their original smart keyboard cover thing but his=depusly over-priced for what it is.
Or you are conflating things in what I said: actually it is simply “I see no point in the Mini”!
You of course may have, indeed appear to have, a different view.
I use an iPad Pro M2 chip with Magic Keyboard and when needed, a larger display.
It’s the only personal computer I need at home or for mobile use.
YMMV.
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I suggest moving on to apple’s 10 generation iPad: with A14 Bionic chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display.
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I’m on my third (or possibly fourth) IPad. Currently a 4th Generation (six years old?) 11” (or so) Pro model. 256GB, which is more than enough unless you want to put movies and music library on it (I use the iPhone for my “on the go” music (AAC) library). WiFi only; if I need internet access then I hot spot to the IPhone.
Keyboard: I have had keyboards of various sorts for all my iPads (turns the iPad into a sort of “laptop”). I find them useful, but often as not use the on-screen keyboard. Have used unbranded and Logitech keyboards; current iPad has an Apple job.
pencil: I had a pencil (1st gen) for a previous iPad, but it didn’t get a great deal of use. That particular pencil doesn’t work (natively) on the current iPad (OK, there is a workaround, but it’s a PITA).
EarPods & Audio out: I do have Apple’s 3.5mm adaptor but find that the EarThings are more than adequate.
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The word is that Apple will probably announce their 11th generation iPad in March this year, which likely will mean the 10th generation will get a price cut. So might be worth waiting a few weeks.
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I-Pads are often readily available in John Lewis stores, Curry’s, and other electrical stores not just Apple stores, getting a ‘hands on’ shouldn’t be too difficult.
I have a I-Pad Pro and it is very good, but the screen has developed a couple of lines of failed pixels so will have to be replaced at some point, but I’ll manage for now.
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[quote=“davidhendon, post:72, topic:38566”]
So might be worth waiting a few weeks.
Thanks for the insight and would agree
Thanks, that’s a good point - there is a Currys where I live.
I might go and have a look at them today.
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I rather think we are imagining different things - ‘typing’ as I suggested, is easy on either of the bigger iPads using the keyboard and a pointer. I have used a pencil but with arthritic hands, it is much trickier. Hope that helps.
Mention has been made of John Lewis, who offer a two year guarantee, as distinct to a one year when pourchased direct from Apple. I posted late last year a thread about issues with the new M4 and iOS 18 (on its release) and John Lewis were exceedingly good in responding to the issue.
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Remember students get a discount plus finance options.
The iPad Pro 11 and 13inch are the only iPads with a dual layer OLED screen when you see them side by side it stands out like a sore thumb.
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I am aware. I have a student 
I have to replace Mrs Pete’s very old gen 3 (I think), she really only uses it for games. I have a Gen 8 64gb and constantly rejigging and deleting things to make room for upgrades. I’m surprised by how much memory Apply require for the systems, the IpadOS and system data takes almost 1/2 of the storage.
iPads are becoming increasingly expensive and other options from other manufacturers are becoming a more realistic alternative.