Best way to buy an iPad mini?

[Woodlandwitch]

Decided to venture into tablet ownership for the first time but it’s baffling the amount of versions and prices out there

I know I don’t want a big iPad and I want apple as used to their phones so decided on a mini.
I don’t mind refurbished but there are now 5 models in the back catalogue and no idea what I should be buying for basic usage.

Can anyone help?

Best to get the latest version as Apple do stop supporting older IOS in their back catalogue. You will never find any variation in the prices from different retailers or the Apple site as the prices are fixed - I have always bought from John Lewis (they sometimes give an extra years warranty) or PC World, and I would buy direct form the Apple store - But nowhere else. I would just say buy the best and latest one you can afford - if you are not intending to load the iPad up with apps and want to store lots of movies & music then go for the smaller memory as the more memory the more expense - also not sure if cellular applies to the mini but cellular makes them much more expensive so if you don’t need that then opt for WiFi only. IPads are absolutely brilliant (I’m on my third one) and I would never buy anything else now . Happy shopping

I would say go for this one

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/tablets-and-ereaders/tablets/apple-7-9-ipad-mini-5-2019-64-gb-gold-10191659-pdt.html

Thank you @Thefemalekeithrichards

iPad mini 5 it is! Far more money than I’d initially hoped to spend but it should be worth it I hope.

Does Apple ever do Black Friday discounts on these?
Not too sure if it’s worth waiting ...

Hello
I don’t think you will ever find any reductions on Apple products certianly not in the actual Apple store (I could be wrong but I’ve been buying Apple for a long time and I’m a good shopper arounder) and am aware of the price fixing - you can find ‘bundle’ deals at PC World for instance maybe some headphones discounted or something.
You may want to ask MN to move this to the Tech Support (?) Tech Area lots of people know a lot on there.
I know Apple is expensive but IMO it’s worth it they are very good products - esp.The iPad. But I’m one persons opinion

Ps
Basically they don’t have to Discount them as such as due to the lack of competition (as they see it)
There’s no comparison between anyone else’s tablet and a genuine iPad though (not so convinced about phones but I’m not interested In phones personally so I can’t comment on them )

I'd get it from John Lewis as will be the same price as elsewhere as you get 2 years guarantee instead of the usual 1.

Sometimes when a new model comes out, you can get one of the older ones from stock and the price comes down a little bit. E.g. I had this with MacBook air a couple of years ago.

Just bought a new one - my third. Love it and use it at home constantly for things most people use phones for. Interacts with my iPhone beautifully. Don’t buy an older one as they drop support and you can’t upgrade to the latest operating system which makes some features stop working .

Bought from John Lewis as it has an additional guarantee length included and there was an offer on the compatible Apple Pencil if bought with The iPad mini.

Still have my original iPad mini 1 that I use for displaying reference photos when I paint.

@Woodlandwitch

it’s unanimous 🥰
Spoil yourself
iPads rock

I love mine, I have an iPhone and am in the process of getting a Mac book. If my iPad died tomorrow I’d get the latest one (5 that was linked to I think) but with the biggest storage, currently 256.

I have an iPhone 6. Still going great, still feels ‘new’ 🤣 but I had a play with a friends 11 pro today, the camera is SO much better. It’s made me twitchy, but at over £1000 I’ll have to twitch! And hope the 6s behaves itself for quite some time!! I need to recover from the cost of a ramped up Mac book😩

Currys sometimes do deals on black Friday and include ipad, if not I buy from John Lewis for the extra warranty.

I wouldn’t get a mini, the whole advantage of the iPad is that it has a big screen. The huge iPads are too big but standard size is much better than a mini, especially if they are using it to play games and watch movies etc

I think last year stormfront did some discounts on apple products before Christmas

Stormfront?? Isn’t that some racist nazi anti Semitic extreme website ?? 😳😳(puzzled)

Eh? It’s an Apple retailer

Okay phew ...stormfront the nazi website was closed down in 2017

But why would a tech shop Copy that name and all its connotations
Strange choice of name

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormfront_(website)

I was thinking with going for a mini that it would be a bit more portable, for long trips in the car maybe when the standard iPad size would maybe be a bit cumbersome?

Is mostly be using it for the online food shop, shopping in general, forums, news, odd games, I like the idea of the drawing app too but would need to wait to see if I could afford the pen another time.
It might be nice for streaming programs if I’m in bed as at the moment i sometimes use the old laptop but I tend not to bother anymore as it needs plugging in the whole time and gets hot

I think Very had some Black Friday deals on Apple products last year. I'm also in the market for a new iPad and will be hanging on until then just in case!

Go have a look at them in store and compare sizes.

Sorry sent too soon!

We bought a mini once and regretted it

The mini is perfect. Good size screen but much much lighter & much more comfortable to hold than a full size iPad.

@Thefemalekeithrichards No price variation, you say? Take a lookie here - www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/ipad

The Apple refurb store is the best place to get cheaper Apple kit, unless you get a student discount or similar. You do need to be familiar enough with their lineup to work out what's actually for sale - too many devices are called just "iPad" or whatever without any other identifying info, so you sometimes need to work out what model it is from the specs.

Other retailers often sell cheaper than Apple, too. Not sure why you think otherwise.

For WoodlandWitch, yes - Mini 5 is the current one, none on the refurb store right now unfortunately but check daily. If you can cope with the size, the current iPad (10.2", the cheapest one) is far better value than the Mini. Remember you can always order one then send it back within 14 days.

But it’s ‘refurbed’ not a new one
Obviously refurbished (store returns generally with new screen and repackaged is going to be discounted )
I realise they are still warrantied though

Don’t get what you are saying sorry
It’s marketed as refurbished
It’s not new and untouched so to speak

I wouldn’t trust any other retailer
That’s just me
Certainly not eBay/Amazon
Probably refurbs And not new

Up to people what they do but I’m very fussy about what I buy if I’m spending a few quid I’d rather have 100 per cent trust in the retailer
Pc world/John Lewis/apple only for the sake of fifty pounds or so.
But obviously that’s my preference
Just advising / ensuring op doesn’t get scammed

Plenty of horror stories out there unfortunately

Not sure using refurbished (second hand) iPads as an example of price variation works. We all know you can buy second hand iPads. OP didn't mention wanting second hand?