I Replaced my Phone and Laptop with an iPad Mini. Here's How it Went

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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Making the iPad Mini More Phone-like
4:23 Save Money on Your Phone Bill!
5:58: Making the iPad Mini more Computer-like
7:01 iPad as Phone Experience
9:26 iPad as Computer Experience
11:28 What Does it Better?
12:25 Conclusion

We have a 5G model of the iPad mini 6. This ipad is pretty expensive, and is slightly more expensive than the iphone 13 mini that apple still sells, but you get some benefits like a much larger screen, a usb type c port, and a fingerprint sensor. However, there are also trade offs, less cameras and lower camera quality, no wireless charging, no Face ID, no portable form factor, and no OLED display. The reason we need the 5G variant of the ipad mini is because this is what allows us to get connected to the internet no matter where you are, just like your smartphone. However, just like your smartphone, you need a data plan for the ipad. This can, however, vary by carrier and you may have to have just a tablet data plan instead. Now that we have that setup, we need to be able to make calls and message people. We’ll assume you don’t have a phone, just this ipad. If that’s the case then we need a way to make phone calls and send messages. We need a VOIP. A VOIP is a phone that uses the internet as the phone connection instead of a traditional phone line. To make things easy I went with Google Voice. Google Voice lets you freely create a VOIP phone number, but you need to also verify you’re legit by using a different phone number at setup, so they know you’re not a spam bot abusing their services. From there, everything is easy. Google voice behaves just like your phone. You can dial phone numbers, save contacts, send messages, receive notifications and you even have a voicemail for your favorite extended warranty person to use.

Now, to replace a laptop, I obviously needed a mouse and keyboard. I’m using a standard apple case, and slapped a small Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to it. IPad OS already has a bunch of nice features that lets an iPad behave similar to a laptop. You can plug in external displays, use a usb hub and plug in multiple devices, you can move files between different storage devices, have multiple windows open side to side, on the screen, and use mice and keyboards. But basically because of the size, we won’t ever be using the iPad mini in our lap, only at desks.

As a phone, it actually fits in my front pocket but it’s not comfortable. Portability of this device is really not great as a phone. But functionally, It works fine as a phone but you have to get used to a few things. Calls are technically always on speaker, since the iPad mini doesn’t have an earpiece, so if you want some privacy you’ll want to keep bluetooth earbuds or airpods with you, and some services you sign up for with your number think Google Voice numbers are bots and won’t let you use that google voice number to sign up for services or be used as an 2-factor authenticated number, which is a huge bummer since you’re giving up some security functionality. Also, there’s really no customer support if things don’t work well on Google Voice, it doesn’t seem like a huge Google priority. While there are a ton of ipad optimized apps, there are also a lot of apps that only made for iphones, and using those aren’t the greatest experience on such a large screen.

Using it to casually surf the internet and do basic things like email, watching videos and editing documents is ok. But the screen is absolutely tiny for these types of tasks. It’s really hard to find a good angle to use it, unless it’s far away from you, or you connect it to an external monitor. And you can forget about comfortably using it on your lap. Even with a keyboard embedded case. So it’s really really bad as a laptop, but it does make an okay desktop since you can plug it in. The monitor only mirrors what’s already on the ipad screen. This does help with seeing what you draw using the apple pencil on a much larger display though. If the ipad mini gets one of those M chips, I can see people using the ipad mini decently as a makeshift desktop for basic computing but it would still be an awful laptop replacement. Also, the 64GB default for the mini is usable but not the best option when it’s used solely as a tablet, but while trying to do the job of 3 different devices, the 256GB model makes more sense, because you will run out of space on the 64GB model real quick.

[HighLifeWorkout]

I have had tons of iPads over the years in all specks and sizes. The Mini is by far my favorite

[SpoofyJuliani]

No one ever considers bathroom logistics

[chrisbrown]

My iPad mini w/cellular (and pencil) is my primary device which does 80% of what I need to get done. Everything else is for my iPhone 13 mini. Its a perfect combination that can truly enhance the user experience.

[butchgo]

I replaced my heavy DSLRs, desktop PCs and Macs, 17-incher gaming notebooks, iPad Pros, 21-inchers pen displays and touch screen monitors with only three devices: M2 MacBook Air, iPad Mini 6 (with Apple pencil) and iPhone. Now, I'm always on the go and travelling with these gadgets. I'm in my middle seventies and never looked back.

[FigWidIt]

The ipad Mini is the first device I grab in the morning. So comfortable to hold and read my notifications I would have gotten on my iphone. Reading news/articles or watching a few videos while eating breakfast and drinking a morning coffee at the table. Anytime I would have grabbed my iPhone, I grab my iPad Mini instead. The weird aspect ratio of the Mini 6's screen is surprisingly okay for videos in landscape mode, and scrolling through reddit in portrait mode.

[ingmarbm]

Using a stand with the iPad mini raises the screen a few centimeters. That has made it usable as a laptop for me from time to time, even in extended sessions and with two windows open.

[Dogsnark]

I use my iPad Mini for most everything I do, except for phone. I’m retired and not a power user by any measure, so it’s really pretty good as a laptop replacement. iCloud makes my files accessible on my MacBook, if I want to do more serious editing or printing. I do very little phoning - I prefer text or email - so I only use my iPhone when I’m out and about. Otherwise, the Mini is just about perfect (or at least adequate) for so many things, it would be the one piece of tech I would choose if I could only have one. I hope Apple keeps on supporting the Mini and bringing out new editions. They have a real winner in this product.

[sb]

The iPad mini has been my favorite device in the last few months. I use it all the time. When I don't have my laptop and need to do basic document editing it is more than capable. It's small enough as a media consumption device that it doesn't feel heavy or big when Im in bed watching my favorite series. I even use it as my infotainment/navigation device for my car. It's small enough that I can place it along side my car's actual infotainment which I still need because of the reverse cam.

I hope they don't discontinue the mini lineup. I love both my 12 mini and iPad mini.

[cuseyeti_onethree]

Haven’t owned a phone in a year now, just an iPad Mini 6, a Macbook and a sim card. Here in Thailand, I take calls on earbuds with Line or Messenger. The only downside is I have to constantly carry a small backpack for it.

Universal control is a great feature to connect usb mice and keyboards. It’s still in need of some development, but Apple has made my iPad and laptop work rather seamlessly together.

[erindavis]

I tried to use my iPad mini as a phone for a few months and it actually worked. I used google voice and FaceTime and iMessage to people who used an iPhone. I made it work, but it was frustrating at times too so I’m glad I have a phone again. Still carry my iPad mini everywhere I go though

[davidmcivor]

Phone & tablet size has disproportionately risen lately when they were always originally intended to be small, the iPhone mini 13 & the iPad mini 6 are the perfect combination of fully functioning lightweight powerful products in a compact portable format, expensive yes but totally unique & niche. I always buy the cellular version of ipads, yes it increases the initial purchase price but the convenience of cellular especially when travelling is worth it, so easy to pop in a prepaid data sim or activating the esim for connectivity is a bonus I don’t understand why some people limit themselves to just wifi.

[TheRealMartin]

A lot of us do this with our foldables. The Z Fold 4 or not 5, its a phone that turns into a tablet and you also get Samsung Dex so you get a full desktop experience when attaching a screen. A truly all in one device, with really high end specs. And an actual 120ghz amoled display. I really wish Apple would release higher end hardware, because I would LOVE to buy a 120hz amoled ipad mini.

[tophercaesar]

The one thing I really envy Samsung users for is dex. Having a little dock where you place your phone and it turns into a desktop like experience is brilliant. I use an iPad Pro as a computer replacement, so I carry an iPhone and iPad but being able to even drop the iPad and have the large phone and dex like option would be even greater.

As for if folding phones are the future. I don’t think so. I think they are cool ideas, but when I tested the galaxy fold I hated the crease in the middle and the flimsy feel of the screen. Also a hinge is just another thing that will break. I think by the time folder phones get really good, AR will be picking up speed. As soon as they get that in a normal looking glasses we will all be using those. Then the world is your screen and we won’t care about size and stuff. I’m just hoping they figure out how to make them the computer too. Imaging just sitting down, pulling out a keyboard or something and doing work. Where your available screen space is 365 degrees in all directions up down and all around. Then when your done you kick back throw on a move and enjoy. Then it’s time to go and now your mobile and getting messages and alerts as you go on the glasses. I think that’s the future and the devices now including foldable are something to keep us interested until that future is here.

[badass.bob]

I'm a samsung kinda guy. I use an A71 phone. Great phone, great cameras, as a construction foreman I love that I can walk through a building site checking items off on an excel spreadsheet, taking notes, sending and recieving emails and phone calls. Eventually I end up back at my office space on site where I have my galaxy A8 tablet with a logitech Bluetooth keyboard and mouse setup. Thanks to Onedrive & smartswitch, everything I did on my phone is now also on my tablet and vica versa. Loving my setup, it does everything I need it to do, no need for a laptop. I did it all with just the phone before but I found it nice to have 2 screens when I'm back at my office. Cheers

[christechguy]

I have both the mini and iPad Pro for school, the mini is by far my favorite. It’s portable and not too heavy but very practical compared to trying to do things on my iPhone with a tiny screen.

[williambergmann]

I have used a standard iPad in the role w/ Zoom Voice. Works pretty good if it;s your work #.

I prefer to go in the opposite direction, though. I have a Watch, Phone, iPad Mini, iPad Pro, and MBA.

The Watch is my main device for alerts, quick calls, etc. My phone [14 Pro] serves primarily as a camera and the device I need to link everything together from my cell carrier. The iPad Mini goes everywhere with me as my digital notebook. My iPad Pro and MBA are my primary productivity devices, and I love being able to use them to create a wireless dual monitor setup anywhere.

The high-end camera capability, to me, is the main thing that prevents us from moving away from "smart phones"- everything else is duplicated on multiple other devices. The biggest thing to me is that each device in your personal tech stack needs to both contribute it's own specific functionality, while also being additive to the other devices.

A cellular Surface Pro can give you calling, tablet functionality, handwriting, and a full OS / laptop experience, and for a long time, I thought that convergence was exactly what I wanted.

Then, Apple came out with Sidecar and Universal Control for Mac and iPad, and suddenly thee was a reason to have both devices on you- dual-screen on the fly.

I think that, with damn near everything having a cellular antenna these days, that the "phone" is the least necessary component, but it's also hard to replace because of the camera aspect. What I'm left with is the thought of spending the phone money on a nice camera. The big issue: Is it possible to tie an Apple Watch and an iPad out to a single phone number like you do when you have an iPhone at the center of the operation?

[Muhluri]

My phone broke and I've had to main my iPad 10.2" alongside a feature phone. The iPad is just too cumbersome to carry around everywhere. You need to carry it in a bag, it's uncomfortable to hold in bed. However, the battery life is really good

I also used to use the iPad as my main laptop (2021). Here are the biggest issues
- no NTFS support (I can't use flash drives that were formatted for Windows)
- most apps don't have good keyboard shortcuts (makes you work slower)
- at the time Lumafusion was the only editor and it wasn't advanced enough for my needs (I managed to get my gaming channel to 1000 subscribers though)
- Microsoft office *SUCKS*
- stage manager didn't exist so I spent lots of time swapping between apps and waiting for them to reload
- the way iPad handles audio sucks (e.g. it will mute music if I scroll past an Instagram post that has sound)

I have an older model iPad Mini and love it. I use it daily as a second screen for my laptop at home, and it goes everywhere with me. It fits nicely in a mid-size purse / bag, and doubles as an on-the-go workspace. This is the second Mini I’ve owned and I have found it to be the most versatile model in the Apple lineup.

[TMontes]

👍 I’ve tried this with my Mini 5G and it works well with Google Voice, calls are very clear and when the Tablet voice isolation feature is activated background noise is practically eliminated regardless if using the device internal Mic or Bluetooth earbuds, Siri also has limited capabilities with GV allowing text messages to be composed and sent by voice, but Google has not activated the capability to allow Siri to make Phone Calls yet..

[charissakelly]

Been waiting for Apple to have a foldable phone forever. Yes I will be happy to have phone and iPad in one. Having ability to utilize as laptop with larger monitor that is not a mirror situation would be phenomenal, but not as my only laptop system.