Good idea to buy iPad Mini 4?
 

Hey everyone! So, I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to buy an iPad 4 Mini right now. I'm currently learning in a PA28 Warrior that only has the capability to mount the mini on the yoke without getting in the way. The iPad Pro 9.7 seems too big. I'm looking for some opinions on how you like the mini and if I should just wait and see if Apple is coming out with a Mini 5? The iPad 4 is pretty outdated and I'd hate to buy a 4 now and then Apple come out with something new 2 months later. The obvious answer is to just wait but the 4's will definitely be gobbled up and skyrocket in price if Apple discontinues the Mini's altogether. Struggling here and thanks for your input!

I'd be interested in how many pilots have had the iPad Mini overheat on them in the summer months. My old iPad2 doesn't but it does get really hot.
I'm not a big fan of tablets on the yoke - I put mine on the passenger seat or get my passenger to look after it. It's not like you need to look at it continuously is it.

I left my iPad Mini on the coming a few days ago and when I returned to my aeroplane the iPad had shut down due overheat. Took about 30 mins to cool.

I use an ipad mini, never had an overheat, but it does get hot in full sun & working hard. Easily solved by pointing an air vent at it. It's only mounted during use, turned off and out of direct light once we're parked.

I have used an ipad mini 4 for 15 months (@200 flying hours) running SkyDemon.
It is Ram yoke mounted,externally powered and has been used in flight for up to 4 hours continuously.It remains in the aeroplane and is not used for other tasks.
I've had no issues with overheating or shutting down. The overall user experience of ipad/SkyDemon has been excellent.

A Garmin left in the sun also overheats and shut down.
Same with iPhones BTW. The key is to try to keep the device outside of direct sun.
Fixing it on your lap instead than on a " sunny surface " does helps. ( my solution)
Helps you looking more outside too :E

Must admit I'm thinking of this for my next in flight 'device', because my Garmin Aera 500 cost as much as an iPad, updates cost WAAAY more than SkyDemon, and it doesn't do anything other than flying. As the club ac I use most often now has a panel mounted GPS I'd be looking to the iPad more as an EFB and backup GPS.

@Zeego

As a student, I wouldn't worry about it, I'd learn to fly following the directions/advice of your instructor first. Once you've passed your test(s), or you get close to that point, then start thinking about electronic aids for use in the aircraft you'll be flying. A lot can change between then and now.

I have an iPad Mini 4. Very happy with it +Skydemon mounted on my yoke. Also good for watching videos on my lap.
For everything else I use MS Windows

I think that's a wise piece of advice...

You're right. I'm just thinking ahead with the idea that Apple may in fact discontinue the iPad Mini's altogether. You can get one for a great price right now and if they quit making them, they'll go way up. I'm really hoping that Apple comes out with a new one. :ok:

A cheap Chines Android would do the job just as well, the money you save can be spent on flying. You pay a lot to Apple for less hardware and the image.

Don't waste your money, I don't even bother to use my iPad in an aircraft. I have used numerous Android devices and recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, fits on my knee, thin, large memory capacity big screen. GPS lock-on is amazing. I would never even consider buying another iPad.

Moving map capable with weather? What software? :8

Zeego

Skydemon runs on Android and PocketFMS as most other software does. There are more Android powered devices sold in the world than Apple, so normal for most software to run on both.

Any tablet and the right software will do, an iPad Mini 4 as well. Overheating is often a sign of the wrong software or placed directly in the sun - dont do that

Being a student you may long for a mounted iPad, but there is some chance you leave that idea getting more proficient and then size does not really matter. I started with the now called midsize, as it was the only option in the early days, I was happy to fly yoke mounted Mini, but unhappy with the doublemoving (turn the yoke and moving map ... dont ever get used to trak up mode, youll loose any orientation) and finally turned to the biggest screen I could get, which is not really mountable, but gorgeous.

My point against an iPad Mini 4 is only one thing - the missing Pencil support as non-Pro. For scrbbling clearances, notes etceteras you want a Pencil.

My iPad Mini 2 used with a knee pad mount on my thigh has overheated when sun was streaming in on it. Came back after a few minutes of holding it out of the knee pad mount and in a fresh air vent flow on the back of the iPad.

I am attaching now to this post after a long time. I am running in the same trouble. I am using my android phone with skydemon as part of my kneeboard, but it's not handy. I have an ipad pro 9.7 which seems big. I might consider a smaller device, like ipad mini 4 or an Android. But my question is how do you use it with a kneeboard? I've looked online and I've not found a suitable kneeboard let me put table and sheet of papers on top. The only nice I found allows me to have a small block of paper on the left/right but this is not a good idea as I am flight in Diamond aircraft which have stick and the throttle at the side of my leg.

Any comment on that?

Thanks
ST

I've done some work integrating iOS and Android tablets into miltary environments.
the reason iPads occasionally shut down in heat is because they are properly prtected with thermocouples and firmware which monitors them.
Some Android devices will kepp going in the heat, but damage may be being done.
As stated above, keep ALL electronic devices out of direct sun in a cockpit..

Apples hardware is top notch, unlike some of the cheap Android offerings.
It might appear to be about image, it isn't...

Nexus 7 2013 is great but no longer available (£99-130). Perhaps some new/old stock out there.
And Pooleys do the kneeboard and works great on the knee.
Make your own table kneeboard from hard board and remove the plastic holder from a cover and glue/screw it to the kneeboard.