The Texas Highway Death Race & The Tragic iPad Mini Incident

Jack Had Rose. My iPad Had a $9 Case. None Survived.

The Texas Highway Death Race

So, this morning, I had the absolute pleasure of driving down Central Expressway 75 South—which, if you’ve never had the privilege, is basically a real-life Mad Max sequel, but with more trucks, minivans, fewer rules, and a whole lot of student drivers. Every car was going at least 80 mph, some even past 100 mph. I am sure.

I wanted to slow down. I really did. But have you ever noticed how cars in Texas drive in these tight little herds, like they’re migrating across the plains? And the moment you try to break free, someone behind you is already inches away from your bumper like, "You either keep up, or you die, buddy."

So, I do what any rational human would do—I get away from the pack. If things get too sketchy, I’ll even take an exit, breathe for a second, and then rejoin the chaos at the next ramp like, "Surprise! You thought I was gone?" Defensive driving? More like survival tactics.

And don’t even get me started on left turns at a green/yield light. Some Texas cities have these turns where you literally can’t see oncoming traffic until it’s already too late. You’re just sitting there, creeping forward, praying your next move isn’t your last. And the city? Oh, the city knows this is a problem. Do they fix it? Nope. They just tweak the traffic light timer by half a second, like that’s going to stop people from becoming statistics.

At least they finally made one of those dangerous right on red at stop intersections a full stop on red. But, let’s be real, does anyone in Texas actually follow that?

Absolutely not.

The iPad Mini Betrayal: The Jack to My Rose

So, why was I even out braving the Texas Highway Death Race this morning? Oh yeah, my iPad Mini. The same iPad Mini 7th Gen with A17pro and I was hyping up just weeks ago, saying it was perfect for reading comics, watching videos, and getting some light work done. Yeah. The one where I accepted I was wrong about it. That one. It’s dead now.

I am wrong again. Actually, I am not so sure anymore.

Guess what took it down? A $9 case from Amazon.

See, I cheaped out on a partially magnetic case—which is really just a fancy way of saying, "This thing will hold onto your iPad until it actually matters."

So, I step out of my car, holding it by the case like an idiot. And mid-step, I realize—I messed up. This is a bad idea. But before my brain can even finish processing the thought, my iPad is already falling.

And this wasn’t just a normal fall. No. This was a Titanic-level betrayal. My iPad Mini was Jack, slipping away from Rose’s door. Only, in this version, there was no Rose. Just me, standing there, gripping a crappy $9 case, watching helplessly as it did absolutely nothing.

I stare at the case in my hand, my eyes filled with pure dumbfounded betrayal. Then, with all the disappointment of an abandoned lover, I tell it:

"Sorry if you thought you were also gonna live to be 101", I then close my eyes -and straight into the trash it goes.

Back to the iPad, The iPad hits the driveway edge first, bounce like it has unfinished business, and then slides—face down—across tiny rocks, dust, and whatever other evil resides on the ground. It slid three whole feet before stopping. That’s how I know I was meant to suffer.

I pick it up, already knowing I’ve ruined my life. The screen? Destroyed. The edge? Dented so badly that the Apple repair center at MicroCenter couldn’t just replace the screen—they had to fix the body too.

Instead of a $29 screen replacement, now it’s a full $99 repair. I just handed over my iPad and my dignity.

Apple vs. Samsung: The Durability Smackdown

And this is where I start to question if getting the iPad Mini is worth the pain? Because let me tell you something—my Samsung devices? They don’t break like this. This easily. This soon.

My Galaxy Fold 6? I drop that thing every day. Like, every single day. It has fallen off tables, taken full-on faceplants, and even survived me accidentally punting it across the room when I tried to stop its fall with my foot. And guess what? Still working. No cracks. No panic. Just vibes.

Even my backup Flip phone has taken several nosedives. And one time, I tried to catch it with my foot and instead kicked it deep under a shopping aisle at Target. Had to wait for a very confused employee to crawl under the shelves and retrieve it for me. My Hero! ❤️🫸🏻🫷🏻.

I dont have it on video, but honestly, the closest comparison I can give is this legendary moment from a cricket match:

All those years playing cricket as a kid has helped.

But back to Apple. Why are we still fixing screens in 2025? How is it that Samsung figured this out in 2018, but Apple is still making devices that crumble at the sight of concrete? Just think about how much money you could save, Apple. You wouldn’t need all those Apple-authorized service centers anymore—kind of like how you got rid of your own stores. Yeah, I see what you did there.

You know what I want? I want an iPad Mini that can survive my Texas life. I don’t want to buy a $100 repair every time I look at it the wrong way. I don't want to risk my life by driving down to microcenter to get the iPad fixed, through the Texas Deathways.

Dear Apple Make your devices durable. Again, 2025, cost shouldn't be an issue, and even it it costs more. Yes I think people would be willing to pay more upfront than pay each time you break it.

Sometimes, it's also not about the cost, but the overall task to backup an iPad, then book an appointment, then miss your appointment because its going to your icloud mail not the real one. Yeah my bad. Then book again, and find out you booked for wednesday not monday. Then finally book one final appointment for same day, survive the death race, and then find out 7 days to get it fixed. Yep. Now I also have to back and pick it up when ready.

Right now, my iPad Mini has been in my life for exactly 3-4 weeks—and it’s already in the repair shop. Meanwhile, my Samsung Fold (and other samsungs) have been through more trauma than a Red Wedding and it’s still going strong.

What I learned from all this

1. Don’t cheap out on cases. You think you’re saving money, but you’re actually just investing in heartbreak.
   
2. Apple, fix your durability problem. If Samsung can make a foldable phone that survives daily abuse, you can at least make an iPad that doesn’t crumble at first contact with pavement.
   
3. Texas highways are not for the weak. If you ever find yourself on 75 South(or any highway, direction), just know—you’re in for a ride. Please drive responsible and safe.

Alright thats it for today.
-M 💓