Well, the iPad Mini has a pixel density somewhere in the middle: it's higher than an iPad 1 or 2, but lower than a Retina iPad or iPhone (in fact, it's density is exactly equal to the pre-Retina iPhones)
The overall size of the screens affects your perception, too, I think: a large iPad screen feels different than a pocket-size phone screen.
The overall size of the screens affects your perception, too, I think: a large iPad screen feels different than a pocket-size phone screen.