navigating an ipad with voiceover and a larger screen

Hi all,
I was playing around with an ipad mini in an apple store today.
I came across some apps such as the calendar on the home screen, but when I tried to flick to the next app, I had seemed to go into a mini version of the app.
This also happened with photos and notes. As this was an ipad in a store, this seemed to be the default and having a larger screen, it makes sense especially to sighted people. I am considering perhaps buying one as I use phone and ipod for diferent audio and video requirements. Oh how I wish they hadn't discontinued the ipod. I've found ipods on ebay and amazon but when you also factor in postage they are actually more expensive than an ipad mini, particularly as I want to be able to track my mail and express postage is expensive. I use my phone for music and most podcasts I listen too regularly.
I use my ipod for audiobooks and streaming video on netflix and youtube etc, etc.
Considering getting an ipad for those podcasts that have lots of episodes but I don't listen too as offten but are there when I want to listen to them as welll as creating a US audible account so I have access to audible books you can't get on the Australian audible, (luckily these are rare.)
Back to my question, how do you navigate effectively in and out of these mini versions of apps, and any other tips around navigating the ipad mini with it's larger screen will be greatly apppreciated. :)
Many thanks in advance.