CNN: Apple's latest tablet comes in a smaller,
pocketable, gripable, adorable new travel size. But the iPad Mini is more
than just a smaller face -- it's a whole new product with its own killer
features and disappointments.
The body
The iPad Mini is also thinner and lighter
than the 10-inch iPad. The device weighs 0.68 pounds and is 0.28 inches thick.
That's thinner than the iPhone5. Being lighter means your arm doesn't get tired
as fast (which is good because the new mini Smart Cover isn't the sturdiest
stand).
What else is so great about
being small? Portability. Taking the 10-inch iPad outside of the house can be a
bit of a slog. While it's a great replacement for bulkier laptops, it's still
larger than a book. This little guy was built for reading books in cafes,
watching movies in hammocks and playing games on the bus during the morning
commute.
After extensive pocket
testing, we found the iPad Mini fits in most back pockets, from baggy khakis to
skinny jeans (just don't sit down). It's easy to hold it with one hand, though
some daintier mitts might find palming it a bit more difficult. Toss it in a
purse, a saddle bag or the glove compartment.
In many ways, this size
feels more natural for a content-consumption device than the larger iPad.
The competition
While the 10-inch iPad dominates tablet sales
around the world, the iPad Mini is the new kid in the mid-sized tablet market.
A crop of 7-inch tablets on shelves start at $199, including Amazon's Kindle
Fire HD, Google's Nexus 7 tablet and Barnes & Noble's Nook HD.
The iPad Mini is different from these devices
in a few key ways: It has a slighter larger and wider 7.8-inch screen, better
hardware specs in most categories (screen resolution is a notable exception,
which we'll revisit later), access to the simple and refined iOS operating
system and Apple's vast selection of quality apps and content.
It also has a much higher price tag. The iPad
Mini starts at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only version. The top of the line iPad
Mini is 64GB, can connect over Wi-Fi and cellular connections, and costs $659.
When choosing, you'll have to consider how
important the Apple features are to you. Is the extra space and Apple ecosystem
worth the extra $130? Avid readers and shoppers might get more out of a Nook or
the Kindle Fire tablet, which is tightly tied into the Amazon store. (If you're
only interested in reading, don't count out the amazing 6-inch, e-ink Amazon
Paperwhite tablet.)
The iPad Mini also has a bit of friendly
competition from its own big siblings. Apple is still selling multiple
generations of 10-inch iPads: the iPad 2 and the newer iPad with "Retina
Display" (Apple's term). That Retina iPad was upgraded last month to the
fourth generation with a faster processor and a better camera.
The choice between Apple products largely
depends on what you're going to use the device for. If it is a laptop
replacement, sticking with the faster, larger, higher-resolution 10-inch iPad
with Retina is still your best bet. The exception might be situations where the
smaller size is a must-have feature, such as working in the field.
The price difference between the iPad 2 and
the iPad Mini is negligible -- the iPad 2 is only $70 more -- so that decision
comes down to size preference and specs like camera resolution. The iPad Mini
has better cameras -- the same ones found on the newest 10-inch iPad.
The screen
There are a few reasons Apple might have gone
this direction. The benefit of using the iPad 2's display size is that all the
apps designed to work on the iPad 2 will work perfectly on the iPad Mini, do
developers don't have to redesign their products. Also, the full retina display
found on the latest iPad would likely have been a huge drain on battery life.
Touch screen technology has marched on since
the iPad 2. The third- and fourth-generation iPads both have 2048-by-1536, 264
pixels-per-inch Retina screens. All three of the main competing 7-inch tablets
-- the Kindle Fire, Nook and Nexus 7 -- also have higher-resolution screens.
If you've never used a higher-resolution
display, you might not even notice. But if you're already using a device with a
better screen, the iPad Mini can look a bit grainy. It's like eating at
In-N-Out Burger and then trying to go back to McDonald's.
What is great about the display is how it
fills the front of the device. The edges around the touch screen, called
bezels, are incredibly thin on the left and right sides. Apple also tweaked the
software so that the screen is less sensitive to an errant thumb resting on the
front of the device.
Other specs
The screen isn't the only thing the iPad Mini
got from the iPad 2. It is using the same processor, the A5. This processor is
now two generations old, but it also doesn't have to power a big retina
display, so it continues to feel speedy.
There are two speakers for some decent stereo
sound (not one as originally thought, according to an iFixit teardown), and the
iPad Mini uses the new lightning connector port.
The cameras on the iPad Mini aren't as good
as the iPhone 5, but they are exactly the same as what you'll find on the
newest iPad. Taking a photo on the 10-inch iPad has always seemed awkward, but
holding up an iPad Mini to take a quick video feels a bit more natural.
Reference:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/06/tech/mobile/ipad-mini-review/
http://www.onsecrethunt.com/news/ipad-mini-comparison-infographic/
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