Leader in compact tablets

With a slight delay after the start of global sales of the iPad Air, the second novelty of Apple presented on October 22, the iPad mini with a Retina display, became available to customers. Perhaps one of the most anticipated devices of this year, the iPad mini went on sale in Russia at the same time as the rest of the world, which is a rarity. True, the official online store indicates the delivery time of 2-3 weeks, but this did not prevent us from quickly getting a new product for testing.

Since everything general information about the iPad mini with Retina display have already been featured in a report with Apple presentations we won't repeat ourselves. Note that this is the first iPad update mini, and it is all the more important that Apple has not only updated the “innards” of the device, but also equipped it with a screen of a fundamentally higher level.

• SoC Apple A7 @1.3 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8)
• PowerVR G6430 GPU
• Apple M7 motion co-processor including accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
• RAM 1 GB
• Flash memory from 16 to 128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 7.0
• Touch display IPS, 7.9″, 2048 × 1536 (326 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p FaceTime video) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
• Cellular (optional): UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 24.3 Wh
• A-GPS (in version with cellular module)
• Dimensions 200×134.7×7.5 mm
• Weight 331 g (our measurement)

Let's compare the iPad mini Retina with its main competitor - Google Nexus 7 2013, as well as the first generation iPad mini and iPad Air.

	iPad mini with Retina display	iPad Air	iPad mini first generation	Google Nexus 7 2013
Screen	IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi)	IPS, 9.7″, 2048×1536 (264 ppi)	IPS, 7.9″, 1024×768 (163 ppi)	IPS, 7″, 1920×1200 (323 ppi)
SoC (processor)	Apple A7 @1.3 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8) + M7 coprocessor	Apple A7 @1.4 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8) + M7 coprocessor	Apple A5 @1GHz (2 cores, ARM Cortex-A9)	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro @1.5 GHz (4 Krait cores)
GPU	PowerVR G6430	PowerVR G6430	PowerVR SGX543MP2 (2 cores, 200 MHz each)	Adreno 320
Flash memory	16 to 128 GB	16 to 128 GB	16 to 64 GB	16/32 GB
Connectors		Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headphone jack	Lightning dock connector, 3.5mm headphone jack	Micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack
Memory card support	No	No	No	No
RAM	1 GB	1 GB	512 MB	2 GB
cameras		front (1.2 MP, 720p FaceTime video) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video)	front (1.2 MP, 720p video support) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video recording)	front (1.2 MP) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video shooting)
Internet		Wi-Fi (optional - 3G, also 4G/LTE)		Wi-Fi (optional - 3G and LTE)
Battery capacity (mAh)	6471	8820	4440	3950
Operating system	Apple iOS 7.0	Apple iOS 7.0	Apple iOS 6.0 (upgrade to iOS 7.0 available)	Google Android 4.3
Dimensions (mm)*	200×134×7.5	240×170×7.5	200×138×7.2	200×114×8.7
Weight (g)	339**	480	311***	294
average price	T-10546224	T-10548616	T-8485573	T-10451398

*according to the manufacturer
** the weight of the version with a cellular module is indicated
*** the mass of the version without the cellular module is indicated
**** for version with 16 GB flash and without cellular module

It is clearly seen that the iPad mini Retina is identical to the iPad Air in almost all characteristics (except dimensions). And it's incredibly cool, because the first generation iPad mini, which was released at the same time as the iPad 4, matched the characteristics of the iPad 2 in terms of characteristics. So now the iPad mini line has made a leap through two generations!

As for the comparison with Google Nexus 7, it is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions from the data in the table. However, it is significant that the Google tablet is slightly lighter and more compact than the iPad mini Retina. But at the same time, it has a smaller screen and a plastic case.

Interestingly, despite the appearance of the new iPad mini, the previous model also remains in the company's lineup, and its cost is from 12 thousand rubles (which is 4 thousand less than the iPad mini Retina). In our article, we will also try to answer the question of how much the difference between two iPad minis is adequate to the amount of 4,000 rubles and how relevant the first iPad mini is today.

Packaging and equipment

The packaging of the iPad mini Retina is almost the same as the packaging of the previous generation tablet.

As for the bundle, everything here is also similar to the first iPad mini: leaflets, a charger (5.1 V 2.1 A), a Lightning cable, stickers and a key to remove the SIM card cradle (in the version with a cellular module).

Design

If the update of the large iPad affected, first of all, the design, then the iPad mini just the appearance remained practically unchanged.

Full metal body (made of anodized aluminum) pleases and appearance, and functionality, and the frames around the screen even today, a year after the release of the first iPad mini, seem quite thin.

All buttons are metal, they are pressed with little effort. Their location is similar to the previous model. Top right - Power button, top left - 3.5 mm headphone jack. Top center - built-in microphone hole. On the right side there is a screen auto-rotate lock lever and a volume rocker.

On the model with a cellular module, there is a plastic insert in the upper part that hides the antenna. It, of course, somewhat spoils the general view, but it does not extinguish the signal.

The main difference between the new iPad mini and the old one is the increased weight (by more than 20 grams) and thickness (by 0.3 mm). Visually they are the same. Pictured above are two iPad minis. different generations. But if the difference in thickness is really not visible, then the changed mass is already palpable. However, it is quite possible to put up with this, and these changes do not have a fundamental impact on user qualities.

Screen

The main feature of the new iPad mini is the Retina display with a resolution of 2048×1536. When testing the first iPad mini, which had a resolution of 1024×768, we noted the lack of a Retina display as its main disadvantage. And now Apple has solved the problem. True, today you won’t surprise anyone with screens with such a density of dots per inch, so other characteristics come to the fore, as a rule, they are not indicated in official technical specifications and are revealed only through thorough testing.

Alexey Kudryavtsev, editor of the Projectors and TV section, conducted a detailed examination of the new Retina screen.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, in terms of reducing the brightness of the reflection, it is approximately equal to the Google Nexus 7 2013 screen filter (further we compare it with it). For clarity, here are photos in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of tablets (from left to right: Nexus 7, iPad mini with Retina display and old iPad mini):

Visually, the brightness of the reflection is difficult to assess due to the difference in color tone and color of the frames, but statistics from the graphic editor show that the screen on the new iPad mini is slightly lighter (average brightness value is 95) than the Nexus 7 (83), and darker, than the old iPad mini (108).

Reflection in the screen is tripled, which suggests the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the outer glass. From the point of view of image perception, this is a minus, but a screen with a separate outer glass (aka a touch panel) is easier and cheaper to repair. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still worse than the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

At manual control brightness, its maximum value was about 410 cd / m², and the minimum - 8 cd / m². The maximum value is quite high, and, given the good anti-reflective properties of the screen, in bright daylight, the image on the screen should be clearly distinguishable. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works according to the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front camera eye). At the same time, the brightness can only automatically increase - with a decrease in the level of ambient light, we did not wait for a corresponding decrease in the brightness of the screen. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with external conditions. The minimum and average levels in Auto mode depend on the initial position of the brightness slider. So, when the slider is set to maximum, automatic adjustment does not work - the brightness remains maximum regardless of external conditions. If the slider is approximately in the middle of the scale, then in bright light (corresponding to illumination on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more), the maximum brightness is 410 cd / m², in an office lit by artificial light (approximately 400 lux ) - 200 cd / m² (normal), in the dark - 150 cd / m² (too much). If the slider is at its minimum, then under the above conditions, the values ​​are: 410, 70, 8 cd/m². In this way, given function works adequately at some medium and slightly below average brightness adjustment positions. At the extreme initial positions of the slider, the brightness is either always maximum, or it decreases too much in the dark. At any brightness level, there is practically no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This tablet uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

The screen has good viewing angles without hue inversion and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Nexus 7 (pictured above) and the new iPad mini (bottom) display the same images, while the brightness of both screens is set to about 200 cd / m². Picture perpendicular to the screens:

And a white field in the same conditions:

Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both tablets.

And a white box at an angle:

The brightness at an angle for both tablets decreased equally (about four times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but Color tone changed insignificantly.

The black field, when deviated diagonally, is lightened weakly and acquires a red-violet hue or remains almost neutral gray. A photo from the Nexus 7 for comparison shows this (the brightness of both tablets is the same!):

And along the other diagonal:

It can be seen that the new iPad mini has a different color tone of the black field depending on the diagonal, but its brightness is the same or slightly lower than the black brightness of the Nexus 7 at the same angle.

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black box is very good, since in fact only along one edge you can see some hints of areas with increased black box brightness:

The black uniformity of the Google Nexus 7 is worse, but it has better black depth in the center of the screen. Indeed, the contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) of the new iPad mini is not the greatest - about 790:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 22 ms (13 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between 25% and 75% grayscale (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the approximating exponential function turned out to be 2.22, which is slightly higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power dependence:

The color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix filters mix the components to each other, and the spectra confirm this. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have slightly reduced saturation. You can’t tell from the above photos, as the camera slightly increases the color saturation.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is very good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the black body spectrum (delta E) is significantly less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and delta E is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, as there the color balance does not have of great importance, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

The brightness adjustment range of the iPad mini Retina screen is quite wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a sunny summer day outside and in complete darkness. There is automatic brightness adjustment, and it works more or less adequately, but only to increase, which will force the user to either set the brightness manually, or force the brightness to go down, putting the tablet into sleep mode and turning it back on. However, surely all users Apple tablets already accustomed to this feature. The screen's strengths include an effective oleophobic coating, a standard gamma curve, very good color balance and excellent black stability when viewed from perpendicular to the screen surface, as well as excellent black field uniformity. It was strange to find that the color gamut is still less than sRGB, but this tablet must have at least one drawback! ..

In terms of software, the iPad mini Retina has nothing fundamentally new except for the fact that it comes with iOS 7 pre-installed, while the previous model came out of the factory with iOS 6. But it can also be upgraded to iOS 7. Note also that users iPad mini Retina features popular Apple apps like Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and GarageBand for free.

Performance

Like the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, the iPad mini Retina runs on Apple's new SoC, the A7. In the articles on the links provided, we talked in detail about this SoC, so we will not repeat ourselves and go straight to the tests. In them, we were also interested in what is the difference between two iPad mini when installed on both iOS devices 7.0.4. That is why the test results below may differ from the results that were published in the article about the first iPad mini, since benchmarks have since been updated and a new version of the OS has been released.

Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark and Kraken Benchmark. In all cases, we used the Safari browser from iOS 7 on Apple devices, and Google Chrome on Android.

The results are interesting. The new iPad mini is about four (!!!) times ahead of the first iPad generation mini, but at the same time a little behind the iPad Air, although it runs on the same SoC. It can be assumed that the SoC in the iPad mini Retina regulates the power saving process a little differently and slightly reduces the CPU frequency for certain tasks. But, we emphasize, this is only an assumption. But the main Android competitors were far behind the iPad mini Retina (although, of course, they overtook the first iPad mini).

In Geekbench 3 - a multi-platform benchmark that measures CPU and RAM performance - the situation repeated itself.

The layout is the same as in the browser tests. And this indicates that the results are indeed correct.

Now let's look at GPU performance. Two multi-platform benchmarks are available here: GFXBench (former GLBenchmark 2.7) and 3DMark. Let's start with the GFXBench results.

	Apple iPad mini second generation (Apple A7)	Apple iPad mini first generation (Apple A5)	Apple iPad Air (Apple A7)	Google Nexus 7 2013 (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro)	LG GPad 8.3 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 600)
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen)	27 fps	3.4 fps	27 fps	15 fps	14 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen)	21 fps	6.4 fps	21 fps	15 fps	13 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen Fixed Timestep)	25 fps	3.5 fps	25 fps	14 fps	13 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen Fixed Timestep)	20 fps	6.9 fps	20 fps	14 fps	13 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 Egypt HD (C24Z16)	63 fps	15 fps	63 fps	39 fps	35 fps
GFXBench 2.7.2 Egypt HD (C24Z16 Offscreen)	49 fps	22 fps	49 fps	30 fps	35 fps

And again we see the same picture, with the only difference that now the results of both devices on the Apple A7 are exactly the same.

Here again you can see a slight loss of the iPad mini Retina to its older friend. But more striking is the difference between the two generations of the iPad mini. I can't believe that only one year separates these devices! However, the gap from Android tablets is also significant.

Thus, iPad mini with Retina display is the most productive modern tablet in the middle price segment. If you like to play 3D games and want to get a device that can be updated to the new version of the operating system at least twice, you can safely buy the iPad mini Retina. But the iPad mini of the previous generation is no longer relevant today, because for the same money (about 12 thousand rubles) you can buy a much more productive Android tablet with a Full HD screen.

Offline work

If we knew the approximate level of performance in advance (since we had already tested solutions on the Apple A7 SoC), then the situation with battery life created real intrigue. After all, now the device needs to display a picture of twice the resolution, and the dimensions of the case remain the same, so the battery cannot be greatly increased. This caused legitimate fears that, in terms of the duration battery life the new iPad mini will be inferior to its predecessor.

However, as the tests showed, these fears were in vain. The battery life not only did not decrease, but even slightly increased. Here, however, it is worth making a reservation that we tested the first generation iPad mini for this comparison on the latest version of the operating system - iOS 7.0.4. It is possible that on the original iOS 6 with which it is released, the result would have been a little better. But even in the current version, this is a decent duration of work - for both iPad mini.

The results are listed in the table.

Interestingly, the sensational result of the 2013 Google Nexus 7, obtained in reading mode, could not be surpassed by the new iPad mini. Before him, in general, to all other devices as to the moon. But in the other two iPad modes mini Retina just overtakes both Android competitors.

We also note that under load, the new iPad mini heats up more than its predecessor, in which heat is almost not felt.

Camera

iPad Air is equipped with two cameras - front with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and rear with a resolution of 5 megapixels, similar to the cameras of the first iPad mini and iPad Air. Since the iPad mini is much more capable of shooting than the larger iPad, we decided to do a full test using our smartphone camera test methodology, while also comparing the new camera quality with the first generation iPad mini and iPad Air. Filming and commentary were made by Anton Solovyov.

iPad mini Retina
Good dynamic range and well processed noise.
Sharpness is not bad, but the lack of any stabilization is noticeable.
The sharpness is quite good, if desired, you can make out the number of the nearest car.
Blurring is noticeable in the corners of the frame, although the upper central part is quite sharp.
The number of the nearest car is clearly distinguishable.
At shorter shutter speeds, the situation improves markedly. Sharpness is uniform across almost the entire field of the frame.
In such scenes, the camera chooses the exposure well.
Macro photography in low light is quite good for the camera.

We can say that the image quality of the iPad mini Retina camera has not noticeably changed compared to the iPad mini. Minor improvements have only affected noise processing: the noise reduction algorithm has not changed much, but visually its work has become softer, and due to this, small details are better worked out in the pictures. However, the camera is still afraid of noise and tries to work on minimum values sensitivity, compensating for exposure due to shutter speed, therefore, in low light, there is a high probability of blurring due to relatively slow shutter speeds. As it turns out, relatively slow shutter speeds in this case are values ​​from 1/40 second and above, since the iPad mini Retina camera does not have any kind of stabilization system. For example, almost all of the above shots were taken under the same conditions, each in triplicate, and in almost all cases two out of three shots were blurry.

Lighting

As you can see from the graph, in terms of relative resolution, the iPad mini Retina camera is not that far behind the iPad mini camera and almost caught up with the iPad Air camera. However, after a detailed examination of the images of the booth, it becomes clear that the iPad mini Retina is still a significant step forward compared to the iPad mini. It is also worth noting that the camera's angle of view has become slightly smaller, despite the same nominal focal length value specified in EXIF. Despite the fact that the camera has not changed much, now it looks modified. There are still some points that I would like to improve, but these are rather exclusively software limitations.

Of the characteristic features of the camera, one can single out good noise reduction, good and fairly uniform sharpness in terms of plans and across the field, and a reasonable choice of exposure.

In general, the quality of the camera shots is decent, especially for a tablet, despite the low resolution. There are probably no obvious shortcomings in the camera, however, the lack of a flash significantly limits its scope. However, it is quite suitable for artistic or documentary shooting in appropriate lighting.

conclusions

The last iPad mini evoked mixed emotions: the form factor seems to be interesting (the screen is more than 7 inches, but the case can be wrapped around with one hand in a vertical orientation), but the low resolution of the display spoiled the whole impression. This was especially noticeable if you used a large iPad with a Retina screen. After it, working with the iPad mini was just physically uncomfortable.

And now Apple has released the second version of the iPad mini - and here it has not only corrected the situation with the screen resolution, but also radically increased the performance of the device. At the same time, the price remained quite attractive, and the battery life and dimensions remained practically unchanged.

Thus, the choice is no longer between "large and modern device" and "compact, but outdated." Now you have to choose exclusively between the two diagonals of the screen and, accordingly, the dimensions of the tablet (which, however, do not affect the thickness). If you prefer a more compact format, plan to regularly take the tablet with you on trips, use it in transport, then you can safely take the iPad mini Retina. It's a bit more expensive than Android tablets of the same form factor, but it's significantly better in terms of performance.

In our opinion, the more likely competitors of the iPad mini Retina are not even compact form factor tablets, but tablet phones - Sony Xperia Z Ultra, samsung galaxy Note 3 and others. In terms of performance, they are approximately on the same level as the iPad mini Retina, they are not inferior to it in terms of screen quality (and even surpass it in pixel density per inch), but they can be used both as a tablet and as a smartphone. True, the cost of top-end tablet phones is significantly higher than that of the iPad mini, but the screen is still smaller. Therefore, the Apple product has its own specific niche, which is different from both tablet phones and compact Android tablets.

All in all, the iPad mini with Retina display is definitely recommended unless you already have an iPad Air (or are about to). But the iPad mini of the first generation seems to us an acceptable option only on the condition that the buyer wants to get an Apple tablet as cheaply as possible, and the rest does not matter. If possible, then it is, of course, worth paying 4,000 rubles extra and getting a fundamentally more modern device. And by the way, owners of the first generation iPad mini can also safely go to stores for new iPad mini if ​​financial possibilities allow. An update won't hurt at all.

At the end of the article, we bring to your attention our video review of the Apple iPad mini tablet with a Retina display:

16 GB (+3G)	32 GB (+3G)	64 GB (+3G)	128 GB (+3G)
Average price according to Yandex.Market
T-10546224 (T-10546225 )	T-10546226 (T-10546227 )	T-10546228 (T-10546229 )	T-10548766 (T-10548769 )
Offers iPad mini Retina 16 GB (+3G) according to Yandex.Market
L-10546224-5		L-10546225-5
Offers iPad mini Retina 32 GB (+3G) according to Yandex.Market
L-10546226-5		L-10546227-5
Offers iPad mini Retina 64 GB (+3G) according to Yandex.Market
L-10546228-5		L-10546229-5
Offers iPad mini Retina 128 GB (+3G) according to Yandex.Market
L-10548766-5		L-10548769-5

2 years ago

Great screen, size, battery, camera, iOS

2 years ago

Reliability, stability and lack of brakes, high quality display and perfect operation of all sensors, the speaker sounds good, the battery lasts for a day of almost continuous use, a very large number of accessories and applications, size.

2 years ago

Good screen quality, good processor, nice interface, nice design

2 years ago

Nice design, reasonable size for everyday use outside the home. The battery capacity is enough for me at least 8-9 hours of almost continuous use. When compared with Android tablets, it has a very good sound for a portable device in headphones

2 years ago

screen, battery, stability, design

2 years ago

Apple is Apple. Beautiful, ergonomic, insanely bright and clear display. The sound is excellent, especially considering that this is a tablet. Works fast, practically flies. For a tablet, the photo quality is not bad, but it could be better for the money.

2 years ago

He is a virtue in himself. Excellent quality screen, pleasant sound, performance at the level. In the test, antutu scored 35,000, which is important for games. Copes with any task. I do not use the camera, but looked for the sake of interest. The photos are even better than the top smartphones.

2 years ago

Excellent screen, Beautiful design, Reliability.

2 years ago

High ergonomics; - reliable (case - aluminum monolith); - beautiful (beautifully constructed and designed); - powerful; - good battery life; - the screen is beautiful; - the camera is very decent (both for tablets and mobile); - powerful stereo sound. Is this not enough?!

2 years ago

1) Battery life, enough for a day, sometimes for 2 2) Build quality is on top 3) Design-5+ 4) Nothing lags, does not hang, all animations are smooth and very pleasing to the eye 5) The price tag is quite sane

2 years ago

early versions of iOS7 had sudden reboots

2 years ago

limited volume (no support for memory cards), limited features (file transfer, interaction with external media, etc.), after purchasing iphone 6s, the lack of touch ID will also be considered a disadvantage.

2 years ago

2 years ago

In 2013, all updated Apple devices received the same processors. And if for the iPhone 5s the performance of the A7 graphic component is quite enough, then due to the higher resolution of the displays on the Air and Mini 2, some interface animations lag.
-I don't understand how the OS developers managed to achieve this in iOS 7, but sometimes any browsers from scratch load pages when switching between two (!) open tabs, for example mobile version Yandex and the second heavier page. Sometimes it's just annoying, for example when you need to copy text from one tab to another.
This happens even after rebooting the device. And yes, after the release of iOS 8, almost nothing has changed, and some points are even aggravated as updates are released.
Because of all this

2 years ago

Lack of normal ability to transfer data from other devices. 21 century. To open a book downloaded to a PC, I have to upload it to icloud or dropbox, so that I can then download it to my tablet. Then also export to the application. Well, tin!
Heavy. Your hand gets tired if you read in transport.

2 years ago

inconvenience with watching video, converting, etc.

2 years ago

Constantly puts updates and requires a lot of memory for them!
Inadequate price for functionality.
Lots of hassle with common things like downloading music, videos, photos and even e-books.

2 years ago

Is that the price of apple products.
The memory card is not inserted.

2 years ago

Fragility, Inability to transfer data to other devices without iTunes.

2 years ago

16 Gb is a very small amount of memory (depends on your needs);
- not very convenient file transfer from PC to iPad.

Many reviews have been made of the capabilities of the iPad with Retina. The low resolution display and slow SoC, which were the only two real complaints about the first iPad mini, received enough attention. A bunch of options were listed that Apple could use to promote mini:

“Apple opted for a blatant 4x increase in the number of pixels (2x in each dimension) to create Retina. With a mini display, using a resolution of 1024x768, this would give it a 7.85-inch 2048x1536 panel. This would be the same resolution as the iPad 3/4, but with a much smaller display, giving it a pixel density of 326dpi (versus ~263 for the iPad 3/4). Apple could do that, but it would be the same changes it made to the iPad with Retina. First of all, the introduction of a larger battery and a much larger SoC. A larger battery is needed to run a more powerful backlight, and an X-series SoC is needed to keep the UI up to date and play on such high resolution. Both of these things would increase the size and cost of the mini, making it a true un-mini."

This quote is from one last year's review and it looks like Apple decided to fix everything this year. The review further concluded:

“None of these options are particularly enticing for Apple, especially given the low (for Apple) iPad mini starting price. If you're expecting a Retina mini next year, don't hold your breath."

That's why I don't like to make predictions.

I didn't expect the display power to drop that much. I didn't think the battery density would be so improved. And I definitely didn't expect Apple to integrate a large 4MB cache on the chip, thereby reducing the need for a super memory interface. The combination of these three things gave the iPad mini a Retina display, which is probably what Apple did this year after all.

The iPad mini with Retina, unlike the iPad Air, is very similar to its predecessor. You can't even see the 4.1% increase in thickness (+0.3mm) or the 7.5% increase in weight (+23g).

From top to bottom: iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina, iPad Air

Retina mini now has a 44% larger battery (23.8Wh). This is almost the same battery capacity as the original iPad (25Wh), but takes up only 1/3 of the space in the chassis. It's also the highest battery capacity we've ever seen in a tablet of this size. The slight impact on weight and thickness is impressive.

The battery powers two features of the new mini: basically Apple's A7 SoC and of course the 7.85-inch 2048x1536 Retina display. An effective solution to the main problem of the original iPad mini, the new mini is significantly faster and comes with a much better display. Mind you, the original mini debuted with the n-1 SoC, making the move to the A7 this year an even more significant upgrade. While regular users will find it hard to tell the difference between the A6 and A7, anyone who actively uses last year's iPad mini will appreciate how much faster the new one is (especially if you've upgraded to iOS 7).

According to the source - http://www.anandtech.com/, the display itself does not need much explanation. The first generation iPad mini had a screen resolution of 1024×768, which was acceptable but not perfect. I had no problem recommending the mini given how good the rest of the experience was, but it's clear it could have been better. The move to a 2048x1536 panel gives the mini not only the right to use the term Retina Display, but also the highest density display in Apple's lineup.

The rest of the body doesn't look much different than the original mini. Apple loves to design it mobile devices hasn't changed too much in at least two generations, and the mini is no exception. This is by no means a complaint. I am simply fascinated by the high quality of the mini chassis, just like last year.

The front side of the tablet is characterized by an asymmetrical rim, identical to the iPad Air. The bezels on the sides are narrow, while the top and bottom are wider to physically accommodate the home button and FaceTime HD camera. As before, Apple gives a bit of extra work by rejecting thumbnails placed on either edge of the mini to make up for the missing part of the bezel before the "hold".

The solid aluminum backplate comes in Light Silver or Space (Dark) Gray. As with the iPhone, the silver model gets a white beveled bezel, while the Space Gray one has black trim and bronze bevelled edges. Models with cellular modem have plastic RF windows along the top edge of the tablet.


Around the edges you'll find: a power on/off button on the top, a volume up/down slider, and a rotation lock/mute volume up/down slider on the right side. If you have a cellular model, you'll find a nano-SIM tray along the right side of the mini.

The bottom edge is home to Apple's light connector, on either side of the speakers. Mini sounds good, although you'll get better playback low frequencies on larger iPad Airs.

iPad mini with Retina features the same 5MP iSight camera (back) and 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera (front) as iPad Air. The addition is the installation of a dual microphone to remove background noise, again, as in the iPad Air.

The Mini is available in exactly the same configuration as the iPad Air. It starts at $399 with 16GB of storage and is available in 32GB and 64/128GB (+$100 for each memory upgrade). Cellular connectivity also adds $130. Like the iPad Air, mini with Retina is only available with LTE support, and comes unlocked.

The old mini is still around $299, although like the iPad 2 that's still on sale, you're unlikely to get a recommendation to buy it. Perhaps if you really don't mind a low resolution display, a much slower SoC, and want to save some money, don't give up on iOS. For most people, a mini iPad with Retina is the device they need. If you're using a heavy tablet, the experience is truly like heaven and earth. While the form factor of the iPad Air is something that is defined by its experiential improvement, the mini iPad with Retina relies on the display and crystal to do the same.

Weight and usability

Much of the tablet experience has to do with weight and the distribution of that weight. The iPad Air is proof that this is true. Whereas the iPad Air occupies a position between one-handed and two-handed comfortable use, the mini sits squarely in one-handed territory. Picking up the mini after using the Air for a couple of weeks, it feels like you have nothing in your hands. The Mini is the much more comfortable of the two tablets for lying down. When you're sitting upright, the Air's weight feels like a huge advantage over the mini, but if you're relaxed, the mini feels a lot nicer to hold. You can read more about the comparison of Air and mini tablets in the article “Which tablet do you need? »

The case is quite narrow, it can be held with only one hand and used as a giant smartphone. If you hold the mini with two hands and use it like a smartphone, you can actually do it super fast using just your fingers. While the iPad Air is too big to hold in portrait mode and comfortably wrap around with your fingers, the minis are too small to hold in landscape mode and use like a regular keyboard. When typing long emails, the iPad Air is better, assuming I can walk up to a table or I can sit down. But if I can't do either, then the iPad mini is the best companion.

Apple introduced the LTE model, which, in fact, duplicates most of the functions of a smartphone. With mini LTE, the smartphone stays in your pocket more often, although there are many combinations of small/large, phone/tablet that you can list while trying to figure out the best ratio for today. In many ways, this is similar to the comparison between a small laptop and a PC, a large laptop and a docking station.

The mini's smaller display makes reading content a little harder than the larger iPads. But, given the new Retina display, reading on the mini is pretty good. Small text is always easier to read when it's on a larger display, but as long as you're looking at content that's properly formatted for a tablet, you'll be thrilled with the mini. The impression of reading comics on mini is also very pleasant. The bubbles text was certainly not as easy to read as it was on the iPad Air, but overall the experience was still good. Ultimately, you won't sacrifice much functionality if you choose mini over Air. What you lose, you will certainly gain in portability. The main question is where you are going to use the tablet, this will determine which one to choose.

Cases

Like the iPad Air, the iPad mini is fairly light, and any kind of case adds a decent amount of weight to the device (percentage).

Since the mini hasn't changed much in form factor, the first two batches of cases are pretty similar to what we got last year. Like its older sibling, the mini comes with an optional Smart Cover ($39) or Smart Case ($69) depending on how much protection you need.

Apple offered me black Smart Cover and red Smart Case for iPad mini. Both looked great on the Space Gray mini. It is worth noting that the red Smart Case has a less saturated color than the red iPad Air Smart Cover.


The Smart Cover attaches to the left side of the mini with a magnetic loop. If you line up the magnets correctly, the attraction is strong enough to support the weight of the mini if ​​you grab it by the lid (although I don't recommend doing that). The magnets on the edge of the lid are away from the sleep/wake signal loop on the tablet itself.

The Smart Case has the same sleep/wake functionality, but instead of connecting with magnets, the mini tablet sits inside a case that protects it from both sides. The Smart Case is preferable for travel, although it is much more difficult to get and stow the tablet, and obviously adds more weight to the device.

Both screen protectors have the same tri-fold design and can be used as a tablet stand. Since the previous mini used the same type of protective cover, the angle of the stand did not change, as was the case with the Air.


The inner surfaces of the protective covers are lined with microfiber, while the outside is covered with either soft polyurethane (Smart Cover) or leather (Smart Cover). Both protect the mini well and show no signs of excessive wear.

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iPad mini is an amazing device. When in 2012, rumors began to creep around the network that a smaller version of the familiar and beloved ten-inch iPad was being prepared in the depths of Apple's headquarters, fans of Cupertino technology rudely expressed their opinion, arguing the negative with fragmentation, imitation of the Android camp, impracticality, meaninglessness, and so on. more... Few of them would have thought then that literally in a year people would begin to abandon the classic iPad in favor of the iPad mini.

With a good aspect ratio, the iPad is better suited for web surfing than widescreen tablets. Reduced iPad version turned out to be even more convenient for everyday use and all thanks to the excellent weight and size characteristics, and the first iPad mini had only two significant drawbacks - this is a low resolution and a relatively weak A5 processor at the time of release. iPad mini 2 was deprived of these disadvantages and now it is, in my subjective opinion, the best tablet on the market.

Before us is the same practical device, the design of which has not changed. The only visual difference between the iPad Mini Retina and the first generation iPad Mini is color. The silver-white model remained unchanged, and the black one became gray, the color was officially called Space Gray, which sounds like “milky gray” in Russian localization.

What's inside the second generation iPad Mini? Let's talk about everything in order...

What's new in iPad mini 2 (Retina)

First, let's look at the differences between the iPad mini 2 and the previous model.

1. First and foremost, a 2048 x 1536 Retina display.
This is exactly the same screen resolution as the 10-inch iPad, so the iPad mini has exactly the same dpi as the iPhone - 326 dpi! For a tablet, this is an impressive figure, the image is simply amazing. The display has become brighter, more contrast, and the colors are even more saturated, the viewing angles are beyond praise, however, as always. It is infinitely pleasant to look, both at the elements of the iOS interface and programs, and at games, there is no need to talk about fonts at all. Reading the text is a pleasure.

326 pixels per inch. Pixels can't be seen with the eye

2. Powerful stuffing.
The new iPad mini is significantly more powerful than the first model. The obsolete dual-core processor A5 (the same was in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S) was replaced by a 64-bit A7, with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Judging by synthetic tests, the performance increase is over 400%, and the graphics processing speed has increased to 800%! The iPad mini Retina is almost the same power as the iPad Air, the only difference in the filling is the lowered frequency of the A7 processor by 100 MHz. The tablet also has an M7 coprocessor, its task is to process data about the position of the device in space - a gyroscope, an accelerometer, GPS.

3. Other changes:

• the new iPad mini 2 received a quad-core GPU g6430;
• the amount of RAM has been increased from 512 Mb DDR2 to 1024 Mb DDR3;
• the tablet has become thicker by 0.3 millimeters;
• Wi-Fi version weight increased from 308g to 331g, Cellular version weight increased from 312g to 341g;
• battery capacity has been increased.

Specifications iPad Mini 2 (Retina)

Display	IPS 7.9" (4:3), oleophobic coating Resolution 2048 × 1536 px (326 ppi)
CPU	Apple A7 64-bit (2 cores, 28nm) + M7 Frequency 1.3 GHz
GPU	PowerVR G6430 (4-core)
Memory	1GB DRAM DDR3
Drive capacity	16/32/64/128 Gb
Camera	iSight 5 Mpx Full HD video recording 1080p/30fps, stabilization
Front-camera	1.2 Mpx HD video recording 720p/30fps
Sensors, modules	GPS, Glonass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer Micro-SIM, digital compass, 1 microphone, hotspot, wireless printing, AirPlay Mirroring (mirroring)	Battery (hours)
		Music Video Internet 3G* Internet LTE* Internet WiFi Expectation	up to 140 to 10 up to 9 up to 9 to 10 up to 744	6471 mAh
iOS version Sales	iOS 7.0 11/12/2013 - Present	Dimensions (mm)
		Length Width Thickness	200 134.7 7.5	331 (341*) grams
Communication standards	GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSUPA/HSDPA (3G)*, CDMA, LTE (4G)*, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0
* - Cellular model

But what about the iPad Mini 2 in use?

The iPad Mini Retina, like the previous generation tablet, is ergonomic to infinity. I will add that, being Apple technology lovers for more than a year, I have always been not very fond of the classic 9.7-inch iPad. I never liked him in many respects, ranging from weight and size characteristics to the visual component. Huge weight, inconvenient dimensions, the widest bezel around the display - everything prevented me from using the large iPad as a portable and practical tablet, and it increasingly turned into a device for home, and the tasks that I assigned to it were increasingly compensated by a computer and phones, in As a result, the “toy” has practically ceased to be used by me.

In the case of the iPad Mini, the situation is diametrically opposite. The tablet is lightweight and most practical for portable use, it fits into the inner pocket of most jackets, jackets and down jackets even in a case, taking it on the road is a pleasure, you can hold it with one hand for a long time, and play is a special pleasure. Given the powerful stuffing, I can advise you to choose the iPad Mini Retina for games rather than the iPad Air, it is really very convenient to play, and primarily due to its small size.

As for battery life, everything is great here, however, as always with Apple. The iPad Mini Retina is capable of surviving heavy use of modern games (eg ) for up to 7 hours. Of course, this indicator depends on the individual brightness settings and the included modules, but I managed to squeeze 10 hours in everyday use, where there was mainly web surfing, light games, and mail. There are screenshots on the network that someone managed to torture their iPad Mini 2 at low brightness for 13 hours without recharging. Agree, impressive numbers.

And what, the iPad Mini Retina has no minuses?

There is, where without them, there are no ideal gadgets. But the cons of the second-generation iPad Mini are really few.

1. Apple has completed the latest line of iOS devices with one gigabyte random access memory. Memory has become not only more, it has also become faster, but by today's standards, this is still not so much. In the Android camp, 2Gb of RAM is already the norm, if the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air were equipped with the same amount, not many people would want to change the gadget in a year, but Apple will happily announce at the end of the year that now the next iPads have twice the RAM more and many of us with a smile on our face will run to the store. Although, on the other hand, the existing filling will be enough for modern games for another couple of years, and this is more than enough not to think about the pieces of iron inside the device.

2. Retina display. “How so, because this is his main advantage!” you say. That's right, but this display is a little worse than the one on the iPad Air. The iPad Mini 2 display is inferior in contrast, brightness and color quality, but wins in image clarity and this can be seen with the naked eye. However, this small flaw should not be a reason to doubt the purchase, in practice you will notice the difference only when comparing the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air directly, but you can notice the higher clarity and pixel density of the Mini 2 without comparison.

3. The iPad Mini Retina comes with a 10-watt power supply, when a 12-watt one has been on sale for almost a year and a half. Due to this, the charging of the tablet takes a really long time.

4. When playing "heavy" toys for a long time case Mini 2 heats up significantly, the large iPad Air is less prone to this problem thanks to its large aluminum chassis. In fact, this is a heatsink for a tablet, so it turns out that a smaller heatsink takes less heat from the processor. Moreover, at some point, games can start to slow down, this happens because the frequency of the processor, when it reaches a certain temperature, starts to decrease in order to prevent overheating.

5. Perhaps the last drawback, which can be called temporary. It concerns modern games, on the iPad Mini Retina you can observe some jamming in them, I won’t say that they are very noticeable, but they are. This is due to the fact that not all developers have yet updated their applications for the 64-bit processor architecture, hence the corresponding problems.

It is also worth noting that some users have encountered the problem of a poor-quality display, which allegedly distorts the color reproduction for the next second after a long display of a black image. I have not encountered this problem, but even if you are “unlucky”, you should not get hung up, this is a trifle.

The first generation iPad Mini is still on sale, is it worth saving or is it better to buy the iPad Mini Retina?

You can save a lot and buy the first generation iPad Mini, but you must realize that you are buying obsolete hardware that will not last for several years and soon brakes will await you, both in games and in iOS. If possible, compare the iPad Mini screen of the first and second generation, you will understand that the choice is obvious in favor of the second.

And what to choose, iPad Mini 2 (Retina) or iPad Air?

Actually the question is quite simple. Both tablets are almost identical in power, you will not notice the difference. The 9.7-inch iPad is significantly lighter at 469 and 478 grams of Wi-Fi and Cellular versions, respectively. Its frame around the edges has become thinner. In general, the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air are almost the same tablets, which are distinguished by only three things:

• price - each iPad Air model is exactly 4000 more expensive than the similar iPad Mini 2;
• size - iPad Air is significantly larger than Mini 2;
• weight – iPad Air is heavier than iPad Mini 2 by about 140 grams.

iPad performance (single core performance)

iPad performance (multi-core performance)
Source http://www.primatelabs.com/geekbench/

It's simple, if you want a mobile, convenient, productive tablet, then take the iPad Mini 2 (Retina) without hesitation, if you want a larger screen, then iPad Air. For everyday use, iPad Mini 2 will be more convenient, more enjoyable to play, and the image clarity will be higher. iPad Air loses a little in mobility and image clarity, but the screen is brighter and has better color reproduction, but still, it is more suitable for home use. The Mini is easier to carry around, even if the Air were the same weight as the iPad Mini, it would still be big and bulky, and the Mini compact and as practical as possible.

If we go to Wikipedia and look at the meaning of the word "Convenience", we will see a detailed definition:

“Convenience is fitness for use, the presence of conditions, opportunities for easy, pleasant, easy use of something or satisfaction of any needs, requirements.”

And for the iPad Mini 2, these words are more applicable than for the iPad Air. Air is the same, only bigger, hence its cons, if this is a plus for you, take the iPad Air.

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Updated iPad mini: Retina display, A7 processor, slightly thicker, dark gray body instead of black, version with 128 GB of memory, but otherwise it's still the same familiar mini.

Design

The design is practically no different from the first mini, which is good - I personally liked the device very much, although I never became a user of a small iPad. Closer to Air, it is more convenient to watch movies, websites and do other things on it, the screen size decides. But when I look at those people with whom I often communicate, the situation there is completely different. For one large iPad, there are a dozen small ones. And everyone has a very simple explanation: mini is much more convenient to carry with you, but in the cold season it is generally easy to put it in a jacket pocket. And I, remembering last winter, can confirm these words. I often left the house without a bag at all, taking only a mini with me - it just fit into the inner pocket of a down jacket. With his help, he worked, if you can call it that, checking mail, correspondence on Facebook, calls to Facetime. In any case, this will not work with Air, it will not fit into your pocket.

In general, this story with a pocket still works, as it worked before. Many advanced people can be easily hooked and caught by saying that this gadget, traditionally large, now, after our modifications, easily fits in your pocket. You don't believe in it? Well, remember the Sony VAIO P. It would seem, well, who needs a pocket laptop with such poor performance? Well, who will buy it? And then there were a lot of buyers, it was the winter of 2009, sales began at the end of March, and P became one of the most sought-after new products from Sony. Just a year later, the iPad appeared, and the second version of P was unclaimed. The pocket theme in the work of Sony surfaced a little later, when a tablet appeared on Android based with the corresponding abbreviation, P - but only this P turned out to be of no use to anyone (almost no one, meager sales). To some extent, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra can be attributed to pocket tablets, but it is hardly worth comparing with the iPad mini, each of these gadgets has its own purpose - by the way, I still like the Z Ultra, one of the best devices in the company's line (in general, among all other devices). Apple, it seems to me, also walked on thin ice, introducing the iPad mini. Why don't consumers try it? Well, how can they not understand why they should pay a little less and lose the diagonal? But consumers got it right, and it turned out that the iPad mini outsold the big iPad. And many of my colleagues who are connected with retail say so in general: iPad mini killed sales of regular Apple tablets. At least, before the release of Air, the situation was interesting, many stores even stopped ordering cases for the iPad 2/3/4 - there was no demand for accessories or for the models mentioned. But mini was sold and is being sold, as if it were the only tablet in the company's line. Why? The answer is simple, it's all about the more than once mentioned "pocket", compactness while maintaining an acceptable display diagonal for a tablet. The regular iPad is only smaller, and that's what captivates consumers. By the way, here's interesting fact: I am always interested in observing what my fellow journalists use, we periodically meet at presentations, exhibitions and similar events. Say, when you see several editors of publications about Sony RX-100 gadgets, this is a sure sign that the camera is worth buying. When I was at IFA, I noticed that almost every second iPad mini (and I also had it in my bag, then there was no Air), everyone says one thing: it is compact. Therefore attractive. The secret of success is very simple. And therefore, no one expected cardinal changes from the presentation of the updated model.

The dimensions of the first iPad mini were 200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm and weighed 308 grams (312 grams for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model). The thickness of the novelty has slightly changed, 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm, weight - 331 grams (the 4G version weighs 341 grams). Your old mini case may not be suitable for a new tablet, we tried several cases with colleagues, we managed to somehow attach only Vaja models.

The case is the same as the first mini, made of aluminum, made with love, it's nice to hold in your hands. The product, despite its size, is not perceived as some kind of toy, it is a pebble in the garden of plastic Galaxy - they may be good in terms of characteristics, but outwardly they look like tablets for children. You can’t say the same about mini, it’s a thing with a capital letter. The model with 4G has a plastic antenna plug on the top rear, with a microphone hole on it, and a camera lens next to it. On the top end is the power button, on the right is the usual set: the mute lever, the volume buttons. Below is the Lightning connector, next to the perforation. By the way, mini with Retina is very loud, you can watch a movie without using speakers, it literally yells - you can listen to music in the bathroom while you take a shower, and you can hear quite well. The 4G model has a SIM tray on the right side, nanoSIM is used. The 3.5 mm jack is on the top left, in the center is another microphone hole.

The color has changed, instead of black it is now branded dark gray, it looks great. Girls will like the silvery tablet, the frame around the display is white, while dark gray has a black one. I hope nothing will happen to the coating, on my black mini the paint peeled off in some places, although the tablet was exploited mercilessly.

Display

Diagonal IPS display - 7.9 inches, LED backlight, resolution - 2048x1536 pixels, oleophobic coating on the display protection. The first mini had a resolution of 1024x768 pixels. If you expect that you will immediately see the difference, I hasten to disappoint you: thanks to iOS 7, the chances have evened out, and not everyone can understand where Retina is and where the regular display is at first glance at the tablet desktop. And some even think that the display of a simple mini is better. If you look closely, you can see that the icons, signatures are clearer, the image is more contrasting. But the difference, nevertheless, is not too noticeable, not striking.

As soon as you open Safari and any site, you immediately understand why you should choose mini with Retina. Accustomed to other such products, the clarity of the image, like cut out letters, wonderful colors, the picture is dense - a feast for the eyes. The same can be said about games and programs, it all looks much better on the Retina display.

But the difference is not striking, as in the case of laptops or large iPads, I personally expected more, but it turned out just fine. Apparently, it's all about the display diagonal and thin iOS7 fonts. They say that the display is a little yellow, at first I didn’t notice, now I see it. Just look at the white reminder or calendar icons - a slight, very slight tint is observed, but until someone tells you about it, you will not pay attention.

Performance

The A7 processor with 64-bit architecture plus the M7 coprocessor is used, this bundle has been talked about more than once - read the reviews of the iPhone 5S, iPad Air. The results of testing in the Geekbench 3 program can be seen in the photographs. The tablet works faster than a simple mini, this is especially noticeable when running familiar programs, this is a browser, camera, Google Maps and others. Yes, even Facebook is faster.

The case heats up noticeably from the back while running serious applications like Infinity Blade - in winter you can use the mini as a small stove. Doesn't burn, but heats up seriously.

The traditional set of wireless interfaces, Wi-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n), support for two bands 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.0. By default, Bluetooth is enabled, this is due to the appearance of the AirDrop function in iOS7 - I note once again that it will not be possible to exchange information with Apple computers, it's a pity.

iOS7 is used, you can find an overview of the operating system on the website.

Memory, modifications

As with the iPad Air, there are four versions: 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB, and there are versions with Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi + 4G, and there are also two colors. I do not advise employees of online stores, there are a lot of versions, there is a lot of work to be done. In the case of tablets, it’s hard to say which series to choose, they brought me a 64 GB modification, Wi-Fi + 4G for testing, in a sense, this is the best option if there are a lot of applications, music, if you like to watch movies on a tablet. In AVplayer, you can immediately download several seasons of the series or many, many films. If for you the iPad mini is just a laptop replacement device for meetings, then 16 GB is enough. It's great that Apple still gives you that choice.

LTE

In Moscow, LTE works, this applies to both Air and iPad mini with Retina. Checked using my colleague's card - by the way, I recently had a curious incident with the purchase of a 4G SIM card in Euroset, I will tell you separately. If you often work where you have to, do not sit in the office, then you should buy a mini with 4G support, the speed is impressive.

Working hours

The claimed battery life is about 10 hours of video playback, in fact, these figures are approximately true. Simply put, even if you use the tablet to the fullest during the day, it will sit down only in the evening. It is optimal to use the power supply from the kit for charging, via USB it takes a very, very long time. In general, food is in order here.

Camera

Not the best device for photography, but if you don’t have a smartphone or camera at hand, it will do, especially if you are going to upload photos to Instagram later. Filters will help mask not the best quality. Camera resolution - 5 MP, front - 1.2 MP, video recording is supported in HD, there is autofocus and focus by pressing, face detection, geotargeting, HDR. I really want to believe that the next iPad will have a camera at least like the iPhone 5.

conclusions

What will happen to iPad mini with Retina next year? I think you can guess yourself. Firstly, they will work on reducing the weight and size of the device, this body has already worked its way. Secondly, they will add TouchID, as in the iPhone 5S, the smartphone, as always, acts as a kind of testing ground new technology. Thirdly, they will improve the camera, we can expect at least the same characteristics as the iPhone 5. A new processor (A8?), Well, and one more thing. For some, such changes will not be enough - I personally do not think so.

Even seemingly minimal changes to the iPad mini with Retina have revived interest in this product. Yes, there is no such shortage as with the iPhone 5S, but the demand is stable, new minis are stocked in retail, in November-December this will be one of the most sought-after gifts.

You can see the prices in the official Apple store in the screenshot, the cheapest tablet costs 15,990 rubles, the most expensive - 32,990 rubles. For myself, I chose a version with 64 GB of memory and 4G support, such a mini costs 28,990 rubles. If you don't need 4G, you can save five thousand, not bad. The most popular will be tablets with Wi-Fi 16/32 GB, already now we can assume a shortage in the coming months.

In general, about the device. Has it become better iPad mini? Yes, instead simple screen here is Retina, a different processor (and the difference in speed is noticeable), a version with 128 GB of memory has appeared. Should I upgrade my mini to a new one? Before that, I recommend that you go to the store and evaluate the display yourself. Only those who have already used mini will notice the difference, the rest will be satisfied with the first generation tablet.

In any case, this is one of the best tablets on the market in terms of features, and if you are not satisfied with the size of the iPad Air, then feel free to buy iPad mini with Retina.

P.S. We will add a video to the review tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, before the end of the year we will try to publish the operating experience - if Artem has time, he will write this material. I know that Artem loves iPad mini and can tell you a lot of interesting things.

The author expresses gratitude to the store "Computer Plaza" for the device provided for the test.

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Sergey Kuzmin ()