On November 2nd 2012, Apple released its much-anticipated iPad Mini with a lot of confidence.
With all the same features as its larger counterpart, the iPad Mini keeps Apple on the cutting edge. Image from Apple.com
Although originally it seemed like the iPad Mini would simply be an iPad compressed into a weaker tablet, Apple proves the original impressions wrong. I figured the iPad Mini would be a light version of the full-scale iPad weakened to achieve apples overall goal of conciseness, simplicity, and apparently minimal sizes. However, when I compared the iPad mini to the the original iPad, it seemed like an overall better version.
One of my peeves with the original iPad was that it was too cumbersome and heavy, which is a problem the iPad Mini solves. It’s sleekness is incredible, the screen is nearly as big as the original iPad with an impressive 7.9 inch display; however its considerably lighter and thinner. The iPad mini is thinner by a noticeable amount, to the point where its almost as thin as Amazons Kindle. The iPad minis thickness is about .28 inches, about as thick as a pencil, compared to the iPad 2’s .37-inch thickness. It weighs only .69 lbs, which is an incredible, and noticeable, also necessary weight differential compared to the iPad 2’s 1.46 lbs which is close to half the weight. An iPad like any tablet needs to be held in one hand conveniently without causing too much strain on ones arm, and Apple has certainly achieved this necessary goal. My only complaint with the size difference is that by doing so they’ve made the buttons on the side to control volume and silencing a little awkward and inconvenient to use, however a paltry sacrifice for the convenience of its size.
The displays are quite impressive as well, although it was not equipped with Apples incredible retina display or the A6 chip, it still manages to create quite the impressive display. The dual-core A6X Chip with quad-core graphics allows the iPad 2 to run graphics with the processor to allow graphics to process at incredible speeds to create the ultimate display. However, the iPad mini was equipped with the older A5 chip, (which is understandable considering something must be given up for such a size difference) yet the iPad Mini’s smaller screen allows a tighter resolution. It was disappointing to find out it didn’t have retina display, but its graphics are nothing to complain about. Although the chip isn’t the newest and finest technology, that does not disqualify its performance. The iPad mini runs as well, if not better than the iPad 2. It would seem iPad 2’s little brother is putting up quite the fight.
The iPad Mini comes equipped with the same camera as the iPad 2. The iSight camera is a 5-megapixel camera with face detection, autofocus, and an f/2.4 aperture, which in English means that it’s a pretty good little camera. Although it’s disappointing knowing the iPhone 5 has an 8 megapixel Camera, its still an incredible camera to be equipped with. It has a front and back camera, but it seemed like the camera facing inward took better quality pictures that the one of the backside, which I found strange. Of course the iPad Mini also comes with video recording capable of recording in 1080P HD resolution, which so far is the best quality recording.
The iPad mini is now charged via the universal “lightening” charger, as opposed to Apples original 30-pin charger. The iPad Mini’s battery life is as impressive as the iPad 2’s, competing with 10 hours of surfing online, listening to music or anything else you would participate in. The iPad mini will also support, (if you decide to purchase it) cellular and wireless service. The iPad has ultrafast wireless, which is essentially wireless Internet connection at ultrafast speeds. It runs on the new iOS 6 as its operating system, which is the newest and improved iOS available. Although on the iPad Mini there are some strange things that seem unpolished, for example the notification center is somewhat cropped and seems smaller and appears incomplete. The iPad did bring some new apps to the table, such as trailers, where you can watch movie trailers for free on your iPad, as well as a few new apps and features such as Facetime, iBooks, a redesigned Photo’s, Messages, Photobooth, and the notorious Siri.
I originally thought the iPad Mini would be trading performance for sleekness and conciseness, however Apple managed to pull of a wonderful machine. Other than the display, it is in no way inferior to the larger and bulkier iPad’s. It seems to me that the iPad Mini was simply the iPad done right. Starting at $329 for the base model, and slowly working their way up to $659 for the fully loaded version, these iPads are the tablet to buy. Apple has successfully made the iPad that everyone can use and would want.
