The Apple iPad mini is probably one of the most awaited releases this year. This mini tablet is a compressed version of the new iPad, which has done so well. Smaller tabs had become popular in the market and Apple decided to introduce the iPad mini to cater to the needs of the tablet enthusiast. It was launched in October this year and was recently introduced into the Indian mobile market. Some might say that it is the smaller version of the iPad. The Apple iPad mini has been one of the most talked about devices on the market since its announcement.
Design:
Apple’s main goal was to create a smaller version of the iPad- a device that can carry out the same tasks that an iPad can. The iPad mini measures in at just 7.2 mm and 308 gms, which is 23 percent thinner, and 53 percent lighter than the new iPad. The mini features a 7.9 inch screen which offers a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Now this might be impressive, but it is no match for the new iPad’s Retina Display. The screen of the iPad mini is obviously smaller than that of the iPad, but Apple has reduced the bezel width, giving you more room for display. The iPad mini can be easily used and held with one hand. The iPad mini has an anodized aluminium back plate which looks slick, but is susceptible to scratches.
Performance and Interface:
Much like the iPad, the iPad mini runs on the iOS 6 operating system. The interface remains the same, what with the double tap music controls and more. You can also move through the recently-used apps by touching the screen with five fingers and swiping left and right. The tablet can be used both in portrait and landscape mode.
One major downside of the iPad mini is the lack of a powerful processor. Although the browsing speeds are decent and the OS runs pretty smooth, the performance of heavy applications leaves a lot to be desired. It has just 512 MB RAM which just doesn’t cut it.
Media:
As a video player, the iPad mini works very well. It offers decent HD video playback on horizontal mode. But although it can play MP4 files, it is not compatible with DivX and AVI files. Audiophiles will love the music player function. Those who enjoy reading books can even download the iBook app and use the iPad mini as an eBook reader. But all of this said, the GPU performances of the mini tab leave a lot to be desired.
Camera:
The iPad mini features a 5 megapixel camera that effectively captures sharp, well-exposed pictures. But alas, there is no flash to accompany shooting in bad light. Its 1.2 megapixel camera doesn’t fall far behind. It also supports video recording.
Battery Life:
The iPad mini features a 16.3WHr battery that offers up to 10 hrs of video playback. The battery life of the iPad mini is one of the best in any sub-10 inch tablet so far.
Conclusion:
• The good: As far as design aesthetics go, the iPad mini is exactly what the name suggests – a smaller version of the iPad. The user interface is pretty smooth and the 7.9 inch display is pretty much more than one could ask for in a small tablet.
• The bad: To be very honest, the Retina Display screen is missed. Although the display is by no means poor, there is definitely something missing. Then there is the file compatibility issue with videos. Another issue is the 16 GB internal memory which is, of course, not expandable. This makes it very difficult for one to install heavy applications and maintain a media library.
Although Apple has incorporated a good bit of the iPad into the mini, there are definitely certain shortcomings. One of them is the display. The clarity and vibrancy of the Retina display is definitely missing. Also, the 512MB RAM just does not cut it. Although the functions of the mini tablet are not glitchy, it could definitely do with more juice.
