First generation of tablets iPad mini(a1455, a1454) caused mixed reactions. The question immediately arose whether the small iPad could cope with all the tasks assigned to advanced users.
The device not only coped technically and functionally, but also became more convenient to use due to its small 8-inch diagonal. The second generation pleased us many times over. mini version 2 (a1490, a1489) s Retina display and the updated filling shocked everyone.
The diagonal of the IPS screen of the new model remains the same, but the resolution has increased significantly - from 1024 by 768 to 2048 by 1536 pixels. These figures are much higher than those iPad Air. At the same time, the cost of the 2013 device is more affordable. Several modification options are presented. You can choose a model with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi +Cellular, in white or trendy Space Gray colors. As for memory, 128, 64, 32 and 16 GB are available.
One of the features of Apple is the ability to create unique design of equipment. Externally, the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet is ergonomic and incredibly easy to use. Due to the reduced body size and 7.9-inch diagonal, the model was a huge success. The 2nd generation tablet does not look much different from the previous modification, but the thickness of the case has increased by 0.3 mm and the weight has increased by 30 g. This is due to the increase in the battery, which makes the device more powerful. Autonomy of continuous operation reaches 9 hours without additional recharging.
The shade of the tablet also changed from silvery-white Black & Slate to lighter ones – Space Gray and Silver. The updated black shade presented on the display side is less susceptible to chipping in the bevel area. Another difference is the presence of a second microphone on the back of the case, which helps reduce noise.
The front area of the iPad mini 2 Retina tablet is equipped with an integrated capacitive sensor and is closed protective glass. On top there is a 1.3 megapixel front camera, which has a light sensor, which improves the quality of pictures. The Home key is located at the bottom, but the side zones are made with minimal edging, which allows you to comfortably hold the device in one hand.
Concerning technical characteristics, then they have been significantly changed, which is good news:
Apple's iPad mini 2 Retina features an advanced 64-bit A7 processor with an M7 motion coprocessor that packs plenty of power for everyday productivity. Even in multitasking mode, graphics are displayed in high-quality resolution.
Another plus is the large viewing angle, which allows you to use the device from any angle, and reliable motherboard. The package includes instructions, Charger and a cable with a proprietary Lightning connector. Activation is carried out by connecting to a PC and launching iTunes.
The Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet features the iOS 7 operating system, made with a new design and functions. Since the model was released in 2013, and Apple has not stood still, new iOS options have appeared that are available for the tablet in question. Each user can update the firmware to iOS 11.2.6.
To understand the differences between OSs, you need to consider their features:
The Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet, like any Apple device, is not subject to rollback or downgrading of the iOS version. For each device, only the latest firmware is available, with all the necessary updates. The presence of the Jailbreak function in the improved OS allows you to further expand the capabilities of the device, regardless of the configuration, what year it was released and how many inches its screen is.
The 2nd generation model has a more powerful battery - a 23.8 Wh battery that provides up to 10 hours of operation during active use of the device. Its capacity has increased by 7.3 Wh. This is due to the fact that the Retina display requires more power. The increased battery affected the thickness of the case, but not significantly. According to test results, 1 charge was enough for 8 hours of continuous use and 11 hours in standby mode, which corresponds to the indicators declared by the manufacturer.
The iPad mini 2 Retina tablet is presented in two versions regarding transmission Wi-Fi data and Wi-Fi + Cellular. The second option is suitable for those who are constantly located at a distance from an available Wi-Fi module. Such a device provides access to the Internet via mobile communications. It has an additional slot for a SIM card, otherwise the models do not differ.
Tablets that have a SIM card are not tied to points and provide Internet communication in almost any place where there is 3G or 4G (LTE) mobile coverage. At any time, the signal transmission mode from the operator can be changed to a Wi-Fi connection.
IN comparative table Here are the main differences between iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Cellular:
WiFi Cellular | WiFi |
Bluetooth 4.0 technology | Bluetooth 4.0 technology |
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); dual bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and MIMO | |
Multiple Access System: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz) | – |
Mobile data transmission technology: GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz | – |
Location Services: Wi-Fi, Digital Compass, Assisted GPS and GLONASS, Cellular | Location Services: Wi-Fi, Digital Compass |
Technologies cellular communications: UMTS/HSPA/HSUPA/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) | – |
Data transfer rates range from 1 to 26 Mb/s, depending on terrain conditions | – |
The Cellular model with a SIM card will cost more, and you will also need to pay a set tariff amount every month, but access to the Internet will always be uninterrupted regardless of location.
The main feature of the 2nd generation iPad mini is the new Retina display with increased resolution. After graduation previous version, Apple began intensive development of the screen, which brought results. Features of the updated display include:
The ultra-sensitive sensor responds quickly to touch. All midtones are displayed with good brightness, and there is also sufficient detail. Overall, the display has been significantly improved due to higher resolution, increased brightness and additional functions, despite the small diagonal.
Due to the thoughtful design of the display, if it is damaged, the glass can be replaced. The front part of the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet may split or crack if dropped from a height or receive strong impacts. For specialists, the glass replacement procedure will not be a problem, but it is one of the most expensive, since it is necessary to choose a high-quality module that will be original.
One of the advantages of the model is the collapsible design of the display. In the previously released version it was solid, which created significant difficulties in restoring the screen. By using modern equipment You can easily replace damaged glass.
Often users encounter the fact that their PC or laptop does not recognize the tablet. The problem may be hidden in software failures or in the failure of some parts of the device. You need to make sure that it is installed latest version BY. After updates, you need to close iTunes and turn off the power, then restart the Apple Mobile Device Service. After rebooting, you need to open iTunes and make a new connection. If the problem is not resolved, it may be due to the following:
If, after checking all the settings and visual inspection, no violations are found, you need to contact a specialist; repairs will probably be required.
If the tablet enters the password incorrectly again after 6 attempts, it is automatically locked. Availability is very important backup copy. If it is missing, it will be impossible to restore the data, since you will have to erase all previously downloaded information and settings. There are several unlocking options: with using iTunes, iCloud, recovery mode, via Pinfinderv and factory reset. Each option is discussed in more detail in the video.
There are several ways to improve the performance of an Apple tablet. Program slowdowns are often associated with newer versions of iOS. To make your device faster, you can perform the following manipulations:
To restart the tablet, you need to simultaneously press and hold the power key and the Home button. You must wait until the display turns white and the Apple logo appears. You can also use the standard off and on option.
Another popular question is how to photograph a tablet screen. To do this, simply press the Home key and the Power key at the same time. It is necessary to correctly calculate the simultaneity of operations to avoid shutting down equipment or closing the application.
How much does a practical tablet cost? The starting price of the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina with Wi-Fi memory capacity of 16 GB was $329, 32 GB – $429, 64 GB – $529.
As for modifications with Wi-Fi + Cellular: 16GB – $459, 32GB – $559, 64GB – $659. Naturally, 5 years after the tablet was released, prices have dropped significantly. A model with a memory capacity of 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular now in 2018 costs about 26 thousand rubles, 16 GB – about 20 thousand rubles.
As for reviews, the average rating reaches 4 out of 5 points. Many people note the high performance of the device, high quality display and perfect sensor performance. Compact sizes, big choice applications and programs makes the device indispensable in everyday use. Good battery life allows you to get the most out of your tablet all day long. Powerful sound and good shooting quality were also noted.
On October 22 of this year, Apple introduced the second model of an 8-inch tablet, the iPad mini 2, which received a high-resolution Retina display and a 64-bit A7 processor in tandem with an M7 coprocessor.
New gadgets from Apple are becoming the subject of numerous discussions, both in the press and among admirers of the famous brand. Such information is especially useful for those who want to update outdated devices, but are not sure about the advisability of such a step. To dispel all doubts and show the advantages of the new iPad tablets, we will take a detailed look at all the innovations from a practical point of view.
The design of devices can tell a lot about their functionality, so let's start the review with that. The new iPad mini 2 has gained some weight compared to the older model - its thickness is 7.5 mm versus the previous 7.2 mm. The remaining dimensions remained unchanged - 200x134.7x7.5 mm (for comparison, the iPad mini is 200x134.7x7.2).
The same can be said about device weight– compared to the previous model, it has “gained weight” by 29 g, that is, 341 g (version with a SIM card and Wi-Fi) versus 306 g, respectively. Despite the almost 10% weight gain, it can be considered unnoticeable.
Front panel covered for all models glass with oleophobic coating, which prevents fingerprints from spoiling the appearance. Below the screen, as always, is the Home key, and above it is the front camera lens.
Despite the expected “golden” iPad mini 2, the manufacturer does not provide such a color for the case. The new tablet will be available in two versions - white with a silver back panel and black ( back panel colors Space Gray), while the predecessor was completely white and black. The bezel of the matrix remains quite wide, so the tablet is comfortable to hold in your hands without touching the touch screen.
Both versions have a volume rocker and a Mute slider on the right side. On the left (for versions with a mobile communication module) there are slots for Nano-SIM cards (iPad mini and iPad mini 2). At the top end there is a standard 3.5 mm audio jack, a power button and a plastic cover for cellular antennas, to the left of which the main camera lens is mounted.
At the bottom end of the tablets there is a miniature 8-pin reversible Lightning connector, which can be inserted on either side. iPad mini and iPad mini have speakers built into both sides of the interface and deliver exceptional sound quality.
Unlike the outdated tablet of the previous model, iPad mini 2 received Retina display worthy of all praise. With the same diagonal – 7.9 inches, the new display has a resolution of 2048×1536 versus 1024×768. The pixel density has increased from 163 PPI (iPad mini) to 326 PPI (iPad mini 2).
Visually, the pixels became indistinguishable to the eye, and even the text began to look as if drawn with ink, not to mention the photographic images, more like a picture from a glossy magazine.
The manufacturing technology of IPS matrices remains the same, so the display of the new tablet has a maximum viewing angle and a natural color gamut. Although a closer comparison reveals a warmer color scheme and improved image detail. In addition, the new display is distinguished by the precise positioning of the capacitive sensor and the best quality of the oleophobic coating of the protective glass.
IN iPad tablet mini of the first version were used: a dual-core A5 processor with ARM Cortex-A9 crystals (1.0 GHz) and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics chip, which provided acceptable operating speed. But 32-bit technology did not allow developing sufficient power when running “heavy” applications.
The new iPad mini 2 with Retina display is equipped with a new product - 64-bit A7 processor working in pairs with M7 coprocessor, which provides all the calculations and monitoring of information coming from the tablet’s various sensors. This “division of labor” made it possible to allocate the freed-up power of the A7 to perform other tasks. It is worth noting that the energy consumption when operating the M7 is significantly lower than that of the main processor, and this has a positive effect on the duration battery life gadget.
The use of new crystals ensured serious increase in productivity. So, according to Apple, new CPU is 4 times more powerful previous processor, and raffic accelerator – 8 times. This was enough to provide the Retina display with sufficient processor power and significantly increase the performance of the entire system.
Nowadays, when HD video and “heavy” content such as 3D games are becoming more widespread, devices require large amounts of memory. In this regard, the developers of the iPad mini 2 have expanded the line of tablets with a model equipped with 128 GB of memory. For comparison, the iPad mini line was more modest: 16, 32 and 64 GB.
Data transmission in the new tablets is carried out via Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) using a dual MIMO antenna, which allows you to automatically switch between both modes. Thanks to this, users will be able to work at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, which seems incredible and has so far been confirmed purely theoretically.
The new gadget, like the previous model, uses the new Bluetooth 4.0. The 4G LTE module installed in tablets is not yet relevant in our country. Options LTE networks, used in Russia, are not compatible with its protocols, so gadgets can only work in 3G mode.
Unlike the iPad mini, a new OS iOS 7, ensuring compatibility of new chips for maximum increase productivity. In this case, the interface operating system has become simpler and incredibly intuitive, so it doesn’t require much getting used to.
The developers responded more thoughtfully to consumer requests, which led to the removal of unnecessary decorative elements and the reworking of existing options.
So, for more convenient perception, the Control Center panel has become horizontally oriented. Now, to see frequently used programs, you only need to lightly touch the panel on the screen.
Compared to the old Camera app, the shutter button has been moved from the bottom of the screen to the sidebar. This is where the thumb is located when shooting, so using the program has become more convenient.
The new interface uses translucent background and realistic animation, which makes even such simple applications, as in "weather forecast". Easy on the eyes new design buttons, ordered color palette and improved fonts that create a special harmony in interface elements.
Both models have good optics, allowing you to take high-quality photographs and shoot decent videos. They have two cameras: front and main. Front camera FaceTime HD with 1.2 MP The matrix has a facial recognition function and allows you to make FaceTime video calls over Wi-Fi or 4G networks. In addition, it supports video recording in 720p HD quality.
The main camera uses a device called iSight. It is built on 5 megapixel CMOS sensor from the Omnivision company, which was used in the iPhone 4, but additionally it has new 5-element optics. The camera supports the following functions: autofocus, focusing by tap on the screen and face recognition. It has a built-in hybrid IR filter and backlighting. In addition, it allows you to shoot videos in HD quality: 1080p/30 fps with image stabilization.
The quality of pictures and videos is quite high, which meets the new trends in using the tablet as a photo and video camera. This year it was quite common to see young people making videos on Apple tablets.
An additional option when shooting videos is 3x zoom, which is used for the first time on tablets of this class and will be a real gift for iPad mini 2 owners.
The use of a Retina screen, double the resolution and the use of a 4G module required an increase in the power of the iPad mini 2 hardware, which significantly increased power consumption. But, as you know, Apple tablets have always been different long work in offline mode, so the developers were given the goal of increasing the battery capacity with minimal changes in weight and size characteristics.
The iPad mini comes with battery at 16.3 Wh (4430 mAh), the power of which was quite enough for long-term operation of the device. In the new model, despite the introduction of special energy-saving functions, a more powerful battery was needed, which led to a slight increase in the thickness of the case and the weight of the device - by only 3 mm and 29 g, respectively.
Thanks to the application innovative technologies Apple engineers managed to maintain the same operating time of the device on a single battery charge. It amounts to:
Mode for listening to audio recordings and watching videos – up to 10 hours;
Active work Internet via Wi-Fi – up to 10 hours;
Surfing the Internet over a 4G cellular network – up to 9 hours.
iPad mini | iPad mini 2 with Retina |
Dimensions: height/width/thickness (mm) | |
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Weight | |
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Display | |
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CPU | |
Dual core A5 | 64 bit A7 with M7 coprocessor |
Connection | |
WiFi
Wi-Fi + Cellular
Wi-Fi + Cellular(Verizon or Sprint)
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WiFi
Wi-Fi + Cellular
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SIM card | |
Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
Main camera | |
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Front-camera | |
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Video recording | |
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System interface | |
Lightning | Lightning |
Battery | |
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The first iPad mini was introduced in the fall of 2012 and became a very popular device. You can blame Apple for following the lead of the market, but no one can deny the success of the iPad mini. Millions of customers have chosen the iPad mini with their wallets, which only confirmed the correctness of Apple's chosen path.
In the fall of 2013, Apple updated its line of tablets, including the iPad mini. The compact tablet received updated hardware and the long-awaited Retina screen, the absence of which in the first generation mini deterred many from purchasing it (including me). Now the iPad mini with a Retina screen is available for sale and I just couldn’t help but buy it for myself. Did the iPad mini with Retina display live up to my expectations and should you buy one for yourself?
I already had experience using the “large” iPad 2, but I was not satisfied with its dimensions. This is not to say that full-size iPads are very bulky and heavy, but typing text in landscape orientation of the screen was uncomfortable for me, and carrying a piece of hardware weighing 700 grams in my bag, with the help of which I can’t even fully work with text in some way. I'm just tired of it at the moment. And I sold the iPad 2.
Then I clearly understood that full-size tablets were not my format. A gadget that you constantly carry with you should be compact, lightweight and easy to use. I see the full-size iPad more as a tablet for home use.
I didn’t buy the first iPad mini due to the lack of a Retina screen, and the hardware on it was far from the latest at that time. So I waited for the iPad mini second generation, which from the point of view of hardware and screen “on paper” completely suited me.
I chose the iPad mini with Retina display in Space Gray and 16GB of storage without cellular. Still, while most of our country (including my city) still doesn’t have 4G, I don’t see much point in buying an iPad mini with a cellular module. A Wi-Fi points now it’s more than enough, and in extreme cases, an iPhone or even a Mac can act as a router.
The 16 GB version is more than enough for me, because I don't have one on my iPad large quantity applications and games, like on the iPhone, there is no huge photo library, music and films. If I want to watch or listen to something, I prefer to do it using online services.
Still, it’s good that Apple is closely involved in the Russian market. Now you don’t have to wait six months for new devices to officially go on sale. The iPad mini Retina, for example, was available for order in the Apple Online Store on November 15, that is, just a few weeks after the start of sales in the West.
Of course, the iPad mini reached other stores later. I picked up my iPad mini Retina at the end of December and was unable to find it on display for an acceptable (read: officially established) price. It’s good that there are online stores, from one of which I ordered an iPad mini Retina 16 GB for a reasonable 16 thousand rubles. After 3 days, the order had already arrived and I took my long-awaited tablet.
You shouldn't expect any revelations from the iPad mini Retina box or configuration. Standard box, standard equipment: the tablet itself, lightning cable, Russian plug, documents and stickers. There is nothing else, including headphones.
iPad mini Retina in terms of physical dimensions and appearance remains virtually the same as the original iPad mini. Rounded corners, a small frame around the screen, screen diagonal - 7.9 inches. The weight of the device has increased only slightly. Holding the tablet in both hands is quite comfortable, but when you work with it with one hand, it still feels a little heavy. I hope that in the future Apple will put its compact tablet on a “diet”, especially since its competitors weigh less.
The location of connectors and speakers on the case remains the same. The body itself is also made of aluminum, its front part is covered with glass.
The iPad mini in Space Gray looks great. After the “faceless” black color in previous models, “Space Gray” looks much more interesting. It is also worth noting that the paint will not peel off, as in the iPhone 5; during the time I was using the tablet, no problems arose. It still looks like new.
The screen diagonal has not changed - 7.9 inches, but the resolution has increased to “Retina” 2048 × 1536 pixels. The pixel density is 326 ppi, just like the iPhone, which is more than the iPad Air (264 ppi). It is worth admitting that you will not notice the difference between the Air and Mini in terms of pixels - they are not visible on both mini and Air. However, iPad screen mini is worse than the iPad Air due to relatively dull color reproduction, brightness and contrast. Generally speaking, the screen is quite good, but there are not enough stars in the sky.
The screen gets dirty like crazy, you will have to constantly wipe it from dust particles and fingerprints. But it’s hard to call this a specific feature of the iPad mini with a Retina screen. This is a problem with most modern mobile devices.
Another point that catches your eye is that the screen is “deeply” recessed into the body. Apple did not use any special technologies here (a screen without an air gap, for example) and the “depth” between the glass and the display itself is quite noticeable. This does not have a significant effect in everyday use, but I would still like this point to be corrected.
The new iPad mini comes with 1GB random access memory And latest processor A7 - the same as in the iPhone 5s and iPad Air. True, unlike its older brother iPad Air, its clock frequency is 100 MHz lower. There's no difference between the Mini and Air when using the iOS interface and most apps, but Apple wouldn't be Apple if there was no difference between them at all. And she is.
In the GeekBench 3 test, the iPad mini scores about 2,500 points, which is slightly lower than the iPad Air, but this is not due to synthetic numbers. When working with resource-intensive games such as GTA: San Andreas, Real Racing 3, the frame rate drops unpleasantly, which has not been observed before. Apparently this is also due to the fact that most applications are not optimized for the 64-bit architecture of the A7 processor. Or maybe those same 100 MHz frequencies played their fatal role?
It is worth noting that many applications on the iPad mini Retina work the same or even worse (!) than on the iPhone 5, which has an A6 processor. Here they make themselves known a high resolution screen and unoptimized software (especially for iPad).
iOS 7 on the iPad mini Retina with a 64-bit processor works... far from perfect. The animation often jerks, and changing the screen orientation does not always happen smoothly. I hope that with the release of iOS 7.1 Apple will cover up this shame, because there is absolutely no desire to endure constant resprings and freezing. This is not Android, this is iOS - a system that has made a name for itself thanks to its stable operation. And iOS 7 has big problems with this very stable operation.
The iPad mini Retina has a camera, it is capable of taking pictures of very average quality, but for a tablet this can be considered a good indicator. Video is recorded in good quality, the slo-mo mode, as in the iPhone 5s, is naturally not here.
But the front camera pleased me. In good lighting conditions, the pictures turn out to be quite good (as far as they can be at all). front camera). More than enough for selfshots and video calls on Skype.
Traditionally, Apple promises 10 hours of battery life for its tablets. With the iPad mini Retina, in practice it turns out a little less. With active use (browser (half an hour to an hour a day), email (an hour a day), social networks (an hour a day), games (2-3 hours a day), videos (half an hour to an hour a day), books (an hour a day) day)) the tablet lasts for 1-1.5 days or 8-9 hours of continuous work. If you moderate your ardor, you can achieve 2-2.5 days. Again, everyone's usage patterns are different and these numbers may vary depending on your preferences.
In any case, the iPad mini Retina remains a very durable device - you won’t worry about the battery and keep looking at the battery charge indicator. You can charge your iPad mini and easily take it with you for the whole working day - the battery will definitely last you. The iPad mini Retina charges from the mains in about 4-5 hours. With my usage pattern, I charge it about 4 times a week - quite a good result.
The iPad mini is a great reading gadget. Books, articles from the Web, RSS - the iPad mini Retina easily copes with all these tasks. Applications for this in App Store- a great many. I'll tell you which ones I use.
As an RSS reader I use Digg Reader. I used to prefer Feedly, but I found Digg more convenient. Actually, its functionality is standard - you can subscribe to streams directly in the application, distribute subscriptions into folders, quickly share articles on social networks or postpone them “for later”. This is quite enough for me.
To keep track of news on topics that interest me, I use Zite. Unlike Flipboard, it matches my preferences much better, although, of course, it loses in design. You add all the topics that interest you to Zite once and enjoy promptly arriving news.
To delay reading articles I use Pocket. Still, nothing better has yet been invented for iOS, despite the fact that Readability and Instapaper are also very good services. But Pocket has 3 big advantages: it is supported by hundreds of applications, it has the ability to “save for later” not only text articles, but also videos and links. And third, of course, tags. They help organize all articles into categories and maintain order in the repository.
You can read e-books and magazines on your iPad without any problems. I would especially like to note that for the iPad there are many interactive magazines that are made specifically for the tablet. For example, this is how I read Slon.ru and Esquire magazines. Unlike paper versions, they have all sorts of interactive elements: graphics, animations, videos, and in some places even mini-games. If this doesn’t turn everything upside down, it certainly transforms the experience of reading periodicals.
The iPad mini Retina is also quite suitable for reading PDF magazines and books. In the vast majority of cases, the font size is quite optimal so as not to squint or zoom in.
But with regular e-books, things are not so simple. I admit that when I bought the iPad mini Retina, I even thought that it could replace my Kindle reader. But this did not happen. E-ink remains for me the best screen format for reading large books. But here who likes what more.
I can’t help but remember the dimensions of the iPad mini Retina. On the one hand, the display diagonal is higher than on the Kindle, which means that more content can fit on the screen. But here this difference is not so critical.
But holding a Kindle reader in one hand is much more convenient and this played a decisive role for me. Amazon was able to find the optimal balance between the amount of text on the screen and ease of use. It’s not surprising, because for the iPad mini, reading books is just one of the tasks, and for the Kindle it’s actually the only one. But for small publications and the iPad mini Retina is quite suitable.
As a reader e-books I use Marvin. It has everything you need to read books comfortably.
iPad mini Retina is good for taking short text notes and viewing documents. Don't forget that there are many apps available for the iPad. handwritten notes, such as INKredible or Skitch, can help you jot down ideas for a work meeting or educational event.
To work with text, I use Pages, iAWriter and SimpleNote. Despite the difference in functionality, the essence of using these programs on the iPad is absolutely the same for me - to write a short text. I don’t have the nerves to fully work with text on the iPad, which I’ll talk about below :-)
I bought the iPad mini Retina largely with the expectation that it would be my main gaming gadget. I’ll say right away that I was right in my choice, despite the problems with some games.
As I said, the same GTA: San Andreas on the iPad mini Retina behaves strangely: the frame rate is low, everything slows down unpleasantly. At the same time, on the iPhone 5 the game practically did not freeze for me.
But my favorite Modern Combat 4 behaves very well 95% of the time. Even when you play online with a large number of players, MD4 practically does not slow down, only occasionally small “lags” occur. At the same time, the tablet practically does not heat up.
Simple games like Flappy Bird, Dungeon Highway, Angry Birds are eaten up by the iPad mini Retina, which is, in general, quite expected.
I don't think of tablets as full-time work devices, but despite this, it was still interesting to see the iPad mini Retina in action. At work I tinker with texts a lot, I constantly look through email, social media, I work with the WordPress admin.
A miracle did not happen - the iPad mini Retina, in my opinion, is completely unsuitable for permanent job. But in order to quickly write a post, correct the text or sketch out a plan for a post, it is quite suitable.
Firstly, there is a real lack of a physical keyboard, which makes typing much more convenient. Secondly, there is no normal WordPress application for iOS that will not confuse the publication time and accidentally post articles to the site (which has happened to me several times). And thirdly, iOS itself is simply not suitable for such things. On a MacBook you can simultaneously write text and look at its English original, but on an iPad you constantly switch between applications, and this, again, is an inconvenience.
This idea has been said by everyone, it is banal and obvious, but it is worth noting again: the iPad mini is an ideal device for consuming content, not for creating it. Although, if you really want to, you can dodge it by buying external keyboard. But this will not solve the software problem.
iPad mini is the perfect device for consuming content, not creating it
Despite some differences in specifications, the only significant difference between the Air and mini Retina is the size of the tablet. IN You must clearly answer the question - which size is preferable for you? Because there is practically no difference in the other capabilities of tablets. If you like full-size tablets, take the iPad Air; if you like compact ones, take the iPad mini Retina. Our infographics will help you make your choice.
conclusions
Despite all the disadvantages and shortcomings of the iPad mini Retina, I was more than satisfied with my purchase. The iPad mini Retina is a pleasant and easy-to-use tablet that, in the vast majority of cases, copes with its tasks with a bang. Many shortcomings are associated with the unstable operation of iOS 7 itself, which will be corrected very soon in the final version. iOS version 7.1.
The iPad is still a great device for consuming content, but not a great device for creating it. But as I said above, it is capable of solving simple work tasks.