It would seem that the next update of Apple tablets should have gone smoothly, but the company did the impossible: they returned the slightly fading interest in large 10-inch tablets again. The iPad Air is the smallest, lightest device in its category, while the iPad mini is exactly the same.

Now you can choose one or another diagonal without sacrificing functionality, screen quality, processor power or memory size - the two models are the same. In this article I will talk about a miniature tablet, which has been seriously updated compared to its predecessor.

Main characteristics

Operating system: iOS 7.0.3
Screen: 7.85-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536, 324 ppi
Processor: Apple A7, 2-core Cortex-A9, ARM-v8, 1.3 GHz. PowerVR G6430 Graphics
Memory: RAM 1 GB, Built-in 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB
Camera: Front 1.3MP FaceTime, Main iSight F/2.4, 5MP autofocus, 1080p video recording, Face detection
Data transmission: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). There are models with support for GSM/EDGE/UMTS/LTE and CDMA/GSM/EDGE/UMTS. GPS/GLONASS (LTE version only).
Connection: Lightning connector
Battery: 23.8 Wh, up to 10 hours of surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi, watching videos
Optional: gyroscope, light sensor
Dimensions: 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm
Weight: 331g (341g for LTE versions)
Price: from 399 euros in Europe, from 399 dollars in the US, from 15,990 in Russia (Wi-Fi model)
Package contents: cable, charger, brief instructions

Design, convenience

In most cases, when describing Apple devices, this point can be reduced to a couple of words: “nothing has changed.” Indeed, why change something that is already perfect: no one has come close to the exterior and tactile sensations of all-metal, matte cases of Apple tablets. Let me remind you that the new Google Nexus, Samsung GALAXY Note, Nokia Lumia 2520 are all plastic.

The only thing you can notice is that the SIM card slot has moved a third of a centimeter, and another small hole for the microphone has appeared on the insert for the antenna, which the first iPad mini does not have.

In the iPad mini Retina, the color has changed: black has become asphalt gray (Space Grey), similar to the iPhone 5s. This color looks better, fingerprints are not visible on it, the metal texture is clearer. In a word, the change is positive.

As for the dimensions, they are also indistinguishable from the first generation. The length and width match up to tenths of a millimeter - 200 x 134.7, while the thickness has increased by an imperceptible 0.3 mm - up to 7.5 mm. Weight increased by 20 grams (up to 331 g). With these parameters, the tablet remained one of the thinnest in the world, it is the dimensions that attract many buyers to the iPad mini: the share of 10-inch models continues to decline.

Connectors and elements are in place: lightning and stereo speakers at the bottom, the lock button is at the top, and on the right is volume control and silent mode.

Screen

After the introduction of 7-inch Android tablets with Full HD screens, it became clear that Apple would also upgrade its 8-inch tablet to Retina resolution (2048 x 1536 pixels), just like the older iPad Air. Rumors came true, iPad mini acquired a Retina screen and the main limitation of the previous generation was removed - in the first iPad mini, the dot density was 163 ppi - less than all competitors.

Now at this resolution the picture turned out to be very smooth, the density is similar to the iPhone - 324 ppi, the pixels are not noticeable at all. In short, a wonderful tablet screen. Brightness, maximum viewing angles and natural colors are all there. For anyone who wanted a lightweight and miniature Apple tablet, but was stopped by the low screen resolution, the new version is highly recommended for consideration.

Detailed testing of the iPad mini Retina screen was conducted by our expert Mikhail Kuznetsov.

The Apple iPad mini screen has got a Retina screen. With a diagonal of 7.85 inches, the resolution reaches 2048 x 1536, which gives a pixel density of 324 ppi. Fans of counting pixels will be satisfied - with such a density, one can hardly see hints of "pixelization" of the image, the resolution is more than enough.
The margin of brightness is up to 407 cd / m 2 at maximum. The lack of brightness can be felt only in the bright sun, in other cases the stock is enough. The contrast ratio was around 900:1, an improvement over the previous iPad mini (where we measured a ratio of 687:1). The anti-glare screen filter copes well with ambient light and does not allow it to fade or fade in direct light. The viewing angles are quite wide, the shades are slightly distorted, the image remains legible at any reasonable viewing angles.

Gamma has an optimal value of 2.23, and the stability of the indicator is high. All midtones are displayed with the correct brightness, dark and light areas of the image have good detail - this is certainly a plus.

The average color temperature is about 6800K, the image tone is only a bit colder than the reference one. It is worth noting that at maximum brightness, the image shade becomes even colder - the color temperature tends to 7000K.

There is a slight excess of the blue component in the color balance, but the admixture is not so strong. The average Delta E error is about 5.41 units, which indicates a good quality of the factory settings. The main thing is that there is no obvious imbalance - which means that it is easy to get used to the extra shade.

The color gamut of the screen is disappointing. Like the previous version, the Retina screen of the new iPad mini falls short of the sRGB standard. Primary colors are shifted in hue and lack depth. This makes images look washed out and less believable than on sRGB screens like the Google Nexus 7, for example. And the tint is only half the trouble, as the blues are too bright (+104%, Delta E=17.6). In general, there is an imbalance with individual colors. Hence the rather high Delta E color errors - an average of 7.73 units. Color rendition comes out sloppy, you can usually expect more from Apple devices.

Overall, the Apple iPad mini's screen has received one obvious improvement - the high Retina resolution. A small increase in contrast is also pleasing. At the same time, one of the key drawbacks of the previous generation of iPad mini remained in place - this is a stripped-down color depth, which does not reach sRGB and somewhat distorts the shades. Apparently, in terms of screen, the iPad mini Retina is still one of the weaker devices in Apple's range. The screen is well suited for casual use (surfing and the like), but it will be more pleasant to watch photos or videos on a "full-sized" iPad, and not only because of the screen diagonal.

Hardware platform and battery

Prior to the October 22 announcement, many believed that the mini tablet would have a weaker hardware platform than the 10-inch iPad Air. But Apple took a different path: iPad mini is completely similar to its large brother in the line. The most advanced Apple A7 processor (1.3GHz dual-core 64-bit processor, latest ARM v8 architecture). Let me remind you that the new cores are called Cyclone, and the entire Apple A7 chip is manufactured by Samsung using the new 28-nanometer High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) process.

A few words about the 64-bit architecture. Apple chose not the path of thoughtlessly increasing the number of cores, which creates inconvenience for application developers, but the path of unification with other devices - Macbook, iPhone. All Apple devices now have a 64-bit architecture, making it much easier to create cross-platform applications for them. In the Android world, developers focus on averages so that the program works on the maximum number of devices. As a result, in most cases, additional cores in 4- and 8-core devices are simply unused. In the case of Apple, you can create programs for all devices without focusing on differences between them in terms of the number of cores, which saves both time and resources.

In addition, the new platform turned out to be not only faster than multi-core competitors, but also more economical in terms of power consumption: new Apple smartphones and tablets work as long as their predecessors worked.

In the case of the iPad mini Retina, the figures are exactly the same: 10 hours of work when watching videos, browsing the Internet via Wi-Fi. Due to the high resolution of the screen, the battery capacity has increased: 23.8 Wh versus 16.3 Wh in the predecessor iPad mini. The thickness of the tablet itself, let me remind you, has increased by only 0.3 mm: from 7.2 to 7.5 mm. I have always wondered how Apple, with the growth of quantitative indicators, maintains its usual dimensions within the same framework, but the fact remains.

The graphics accelerator in the new iPad mini is also on top - a quad-core PowerVR (Series 6) G6430 that supports OpenGL 3.0, DirectX 10 and OpenCL 1.x. This is one of the most powerful mobile graphics chips on the market right now. The amount of RAM in the iPad mini Retina has doubled compared to its predecessor - there is 1 GB, as in the older iPad Air. In addition, a faster version of LPDDR3 is used instead of LPDDR2.

So the mini-tablet is not inferior to the 10-inch iPad Air in terms of memory and processor power. If last year the first iPad mini was rather weak, now the new generation has taken 2 steps forward. And not only compared to Apple gadgets, but also Android competitors: at the moment, none of the Android manufacturers uses ARM v8 cores (devices with Cortex A53 and Cortex A57 will obviously not appear until next year) or Imagination PowerVR Series 6 graphics. Apple is ahead here.

This fact will once again push many to think about what is better - a standard 10-inch tablet or a miniature 8-inch one. Apple made them identical in terms of hardware platform and screen resolution, camera quality, memory size (built-in and RAM), battery life, so you can only choose the size. A very interesting step: when choosing an iPad mini, you don't have to sacrifice either quality or performance. For example, I prefer a miniature tablet, as it is so compact that it fits in any bag. The arrival of a 128 GB option is also a plus for a miniature device.

Camera

The iSight camera did not change: 5 megapixels, autofocus and spot focus. Despite the rumors, the new Apple tablets did not get 8 megapixel cameras from the iPhone 5, apparently, this is due to the fact that the resolution was not increased in the iPhone 5s either, there are the usual 8 megapixels (albeit with a large pixel size - 1.5 microns). So the quality of shooting remained at the level of its predecessor - quite an adequate level. There is also a module in the front, this is an HD camera, which will be useful for communication sessions via FaceTime. It will also allow you to take a self-portrait.

Software platform

The tablet is running the latest version of iOS 7.0.3. If on the iPad mini the software slowed down a little, now the tablet does not differ in speed from the iPhone 5s, all built-in applications, like third-party ones, “fly”. Also in version 7.0.3, it was possible to turn off animations in most menus, so you can make your tablet or smartphone even faster.

The main change in iOS 7 compared to the 6th version is the control center - a panel where data, network and wireless switches are collected, offline and night modes, player control buttons, as well as several quick applications (such as a calculator and a flashlight) . The control panel is called in the same way as the notification panel, only from the bottom of the screen. Personally, I have been waiting for its appearance for a long time, it was wrong to constantly enter the settings menu to enable the simplest functions, but better late than never.

The panel is not customizable, that is, you can’t remove unnecessary shortcuts (such as a timer) and add new ones, but you can choose whether it will be possible to call the panel on the locked screen or in open applications. The control center has AirDrop and AirPlay icons - wireless transfer of information, multimedia to compatible devices. For example, if there is another user with iOS 7 nearby, you can transfer a file, contact, with one touch.

The notification center (the panel at the top of the screen) has received expanded functionality: it is divided into 3 parts, you can watch either all notifications or missed ones, or the Today screen, where the weather can also be displayed. The weather app has also been updated, with much more weather animations.

Multitasking was brought to a remarkable form: now there are not only program icons, but also window thumbnails, the information in which is updated in real time. Approximately the same principle as in MeeGo or Blackberry 10. Swipe up to close applications. Branded features have been improved, with Find My iPhone now requiring authorization with an Apple ID and password to disable it. Additional protection of your data, in general. The new version of FaceTime has the ability to use it for voice calls without video.

Well, one of the most important innovations is the browser. The incomprehensible restriction on 8 open tabs has been removed, now you can open an unlimited number of them. The appearance of the windows has also changed, the miniatures have become more visual, larger.

Opinion

iPad mini with Retina screen is completely similar to the older model iPad Air - software, hardware, screen and operating time. You can choose the screen size you are interested in, and that's it - now you don't have to sacrifice anything. Let me remind you that the first generation iPad mini had only 512 MB of RAM, and the screen had a modest resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The price at the same time increased slightly, from 329 to 399 dollars for the initial configuration. As I said, the tablet will officially appear in Russia at a price of 15,990 rubles for a Wi-Fi configuration (the predecessor started at 13,000). The LTE version will cost 20,990 rubles for 16 GB. This will happen tomorrow, November 15th.

The new iPad mini retains the key virtues of its predecessor: a record-breaking thinness, the same design with narrow bezels and an all-aluminum body, loud stereo speakers, a huge software base and the same battery life. It was a little disappointing that the tablet decided not to use a fingerprint scanner, as in the iPhone 5s (this would have increased the cost), as well as the previous camera, although an 8 megapixel module would have been more appropriate. Otherwise, the tablet left the most pleasant impression, the Android competitors do not have the same combination of dimensions, quality of materials, speed and operating time, for which we can safely recommend the model for purchase.

We thank the company for the provided Apple iPad mini Retina First-Store.ru

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Two years ago, we denied the need for a smaller iPad. And now with might and main we consider it to be the best tablet in the world. As soon as Tim Cook confirmed the release, I knew that I would definitely buy it. And here he is next to me. Is this a good tablet? Definitely. Should you change to this one? No options. True, this is not an ideal device.

Apple employs engineers, not wizards. The positives in new devices are always easy to find: the euphoria and joy of owning a new toy helps a lot. But to get to the bottom of the real cons in the first few days is almost impossible. I've been using the new iPad mini with Retina display for three weeks and have found, in addition to the obvious improvements, a few unexpected ones. negative moments, many of which have not been written about in any popular review. Let's fix the situation, starting with ourselves!

For what?

Is the iPad mini with Retina display so bad that a separate article is devoted to its disadvantages? Of course, it's not like that at all. Even vice versa. I am sincerely, objectively delighted with this tablet: it is very fast, very light, very portable and functional. This is exactly the iPad mini we secretly wanted when we bought the previous model.

But, after reading dozens of foreign and a couple of domestic reviews, I was left with mixed feelings: as always, journalists are in a hurry, they want to shoot a review among the first and slide into a banal praising of the device and free quoting of marketing clichés from apple.com pages. And their readers are already talking about the minuses - on the forums, with angry responses towards the manufacturer. I think this is wrong. So that you are fully armed, I will freely walk ice rink on iPad mini with Retina display. Immediately make a reservation that we will not discuss the pros in detail.

Battery, charging and battery life

Year after year, Apple puts a charger and cable to iPads, refusing an extra pair of headphones. An interesting point: the iPad mini is not equipped with a new one, but with an old 10-watt one. The manufacturer saves, but in practice it changes almost nothing: the tablet charges for about 5-6 hours from zero to 100%. If you use it regularly and thoroughly, make it a habit to charge your device once every two days - and everything will be fine.

From the USB port, the new mini is practically not powered, except for the deep sleep mode. Considering that notifications are constantly coming there, you will have 20-25% at most for the whole night. Plug it into an outlet, there is no other option. I immediately warn you: with a capacity of less than 10,000 mA, they barely breathe when connected to a new tablet. These are the realities of using a new display and much more voracious hardware.

When playing resource-intensive things like , the tablet is discharged faster than the previous generation mini - mine refuses to live after 5 hours of continuous play. But here it is worth making an important remark: we are talking about the “heaviest” toy for iOS at the moment, which, in terms of processor load, even does Infinity Blade III. Lighter toys will work around 7-8 hours, and in the “naked” Wi-Fi surfing mode without playing video and with low brightness, you can squeeze out of the tablet not even 10, but as much as 11, or even 12 hours of work . That's more than 99.99% of us need. During the day, you will definitely have the opportunity to find a charger, which means that the iPad simply cannot physically let you down at the right time (hello, iPhone!).

By the way, I'm so used to the long and stable battery life of the iPad that I constantly forget about the helplessness of iPhones in this regard. Countless calls and important emails that were missed because I forgot to turn off 3G and disable geolocation. With the iPad, you never need to deal with such garbage. Well, unless you want to set records: there are people on Twitter who squeezed 13 hours of continuous work out of the tablet. And when to live, eat, sleep? :)

Chassis, design and heating

iPad mini with Retina display comes in an iPad mini without Retina display. This could have ended. But no, Apple made a reservation that the case became thicker by a couple of tenths of a millimeter and heavier by several tens of grams. And now everyone wants to know: has he really become fat and terribly heavy, or can he be patient and somehow survive? Well, you understand, a whole tenth of a millimeter is not for you khukhry-muhry!

No, it is not thick and not heavy at all. The difference with the previous iPad mini is felt only when alternately weighing in the hands. And then all this looks more like a statistical error. In general, we immediately discount the weight.

The old cover did not survive the upgrade.

It would seem that in this situation, one can not think about the thickness at all. But no. You may not notice it, but covers and pads will not get off so easily. The new iPad mini doesn't fit as well into tight-fitting cases from the previous generation, like those with hard plastic clips on the sides. If the clamps are weak, then the novelty will not fit there at all as it should. And if they are strong, then with each “undressing” you will pray not to wrinkle or scratch the sensitive sharpened edges of the tablet.

Not only did the grooves burst, but the lid is now not completely closed.

Don't take chances with cases: take your tablet with you, go to the store and try on each option before buying. If it fits enchantingly tight or not completely, give up and look for another one. Unfortunately, not every manufacturer has heard this, and many of them are willing to say that their old cases are fully compatible with the new iPad mini. In addition to the clamps, pay attention to the cover, if any. The protruding piece of the new tablet, timidly peeking out of the case for the previous generation mini, is very frustrating: personally, I will have to look for a new case for every day to replace the one I already love.

Warmer

The new iPad mini is almost three to five times more powerful than its predecessor. This could not remain without consequences. Metal is an excellent conductor of heat, making it Apple's favorite material for the legendary MacBook cases. Only in Apple mobile gadgets there are no radiators, let alone coolers. Therefore, only the body plays the role of a cooler. You probably already guess what I'm getting at.

iPad mini with Retina display may become warm. Strongly. About the same as two years ago - and even a little stronger. For example, the game GTA: San Andreas is able to warm up the tablet to an unusual state, when the device is not hot enough to get burned, but already hot enough to really start to worry. Moreover, the heat is felt not only on the back panel, but also on the screen: the gadget is relatively small, and there is especially nowhere for the heat to go. Apple knew this very, very well. Why I think so - below.

Performance, Throttling, and iOS 7

The previous generation iPad mini was a smaller version of the iPad 2 with an outdated processor. Surprisingly, Apple got away with it easily: we attributed this to case limitations and heat dissipation, and then we went to the stores in orderly rows. In 2013, the trick was not repeated: the iPad mini with Retina display is equipped with an A7 processor. The processor is also A7. And in too. And so a reasonable question arises: why do these devices show different levels of performance not only in synthetic tests, but also in games?

Throttling

Graph from Anandtech's iPad mini review

Every A7 processor is different from every other device, whether it's the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, or the new iPad mini. Numerous A7 tests have shown that each of the three gadgets operates at a different frequency, which varies depending on the load on the processor. It is called "throttling": A programmed CPU performance limit to protect it from overheating. Throttling is implemented in all processors, from full-fledged computer CPUs to mobile ARMs. Thanks to throttling, your iPhone and iPad will not be able to overheat and be damaged by excessive load. I explain this so that no one “rolls a barrel” on the technology itself.

So, the new Apple gadgets - and the limits of throttling - are programmed differently. Best of all shows itself iPad Air. Under high load, it very smoothly, almost by one megahertz, reduces the processor frequency to 1.3 GHz. This is a very small drop that the average user will not be able to notice. Partly Air was lucky: only in its design it is provided.

Chart from the iPad Air review at Anandtech

But the iPhone 5s for real "crazy", as soon as it encounters a resource-intensive task. The processor frequency in the "esque" drops sharply from 1.3 GHz to 1 GHz, and then actively jumps up and down, sometimes dropping to 850 MHz - more than a third of the base value. But this is a third of the performance, which disappears into nowhere while your smartphone cools down.

If you are sitting in Safari at this moment, all these fluctuations will not be noticeable. But if you play GTA: San Andreas, you will see the moment when throttling is activated naked eye. The toy will simply start to noticeably slow down. The developers did not take into account the fact of throttling, so the engine loads the poor iPhone as if it had all 1.3 GHz. And there is 850 MHz, on the screen - 15 frames per second, and the back panel is slowly turning into a frying pan. In general, throttling greatly changes the balance of power in resource-intensive applications.

The successes of these devices are important in comparison. The iPad mini with Retina display uses the same frequency processor as the iPhone 5s. The throttling parameters in it are slightly better than in the iPhone: for example, the performance drop stops at about 1 GHz, which is already significantly better. But the main problem remains: as soon as you load a new mini-tablet, it quickly gives up a good quarter of its performance in favor of the temperature of the chip. The A7 turned out to be significantly hotter than previous chips, and therefore Apple had to make such sacrifices.

iPhone 5s is still more powerful

If the previous point is of interest primarily to developers, then the next "minus" can be easily understood by any ordinary user. The difference in actual, effective video performance between the iPhone 5s and iPad mini is not in favor of the tablet. All thanks to the resource intensity of the new Retina display. After all, the processor in the iPhone 5s works on a screen with half the resolution of the 2013 iPad mini display. This is partly confirmed by tests of the processing power of the processor:

But only video chip tests show the real difference:

The difference in effective 3D performance is more than 30 percent in favor of the iPhone 5s. Lower resolution - less load on the hardware. And here even an increased throttling threshold cannot change anything.

What does all this mean for each of us? The simple fact is that the most beautiful and high-quality games of 2014 will not only run slightly better on the iPhone 5s than on the iPad mini with Retina display, but also show a better picture. Next time, Apple should consider adding more powerful processors to its tablets than those that come with the company's miniature smartphones. This has already happened with the iPad 4 and A6x, so why not repeat the trick next year?

Having gone through the features of the processor, I want to note: everything is not at all as bad as it might seem after reading this section. With all the idiosyncratic downsides, performance is the first reason that should make you swap out your old iPad mini for a new one. Fact: not a single mobile game will slow down on this tablet for another year or two. The difference is noticeable to the naked eye: where the old model thinks for six seconds, the new one thinks only for a second and a half. iOS 7 dramatically increased the technical requirements for the device, and the first iPad mini finally ceased to cope with the modern load. Stuttering and stuttering don't exist on the mini with Retina display, except for a few that come from poorly optimized iOS 7.

iOS 7. Version matters

Very good. Especially her idea. Thanks to the seven, Apple devices have finally found not only a second life, but also a completely new vector of software development, which seemed impossible in the language of skeuomorphism. But let's be honest, just for a minute. First, iOS 7 icons are still ugly. We could get used to it, we could stop paying attention, but this cannot cancel the very fact of the soulless wretchedness of most of the icons on the main, home screen. Secondly, none of these icons and none of the official apps reveal the benefits of the gorgeous iPhone and iPad screens. Where there used to be ultra-detailed textures, now lies a two-tone gradient and expansive shapes. Finally, the operation of the system itself often leaves much to be desired.

Thanks to the bare-bones design of iOS 7, the difference between the old iPad mini and the new iPad mini isn't quite as strong as, say, between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 in the days of iOS 5/6. It, at a cursory glance, is dictated only by the desktop wallpaper - now much more detailed. We'll talk more about the screen. The main thing is that the “old man”, that the new product has strange brakes: for example, applications switch with twitches, or they close with a lag when using a five-finger gesture. The A7 processor has nothing to do with it: it’s just that iOS 7 is poorly optimized for new hardware, and Apple will have to work on the Apple system for a long time and hard work.

To really enjoy iPad mini with Retina display, you need to install the latest beta version on it. You cannot do this without registering a UDID, so take care of everything in advance so as not to be left with a brick at a crucial moment. The main advantage of iOS 7.1 is ultra-fast, truly smooth animations for the first time, as well as a clearly increased performance of the system itself. After iOS 7.1, the officially available version seems to be hello to Android OS. Unfortunately, there are rumors that the official , so for now we will have to bet with beta versions.

RAM

A talk about hardware would not be complete without mentioning RAM. Today, all Apple mobile gadgets are strictly 1 gigabyte of RAM. According to the owners of the buckets, this is very little. According to the owners of iDevices, everyone somehow don't care. The gigabyte limit, which applies to all top-end devices, has a good effect on the optimization of third-party games and applications: developers know which “ceiling” they need to focus on for at least the next six months. But it is already clear that the system is “suffocating” within the framework of such an amount of RAM. For example, on iOS 6, the iPad could keep almost 7-10 Safari tabs in memory without requiring them to be reloaded. Today, their number does not exceed 4-5, and sometimes even less (depending on the weight of open pages).

When the second iPad mini with Retina display comes out, Apple will happily announce that the device has more RAM, and we are right! Let's go to the store happily. Keep this in mind when buying the current mini, and mentally prepare for this so that you don’t get offended by the guys from Cupertino later. They need to earn money.

Retina display. Afterglow, contrast issues - huegate

We were genuinely surprised that the technical specifications of the latest full-sized iPad would be the same as those of the mini version. It wasn't exactly Apple style. Somewhere the company had to really save money. Unfortunately, the savings are almost entirely on the Retina display. Most likely, you already know: the screen of the new iPad mini is recognized than that of the recently released iPad Air. The difference is in the depth, variety, and contrast of the colors displayed: the new mini is far more “passive” and cooler in color reproduction than the bright, sharp, and mesmerizing screen of the iPad Air.

The Russian transcription of the phenomenon sounds peculiar, but in the West this “scandal” was dubbed "huegate"- by analogy with Antennagate() And Scuffgate(). As an iPad Air owner with little experience, I can confirm that the colors in the new mini are really not as vibrant as on the larger iPads. The spectrum of displayed colors corresponds to that of the very first mini model. Therefore, we can conclude: the Retina screen of the iPad mini differs from the old display only by double the resolution. And nothing more.

There are two options for how to respond to this minus. If you have been using only a minicom for the last year and did not have a 9.7-inch Retina iPad at hand, then all these scandals and “gates” do not concern you at all. Any difference is known in comparison, and if you compare the new mini with the old, and not with some "fourth" iPad, the previous generation does not no one real advantage. Just take a new model and don't worry.

If you still have not decided which model of the new iPad to take, take a walk to the store and be sure to compare the iPad Air and the new iPad mini. The Air screen will definitely be better in all possible parameters. Excluding, perhaps, the clarity of the picture: the density of pixels per inch, and hence the detail of the image in the new iPad mini is worthy of the highest praise.

Color differences make you think twice about buying an iPad Air over a mini. But remember: whatever the difference in screens, the size of a large iPad still plays a significant role. Fact: mini is always more convenient and easier to take with you, carry in one hand, hide in a bag and so on. And the Air, no matter how light and thin it is, is still 9.7-inch "tray", which is not always comfortable to get in a public place. And even more so something to photograph them. Accordingly, if you are going to take mini, take mini. If you were attracted to the Air and were previously satisfied with full-size iPads, don't trade any further.

With the exception of color reproduction, the screen of the new mini is excellent. Huge viewing angles and high brightness make the picture incredibly solid, as if reproduced on paper. The old model here generally ceases to be quoted. Now the small text on the pages of websites does not look like a cluster of smeared pixels, and with a certain skill and good eyesight, you can read the news on the pages without using zoom. High definition picture is unusual for those who have used the old mini for a long time: I swear, the first few days I continued to see pixels and their well-defined borders.

Like that.

Here, however, we have to make an unexpected remark. In the second week after buying the new mini, I discovered a strange new screen feature that I've never seen before on either the iPad or the iPhone. If the screen displays a dark picture for a long time, and then abruptly switches to bright, gray and white colors, then the color reproduction changes significantly. Gray colors, and especially small text, seem to disappear on a white background, and all other shades become brighter - as if they were “burned out”. The essence of the problem is suspiciously reminiscent of . Only in the case of macbooks to all the “internets”, but something is silent about mini. Probably everyone is happy: it's better So than without a Retina screen at all.

Most often I "caught" this problem in the official client YouTube: after watching a long video with a lot of black, I minimized it from full screen mode with a gesture - and for 2-3 seconds I almost didn’t see the description text, comment block, and so on. There is no need to panic: the screen restores the normal balance of colors very quickly, and it is not so easy to achieve such a strange effect. However, this has not happened in previous models of Apple mobile devices. Problems with mini displays that caused Apple to significantly delay the launch of devices for sale were known back in . It is now clear that these were not just rumors. Have you observed such problems on your devices? Share in the comments.

P.S.

The retina display makes the iPad mini a modern device, but does not create a competitor for a full-sized version of the tablet. iPad Air is much better suited for home use: it's more fun to watch movies and surf the Web, because the benefits of a physically larger screen are obvious. But the new iPad mini is a versatile companion in the city and on the road, capable of everything you expect from a tablet. And if you move a lot through life, you are on your way with a minicom.

I didn't want this article to be filled with negativity. But there are never ideal devices - and therefore, in order to make a really right purchase, each of us must know not only the pros, but also the cons. Euphoria is always good, but it tends to fade away, leaving behind purely practical conclusions. Now, when you make a decision and go to the store for iPad mini, you will know for sure that it will not disappoint you. And this is the most important thing.

Impressions of Roman Yuriev from Retina iPad mini

The announcement of the new iPad models was a little unsettling, to be honest. turned out to be MUCH lighter and noticeably more compact than its predecessor, and in terms of power it is not far behind its larger counterpart. What to choose against the background of experience with two tablets at once - and? Everyone has it its advantages, but I still decided not to produce entities and use only one new generation tablet, having sold both predecessors.

iPad Air has a larger display, weighing only 120g, more than the second generation iPad mini, plus better color reproduction. In general, from the color reproduction of the display of the new iPad mini, and this also added its own confusion to the choice. However, 80% of the time I work with the iPad mini and it is always with me, there is even a chic shoulder bag for the gadget, which the iPad Air will not fit in at all. The fierce shortage of a compact novelty almost became the reason for purchasing the iPad Air, but I still resisted and got hold of the Retina iPad mini, which I do not regret at all. And now, after such a long and dramatic introduction, my first impressions of the new product.

There was no WOW effect, except that it got a little excited from 128 GB of flash memory and the ability to abandon not only 1.5 GB "rips" of films, but also HD versions of 4-5 GB, plus all the software and toys that were previously distributed between the two tablets. Still, a big family and everyone has something on their device. Now it all fits easily into 128 GB and there is still a lot of space left (about 30 GB, to be exact).

That is, the first feeling is that the new iPad mini is exactly the same as the old one, it seems that it has not changed the tablet. So it was the first few days of using the device, when I basically sat on it and watched videos on the train. Although the increased weight of the device was slightly felt, plus the light gray color of the case was unusual.

When I returned home from a business trip (in which I got a new tablet), I began to work more closely with the iPad mini. And here I already felt the whole buzz of the gadget. Firstly, I was glad that I took it, and not the iPad Air. The high-resolution display rocks, and in fact, I got the experience of surfing the web (when you really need picture clarity) like on the iPad 4 before, but in a more compact package. That is, there is no negative experience in connection with the reduced diagonal of the display.

Secondly With no iPad Air handy for direct comparison, I don't see any color issues with the new mini. Gorgeous display and excellent color reproduction. I do not understand the hysteria of the people about this. If you are still in the throes of choosing because of the display, then do not bother yourself with nonsense. Normal in iPad mini LCD matrix.

Third, you begin to understand the whole twist from the clarity of the screen only after a few days of heavy use of the device. Watching YouTube videos, reading books in iBooks, toys - the brain rejoices, the eyes dance in ecstasy. At the same time, I “stuffed” my old iPad mini for a friend, and somehow there were no negative emotions about the display - everything is fine. That's what it means, high-quality adaptation of the OS and software for different resolutions. I picked up the Retina iPad mini again and again began to enthusiastically admire.

Fourth, especially pleased with the increased productivity. Faster switching between applications, no more Safari crashes (although obviously there still can be, given that the browser crashes on the iPhone 5s from time to time), editing texts in the WordPress admin panel goes like clockwork, finally the keyboard stopped slowing down when typing comments in the browser, etc.

I didn’t find any special heating of the tablet, although I haven’t played games yet.

So, don't expect some techno-maniac ecstasy from switching from an old iPad mini to a new one. Everything will happen everyday, and only after some time you will begin to realize how cool the novelty is. So the little things add up the overall picture of the ideal tablet. Yes, the Retina iPad mini is the perfect tablet in my opinion. It's the gadget I've been waiting for since I met 10 inches when I realized that 10 inches is a lot for a travel device that you carry around with you all the time.

The Retina iPad mini is the ultimate no-compromise tablet, with an ultra-clear display, over-the-top powerful hardware, and a chic assortment of software. There are no alternatives for traveling and everyday carrying with you, IMHO.

Impressions of Artur Malosiev from iPad mini with Retina display

I consider my purchase of the second generation iPad mini one of the most useful in the past year. Its great display and resources are enough to solve all my problems. According to past experience, I took only the Wi-Fi version, so as not to produce SIM cards at home, because the iPhone 5s turns into a modem at the touch of a button. In my opinion, this "minicom" turned out to be a good and reliable friend, the power reserve of which will be enough for the next couple of years.

If you have already bought a new mini, feel free to tell us about it. Like? How do you use? Are you going to take Air after? Thanks for reading - and Happy Holidays!

website Two years ago, we denied the need for a smaller iPad. And now with might and main we consider it to be the best tablet in the world. As soon as Tim Cook confirmed the release of the new iPad mini, I knew that I would definitely buy it. And here he is next to me. Is this a good tablet? Definitely. Should you change the previous mini for this one? No options. True, this...

Leader in compact tablets

With a slight delay after the start of worldwide 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 all the general information about the iPad mini with Retina display has already been given in the report from Apple's presentation, we will not repeat ourselves. We only note that this is the first update of the iPad mini, and it is all the more important that Apple has not only updated the "insides" 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 to its main competitor, the 2013 Google Nexus 7, 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 the two iPad mini 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.

The all-metal body (made of anodized aluminum) pleases with both appearance and functionality, and the bezels 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. The photo above shows two iPad minis from 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, 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 the white surface is reflected in the off screens of the tablets (from left to right: Nexus 7, iPad mini with Retina display and the 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.
With manual brightness control, 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. Thus, this function works adequately at some average 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 sub-pixel 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 the color tone did not change much.
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 blackbody 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. (The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance does not matter much there, 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 anyway, putting the tablet into sleep mode and turning it back on. However, for sure, all Apple tablet users are 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 with iOS 7.0.4 installed on both devices. 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 faster than the first generation iPad mini, but it is slightly 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 the new iPad mini would be inferior to its predecessor in terms of battery life.

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 iPad mini of the first generation 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 modes, iPad 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 at the minimum ISO values, compensating the exposure due to the shutter speed, therefore, in low light, there is a high probability of blurring due to relatively long 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 blurred.

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 tablets of a compact form factor, but tablet phones - Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, etc. In terms of performance, they are approximately on the same level with the iPad mini Retina, in terms of screen quality are not inferior (and even surpass them in terms of 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 planning 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, of course, it is 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 the new iPad mini, if financial opportunities 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 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

Today at the peak of popularity - tablets from Apple with a retina display. The quality of the picture on such screens is much better than on conventional ones.

Apple iPad with such a display on the market for several versions. Which model is better - our review will show.

The device comes with the following accessories:

Battery.
Documentation.
USB cord.
Accessory for getting a sim card.

The new iPad mini 2 came out with a Retina display. This model is based on the A7 processor. The thickness of the iPad with the release of the iPad mini 2 device has increased slightly. The black color is gone, replaced by a dark gray gadget. The minimum amount of memory of the gadget has an Apple iPad Wi-Fi 16 GB. The maximum version contains 128 GB of internal memory. And in all other respects, this is the good old mini model from Apple.

Apple iPad design

Of course, the main innovation of this Apple iPad model is the retina display. But the appearance of any device is an important characteristic, so we will present its review as well.

The model has a design, as its review and comparison with previous versions shows, it is no different from the first mini version. And this is considered by most users as a plus.

But still, some prefer the Air model - it is convenient to watch videos on it, access sites via Wi-Fi and much more. The display dimensions allow this.

However, if you look at the sales statistics, the model mini holds a strong lead. One large version accounts for about ten iPad mini A1490 or A1489 iPad mini.

To explain this is quite simple, it is not even necessary to conduct a detailed comparative review of both types of models. And it's not even about the price. It's just that mini is much easier to take with you, putting it in your jacket pocket. You can even not take a bag with you, put the gadget in the pocket of a down jacket. So, while in the city, the user can check the mail, call via FaceTime. And all this thanks to its miniature size and Wi-Fi networks. In any case, this is not possible with Air.

Display

In addition to rich functionality, Wi-Fi support and other advantages, full-screen versions are equipped with an excellent display. The diagonal of the IPS element is 7.9 inches. There is an LED backlight. The resolution is 2048x1536 pixels. The element is protected by an oleophobic coating.

By comparison, the first mini had a resolution of only 1024x768 pixels. However, the difference at first examination is not noticeable. Because of the "OS" version 7, the capabilities of gadgets of different models are equalized. Therefore, not every user at the first examination of the display will notice whether it functions on Retina or not. It seems to a number of users that the picture on a small tablet is even more spectacular. If you look closely, the icons are indeed clearer and more contrasting. But the differences are nonetheless not impressive.

However, as soon as you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot and launch Safari, the advantages of mini with Retina become obvious:

Super clear picture.
Drawn symbols.
Lovely colors.
High density image.
Great pictures when using the software.

But even with these advantages, the difference cannot be called very significant, as is the case with laptops or PCs. Users, of course, expected more. But still, the developer did his best and threw a good product on the market. Obviously, the matter is in a decent diagonal and thin fonts of the “OS” version 7. The first users immediately noticed that yellow prevails among the colors. And later it was confirmed. But the shade of yellow is very light and invisible to many. Until someone draws your attention to this fact, most likely you will not notice it.

Performance

The full-screen version is based on the A7 processor. Architecture 64 bit. There is an M7 coprocessor. All these parameters together show excellent results. You can read more about it online. The tablet works much faster than the usual mini, and the difference is most noticeable in the process of launching regular software. We are talking about the camera, browser, maps and the like. And even social networks like Facebook just “fly”.

When heavy software like Infinity Blade is launched, the back of the device heats up. And the heat is very noticeable. So in cold seasons, mini can replace the stove. Of course, the gadget will not burn your hands, but it will transfer a sufficient amount of heat.

The device includes a standard list of wireless elements, Wi-Fi, supports 2 bands 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, Bluetooth fourth format. By default, it is always active. And perhaps this is due to the AirDrop function introduced into the OS 7. But note that with computers from Apple, the exchange of information is not possible, which is a little frustrating.

Features of iOS 7

As was the case with the Air version, the small model came out in 4 versions - 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB. But, besides this, there are versions with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 4G. There are only two color options.

Thus, the buyer has a decent choice. It's hard to stop at just one. Many choose the "golden mean" - a version with 64 GB on board and Wi-Fi + 4G. This is the best option. If the user plans to store a decent amount of music, games, content on the device.

Many movies are allowed to be uploaded directly to AVplayer. But if the iPad for the user is just a replacement for a laptop, it will completely cost a tablet with 16 GB. It's great that the company still gives the user a choice in this regard.

Camera

Of course, photography is one of the additional functions of the tablet. But far from being the main one. Therefore, the quality of the frames is not ideal. But if at the moment the iPhone or the camera is not available, it will do. Of course, the photographs will not pull the title of professional, but they are quite suitable for posting on social networks.

There are filters that allow you to mask not very good quality photos. The camera has a resolution of 5 MP. Selfie element - 1.2 MP.

conclusions

Predicting what may happen with the iPad mini Retina next year, we can assume the following. Surely, the company will work to reduce the size and weight of the device. Touch ID and an improved camera will likely be added.

As for prices, their range depending on the specific characteristics of the gadget is very large. So, the most inexpensive tablet costs about 20,000 rubles. The cost of expensive devices reaches 35,000 rubles. The version with 64 GB on board and 4 G costs about 29,000-30,000 rubles. If you don’t need 4G technology, great, enjoy the saved 4-5 thousand.

The most popular models in the future will be gadgets with a memory of 16 and 32 GB. Probably. They will be in high demand.

And speaking in general, has the Pad mini on Retina become much better? Certainly yes. And it's not just the display. The model has a different processor, a variation with 128 GB of memory has appeared. It's better to go to the store and see for yourself. But those who have not used mini before will not see the difference. They are quite satisfied with the tablets of the first generation.

All in all, the small tablet is one of the best on the market, all things considered. And if the big Air model, despite the beauty of the large display, does not suit you, feel free to get this one.

The display is a rectangle with rounded corners. The diagonal of this rectangle, excluding rounding, is 12.9 inches (for iPad Pro 12.9 inches) and 11 inches (for iPad Pro 11 inches).
The amount of available space is less than stated and depends on various factors. The default configuration (including iOS 12 and pre-installed apps) is approximately 10 to 12 GB, depending on the device model and settings. Pre-installed applications take up about 4 GB; they can be deleted and reloaded. The amount of available space may vary depending on the device and software version.
Size and weight may vary depending on device configuration and manufacturing process.
Battery life may vary depending on settings and how you use your device. More details on the page.
To use FaceTime, all users must have a FaceTime-enabled device and be connected to a Wi‑Fi network. Availability of FaceTime over cellular is subject to carrier conditions; data charges may apply.
Data plan required. Gigabit Class LTE, 4G LTE Advanced, 4G LTE, and Wi‑Fi calling are not available in all regions or with all carriers. Speed is based on theoretical throughput and may vary depending on local conditions. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier or visit the page.
Cellular plan sold separately. The model you purchase is configured for a specific cellular network technology. Contact your carrier for information about your device's support and cellular plan availability.
Not all carriers support Apple SIM and eSIM cards. Check with your carrier for details. Not available in mainland China. eSIM is supported on the 11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad (7th generation), and iPad mini (5th generation). Apple SIM technology is supported on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, iPad (5th and 6th generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4.