Smaller than an iPad, but bigger than an iPod touch, the Apple iPad mini is the long-awaited and much-rumoured new tablet from Apple. Of particular note to UK users is the fact that only this tablet and its bigger brother natively support 4G LTE mobile connectivity. That alone may be enough to sway you.
Although the mini is the same physical size as its 7in rivals, it packs a bigger 7.9in screen. You wouldn't think it, but this extra space gives the iPad mini around 35 percent more screen area than a 7in tablet, and the difference is noticeable. We like the 4:3 form-factor, which is only a disadvantage when it comes to watching videos, since 16:9 content is displays a letterbox effect.
To keep things simple, and likely to keep down costs, the screen has the same 1024x768 resolution as the iPad 2. This means it can run Apple's existing catalogue of iPad-specific apps. Most Android tablet owners have to put up with the phone versions of apps.
The iPad mini's display has a higher pixel density than the original iPad and iPad 2 because it's around 2in smaller, but it's obvious that it's not as crisp as the iPhone or larger iPad's Retina displays. Fortunately, it's still an IPS panel, so colours are vibrant and viewing angles excellent.
Build quality
What strikes you as you pick up the iPad mini is how light it is. It's less than half the weight of a third- or fourth-generation iPad, and 23 percent thinner. Despite this, build quality is spectacular and the mini feels as solid as a rock. The mini is also noticeably thinner and lighter than most of its 7in rivals, including the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. It uses the new Lightning dock connector, so you'll need an adaptor to use 30-pin accessories - not all of which will work (and there's currently no HDMI adaptor available). The button layout is identical to that of a 9.7in iPad. Like all recent Apple iPads, the iPad mini has dual-band Wi-Fi, allowing it to roam across the less crowded 5GHz radio band. Apple also lists channel bonding in its spec, where two adjacent 20MHz channels are combined to make a 40Hz channel for potentially greater throughput. Most people won't get this benefi t, though, as few have a router with a 5GHz radio, or one that can simultaneously operate on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
Cameras
Both cameras are brilliant, the rear one especially so. It takes sharp photos in dingy conditions, and great-looking images with accurate colours in good light. The rear camera is great for capturing video, too, and you'll feel more comfortable taking photos with this smaller iPad than its bigger brother. Plus, there's face recognition on both cameras for photos and videos.
Performance
Another similarity with the iPad 2 is the processor. The A5 chip is getting a bit old, but our benchmark results show it can still rub shoulders with the current crop of 7in tablets. Importantly, the iPad mini feels snappy in use, whether loading apps, scrolling around maps or browsing the web. In the SunSpider JavaScript test the iPad mini scored 1,442ms, which puts it toward the head of the pack, but in the synthetic Geekbench it managed only 752 - not a great score compared to the Nexus 7 (1,452) or even the Kindle Fire HD (1124). For gaming the mini is a capable device, and it mustered 24fps in GLBenchmark 2.5.1. In the same test the Kindle Fire HD scored just 8.2fps, while the Nexus 7 managed 14fps. When it comes to more demanding games, the iPad mini leads the way.
Software
A slight surprise is the presence of Apple's voice assistant Siri, as it was previously thought that the processor was to blame for its absence in the iPad 2. The mini has most of the other headline iOS 6.0 features, too, including fl yover maps and VIP mail, but there's no panorama mode in the Camera app. You can, of course, download any number of apps that do the same job. One neat addition to iOS is that it recognises if you're resting your thumb on the side of the screen or interacting with an app. The side bezels are just 5mm wide so touching the screen is inevitable, especially when reading an e-book.
Bottom line
The iPad mini is a premium small tablet, with a price to match. It's a shame Apple couldn't have included a Retina screen and newer processor - expect the next iPad mini to get those updates. This Wi-Fi-only model also lacks GPS. It's not cheap by any stretch, especially if you want more storage space or a cellular version, but it offers great value when compared to a full-size iPad. You can save £70 on a Nexus 7, which has double the storage, GPS and NFC, but if you must have an iDevice, it won't disappoint.
PROS 7.9in IPS screen; fast web browsing and gaming; slick OS; 4G LTE; dual-band Wi-Fi CONS Low speed score; 4:3 aspect ratio; proprietary dock VERDICT Whether it matches the Nexus 7 is debatable, but you won’t be disappointed with this iDevice SPECIFICATIONS 7.9in (1024x768, 163ppi) capacitive multitouch IPS screen; Apple iOS 6.0; Apple A5 dual-core processor; 512MB RAM; 16/32/64GB storage; PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics; 802.11a/b/g/n with channel bonding; Bluetooth 4.0; 5Mp rear camera, 1080p video; 1.2Mp front camera; 3.5mm headphone jack; Lightning connector; 16.3Wh lithiumpolymer battery; 200x134.8x7.4mm; 307g
Source.Tablet World UK.Edition.3.2013
