iPad Mini Unveiled: Features, Pricing, and First Impressions [Video]
Today, it finally happened. After what felt like an eternity filled with rumors and leaks, Apple unveiled the iPad Mini today. And looking back, most of the rumors turned out to be true. Unfortunately.
The iPad Mini features a 7.9-inch LCD IPS display with a relatively low resolution of 1024×768 pixels. Before the official presentation, the display diagonal was speculated to be 7.85 inches, and the resolution was accurately predicted. During the product presentation, Apple didn’t miss the chance to compare the iPad Mini with the Google Nexus 7, emphasizing how much more content can be displayed on the larger screen. However, what was completely glossed over was the lower resolution. Although the screen of the iPad Mini is larger, its resolution is lower, making the display contents a bit more pixelated.
Another significant drawback of the device is the excessively high price. Even though it’s certain that the iPad Mini will sell like hotcakes, the pricing competition with Google or Amazon simply isn’t there. The Google tablet is available for 200 euros, while the iPad Mini requires at least 65 percent more on the table. The new mini-tablet is priced starting at 329 euros. For that price, you could get a Kindle Fire HD and a Kindle Paperwhite. The rumor mill originally speculated a price of 249 euros for the entry-level model.
Regarding other specs: Weighing 308 grams and only 7.2mm thick, it is very light and thin for a tablet of this size. The battery life is up to 10 hours, comparable to other tablets of this size. On the back, there’s a 5MP camera which can also record Full HD videos. On the front, you’ll find a 1.2MP camera for video chat. Besides the entry-level version with 16GB internal storage, there will also be two additional variants with 32GB and 64GB of storage space. Additionally, there’s a 3G version. The top model is expected to cost 659 euros.
Even though the device can impress with its minimalist design as always, this new Apple launch, in my eyes, remains a rather mixed affair. The display resolution is just too low for a device in this price category. Even the 5MP camera on the back can’t make up for that. The tablets from Google, Kobo, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble with their smaller 7-inch displays all have higher resolutions. The Barnes & Noble Nook HD Tablet stands out with 1400×900 pixels, and that at a much lower price.
In conclusion, with the iPad Mini, Apple has presented what many had already expected from the numerous leaks and rumors. Below is an initial hands-on video from The Verge:
