Tablet shopping can be a tricky process. Let’s say you’ve finally got it narrowed down to the iPad, you are now presented with two options: the iPad or the iPad Mini? Each device has its own advantages and deciding on which one is most suitable for you will depend on what you value. This guide will talk through the plus sides to each device and hopefully aid you in making that all important buying decision.
The iPad Mini was released in November 2012, most likely due to competition from the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7.
One of the great things about the iPad Mini is its reduced price point. It starts at $329, which is $170 cheaper than its bigger counterpart. Apple isn’t known for making their products available at a low cost. As such, the iPad Mini makes it a bit more cost effective to pick up one of the iOS tablets. Although, it is noteworthy that the iPad Mini is still a fair bit pricier than some of the tablet competition.
As the name suggests, the iPad Mini is a smaller version of the iPad. The screen is 7.9 inches compared to the iPad’s 9.7 inches. Most people will want a tablet to be as portable as possible, so the benefit of a smaller screen means that it can be carried around with ease. Also, the Mini is almost half the weight of the iPad, weighing in at 308g and 601g respectively. The smaller screen means that the tablet is a bit easier to operate with one hand and some reviewers noted that playing games with two hands is easier and less awkward. The iPad’s content isn’t just limited to its screen, though, since the device can be hooked up to an HDTV and displayed larger.
However, some critics were disappointed that the iPad Mini doesn’t make use of Apple’s retina display. The iPad has a 2048 x 1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch, while the iPad Mini has a 1024 x 768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch. The difference is noticeable if you look for it, but since the Mini has a smaller screen it isn’t as much as a problem as you might think.
The iPad Mini is by no means a downgraded product. This is still very much the full iPad experience. Everything that you expect from the Apple ecosystem is available here. This means that you can still get all the apps you can on the iPad and make use of the same inbuilt tools (like Siri, the voice recognition software).
The iPad still holds its own against the Mini. The Mini has a dual-core A5 processor, whereas the iPad has a dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics processor. This technical power means that the iPad performs better with heavy tasks. Also, that bigger screen with retina display means that you can view your pictures and videos in higher definition. The space also makes it nicer to browse the web with, since pages can fit comfortably on the 9.7 inch screen with little need for zooming in.
Both are good products, but your choice will depend on whether or not a higher resolution and bigger screen is important. If it isn’t then it makes sense to save some dollars and opt for the iPad Mini.