Ipad mini w/ Retina Display review is up

[jiffylube1024]

Anand's review is already up. That was fast! I was expecting a Nexus 5 review before the new mini's.

Anand did a great summary of the ipad mini with Retina display. You basically get everything from the air except no full sRGB color gamut - a good selling feature for photographers and people who demand accurate colours.

That isn't enough to sway me though - I bit the bullet and ordered the mini with retina display last night. I have too much envy of my the portability of my wife's mini. I checked out the Air in store, and it's a good deal more portable than my clunky iPad 4, but the mini is IMO the best tablet form factor ever produced.

It's annoying that Apple has charged the Apple tax twice (the original mini was $129 more than the first Nexus 7, and the new one is $170 more than the current gen Nexus 7). However, Apple still holds a distinct advantage in tablet app ecosystem over Android, and the iPads are very well built, premium feeling devices.

 

[deathBOB]

LOL those comments. So much sperg...

 

[jiffylube1024]

LOL those comments. So much sperg...

Huh? Care to contribute something meaningful to the thread? Since when are observations on a tech thread considered pedantic? Isn't that the whole point?

 

[Oyeve]

Me, more of the same. Retina is passe. And too much money.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Me, more of the same. Retina is passe. And too much money.

I can understand how if you're not a tablet fan, this does nothing to change the equation at all - it's just another tablet.

However, if you are a tablet fan, then this is arguably the closest to perfection that anyone has achieved so far - great screen size to weight/portability ratio. And, unlike last year's mini, the screen isn't garbage.

 

[Trombe]

I dunno I find the fact that the G Pad fits in my pants pocket while the iPad Mini doesn't already makes it DOA for me.

 

[boomhower]

I dunno I find the fact that the G Pad fits in my pants pocket while the iPad Mini doesn't already makes it DOA for me.

Whether a tablet will fit in a pants pocket is not on most people requirement list.

 

[deathBOB]

Huh? Care to contribute something meaningful to the thread? Since when are observations on a tech thread considered pedantic? Isn't that the whole point?

Not you, the comments section after the article.

If I had the money I would have one of these. As you point out, it's the first perfect tablet.

 

[Trombe]

Whether a tablet will fit in a pants pocket is not on most people requirement list.

Since it doesn't fit in my pocket I just can't find any reason not to get the Air instead unless price was a serious concern.

 

[007ELmO]

I'm thinking of buying 2 ipad mini retinas so I can talk with my parents over facetime, and more importantly my dog. I think my dog gets confused when she sees video/audio of someone and thinks they're actually there (HAHA).

I hope facetime HD on the retina looks good.

 

[jiffylube1024]

LOL those comments. So much sperg...

Ah... Now I see what you mean. Sorry - I thought you meant my comments! Yeah the comments after Apple reviews especially turn into flame wars.

I'm thinking of buying 2 ipad mini retinas so I can talk with my parents over facetime, and more importantly my dog. I think my dog gets confused when she sees video/audio of someone and thinks they're actually there (HAHA).

I hope facetime HD on the retina looks good.

That's what I do with my parents and sister. Although honestly we do 50/50 Skype and Face Time. And Skype works great on Android. I like Skype a bit better, but you need the extra step "OK I'm logging in to Skype now" whereas Face Time is always on.

 

[Radeon962]

I was looking at the mini retina, but picked up a N7 today from Staples with their $50 off Tablet coupon. $189.74 out the door. Quite an improvement on last year's model and is a great match for my Nexus 5.

Couldn't justify paying Over $400 after tax for the mini after reading comparison reviews of both.

 

[007ELmO]

That's what I do with my parents and sister. Although honestly we do 50/50 Skype and Face Time. And Skype works great on Android. I like Skype a bit better, but you need the extra step "OK I'm logging in to Skype now" whereas Face Time is always on.

Why do you like Skype more? Better video/image quality?

Can Facetime handle 3 or 4 people at once? Can the mini retina do Skype, also?

Thanks!

 

[Maverickbcp]

I was holding off to get the Mini Retina but the bump in price ruined it for me. Now I understand it's not a dumbed down model like the previous Mini but that $400 price tag was hard to swallow compared to the $300/$250 for refurb ver. 1 Mini.

I don't understand people who keep saying the original screen is garbage. Maybe it's their subconscious way of justifying their purchase? I picked up a ver. 1 Mini and while I'd never say it's as good as the retina version, it surely is a fine screen. I compared both side by side and could see the improvements but not upwards of $150.

Maybe if i planned on doing some heavier gaming on it I'd want the increased power of the retina version but that's not what I plan to use it for. Simple reading/web surfing/NFL Game Rewind at work is what I use it for and it's just fine. I also don't hold the screen 4 inches away from my face so text looks just fine while reading.

If only they came out with a retina screen dumbed down processing power version for say $350 I may have bit. The new price tags on the ver. 1's along with all the gift card sales I'm seeing made grabbing one now an easy choice. Target/Wal-mart will have $75/$100 gift cards to go along with them on Black Friday! Should've waited...

 

[007ELmO]

You want to stand in line on Black Friday?

I mean it's part of the fun, but I usually stand in line to get an item that's hard to get (like an XBOX One) not necessarily for a gift card.

 

[Maverickbcp]

Sales like the one I mentioned are part of their "Guaranteed on stock for one hour" sales so no need to stand in line. $100 gift card at Wal-mart is as good as the iPad being sold for $199 imo.

 

[MrX8503]

Very good review by Anand. Its a shame that the mini's screen isn't as good as the Air, but it didn't stop me from buying two. The build quality on the iPads far surpass everything else out there.

 

[Radeon962]

Very good review by Anand. Its a shame that the mini's screen isn't as good as the Air, but it didn't stop me from buying two. The build quality on the iPads far surpass everything else out there.

Curious if you use your mini naked or in a case? I also believe Apple products in general have the best build quality but then a lot of people use an Otterbox or similar case which totally negates the build quality.

I use a Poetic Slimline Case on my N7 but nothing but a screen protector on my N5.

 

[MrX8503]

Curious if you use your mini naked or in a case? I also believe Apple products in general have the best build quality but then a lot of people use an Otterbox or similar case which totally negates the build quality.

I use a Poetic Slimline Case on my N7 but nothing but a screen protector on my N5.

I haven't got my minis yet as I'm waiting for my cellular versions to ship. I used my iPad 3 naked, but I'll be using a case for the minis since it'll be traveling with me.

 

[007ELmO]

Very good review by Anand. Its a shame that the mini's screen isn't as good as the Air, but it didn't stop me from buying two. The build quality on the iPads far surpass everything else out there.

Curious as to what you mean by the screen isn't as good as the airs?

From other reviews, the pixel density is higher on the mini and it "appears" to be brighter to the eye!

I am also purchasing 2, hopefully the screen is large enough that my dog can recognize me.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I was holding off to get the Mini Retina but the bump in price ruined it for me. Now I understand it's not a dumbed down model like the previous Mini but that $400 price tag was hard to swallow compared to the $300/$250 for refurb ver. 1 Mini.

I don't understand people who keep saying the original screen is garbage. Maybe it's their subconscious way of justifying their purchase? I picked up a ver. 1 Mini and while I'd never say it's as good as the retina version, it surely is a fine screen. I compared both side by side and could see the improvements but not upwards of $150.

Maybe if i planned on doing some heavier gaming on it I'd want the increased power of the retina version but that's not what I plan to use it for. Simple reading/web surfing/NFL Game Rewind at work is what I use it for and it's just fine. I also don't hold the screen 4 inches away from my face so text looks just fine while reading.

If only they came out with a retina screen dumbed down processing power version for say $350 I may have bit. The new price tags on the ver. 1's along with all the gift card sales I'm seeing made grabbing one now an easy choice. Target/Wal-mart will have $75/$100 gift cards to go along with them on Black Friday! Should've waited...

The biggest issue with the non-retina mini isn't the screen, it is the 2011 SoC. It is a third as powerful as what is in the 2013 Nexus 7, and even weaker than that compared to the A7 retina Mini.

When you consider how fast the mobile market moves it would be like buying a Pentium 4 machine in 2011.

 

[MrX8503]

Curious as to what you mean by the screen isn't as good as the airs?

From other reviews, the pixel density is higher on the mini and it "appears" to be brighter to the eye!

Colors on the mini aren't as accurate as the iPad Air. You can see the results in Anand's color test.

I am also purchasing 2, hopefully the screen is large enough that my dog can recognize me.

Heh, awesome.

 

[Maverickbcp]

The biggest issue with the non-retina mini isn't the screen, it is the 2011 SoC. It is a third as powerful as what is in the 2013 Nexus 7, and even weaker than that compared to the A7 retina Mini.

When you consider how fast the mobile market moves it would be like buying a Pentium 4 machine in 2011.

Every review I read talked mostly about how(as another poster above said) garbage the screen is. So many sites talked about how perfect it was if only the screen was better. I agree the other specs weren't up to snuff but for people like me who use it mostly to browse sites, watch NFL games/TV shows, and very casual gaming it's plenty fast. I feel absolutely no sluggishness with daily use. I just don't understand all the hate for the screen. It looks plenty fine and the more I use it the more I'm happy with the money I saved. Sure I wouldn't mind a retina screen and iPad Air specs but not for upwards of $150 more compared to as you said the Nexus, Galaxy Tab, and Kindle Fire which only increase the price difference. To each their own though of course.

 

[ControlD]

Every review I read talked mostly about how(as another poster above said) garbage the screen is. So many sites talked about how perfect it was if only the screen was better. I agree the other specs weren't up to snuff but for people like me who use it mostly to browse sites, watch NFL games/TV shows, and very casual gaming it's plenty fast. I feel absolutely no sluggishness with daily use. I just don't understand all the hate for the screen. It looks plenty fine and the more I use it the more I'm happy with the money I saved. Sure I wouldn't mind a retina screen and iPad Air specs but not for upwards of $150 more compared to as you said the Nexus, Galaxy Tab, and Kindle Fire which only increase the price difference. To each their own though of course.

That is simply the way it works with Apple products + marketing + rabid fans. Every year's product is the greatest thing ever made which renders the previous year's model as complete garbage that should never have been purchased, or at the very least makes the continued user a complete idiot.

 

[Ravynmagi]

That is simply the way it works with Apple products + marketing + rabid fans. Every year's product is the greatest thing ever made which renders the previous year's model as complete garbage that should never have been purchased, or at the very least makes the continued user a complete idiot.

I think there were plenty of Apple fans that were disappointed last year iPad mini wasn't retina.