Apple iPad Mini
Not wanting to pass up a slice of the 7in
tablet pie, Apple went against its earlier misgivings over the usability of
smaller-screen tablets with the release of the iPad mini. Accordingly, although
it’s the same physical size as its rivals, it packs a larger 7.9in screen.
Apple
iPad Mini
This extra space gives the iPad mini around
35 percent more screen real-estate than a 7in tablet. We like the 4:3 aspect
ratio, despite it producing a letterbox effect with widescreen movie playback.
The screen has the same 1024x768 resolution
as the iPad 2. It has a higher pixel density because it’s around 2in smaller,
but the definition isn’t as crisp as that of Apple’s Retina displays. It’s an
IPS panel, though, so colours are vibrant and viewing angles are excellent.
What strikes you when you pick up the iPad
mini is how light it is, at less than half the weight of a third- or
fourth-generation iPad. The build quality is spectacular and the tablet feels
as solid as a rock.
The iPad mini uses the new Lightning
connector, so you’ll need an adaptor to use 30-pln accessories - not all of which
will work.
Both cameras are brilliant - the rear one
especially so. It takes sharp photos in dim conditions and great-looking images
with accurate colours in good light. It’s great for videos, too, and not too
large that you’ll feel uncomfortable using it as a camera.
Another similarity with the iPad 2 is the
CPU. The A5 chip is getting old, but our benchmarks can attest to it still
being able to pull its weight. Importantly, the iPad mini feels snappy in use.
Battery life is good at 7 hours 21 mins, and reducing the screen brightness
from its unneccessary maximum ups this to more than 10 hours.
Siri’s presence is a surprise, with the A5
chip routinely blamed for the absence of Apple’s voice assistant in the iPad 2.
The mini has most of the other headline iOS 6.0 features, too, including
flyover maps and VIP mail, but the Camera app lacks a panorama mode.
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.
Information
Price: $404
Contact: www.apple.co/uk
Verdict
The iPad mini is a premium tablet with a price
to match, but it offers good value in comparison to the iPad 4. It’s a shame
Apple couldn’t include a Retina screen, a faster processor and GPS.
Build: 4.5/5
Features: 4/5
Performance: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Barnes & Noble Nook HD
The Nook HD is the first tablet to launch
in the UK from US bookseller Barnes & Noble. This 7in model weighs about
the same as an iPad mini and is comfortable to hold in one hand. There’s a
choice of two bezel colours, white and grey, and two storage capacities: 8GB
costs $252.8,16GB costs $300.5. A microSDXC slot lets you add a further 64GB.
The Nook HD is has its sights firmly set on
the Kindle Fire HD, and Barnes & Noble points out that there’s a mains
charger in the box (it won’t charge over USB, though), and no lock-screen
adverts.
Barnes
& Noble Nook HD
The tablet is lighter than the Fire HD, but
it’s the screen that really wins the Nook this fight. The 1440x900 IPS panel
has a pixel density of 243ppi, which is almost as high as that of the new iPad.
Colours and contrast are excellent, as are viewing angles.
The Nook HD runs a heavily customised
version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich. However, the system is so tightly locked
down it makes the Kindle Fire HD look like an open platform. There’s no way to
install apps from anywhere other than the Nook store, which has a limited
selection of popular titles. There’s Angry Birds Star Wars, Words With Friends
and Netflix, but no BBC iPlayer yet. The apps are curated, so you’ll find only
those tailored to the Nook’s screen.
It’s a similar story for newspapers and
magazines, for which UK content is still sparse. The video section, in which
you can rent or buy movies for offline viewing or streaming, launches in
December.
We like that the Nook HD supports
password-protected user profiles, allowing content to be restricted based on
who’s using the tablet. Backgrounds can also be personalised, and things like
bookmarks and notes are user-specific, even though several family members could
be reading the same content. You can even set up separate email accounts.
The interface is pared down and very easy
to use, and we like the physical Home button. The content in Barnes &
Noble’s store is of a very high quality. The tablet’s performance is also up to
scratch, but it’s a shame there’s no camera for Skype - this is a device
designed purely for content consumption.
Information
·
Price: $239
·
Contact: nook.com
Verdict
·
We can hardly find fault with the hardware, but
UK-specific content is sorely lacking. Much is promised, but you’ll be taking a
risk if you jump in and buy one right now.
·
Build: 4/5
·
Features: 3.5/5
·
Performance: 3/5
·
Value: 4/5
·
Overall: 3.5/5
Fuhu Nabi 2
California-based Fuhu makes some bold
claims about its nabi 2 tablet for kids. A quick look at the specs reveals an
nVidia Tegra 3 processor, just like the Nexus 7. It also has a non-toxic
silicone bumper, so it shouldn’t be easily damaged, even if dropped on to
concrete.
Fuhu
Nabi 2
There’s 8GB of storage, a microSD slot for
adding up to 32GB more, plus micro USB and mini HDMI ports. You also get a
front 2Mp camera and a pair of speakers at the rear.
The 7in screen is the first sign of
weakness. It has a 1024x600 resolution, which is a step up from the Kurio 7
(800x480), but lower than that of the Nexus 7 (1280x800). In practice, this is
a problem only when browsing the web, where things feel cramped. It’s not an
IPS panel, so viewing angles are narrow.
Fuhu boasts that the nabi 2 comes with $190.8
worth of software. Many apps are ‘lite’ or ‘starter’ editions, which nag you to
upgrade. The Painting app includes only six pictures to colour in, for example.
As well as full versions of Angry Birds and
Fruit Ninja HD you get Fuhu’s Fooz Kids, which includes educational games and a
chore list. Fooz Kids also has a curated list of websites, videos and web-based
crafts, which you have full control over in the Parental Dashboard.
Fooz Kids needs Anglicising, currently
referring to Kindergarten, grades and math. The exercises themselves are okay
for older kids, but you’ll have to supervise younger ones who are unable to
read. Fuhu says a big update Is on its way to the nabi 2, with Anglicisation
happening over the coming months.
The MeeGenius e-book app comes with a
decent selection of kids’ books. More apps and games can be bought through the
App Zone store, which has a rather limited choice. It’s relatively easy to add
Amazon’s Appstore, but not Google Play.
We’d have no issues leaving a child
unsupervised with the nabi 2, since the Maxthon web browser allows visits to
whitelisted sites only.
Performance-wise, the nabi 2 is great. It’s
fast for playing games and browsing websites. Battery life is pretty good,
lasting around eight hours in our tests, but it takes three hours to recharge.
Info
·
Price: $225
·
Contact: fuhu.com
Verdict
·
It’s not without its faults, but the nabi 2 is
the best kids’ tablet around. You’re unlikely to want to use it yourself, but
it does allow you to use the full Android Interface when you need to.
·
Build: 3.5/5
·
Features: 3/5
·
Performance: 3.5/5
·
Value: 4/5
·
Overall: 3.5/5
