The Apple iPad mini provides a far
more portable form for the same unbeatable entertainment, making this perfect
for travelers demanding movies, apps and games
Facetime Despite
its compact stature, the iPad mini still packs standard iPad features like the
FaceTime camera
Scuff Resistant The sleek silver rear is surprisingly durable, and most marks can
easily be rubbed off
Portable Pal
At just 7.2mm thick and 308g, this is by far the most travel-friendly iPad yet
The
Apple iPad Mini
AS much as we love Apple’s iPad, the
original tablet that sparked a slew of imitators, it isn’t a very
traveler-friendly device. At 652g, the iPad is a heavy little beast. Not only
will it weigh down your bag, it’s also a chore to clutch one-handed and use on
a crammed train or bus. Factor in the thick body, and it’s not as portable as
you’d expect.
When Steve Jobs bashed seven-inch tablets
back in 2010, we wondered if we’d ever see a smaller version of the iPad for
lugging around every day. Thankfully the Apple iPad mini is finally a reality,
a compact 7.9-inch version of the original iPad, apparently 23 per cent thinner
and 53 per cent lighter than its bigger brother. But is it the ideal travel
companion?
Small is sexy
The difference from the existing iPad is
immediately apparent, even without holding one in each hand.
The iPad mini is less than half the weight
of the original - a tiny 308g - and also significantly thinner at just 7.2mm.
Sizing the two up shows just how much mass the iPad mini has shaken off.
While the original made your arm ache after
half an hour of clutching, we could happily use the iPad mini one-handed all
day. It’s comfortable to rest in your palm and easier to securely hold, which
is a massive relief when you’re being jostled from every angle on a commuter
train. That reduction in size also makes it much easier to slip into a bag or
case. You can even wedge it into a good-sized handbag.
Despite the reduced size, this tablet is
still unmistaken-ably an iPad. From the pearl-white front to the sleek silver
rear, the iPad mini is almost a miniature replica of its big brother. Only the
slimmer side borders set it apart. We were worried that our thumbs might
intrude on the screen, and if we gripped the iPad mini on one side then this
was indeed the case, but thankfully the tablet is slender enough to hold around
the back, with your thumb and fingers gripping at opposite ends, which is both
comfortable and secure. It’s also comfortable to clutch two handed and use your
thumbs for typing, if you’re bashing out emails while standing up.
Despite
the reduced size, this tablet is still unmistaken-ably an iPad
The rear of the iPad mini is brushed silver
metal (a black version is also available) and looks as slick as ever. We were
worried about it getting scratched up, especially when carrying it unprotected
in our bag, but every scuff it picked up rubbed off easily. On the edges you
have the usual power and volume buttons, but of course no memory card slot
-you’re stuck with the built-in memory, either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB, depending on
which model you opt for. You’ll also find Apple’s new Lightning port on the
bottom, so you’ll need adapters if you’re hoping to use your old accessories.
A happy medium
Despite its reduced size, the iPad mini is
a wee bit larger than most other compact tablets, which usually opt for a
seven-inch screen. In contrast, the iPad mini has a 7.9-inch display, which
Apple claims makes for 35 per cent more screen area. That’s more or less
correct when compared with the likes of the Nexus 7 Asus, but we honestly
didn’t notice any difference in comfort levels or quality when watching movies
or playing with apps. If you’re not sold on a seven-inch tablet to begin with, we
don’t think that extra 0.9 inches will convince you to downgrade from a full
10.1-incher.
More importantly, the iPad mini rocks a
more square display than many of its rectangular rivals, which lends itself to
a more natural web browsing experience. You’ll find yourself scrolling around
less as more content can fit on the screen at once, which is particularly
gratifying if you’re browsing a busy website.
More
importantly, the iPad mini rocks a more square display than many of its
rectangular rivals, which lends itself to a more natural web browsing
experience
Low-res affair
There’s been a fair bit of fuss over the
iPad mini’s lower screen resolution. While the standard iPad has a supremely
sharp Retina display, boasting 264 pixels-per-inch (ppi), the iPad mini has
downgraded to a 163 ppi resolution. That’s lower even than cheaper rivals such
as the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 by Asus, which pack 216 ppi displays.
So, does that lower-resolution screen make
a difference? Well, while the difference is noticeable if you squint at the
iPad mini and original iPad side-by-side, the iPad mini’s display is far from
blocky or ugly. Colors are vibrantly reproduced and don’t fade as you tilt the
tablet, and we found HD movies, photos and games still looked fantastic. It’s
also impressively bright, so can be comfortably used in all but the harshest
glare.
Aside from the lower resolution, our only
issue with the dinkier screen concerns sensitivity and button sizes.
Occasionally we tried to tap a compact button or link (for instance in the App
Store when trying to download something), only to get no response. Sometimes it
took several prods to register, something we never experienced with the larger
iPads. Thankfully this problem rarely affected us when messing around with apps
or games, so was never anything more than a minor irritation.
