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Updated on the 29th October with more information on the battery and physical controls
When the iPad Mini was released any worries about the small screen size were soon overcome and the product got some rave reviews. The only minor criticism was that, while the screen resolution gave enough space, it just didn't look as sharp as we had come to expect from Apple.
iPAD MINI WITH RETINA SCREEN
This year all of that has been solved with the introduction of the iPad Mini with Retina Display. This 7.9in screen is the same size as on last year's model, but the screen resolution has been upped to 2,048x1,536, which is the same as on the full-size iPad Air. This means that the screen has a high pixel density of 326ppi.
[b]It may look the same from the outside, but the new iPad Mini has a Retina display[/a]
Technically, according to Apple's definition of Retina, there are actually more pixels here than required, but the choice to go to this resolution is about other things, too. For starters, it's four times the resolution of the iPad Mini, so it's easy to scale apps up (or down) to fit. Secondly, using the same resolution as on the larger iPad means that Apple's not introducing another resolution for developers to deal with.
The net result is that there are just two largely compatible iPad resolutions to work with, so apps can be written in the knowledge that they'll be displayed the way the developer intended.
It goes without saying that the iPad Mini with Retina's display looks gorgeous. Everything is extremely sharp, viewing angles are fantastic and, in the photos we saw, colours looked gorgeous.
iPAD MINI WITH RETINA SPECS
Inside, the CPU has been updated to the 64-bit Apple A7, as first introduced in the iPhone 5S. This is the fastest mobile processor that we've tested, managing the SunSpider test in just 416ms, so the iPad Mini with Retina should be one of the fastest tablets and the same speed as its big brother. This brings parity to the iPad range, where the old iPad Mini used a processor a generation older than the iPad 4.
Using the A7 also means that the iPad Mini with Retina also gets the faster graphics chip, which is more than enough to power the high-resolution display. The M7 motion co-processor is present, which lets the iPad work out if you're walking, driving or even sleeping. Apps can use this information, but we haven't quite seen the full potential of this system on an iPad yet.
As on the iPad Air, the iPad Mini doesn't support all of the features of the iPhone. So, there's no Slo-Mo mode on the camera and no Touch ID fingerprint reader.
We didn't get a chance to play with the camera, but the 5-megapixel iSight camera is a little disappointing and we would have liked to of seen the 8-megapixel camera from the iPhone 5.
Apple has updated the wireless, too, with MIMO 802.11n wireless. This should give you better range and performance than with the previous Mini, although 802.11ac would have been nice. For the Wi-Fi + Cellular model there's better LTE support, so the tablet will work on all 4G networks in the UK.
Despite the more detailed screen and the same size casing, Apple is promising the same 10-hours of battery life that the original iPad Mini had. This is largely down to the much more efficient A7 SoC, which makes the tablet much more efficient. It has to be pointed out that Apple's battery life figures are typically very conservative, so we'd expect this to be the minimum rather than a theoretical and unachievable maximum.
iPAD MINI WITH RETINA BUILD QUALITY
Outside not much has changed, but then it didn't need to. The iPad Mini's case is fantastically slim, extremely light and beautifully made thanks to its metal construction. There's no tablet this size that is this beautifully designed and this iPad remains the most desirable small tablet.
Not much has changed on the outside, but then again it didn't need to
There's the same range of neatly integrated controls on the outside of the case. On top there's a the power button, which is used for power on/off and for sleep/wake. There's the same same volume buttons on the side, and the same switch, which can be configured for toggling the rotation lock or toggling silent mode via the Settings App.
IPAD MINI WITH RETINA DISPLAY ACCESSORIES AND CASES
As the iPad Mini with Retina Display is the same size as the iPad Mini, it means that it's compatible with all of the existing cases and covers. Apple will continue to sell its range, which includes the Smart Cover and Smart Case.
The Smart Cover attaches to the side of the tablet via magnets, folding open to reveal the screen. When it closes it also automatically turns off the iPad. It can also fold into a triangle shape, so you can use it to prop the iPad up. The iPad Mini Smart Case has the same folding cover design, but it also includes a back to stop the iPad being scratched when you carry it around. Both designs are available in a variety of colours, so you'll easily be able to find one you like.
iPAD MINI WITH RETINA PRICE AND CONCLUSION
Going on sale later in November, the iPad Mini with Retina Display is available in Silver and Space Grey. For the Wi-Fi model it costs £319 for the 16GB model, £399 for the 32GB model, £479 for the 64GB model and £559 for the 128GB model. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model costs £100 more per model.
Given the faster processor and the high-resolution screen, it's certainly looking as though the iPad Mini with Retina is going to be the small tablet to buy and a worthy upgrade to the existing model.
Andoid Games
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