Steve Jobs always considered tablets in the “intermediate format” of 7 inches to be superfluous. At Apple, however, they will be happy to have finally brought a device size between 3.5-inch iPhone and 10-inch iPad onto the market with the iPad mini, as it sells like sliced bread. inside-digital.de put the small Apple tablet under the microscope in a short test.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Technical specifications
2 Look, feel & acoustics
3 Software, menus & operation
4th camera
5 Networking, Connections & Storage
6th battery pack
7th price
8th Conclusion
Technical specifications
The iPad mini is equipped with a 7.9 inch (20.1 centimeter) multitouch display with LED backlighting and IPS technology, which has a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels at 163 ppi. The A5 processor has two cores; it is supported by 512 MB of RAM. The rear camera takes photos with a resolution of five megapixels and records videos in full HD. On the front there is a 1.2 megapixel camera that enables video chats in HD resolution.
Look, feel & acoustics
What is immediately noticeable: the iPad mini is pleasantly light. At just 310 grams, it weighs as little as any other 7-inch tablet , which has a positive effect on the “wearing comfort”. In addition, it is very thin at just 7 millimeters. The developers have installed a single-cell battery – according to their own statements, “the thinnest that Apple has ever developed”. The workmanship of the aluminum unibody housing and the display are also excellent, as is typical of Apple, which results in a first-class feel. Only the upper edge could have been a little more rounded.
The iPad mini is not equipped with Apple’s Full HD-capable Retina display, which does not affect the image quality of photos or videos. You only want a higher resolution for (small) text. The viewing angle stability is very good. However, like most tablets , the iPad screen is reflective in bright light conditions . The grease-repellent coating doesn’t seem to care about fingerprints either.
The loudspeakers produce a decent sound, so they would be well suited for watching videos – if they weren’t placed so nonsensically. Like some manufacturers, Apple unfortunately only installs its two speakers on one side, namely on the lower edge of the back (seen from the home button). This has several disadvantages: Stereo is not possible in landscape mode (not even sound from both sides of the screen), and one of the speakers is covered by the hand. The fact that the sound radiates back and down in vertical mode is also suboptimal. The sound is very good through headphones.
Software, menus & operation
Apple users will be used to it: The iPad naturally benefits from the lavishly equipped iOS universe of iTunes, iCloud and App Store. Operation is typically Apple-intuitive; all applications start fast enough despite the somewhat outdated processor. The computing power is also sufficient for smooth scrolling in websites and smooth videos. Turning the screen from horizontal to vertical is also pleasantly quick.
iOS offers a precise on-screen keyboard, and Siri voice control is also useful for some applications. Although the screen reaches close to the edge of the tablet, no unwanted commands are executed if you hold the tablet with one hand and your thumb is on the display.
camera
The 5-megapixel camera takes quite usable photos outside and inside. The preinstalled “Photo Booth” app can also be used to take funny snapshots. You can also shoot good videos with the lens; According to the manufacturer, Full HD videos in 1080p are possible.
Networking, Connections & Storage
The iPad mini establishes contact
with the outside world via Bluetooth 4.0 and WLAN (a / b / g / n). A version with a SIM card slot is optionally available. The PC can be connected via the Lightning to USB cable to shovel files from the tablet to the computer, which also works without any problems. The reverse, however, only works via iTunes.
The present model is the WiFi 16GB variant. iOS in the current version 6.1.3 occupies around 2 GB, the apps and programs roughly the same space, so that around 12 gigabytes remain freely available. As usual with Apple, the memory cannot be expanded.
battery pack
Apple states ten hours of battery life. In mixed operation, the end of the flagpole is reached about half the time via WLAN. The 4,500 mAh battery is charged via the USB cable and the power adapter; charging on the PC is not intended.
price
The meager scope of delivery of the iPad mini only includes the USB Lightning connector cable for data transfer and – with a power adapter – for charging. Operating instructions are only available online. The small Apple tablet costs between 329 and 659 euros, depending on the equipment (with or without 3G module, 16 to 64 GB memory).
Conclusion
The iPad mini is a top tablet: First-class workmanship, brisk work pace, a sophisticated operating system, plus a huge range of apps. The display has hardly any weaknesses, but could use a higher resolution. The next iPad mini will certainly be equipped with a retina panel.
Anyone who can make friends with the closed iOS / iTunes system will find the only notable drawback to be the price. Where you have to shell out 330 euros for a WLAN-only model with only 16 GB of storage at Apple, you can get the Amazon Kindle Fire HD or the Asus Google Nexus 7 for 200 euros with the same equipment . In return, the iPad offers – despite the same width – an approximately 10 percent larger visible screen area and is 30 percent lighter than the Kindle.
The test device was made available by getgoods.de .
