iPad mini 2 sizes. Review of Apple iPad mini with Retina display

The leader among compact tablets

With a slight delay after the start of global sales of the iPad Air, the second new Apple product presented on October 22 - the iPad mini with Retina display - became available to customers. Being, perhaps, one of the most anticipated devices of this year, the iPad mini went on sale in Russia at the same time as the whole world, which is very rare. True, the official online store indicates a delivery time of 2-3 weeks, but this did not stop us from quickly getting hold of the new product for testing.

Since all the general information about the iPad mini with Retina display has already been given in the report from the Apple presentation, we will not repeat it. Let us only note that this is the first update to the iPad mini, and it is all the more important that Apple not only updated the “internals” of the device, but also equipped it with a screen of a fundamentally higher level.

• Apple A7 SoC @1.3 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8)
• GPU PowerVR G6430
• Apple M7 motion coprocessor including accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
• RAM 1 GB
• Flash memory from 16 to 128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 7.0
• Touch display IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video via FaceTime) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
• Cellular (optional): UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 24.3 Wh
• A-GPS (version with cellular module)
• Dimensions 200×134.7×7.5 mm
• Weight 331 g (our measurement)

Let's compare the iPad mini Retina to its main competitor, the 2013 Google Nexus 7, as well as the first-generation iPad mini and iPad Air.

*according to manufacturer information
** the weight of the version with a cellular module is indicated
*** the weight of the version without cellular module is indicated
**** for version with 16 GB flash memory and without cellular module

It is clearly seen that the iPad mini Retina is identical to the iPad Air in almost all characteristics (except for dimensions). And this is incredibly cool, because the first generation iPad mini, released simultaneously with the iPad 4, had the same characteristics as the iPad 2. That is, now the iPad mini line has made a leap through two generations!

As for comparison with Google Nexus 7, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from the data presented in the table. However, it is significant that Google's tablet is slightly lighter and more compact than the iPad mini Retina. But at the same time it has a smaller screen and a plastic body.

Interestingly, despite the appearance of the new iPad mini, the previous model also remains in the company’s lineup, and its cost starts from 12 thousand rubles (which is 4 thousand less than the iPad mini Retina). In our article we will also try to answer the question of how much the difference between the two iPad minis is adequate to the amount of 4,000 rubles and how relevant the first iPad mini is today.

Packaging and accessories

The packaging of the iPad mini Retina is practically no different from the packaging of the previous generation tablet.

As for the packaging, everything here is also similar to the first iPad mini: leaflets, charger (5.1 V 2.1 A), Lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle (in the version with a cellular module).

Design

If the update of the large iPad affected, first of all, the design, then the appearance of the iPad mini remained practically unchanged.

The all-metal body (made of anodized aluminum) pleases with both appearance and functionality, and the frames around the screen even today, a year after the release of the first iPad mini, seem quite thin.

All buttons are metal and can be pressed with little effort. Their location is similar to the previous model. Top right is the Power button, top left is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At the top center is the hole for the built-in microphone. On the right side there is a screen auto-rotate lock lever and a volume rocker.

On the model with a cellular module, there is a plastic insert at the top that hides the antenna. It, of course, somewhat spoils the overall appearance, but does not dampen the signal.

The main difference between the new iPad mini and the old one is the increased weight (by more than 20 grams) and thickness (by 0.3 mm). Visually they are the same. The photo above shows two iPad minis of different generations. But if the difference in thickness is really not visible, then the changed mass is already noticeable. However, this is quite acceptable, and these changes do not have a fundamental impact on the user experience.

Screen

The main feature of the new iPad mini is its Retina display with a resolution of 2048x1536. When testing the first iPad mini, which had a resolution of 1024x768, we noted the lack of a Retina display as its main disadvantage. And now Apple has solved the problem. True, today you won’t surprise anyone with screens with such a density of dots per inch, so other characteristics come to the fore, which, as a rule, are not indicated in official technical specifications and are revealed only through careful testing.

A detailed examination of the new Retina screen was carried out by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, approximately equal in reducing the brightness of the reflection to the screen filter of the Google Nexus 7 2013 (we will compare it with it below). For clarity, here are photographs in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off tablet screens (from left to right: Nexus 7, iPad mini with Retina display and old iPad mini):

Visually, the brightness of the reflection is difficult to assess due to differences in color tone and frame color, but statistics from the graphics editor show that the screen on the new iPad mini is slightly lighter (average brightness value is 95) than that of the Nexus 7 (83), and darker than the old iPad mini (108).

The reflection in the screen triples, which suggests the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the outer glass. From the point of view of image perception, this is a minus, but a screen with a separate outer glass (also known as a touch panel) is easier and cheaper to repair. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 410 cd/m², and the minimum was 8 cd/m². The maximum value is quite high, and, given the good anti-glare properties of the screen, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front camera eye). In this case, the brightness can only automatically increase - when the level of external illumination decreases, we did not wait for a corresponding decrease in screen brightness. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with external conditions. The minimum and average levels in Auto mode depend on the initial position of the brightness adjustment slider. So, when the slider is set to maximum, automatic adjustment does not work - the brightness remains maximum regardless of external conditions. If the slider is approximately in the middle of the scale, then in bright light (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) the maximum brightness is 410 cd/m², in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux ) - 200 cd/m² (normal), in the dark - 150 cd/m² (too much). If the slider is at a minimum, then under the above conditions the values ​​are as follows: 410, 70, 8 cd/m². Thus, this function works adequately at some average and slightly below average brightness adjustment positions. At the extreme initial positions of the slider, the brightness is either always maximum, or decreases too much in the dark. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

This tablet uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 (pictured above) and the new iPad mini (bottom), with the brightness of both screens set to approximately 200 cd/m². Picture perpendicular to the screens:

And a white field under the same conditions:

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both tablets.

And a white field at an angle:

The brightness at an angle for both tablets decreased equally (about four times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the color tone did not change much.

When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a red-violet tint or remains almost neutral gray. A photo from the Nexus 7 shows this for comparison (the brightness of both tablets is the same!):

And along the other diagonal:

It can be seen that the new iPad mini has a different color tone of the black field depending on the diagonal, but its brightness is the same or slightly lower than the black brightness of the Nexus 7 at the same angle.

When viewed from a perpendicular perspective, the uniformity of the black field is very good, since in fact only along one edge one can see some hints of areas with increased brightness of the black field:

The Google Nexus 7's black uniformity is worse, but it has better black depth in the center of the screen. Indeed, the contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) of the new iPad mini is not the highest - about 790:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 22 ms (13 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the index of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.22, which is not significantly higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

The color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix’s light filters mix the components with each other, and the spectra confirm this. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority) have a slightly reduced saturation. You can't tell from the photos above, as the camera slightly increases the color saturation.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is very good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (delta E) is significantly less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and delta E is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

The range of brightness adjustment for the iPad mini Retina screen is quite wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a sunny summer day outside and in complete darkness. There is automatic brightness adjustment, and it works more or less adequately, but only up, which will force the user to either set the brightness manually, or force the brightness to decrease, putting the tablet into sleep mode and turning it back on. However, all Apple tablet users are probably already accustomed to this feature. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, a standard gamma curve, very good color balance and excellent black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen surface, as well as excellent black field uniformity. It was strange to discover that the color gamut is still less than sRGB, but this tablet must have at least one drawback!..

In terms of software, the iPad mini Retina has nothing fundamentally new except for the fact that it is sold with iOS 7 pre-installed, while the previous model left the factories with iOS 6. But it can also be updated to iOS 7. We also note that users iPad mini Retina offers popular Apple apps such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and GarageBand for free.

Performance

Like the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, the iPad mini Retina runs on Apple's new A7 SoC. In the articles on the links provided, we talked in detail about this SoC, so we won’t repeat ourselves and go straight to the tests. We were also interested in what the difference is between the two iPad minis when iOS 7.0.4 is installed on both devices. That is why the test results below may differ from the results that were published in the article about the first iPad mini, since the benchmarks have since been updated and a new version of the OS has been released.

Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark and Kraken Benchmark. In all cases, we used the Safari browser from iOS 7 on Apple devices, and Google Chrome on Android.

The results are interesting. The new iPad mini is about four (!!!) times faster than the first generation iPad mini, but at the same time is slightly behind the iPad Air, although it runs on the same SoC. It can be assumed that the SoC in the iPad mini Retina regulates the energy saving process a little differently and, for certain tasks, slightly reduces the CPU frequency. But, we emphasize, this is only an assumption. But the main Android competitors remained far behind the iPad mini Retina (although, of course, they overtook the first iPad mini).

In Geekbench 3 - a multi-platform benchmark that measures CPU and RAM performance - the situation repeated itself.

The layout is the same as in browser tests. And this indicates that the results are indeed correct.

Now let's look at the GPU performance. There are two multi-platform benchmarks available here: GFXBench (formerly GLBenchmark 2.7) and 3DMark. Let's start with the GFXBench results.

And again we see the same picture, with the only difference that now the results of both devices on the Apple A7 are exactly identical.

Here again you can see a slight loss of the iPad mini Retina to its older comrade. But what's more striking is the difference between the two generations of iPad mini. I can’t believe that these devices are only one year apart! However, the gap from Android tablets is also significant.

Thus, the iPad mini with Retina display is the most productive modern tablet in the mid-price segment. If you love playing 3D games and want a device that can be updated at least twice to a new version of the operating system, you can safely buy the iPad mini Retina. But the previous generation iPad mini is no longer relevant today, since for the same money (about 12 thousand rubles) you can buy a much more productive Android tablet with a Full HD screen.

Autonomous operation

If we knew the approximate level of performance in advance (since we had already tested solutions on the Apple A7 SoC), then the situation with autonomous operation created a real intrigue. After all, now the device needs to display an image with twice the higher resolution, but the body dimensions remain the same, so the battery cannot be greatly increased. This raised natural concerns that the new iPad mini would be inferior to its predecessor in terms of battery life.

However, as tests showed, these fears were in vain. The battery life not only did not decrease, but even increased slightly. Here, however, it is worth making a reservation that for this comparison we tested the first generation iPad mini on the latest version of the operating system - iOS 7.0.4. It is possible that on the original iOS 6 with which it was released, the result would have been a little better. But even in the current version, this is a decent operating time - for both iPad minis.

The results are presented in the table.

Interestingly, the sensational result of the 2013 Google Nexus 7 in reading mode could not be surpassed by the new iPad mini. In general, all other devices are like the Moon. But in the other two modes, the iPad mini Retina outperforms both Android competitors.

We also note that under load, the new iPad mini heats up more than its predecessor, in which the heating is almost not felt.

Camera

iPad Air is equipped with two cameras - front with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and rear with a resolution of 5 megapixels, similar to the cameras of the first iPad mini and iPad Air. Since the iPad mini is much more suitable for shooting than the larger iPad, we decided to do a full test using our smartphone camera testing methodology, and at the same time compare the new product in terms of camera quality with the first generation iPad mini and iPad Air. Photography and commentary were done by Anton Soloviev.

iPad mini Retina
Good dynamic range and well-processed noise.
The sharpness is not bad, but the lack of any stabilization is noticeable.
The sharpness is quite good; if you wish, you can make out the license plate of the nearest car.
There is noticeable blur in the corners of the frame, although the upper central part is quite sharp.
The number plate of the nearest car is clearly visible.
At shorter shutter speeds the situation improves noticeably. Sharpness is uniform across almost the entire frame.
In such scenes, the camera chooses exposure well.
The camera is relatively good at macro photography in low light.

We can say that the shooting quality of the iPad mini Retina camera has not changed noticeably compared to the iPad mini. Minor improvements have only been made to noise processing: the algorithm for the noise reduction has remained almost unchanged, but visually its work has become softer, and due to this, small details are better processed in the pictures. However, the camera is still afraid of noise and tries to work at minimum photosensitivity values, compensating for exposure at the expense of shutter speed, so in low light there is a high probability of blur due to relatively long shutter speeds. As it turns out, relatively long shutter speeds in this case are values ​​from 1/40 of a second and higher, since the iPad mini Retina camera does not have any stabilization system. For example, almost all of the above photographs were taken under the same conditions, each in triplicate, and in almost all cases, two out of three photographs were blurred.

Lighting

As can be seen from the graph, in terms of relative resolution, the iPad mini Retina camera is not so far behind the iPad mini camera and has almost caught up with the iPad Air camera. However, after a detailed examination of the photos of the stand, it becomes clear that the iPad mini Retina is still a significant step forward compared to the iPad mini. It's also worth noting that the camera's angle of view has become slightly smaller, despite the same nominal focal length indicated in EXIF. Even though the camera hasn't changed much, it now looks refined. There are still some points that I would like to improve, but these are, rather, purely software limitations.

Among the characteristic features of the camera, we can highlight good noise reduction, good and fairly uniform sharpness across the plans and across the field, and a reasonable choice of exposure.

Overall, the camera's image quality is decent, especially for a tablet, despite the low resolution. The camera probably has no obvious shortcomings, but the lack of a flash significantly limits its scope of use. However, it is quite suitable for artistic or documentary photography in appropriate lighting.

Conclusions

The previous iPad mini evoked mixed emotions: the form factor seemed interesting (the screen is larger than 7 inches, but the body can be grasped with one hand in a vertical orientation), but the low resolution of the display spoiled the whole impression. This was especially noticeable if you were using a larger iPad with a Retina display. After that, working with the iPad mini was simply physically uncomfortable.

And now Apple has released the second version of the iPad mini - and here it not only corrected the situation with screen resolution, but also radically increased the performance of the device. The price remained quite attractive, and the battery life and dimensions remained virtually unchanged.

Thus, the choice is no longer between “large and modern device” and “compact but outdated”. Now you have to choose exclusively between two screen diagonals and, accordingly, the dimensions of the tablet (which, however, does not affect the thickness). If you prefer a more compact format, plan to regularly take the tablet with you on trips, or use it in transport, then you can safely take the iPad mini Retina. It is a little more expensive than Android tablets of a similar form factor, but it is significantly better in performance.

In our opinion, the more likely competitors of the iPad mini Retina are not even tablets of a compact form factor, but tablet phones - Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, etc. In terms of performance, they are approximately on the same level with the iPad mini Retina, and in terms of screen quality are not inferior (and even superior in terms of pixel density per inch), but they can be used both as a tablet and as a smartphone. True, the cost of top-end tablet phones is significantly higher than that of the iPad mini, but the screen is still smaller. Therefore, the Apple product has its own specific niche, different from both tablet phones and compact Android tablets.

Overall, we definitely recommend purchasing the iPad mini with Retina display, unless you have already bought an iPad Air (or are not planning to do so). But the first generation iPad mini seems to us to be an acceptable option only if the buyer wants to get an Apple tablet as cheaply as possible, and the rest doesn’t matter. If possible, then, of course, it’s worth paying an additional 4,000 rubles and getting a fundamentally more modern device. And, by the way, owners of the first generation iPad mini can also safely go to stores for a new iPad mini, if their financial capabilities allow it. The update will not be superfluous at all.

In conclusion of the article, we bring to your attention our video review of the Apple iPad mini tablet with Retina display:

It would seem that the next update of Apple tablets should have gone smoothly, but the company did the impossible: they again brought back the slightly fading interest in large 10-inch tablets. The iPad Air turned out to be the smallest, lightest device in its category, while the iPad mini turned out to be completely similar to it in terms of characteristics.

Now you can choose one or another diagonal without sacrificing functionality, screen quality, processor power or memory capacity - the two models are the same. In this article I will talk about a miniature tablet, which has been seriously updated compared to its predecessor.

Main Features

• Operating system: iOS 7.0.3
• Screen: IPS display with a diagonal of 7.85 inches and a resolution of 2048 x 1536, 324 ppi
• Processor: Apple A7, 2-core Cortex-A9, ARM-v8, 1.3 GHz. PowerVR G6430 Graphics
• Memory: RAM 1 GB, Built-in 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB
• Camera: front 1.3 MP FaceTime, main iSight F/2.4, 5 MP with autofocus, 1080p video recording, face recognition function
• Data transmission: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). There are models with support for GSM/EDGE/UMTS/LTE and CDMA/GSM/EDGE/UMTS. GPS/GLONASS (LTE version only).
• Connection: Lightning connector
• Battery: 23.8 Wh, up to 10 hours of browsing the Internet via Wi-Fi, watching videos
• Additionally: gyroscope, light sensor
• Dimensions: 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm
• Weight: 331 g (341 g - versions with LTE support)
• Price: from 399 euros in Europe, from 399 dollars in the USA, from 15,990 in Russia (Wi-Fi model)
• Contents: cable, charger, brief instructions

Design, convenience

In most cases, when describing Apple devices, this point can be reduced to a couple of words: “nothing has changed.” Indeed, why change something that is already perfect: no one has come close to the exterior and tactile sensations of the all-metal, matte cases of Apple tablets. Let me remind you that the new Google Nexus, Samsung GALAXY Note, Nokia Lumia 2520 are all plastic.

The only thing you can notice is that the SIM card slot has moved a third of a centimeter, and another small hole for a microphone has appeared on the antenna insert; the first iPad mini does not have it.

The iPad mini Retina color has changed: black has become asphalt gray (Space Grey), similar to the iPhone 5s. This color looks better, does not show fingerprints, and the texture of the metal is clearer. In a word, the change is positive.

As for the dimensions, they are also indistinguishable from the first generation. The length and width are the same to tenths of a millimeter - 200 x 134.7, while the thickness has increased by an imperceptible 0.3 mm - up to 7.5 mm. Weight increased by 20 grams (to 331 g). With these parameters, the tablet remains one of the thinnest in the world; it is the dimensions that attract many buyers to the iPad mini: the share of 10-inch models continues to decline.

The connectors and elements are in their places: lightning and stereo speakers are at the bottom, the lock button is at the top, and on the right is the volume control and silent mode.

Screen

After the emergence of 7-inch Android tablets with Full HD screens, it became obvious that Apple would also update its 8-inch tablet to Retina resolution (2048 x 1536 pixels), like the older iPad Air model. The rumors came true, the iPad mini acquired a Retina screen and the main limitation of the previous generation was removed - in the first iPad mini the pixel density was 163 ppi - less than that of all competitors.

Now at this resolution the picture turns out to be very smooth, the density is similar to the iPhone - 324 ppi, the pixels are completely invisible. In a word, a wonderful tablet screen. Brightness, maximum viewing angles and natural colors are all present. For anyone who wanted a lightweight and miniature Apple tablet, but was stopped by the low screen resolution, the new version is highly recommended for consideration.

Detailed testing of the iPad mini Retina screen was carried out by our expert Mikhail Kuznetsov.

The Apple iPad mini now has a Retina display. With a diagonal of 7.85 inches, the resolution reaches 2048 x 1536, which gives a pixel density of 324 ppi. Those who like to count pixels will be pleased - with such a density you can hardly see any hints of “pixelation” of the image; the resolution is more than enough.

The brightness reserve is up to 407 cd/m2 at maximum. The lack of brightness can only be felt in bright sun; in other cases, the reserve is quite sufficient. The contrast ratio was about 900:1, an increase from the previous iPad mini (where we measured a ratio of 687:1). The screen's anti-glare filter copes well with external light and prevents it from fading or fading in direct light. Viewing angles are quite wide, shades are slightly distorted, and the image remains legible at any reasonable viewing angle.

Gamma has an optimal value of 2.23, and the stability of the indicator is high. All midtones are displayed with the correct brightness, dark and light areas of the image have good detail - this is definitely a plus.

The average color temperature is about 6800K, the image tint is only a little cooler than the reference one. It is worth noting that at maximum brightness the image tint becomes even colder - the color temperature tends to 7000K.

There is a slight excess of blue component in the color balance, but the admixture is not that strong. The average Delta E error is about 5.41 units, which indicates a good quality of the factory setting. The main thing is that there is no obvious imbalance - which means it’s easy to get used to the extra shade.

The color gamut of the screen was disappointing. Like the previous version, the Retina screen of the new iPad mini does not reach the sRGB standard. Primary colors are offset in hue and lack depth. This makes images look washed out and less true to life than on sRGB screens like the Google Nexus 7. And the shades aren't so bad, since the blue light is way too bright (+104%, Delta E=17.6). In general, there is an imbalance with individual colors. Hence the rather high color rendering errors Delta E - an average of 7.73 units. Color rendering is sloppy; you can usually expect more from Apple devices.

Overall, the Apple iPad mini's screen has one obvious improvement - its high Retina resolution. The slight increase in contrast is also pleasing. At the same time, one of the key drawbacks of the previous generation iPad mini remains in place - the reduced color depth, which does not reach sRGB and somewhat distorts the shades. Apparently, from the point of view of the screen, the iPad mini Retina is still one of the weaker devices in the Apple range. The screen is well suited for casual use (surfing and the like), but looking at photos or videos on a “full-size” iPad will be more pleasant, and not only because of the screen diagonal.

Hardware platform and battery

Before the announcement on October 22, many believed that the mini-tablet would have a weaker hardware platform compared to the 10-inch iPad Air. But Apple took a different path: the iPad mini is completely similar to its larger brother in the line. The most advanced Apple A7 processor (64-bit processor with two main cores clocked at 1.3 GHz, the latest ARM v8 architecture). Let me remind you that the new cores are called Cyclone, and the entire Apple A7 chip is manufactured by Samsung using the new 28-nanometer High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) process.

A few words about 64-bit architecture. Apple chose not the path of thoughtlessly increasing the number of cores, which creates inconvenience for application developers, but the path of unification with other devices - Macbook, iPhone. All Apple devices now have 64-bit architecture, creating cross-platform applications for them has become much easier. In the Android world, developers focus on averages so that the program works on the maximum number of devices. As a result, in most cases, additional cores in 4- and 8-core devices are simply unused. In the case of Apple, you can create programs for all devices without focusing on the differences between them in the number of cores, which saves both time and resources.

In addition, the new platform turned out to be not only faster than multi-core competitors, but also more energy efficient: the new Apple smartphone and tablets work as long as their predecessors did.

In the case of the iPad mini Retina, the indicators are exactly the same: 10 hours of operation when watching videos, Internet browsing via Wi-Fi. Due to the high screen resolution, the battery capacity has increased: 23.8 Wh versus 16.3 Wh in the predecessor iPad mini. Let me remind you that the thickness of the tablet itself increased by only 0.3 mm: from 7.2 to 7.5 mm. I’ve always been surprised how Apple, while increasing its quantitative indicators, maintains its usual dimensions within the same limits, but the fact remains a fact.

The graphics accelerator in the new iPad mini is also excellent - a quad-core PowerVR (Series 6) G6430 that supports OpenGL 3.0, DirectX 10 and OpenCL 1.x. This is one of the most powerful mobile graphics chips on the market at the moment. The amount of RAM in the iPad mini Retina has doubled compared to its predecessor - it is 1 GB, as in the older iPad Air. In addition, the faster LPDDR3 variant is used instead of LPDDR2.

So the mini-tablet is not inferior to the 10-inch iPad Air in terms of memory and processing power. If last year the first iPad mini was rather weak, now the new generation has taken 2 steps forward. And not only in comparison with Apple gadgets, but also with Android competitors: at the moment, none of the Android manufacturers use ARM v8 cores (devices with Cortex A53 and Cortex A57 will clearly appear no earlier than next year) or Imagination PowerVR Series 6 graphics. Apple is ahead here.

This fact will once again push many to think about what is better - a standard 10-inch tablet or a miniature 8-inch one. Apple has made them identical in terms of hardware platform and screen resolution, camera quality, amount of memory (built-in and RAM), operating time, so you can only choose the size. A very interesting step: when choosing an iPad mini, you won’t have to sacrifice either quality or performance. For example, I prefer a miniature tablet, as it is so compact that it fits in any bag. The appearance of a 128 GB option is also a plus for a miniature device.

Camera

The iSight camera has not been changed: 5 megapixels, autofocus and spot focusing. Despite rumors, the new Apple tablets did not get the 8 megapixel camera from the iPhone 5, apparently this is due to the fact that the resolution in the iPhone 5s was not increased either, it has the usual 8 megapixels (albeit with a larger pixel size - 1.5 microns). So the quality of shooting remained at the level of its predecessor - a completely adequate level. There is also a module on the front, this is an HD camera, which will be useful during communication sessions via FaceTime. It will also allow you to take a self-portrait.

Software platform

The tablet runs the latest version of iOS 7.0.3. If on the iPad mini the software slowed down a little, now the tablet is no different in speed from the iPhone 5s, all built-in applications, as well as third-party ones, “fly”. Also in version 7.0.3 it became possible to disable animation in most menus, so you can make your tablet or smartphone even faster.

The main change in iOS 7 compared to the 6th version is the control center - a panel that contains switches for data transfer, network and wireless connections, offline and night modes, player control buttons, as well as several quick applications (such as a calculator and a flashlight) . The control panel is called up in the same way as the notification panel, only from the bottom of the screen. Personally, I have been waiting for its appearance for a long time; constantly going into the settings menu to enable the simplest functions was wrong, but better late than never.

The panel is not customizable, that is, you cannot remove unnecessary shortcuts (such as a timer) or add new ones, but you can choose whether it will be possible to call the panel on the locked screen or in open applications. The control center has icons for AirDrop and AirPlay - wireless transfer of information and multimedia to compatible devices. For example, if there is another user nearby with iOS 7, you can transfer a file or contact with one touch.

The notification center (the panel at the top of the screen) has received expanded functionality: it is divided into 3 parts, you can view either all notifications, or missed ones, or the “Today” screen, where the weather can be displayed. The weather application has also been updated, with much more animation of weather conditions.

Multitasking has been brought into a wonderful form: now there are not only program icons, but also window thumbnails, the information in which is updated in real time. Approximately the same principle as in MeeGo or Blackberry 10. Applications are closed by swiping up. Branded features have been improved: the Find My iPhone feature will now require authorization through an Apple ID and password to disable it. Additional protection of your data, in general. The new version of FaceTime now allows you to use it for voice calls without video.

Well, one of the most important innovations is the browser. The incomprehensible limit on 8 open tabs has been removed, now you can open an unlimited number of them. The appearance of the windows has also changed, the miniatures have become more visual and larger.

Opinion

The iPad mini with Retina screen is completely similar to the older iPad Air model - software, hardware, screen and operating time. You can choose the screen size you are interested in, and that’s it - now you don’t have to sacrifice anything. Let me remind you that the first generation iPad mini had only 512 MB of RAM, and the screen had a modest resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The price increased slightly, from 329 to 399 dollars for the initial configuration. As I said, the tablet will officially appear in Russia at a price of 15,990 rubles for the Wi-Fi configuration (the predecessor started at 13 thousand). The LTE version will cost 20,990 rubles for 16 GB. This will happen tomorrow, November 15th.

The new iPad mini retains the key advantages of its predecessor: record thinness, the same design with narrow frames and an all-aluminum body, loud stereo speakers, a huge software base and the same battery life. It was a little disappointing that the tablet decided not to use a fingerprint scanner, like in the iPhone 5s (this would have increased the cost), as well as the same camera, although an 8 MP module would have been more appropriate. Otherwise, the tablet left the most pleasant impression; Android competitors do not have the same combination of size, quality of materials, speed and operating time, for which we can safely recommend the model for purchase.

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On October 22 of this year, Apple introduced the second model of an 8-inch tablet - iPad mini 2, which received a high-resolution Retina display and a 64-bit A7 processor in tandem with an M7 coprocessor.

New gadgets from Apple are becoming the subject of numerous discussions, both in the press and among admirers of the famous brand. Such information is especially useful for those who want to update outdated devices, but are not sure about the advisability of such a step. To dispel all doubts and show the advantages of the new iPad tablets, we will take a detailed look at all the innovations from a practical point of view.

Appearance

The design of devices can tell a lot about their functionality, so let's start the review with that. The new iPad mini 2 has gained some weight compared to the older model - its thickness is 7.5 mm versus the previous 7.2 mm. The remaining dimensions remained unchanged - 200x134.7x7.5 mm (for comparison, the iPad mini is 200x134.7x7.2).

The same can be said about device weight– compared to the previous model, it has “gained weight” by 29 g, that is, 341 g (version with a SIM card and Wi-Fi) versus 306 g, respectively. Despite the almost 10% weight gain, it can be considered unnoticeable.

The front panel of all models is covered glass with oleophobic coating, which prevents fingerprints from spoiling the appearance. Below the screen, as always, is the Home key, and above it is the front camera lens.

Despite the expected “golden” iPad mini 2, the manufacturer does not provide such a color for the case. The new tablet will be available in two versions - white with a silver back panel and black (back panel in color Space Gray), while the predecessor was completely white and black. The bezel of the matrix remains quite wide, so the tablet is comfortable to hold in your hands without touching the touch screen.

Both versions have a volume rocker and a Mute slider on the right side. On the left (for versions with a mobile communication module) there are slots for Nano-SIM cards (iPad mini and iPad mini 2). At the top end there is a standard 3.5 mm audio jack, a power button and a plastic cover for cellular antennas, to the left of which the main camera lens is mounted.

At the bottom end of the tablets there is a miniature 8-pin reversible Lightning connector, which can be inserted on either side. iPad mini and iPad mini have speakers built into both sides of the interface and deliver exceptional sound quality.

Screen

Unlike the outdated tablet of the previous model, iPad mini 2 received Retina display worthy of all praise. With the same diagonal – 7.9 inches, the new display has a resolution of 2048×1536 versus 1024×768. The pixel density has increased from 163 PPI (iPad mini) to 326 PPI (iPad mini 2).

Visually, the pixels became indistinguishable to the eye, and even the text began to look as if drawn with ink, not to mention the photographic images, more like a picture from a glossy magazine.

The manufacturing technology of IPS matrices remains the same, so the display of the new tablet has a maximum viewing angle and a natural color gamut. Although a closer comparison reveals a warmer color scheme and improved image detail. In addition, the new display is distinguished by the precise positioning of the capacitive sensor and the best quality of the oleophobic coating of the protective glass.

Functionality and speed

The iPad mini tablet of the first version used a dual-core A5 processor with ARM Cortex-A9 crystals (1.0 GHz) and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics chip, which provided acceptable operating speed. But 32-bit technology did not allow developing sufficient power when running “heavy” applications.

The new iPad mini 2 with Retina display is equipped with a new product - 64-bit A7 processor working in pairs with M7 coprocessor, which provides all the calculations and monitoring of information coming from the tablet’s various sensors. This “division of labor” made it possible to allocate the freed-up power of the A7 to perform other tasks. It is worth noting that the energy consumption of the M7 is significantly lower than that of the main processor, and this has a positive effect on the battery life of the gadget.

The use of new crystals ensured serious increase in productivity. So, according to Apple, new CPU is 4 times more powerful previous processor, and raffic accelerator – 8 times. This was enough to provide the Retina display with sufficient processor power and significantly increase the performance of the entire system.

Nowadays, when HD video and “heavy” content such as 3D games are becoming more widespread, devices require large amounts of memory. In this regard, the developers of the iPad mini 2 have expanded their line of tablets with a model equipped with 128 GB of memory. For comparison, the iPad mini line was more modest: 16, 32 and 64 GB.

Data transmission in the new tablets is carried out via Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) using a dual MIMO antenna, which allows you to automatically switch between both modes. Thanks to this, users will be able to work at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, which seems incredible and has so far been confirmed purely theoretically.

The new gadget, like the previous model, uses the new Bluetooth 4.0. The 4G LTE module installed in tablets is not yet relevant in our country. The parameters of LTE networks used in Russia are not compatible with its protocols, so gadgets can only work in 3G mode.

operating system

Unlike the iPad mini, a new OS iOS 7, ensuring compatibility of new chips to maximize performance. At the same time, the operating system interface has become simpler and incredibly intuitive, so it does not require much getting used to.

The developers responded more thoughtfully to consumer requests, which led to the removal of unnecessary decorative elements and the reworking of existing options.

So, for more convenient perception, the Control Center panel has become horizontally oriented. Now, to see frequently used programs, you only need to lightly touch the panel on the screen.

Compared to the old Camera app, the shutter button has been moved from the bottom of the screen to the sidebar. This is where the thumb is located when shooting, so using the program has become more convenient.

The new interface uses translucent backgrounds and realistic animations, making even simple apps like weather forecast fun. The new button design, streamlined color palette and improved fonts are pleasing to the eye, creating a special harmony in the interface elements.

Camera

Both models have good optics, allowing you to take high-quality photographs and shoot decent videos. They have two cameras: front and main. Front camera FaceTime HD with 1.2 MP The matrix has a facial recognition function and allows you to make FaceTime video calls over Wi-Fi or 4G networks. In addition, it supports video recording in 720p HD quality.

The main camera uses a device called iSight. It is built on 5 megapixel CMOS sensor from the Omnivision company, which was used in the iPhone 4, but additionally it has new 5-element optics. The camera supports the following functions: autofocus, focusing by tap on the screen and face recognition. It has a built-in hybrid IR filter and backlighting. In addition, it allows you to shoot videos in HD quality: 1080p/30 fps with image stabilization.

The quality of pictures and videos is quite high, which meets the new trends in using the tablet as a photo and video camera. This year, it was quite common to see young people shooting videos on Apple tablets.

An additional option when shooting videos is 3x zoom, which is used for the first time on tablets of this class and will be a real gift for iPad mini 2 owners.

Nutrition

The use of a Retina screen, double the resolution and the use of a 4G module required an increase in the power of the iPad mini 2 hardware, which significantly increased power consumption. But, as you know, Apple tablets have always been distinguished by long-term battery life, so the developers were given the goal of increasing battery capacity with minimal changes in weight and size characteristics.

The iPad mini tablet is equipped with a 16.3 Wh (4430 mAh) battery, which was enough power for long-term operation of the device. In the new model, despite the introduction of special energy-saving functions, a more powerful battery was needed, which led to a slight increase in the thickness of the case and the weight of the device - by only 3 mm and 29 g, respectively.

Thanks to the use of innovative technologies, Apple engineers managed to maintain the same operating time of the device on a single battery charge. It amounts to:
Mode for listening to audio recordings and watching videos – up to 10 hours;
Active work on the Internet via Wi-Fi – up to 10 hours;
Surfing the Internet over a 4G cellular network – up to 9 hours.

Comparison of characteristics of iPad mini 1 and 2 models:

Apple has updated its junior iPad mini tablet with a new screen and a fast 64-bit processor. Here's a review of the new iPad mini with Retina display.

When the first iPad mini tablet appeared, it immediately appealed to many users. It was the smallest and lightest tablet on the Apple planet, and yet it looked every inch like an iPad. Never mind that Steve Jobs disapproved of the idea of ​​making a small Apple tablet: the iPad mini was more affordable than the 9.7-inch version and had exactly the same interface and ran the same apps.

However, there were two problems. The first is the low resolution screen. The second is a weak processor. Against the updated older iPad with its Retina display and fast processor, the mini looked dated with its 1024x768 screen and A5 processor. Its specs were no better than the iPad 2. Most people didn't care, and rightly so. The iPad mini was a great tablet for them that did everything they needed. And after a long period of waiting, we finally got the Retina display version, albeit in limited quantities at launch.

iPad mini 2 review: Screen

The first generation of iPad mini screens did not match the Apple brand as a company focused on producing premium devices. By today's standards, the pixel density was catastrophically low, only 162 ppi (pixels/inch). Especially when compared to budget tablets like the Nexus 7, Tesco Hudl and Kindle Fire HD - all of which boast better screen specs. iPad mini with Retina display fixes this problem.

The resolution is on par with the iPad Air (and other Retina iPads) - 2048x1536 pixels. And this is already four times higher than that of the first iPad mini, and with the same size of 7.9-inches, it gives a good pixel density of 326ppi. Since the resolution is the same as all iPads with Retina screens, the display of apps you launch on it will be the same as on the iPad 3, 4 and the new Air. This is an impressive update. Holding the old and new iPad mini in your hands side by side, it’s easy to feel the difference in image quality.

Whether you're looking at a home screen, a website, an e-reader, or Auto CAD, the detail is much better. Characters and lines no longer appear fuzzy, and because the display is smaller than on iPad Air, everything looks even clearer. In short, this is the best iPad screen we've seen. The colors are great! And with this resolution, the photos look simply amazing. With the help of an iPad photo viewer app, you can of course easily amaze your viewers by showing them your photos in the best quality. Which is again important when buying a new tablet.

The design and dimensions remained virtually unchanged. Why give up a winning formula? But the new iPad mini with Retina display is slightly thicker than its predecessor - 7.5 mm versus 7.2 mm. This is understandable. Weight has also increased slightly, although many do not notice it. The iPad mini Retina model with Wi-Fi weighs 331g (23g heavier), while the model with Wi-Fi + Cellular modem has gained 29g compared to the previous iPad mini.

The weight gain is barely noticeable, but when compared to the iPad Air, which managed to shed significant weight, it's clear that the design team didn't work on every millimeter here or even try to maintain the same weight. Objectively, holding the new iPad mini in one hand while reading for a long time is not that difficult. Just keep in mind that it's much wider than the Nexus 7, and you'll find the thumb and forefinger method of holding it most comfortable: the iPad mini is smart enough to ignore phantom finger presses on the screen.

In keeping with Apple's new color scheme introduced with the iPhone 5s, the iPad mini Retina is available in two colors - white and gray-black. The new Smart Cover and Smart Case come in a variety of colors, and both fit old and new iPad mini models. With the exception of color, the new iPad mini looks very similar to its predecessor, so that only an iPad expert would be able to immediately tell that you are holding a brand new model in your hands.

iPad mini 2 review: Performance and specifications

As we said, the first iPad mini was very weak from a technical point of view, but the new iPad mini Retina has the same A7 processor that is installed on the new iPad Air. This means it now runs on 64-bit technology, making it more future-proof than devices with a 32-bit processor.

It also received an M7 coprocessor, responsible for supporting applications that use data flow tracking, which should help extend battery life when running fitness applications and other programs that require constant monitoring. We hope other new programs will try to take advantage of the M7 coprocessor, since you're unlikely to take the tablet with you on a run.

However, for some fitness apps, such as “The Walk” or “Zombies, Run!” this can be useful for tracking your movements when the tablet is in your bag. As usual, Apple doesn't reveal the amount of RAM installed, but that doesn't matter: the second generation iPad mini is MUCH faster. Although not as much as Apple claims.

In our graphics tests, for example, the iPad mini Retina achieved 48fps in the "Egypt HD" test. This is a great result, but it is simply twice as high as the first iPad mini. Apple says the new tablet has 8x acceleration. Likewise, overall performance in 2D applications is also impressive. In the Geekbench 2 test, the iPad mini 2 earned an average score of 2222. This is about three times more than the first mini, but also falls short of the claimed 4x acceleration. In the SunSpider 1.0.2 test, the new model passed the test in 397ms - a stunning result.

The original iPad mini required an average of 1300ms in this same test, but again the Retina iPad mini doesn't quite live up to Apple's claims. Don't get us wrong, the new iPad mini is very fast and easy to use, but we just wanted to point out that not all big claims can be trusted.

Good news for those who store huge libraries of music, videos and photos on their iPad - storage sizes range from 16GB to 128GB. And as usual, it is impossible to expand it. All you can do is buy a wireless hard drive if that's not enough (or use cloud storage and pull content from there). To do this, there is dual-band Wi-Fi and MIMO support, which, as Apple says, theoretically doubles the data transfer speed compared to the first iPad mini (300Mbps versus 150Mbps). There is also Bluetooth 4.0, and versions with a modem (which supports more LTE networks than before) also have a GPS receiver.

iPad mini 2 review: Cameras and battery

As for the cameras, there are no major changes. A 5Mp iSight camera on the back (with the ability to shoot video at 1080p resolution) and an improved FaceTime HD webcam on the front are most likely the same set as on the iPhone 5C. In our tests, we found only tiny differences in image quality between the previous iPad mini and the new model, and you can judge that for yourself by comparing the photos of St Pancras Station below. In low-light conditions, the new iPad mini's slightly updated front-facing camera produces less noise in photos.

Overall, the difference is almost unnoticeable, but if you enlarge the image and look closely at it, you will notice minor improvements. Even though the main cameras are technically identical and have the same resolution, subtle differences in the iPad mini Retina's auto exposure make its photos look a little brighter. Looking at photos on the iPad itself (as opposed to a PC monitor screen) there is a huge difference in detail, as expected from a new display. The Retina display delivers four times more detail, delivering sharper photos than the first iPad mini. The first, original photo (but resized), was taken by a Retina iPad mini. Second, the same photo taken by the first iPad mini:

Look at these two photographs that are 100% identical in detail and quality (if you don’t take into account the difference in exposure):

iPad mini Retina:

Original iPad mini:

But for video, everything is a little different: footage shot by the new iPad mini looks sharper (even when viewed on a PC screen) than the same thing shot by the first generation mini. The overall impression of the video shooting is good. The recording quality is remarkable, and thanks to the new second microphone built into the back, the sound quality is a significant improvement over the first iPad mini.

To make things clearer, audio recording has become more targeted, meaning the new mini primarily records what your characters are saying rather than the noise around you.

We haven't been able to run a definitive battery life test yet, but we expect Apple's 10-hour battery life claim to be true, as it has been with all other iPads.

iPad mini 2 review: Software

Like the iPad Air, the new mini comes with iOS 7. You can also download some Apple apps for free, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garage Band and Pages, which is a real bonus. Unfortunately, like the Air, you won't get the slo-mo video feature in the Camera app or burst mode for quick shooting. Both of these features remain exclusive to the iPhone 5s, despite the iPad tablets seemingly having similar hardware.

iPad 2 Mini hit the markets in November 2013. Its most anticipated update was the Retina display, which the first Mini did not have. Such compact tablets are easy to use and hold a good battery charge, which is what attracts the attention and love of fans of Apple products. In order to understand the advantages of this version, it is necessary to take a closer look at the technical characteristics of the Apple iPad mini 2.

The first version of the mini-model had a low screen resolution (1024x768) and a weak A5 processor, although it completely resembled the operation of a large 9.7-inch iPad. Compared to the quality of its display and the speed of its processor, the small version looked a little poor. But it had a more attractive price and was a good alternative in itself. It was replaced by Mini 2.

iPad 2 Mini review: Screen

This version received a Retina display with 2048x1536 resolution, at 7.9 inches (almost 8) the pixel density is 326ppi. This picture display is at the level of iPad three and four. This change is even noticeable if you place the old and updated versions side by side. Detailing has moved to a new level, and the image is now much clearer. You can see this even in Auto CAD drawings. The small screen size comes in handy here; it details the picture even more.

Not only detailing has improved, but also color rendition. Colors have become more saturated and vibrant. Now you can happily show off your photos to your family and friends. Accordingly, the quality of photographs has increased, which is very important if you lead an active social life.

The outer side of the screen has a glass plate with a glossy surface that is protected from damage. There is an anti-glare filter, so the screen display will be comfortable to perceive in any conditions. The screen has an oleophobic coating that can protect against fingerprints. This coating also makes it easy to remove such contaminants.

Setting the brightness to maximum and having an anti-reflective coating, even on a sunny day, gives a clearly visible image. Brightness adjustment is powered by a light sensor and is adjusted automatically. But such adjustment is carried out only for increases. The screen uses an IPS matrix.

Viewing angles are very good. In this case, no color changes appear even in cases of large inclination. In a completely dark room, you can set the screen brightness to the minimum level that is comfortable for you.

Design Review

With the arrival of the new display, the second mini tablet has become a little thicker: 7.5 mm versus 7.2. The weight became heavier, but not by much, 23 grams. Such a difference can only be perceived if you hold one and immediately take the other. This weight will not hinder you when reading books when you hold the device with one hand. In addition, the tablet is smart and will not respond to “false” thumb presses on the screen.

The color scheme of the case was influenced by the release of the iPhone 5S. The tablet comes in colors: gray-black and white. But if you want to add bright colors to your daily use, you can purchase Smart Case and Smart Cover. They are available in different colors. Suitable for both new models and predecessors. Otherwise, according to external data, the tablet is exactly like the previous model, and it’s difficult to immediately determine which version you have in your hands.

Case material: anodized aluminum alloy. All keys are metal and respond to light pressure. The location is the same as its predecessor. There is one slot for a nano-Sim card. In addition to Wi-Fi Internet connection, you can also use mobile Internet.

To connect to the appropriate Internet package, contact the head office of your mobile operator. The model with mobile communications has a plastic strip at the end, with an antenna hidden under it. There is a 3.5 mm jack for listening to music on headphones.

Performance overview

The characteristics of iPad mini two are in many ways superior to the first. It is equipped with an A7 processor with 64-bit architecture. This architecture allows you to boldly look into the future and not be afraid of technical innovations, unlike the 32-bit architecture. The processor is supported by the M7 coprocessor. It collects information from applications that are aimed at collecting data. For example, fitness apps. And can extend the life of the battery.

To ensure the operation of fitness applications or games where it is necessary to determine the spatial position of the user, there are built-in sensors: light, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer.

The processor has two cores with a clock frequency of 1300 MHz. The GPU is equipped with four cores with a frequency of 200 MHz. This ensures good graphic display of not only static images, but also videos and games.

One GB of RAM fits well with such processors. You can clearly see how fast the updated Mini is. When passing the Egypt HD test, the result was 48fps, which is a very good indicator. It is twice as large as the old version. The company claims that the device has 8x acceleration.

Accordingly, performance in 2D is at a high level. When tested in Geekbench 2, the new product scored 2222 points. This figure is three times higher than the first mini, but does not reach the 4x acceleration rate.

Those who collect mountains of information and many heavy folders with photos can rejoice in the internal storage. The mini has 16 GB, 32, 64 and 128 GB of memory. If these volumes are not enough, you can use external memory drives or use cloud storage. Using cloud storage locations is convenient.

For this you can use Wi-Fi, it is dual-band with MIMO support. This allows you to transfer data at a speed of 300 Mbps, in the previous version this figure was 150. The device is equipped with version 2.0 of Bluetooth. Versions that have a modem have an extended range of LTE networks and also have a built-in GPS receiver.

Camera and battery overview

The tablet is equipped with a 5 MP iSight main camera with an aperture of 2.4 and a resolution of 2592 × 1936. The camera takes pictures a little better than its predecessor in low-light conditions, and there is less noise. With the exposure set to "auto", the pictures come out brighter. You can shoot video at 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second. The camera is equipped with auto focus, face recognition, touch image stabilization and geo-tagging.

The FaceTime HD webcam has gotten better. Its resolution is 1280x720 and 1.2 megapixels. You can verify this when making video calls via Skype. You can shoot video files at 30 frames per second.

The work of the noise reduction has become better, but still, the camera is “afraid” of noise. It gets out of the situation due to the photosensitivity parameter, where exposure compensation is carried out due to the exposure time. So sometimes you can notice a “blurred” effect when shooting in a poorly lit place.

The slow shutter speed in this situation is 1/40 second. Since the camera has touch stabilization and not automatic, this may cause blurring of the image when taking photographs. Also, the viewing angle of the camera has become slightly smaller. A significant drawback is the lack of flash. This circumstance significantly affects the time range of street use of the camera.

If you view images on a tablet, the Retina display will play a big role in your perception. Images will appear higher quality and more detailed. But at the same time, technically the main cameras of both tablets are identical. In the case of video, the image on the second model is clearer. For improved video, an additional microphone is installed on the back of the case, which provides better sound transmission.

An important parameter of any gadget is the battery. It determines how long you will actively use the device and how quickly it will charge. The capacity of the built-in lithium-polymer battery is 6450 mAh. The manufacturer claims that the device can operate in active mode for up to 10 hours.

Software overview

The iOS version for this tablet is 7.0. Some applications from AppStpre are available to you: iPhoto, iMovie, Garage Band, Pages, Numbers, Keynote. The iPhone 5S has the same version of iOS, but the “slo-mo video” camera feature will not be available. Maximum software version iOS 9.0. When installing a more updated version, the device may malfunction. Under the same load, the new tablet heats up a little more than its predecessor.

Description of equipment

The assembly is not much different from its predecessor. Kit includes: documentation, Lightning cord, charger , a key-clip for inserting a SIM card into the slot.

Conclusion: Familiar design, complemented by a plastic strip to provide cellular communications. The buttons are all in place. The diagonal remains the same, but the image quality has increased significantly. Photos appear brighter and clearer due to the higher resolution. The angle of the screen does not interfere with viewing. There is also an anti-reflective coating, thanks to which you can enjoy viewing even on a bright sunny day.

Oleophobic coating makes it easy to clean fingerprints from the screen and prevent them from appearing. An additional microphone has appeared on the back side, providing direct sound when shooting video. Active operation of the tablet can last up to 10 hours. But a working day usually lasts 8 hours if you use the device for work.

If the device is discharged, you can connect it to the power supply for 8 - 15 minutes and continue working. The Mini's dimensions allow you to hold it with one hand when reading, and the smart screen will not respond to “false” presses. You can install the iOS version not only 7.0, but also 8.0. But the highest possible version without harming the optimal performance of 9.0.