Apple iPad mini with Retina Display: Reviewed
by Anand Lal Shimpi on November 16, 2013 8:00 AM ESTCamera
The iPad mini with Retina Display features the same 5MP iSight rear facing camera and 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera as the iPad Air. Both are quite good for a tablet, aided by iOS’ excellent camera UI and the A7’s high performance ISP. The cameras also benefit from the same dual-mic setup of the iPad Air. I won’t talk too much about quality here as it’s no different than the Air, which I've already gone over in greater depth.
| Rear Facing Camera Comparison | |||||||
| Sensor | Resolution | Aperture | Focal Length | ||||
| Apple iPad Air | 5MP | 2592 x 1936 | f/2.4 | 3.3mm | |||
| Apple iPad 4 | 5MP | 2592 x 1936 | f/2.4 | 4.3mm | |||
| Apple iPad 3 | 5MP | 2592 x 1936 | f/2.4 | 4.3mm | |||
| Apple iPad 2,4 | 0.7MP | 960 x 720 | f/2.4 | 2.0mm | |||
| Apple iPad mini | 5MP | 2592 x 1936 | f/2.4 | 3.3mm | |||
| Apple iPad mini (Retina) | 5MP | 2592 x 1936 | f/2.4 | 3.3mm | |||
| Front Facing Camera Comparison | |||||||
| Sensor | Resolution | Aperture | Focal Length | ||||
| Apple iPad Air | 1.2MP | 1280 x 960 | f/2.4 | 2.15mm | |||
| Apple iPad 4 | 1.2MP | 1280 x 960 | f/2.4 | 2.18mm | |||
| Apple iPad 3 | 0.3MP | 640 x 480 | f/2.4 | 1.8mm | |||
| Apple iPad 2,4 | 0.3MP | 640 x 480 | f/2.4 | 1.8mm | |||
| Apple iPad mini | 1.2MP | 1280 x 960 | f/2.4 | 2.2mm | |||
| Apple iPad mini (Retina) | 1.2MP | 1280 x 960 | f/2.4 | 2.15mm | |||
WiFi & Cellular
The iPad mini with Retina Display inherits the same Qualcomm MDM9615 modem and 2-stream dual-band 802.11n from the iPad Air. The move to 2-stream 802.11n more or less doubles peak WiFi performance compared to last year’s mini. The mini's peak WiFi performance is pretty close to that of the iPad Air as well.
Lately I’ve really begun to appreciate the flexibility offered by tablets equipped with cellular modems. Especially now that it’s not terribly expensive to add a tablet to a shared data plan (or even free), the $130 LTE adder for the iPads is something worth seriously considering. The convenience of being able to pull out your tablet, wake it up, and immediately hop on the web/check email/tweet/etc… is awesome. Qualcomm's MDM9615 is a well known quantity at this point. I didn't run into any issues with its performance on the iPad mini.
| iPad Cellular Speeds | ||||||
| Property | iPhone 3G/3GS/iPad 1 3G | iPhone 4 / iPad 2 (GSM/UMTS) | iPhone 4 / iPad 2 (CDMA) | iPad 3 | iPad 4/iPad Mini | iPad Air/iPad Mini w/Retina |
| Baseband | Infineon X-Gold 608 | Infineon X-Gold 618 | Qualcomm MDM6600 | Qualcomm MDM9600 | Qualcomm MDM9615 w/RTR8600 |
Qualcomm MDM9615 w/WTR1605L |
| Max 3GPP Release Feature | Release 5 | Release 6 | Release 7 | Release 9 | Release 9 | Release 9 |
| HSDPA Category | Cat.8 - 7.2 Mbps | Cat.8 - 7.2 Mbps | N/A | Cat. 24 - 42 Mbps | Cat. 24 - 42 Mbps | Cat. 24 - 42 Mbps |
| HSUPA Category | None - 384 Kbps WCDMA only | Cat.6 - 5.76 Mbps | N/A | Cat.6 - 5.76 Mbps | Cat.6 - 5.76 Mbps | Cat.6 - 5.76 Mbps |
| EVDO | N/A | N/A | 1x/EVDO Rev.A | 1x/EVDO Rev.A | 1x/EVDO Rev.A | 1x/EVDO Rev.A |
| LTE | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100/50 UE Cat. 3 | 100/50 UE Cat. 3 | 100/50 UE Cat. 3 |
The new iPad mini, like the iPad Air, is extremely flexible from a mobile operator standpoint. Regardless of what operator you choose at the time of purchase, you can switch to others as long as you have an activated nano SIM (there’s apparently an exception for Sprint, but AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon should all be easily switchable). The unlocked nature of the device makes it ripe for global use, especially with support for a total of 14 LTE bands (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,13,17,18,19,20,25 and 26).
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Graag - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
The Ars review has a good image of the compromises you make using a nexus vs. a mini for web browsing in landscape; there are some significant disadvantages to a 16:10 aspect in a 7" device in that context.lilo777 - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
But do they have a good image of the totally unacceptable compromises you make watching videos on iPad tablets?p_giguere1 - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
It's mathematically impossible for a letterboxed video to appear smaller on an iPad mini (7.9" 4:3) than on a 7" 16:9 tablet like the Nexus 7, no matter the aspect ratio.A 16:9 video for example would have a 7.251" diagonal on an iPad mini and 6.815" diagonal on a Nexus 7.
ws3 - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
There's a lot more to a display than PPI, isn't there?socio-statistical - Monday, November 18, 2013 - link
Ya gotta love the softball, rhetorical questions.gorskiegangsta - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
Can't possibly be because Apple actually makes good, solid products, can it? No. It has to be due to a wider "Apple love" conspiracy. /sHonestly, irrational-Apple-hate syndrome is just as bad as an irrational-Apple-love one, and the former is what you seem to have.
Graag - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
>Honestly, irrational-Apple-hate syndrome is just as bad as an irrational-Apple-love one, and the former is what you seem to have.Not, it's worse. With irrational Apple love, at least your are irrationally loving a device *that you own*.
With irrational Apple hate, you are irrationally hating a device that other people own.
IOW, while it might be somewhat annoying for someone to go on and on about how much they love their car, phone, cat, etc., it is much less obnoxious than someone going on about how much they hate your car, phone, or cat.
Puberticus - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
So what makes an Apple fan?I'll tell you: product reliability-at least for me.
My mac has been cranking along since 2006. Other than updating the hard drive I've never had a problem. Nor has it ever ever crashed. I have no virus software installed -yet I have never, ever had a malware problem. I honestly cannot say the same for my Windows system at work.
Your mileage may vary of course, but it's been my experience that if you buy an Apple gadget it works consistently and for a long time.
Brakken - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
I was really disappointed last year when I first looked at the Mini: crappy screen and slow, slow processor. But then I ended up getting one, and was so impressed! A friend got the N1 v.1 and it was a great chance to compare.WHAT A JOKE!! I've owned three non-Apple devices and the N7 was more of the same, but wrapped in more hype. Thick, plasticy and cheap. Many go for the sales point, but after being there and doing that, I've had enough!
N7 started running like it had a 386 in a few months, apps didn't scale up - just stretched out. Stock widgets were dull and let's state facts: Google vanilla has fewer functions than a skin from HTC or Samsung. No-no! You have to buy anything extra that's provided for free with a skin! Or download it from someone who wants full access to your contacts for a weather widget.
Apple love is 11 outta 10 for reasons that will always remain outside of Fandroid perceptual filters due to the price. If you wish to buy a Chevvy, that's your deal. It really isn't up to you to trash someone who decides to buy a Honda. Or a Tesla.
stevesup - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
10/10. Didn't happen here. That will come from Wired UK, which just gave the iPad Air 10/10. The retina Mini just might have to be an 11.