Apple iPad mini with Retina Display: Reviewed
by Anand Lal Shimpi on November 16, 2013 8:00 AM ESTBattery Life
Thanks to the mini’s integrated 23.8Wh battery (and the low idle power of the 28nm A7), the Retina Display’s power consumption is more than offset. Battery life in all of our tests is at worst unchanged from the mini, but at best we’re talking about a 21% increase.
Our web browsing test shows a 10% improvement compared to the original iPad mini. The new mini with Retina Display can even last longer than a 4th generation iPad, and it’s hot on the heels of the iPad Air (I'll be updating this section with LTE and LTE hotspot results).
Video playback is where we see the biggest improvement compared to the original mini. Here the new iPad mini lasts 21% longer on a single charge, once again outlasting even the iPad 4. The iPad Air doesn’t offer any appreciable gain in battery life over the Retina mini.
Our 3D battery life test is the only one where the old mini manages to beat the new Retina model. With a 1.31% margin of victory though, it’s pretty safe to say that for current 3D gaming workloads you’ll see similar battery life out of the Retina mini as the old model. This is also the only test where the iPad Air delivers better battery life on a single charge (~11%).
Apple ships the Retina mini with a 10W USB charger and lightning cable. This appears to be the same charger as what shipped with the 3rd generation iPad (but obviously with a different cable). Using the newer 12W charger from the iPad 4/Air has no impact on charge time as the mini still only draws a maximum of 11.7W at the wall (compared to 13.8W for the iPad Air).
The iPad mini with Retina Display completes a charge from 0 to 100% in a sliver under 4 hours. That’s a little quicker than the iPad Air, and similar to the original mini with its 5W charger.
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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.