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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teng029 - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
Then why don't you write your own review and find out for yourself?John2k13 - Monday, November 18, 2013 - link
So you proudly admit you came here not to actually read the review an analysis with an open mind, which the author spent alot of time and effort writing, and provide specific, rational feedback, but instead to mindlessly mock and troll because the final assessment does not fit whatever anto-Apple ideology you may have, which has absolutely nothing to do with the objective quality of the product under question. You must live a sad, empty life to be so cynical and hateful, and to dismiss others because they don't share your vapid anti-Apple rhetoric. I, and everyone else who actually read the review actually learned something. Not the same can be said about your useless comment.zeagus - Monday, November 18, 2013 - link
Came here to see how close to the top the troll comments were.darwinosx - Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - link
Then you didn't read the review you are whining about.tech_boss99 - Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - link
nvidia enter the market with their FIRST tablet and its still better than the ipad (as far as hardware goes) http://versus.com/en/nvidia-tegra-note-7-vs-apple-...i didnt really see any of this fanfare on your review of them!
shadowii - Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - link
Came here looking for someone bitching about their high scoring review. Found yours.Qbancelli - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
Boy, This guy adores Apple!xinthius - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
If a company makes good products, one is going to review them highly.lilo777 - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
Especially when the company sends you sample devices for reviewing.tigmd99 - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
Kinda like how he adores Nexus 4? Or Nexus 7? Blind enthusiasm on your part has clouded your judgement.