Each and every yr, Apple refreshes their tablet line-upwardly with new hardware and new features. The full sized iPad got faster, lighter, slimmer and even received a new proper noun (iPad Air), while the second-generation mini is more impressive than ever, thanks to a major update.

Apple tree iPad mini (second-gen) - $399 - $829

  • 7.9", 2048 ten 1536 IPS LCD display (326 ppi)
  • Apple tree A7 SoC
  • 1.iii GHz dual-cadre CPU, PowerVR G6430 GPU, 1GB RAM
  • 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB internal storage
  • 5 MP photographic camera, f/2.4 lens, 1080p video
  • 23.viii Wh bombardment
  • Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth four.0, LTE optional
  • iOS 7
  • 331-341 grams, 7.5mm thick

This new iPad mini comes with a Retina display: a high-resolution 7.9-inch panel whose resolution is on-par with the Air at 2048 x 1536, bringing 326 pixels per inch. Not just that, simply Apple's new A7 organisation on a scrap is included, alongside a larger battery in a shell that'due south nearly identical in size to the original iPad mini. Some aspects of the device remain the aforementioned, such as the camera and the connectivity options, but it still has many new features that will hopefully satisfy.

With the Retina display in the second-generation iPad mini, Apple tree has increased the toll on the base sixteen GB Wi-Fi model from $329 to $399, making it one of the about expensive tablets of its size. However, past iPads have been of exceptional quality, so will this be the same for the iPad mini? Does the Retina display and faster processor make a worthy upgrade for get-go-gen owners?

Blueprint

Unsurprisingly, the iPad mini with Retina display looks very like to previous iPads, utilizing a standard tablet design. Compared to the first-generation iPad mini, the Retina unit'southward profile is identical at 200mm tall and 134.7mm wide, and comes in at seven.5mm thick; 0.3mm thicker than the original to adapt the larger battery. Information technology's slightly heavier – 331 grams versus 308 grams for the Wi-Fi models – but all the same remains extremely portable.

In fact the iPad mini is a near-perfect size for anyone who'due south looking for a smaller-classed tablet (see the unboxing here). It'due south piece of cake to use in 1 hand or 2, the shape is comfortable and ergonomic, and at that place's an adequate corporeality of bezel around the display that makes it great to use in landscape or portrait. Furthermore, while the bezel facilitates easy handling of the device, the display however covers approximately 72% of the front end console, which is better than competing devices like the Nexus 7 (62% coverage) and seven-inch Kindle Fire HDX (60%).

Apple'southward industrial withal minimalist pattern continues with second-generation iPad mini. The front end panel is plain, containing just the display, home push and forepart-facing camera, yet it looks as skillful as whatsoever previous iPad. Even though this model has been released afterwards the iPhone 5s, there's no Bear upon ID fingerprint sensor, meaning in that location'southward no quick and secure unlocking method here.

The back features a typical tablet design: camera in the top left, shiny Apple tree logo in the middle, iPad branding at the bottom. With the front end covered in protective glass, the back is equally tough thanks to its aluminium construction; aluminium which not merely feels great to touch, but gives the iPad its usual premium await.

For this review I opted for a "space grey" model, which is lighter in color compared to the slate grayness of the previous model, and looks fantastic. You get a black bezel around the brandish, which differs from the silver model that is paired with a white bezel, just both look great. I adopt the space grey design, all the same it actually comes down to personal choice when picking a color for your tablet.

Effectually the edges is the usual arrangement of elements. The height edge has the power button and the headphone jack, the bottom has the Lightning connector and speaker grills, the left side is blank and the right side has the volume buttons and hold switch. All the buttons are attainable and experience solid to use, but it's disappointing that at that place are simply speakers on the right-paw side when the device is in mural. Stereo speakers would be welcome on this media-centric device, even so at least the large dual grill makes information technology hard to muffle the speaker when you lot're belongings it for gaming.

While there is the unmarried-speaker issue, I generally have zippo but praise for the iPad mini with Retina brandish's design. It'southward well built, thanks to its premium aluminium construction, and nearly the perfect size for a portable, smaller tablet. I really similar the space grey color option, with minor but yet functional blackness bezels and large display coverage.

Display

The biggest upgrade to the iPad mini comes in the form of the brandish, which is now branded every bit 'Retina'. In other words, the pixel density of the panel has received a significant bump from 163 pixels per inch (ppi) to 326 ppi, thanks to an increase in resolution to 2048 ten 1536; the same resolution as the iPad Air. With over three times the original pixel count, the display should be significantly improved.

Pretty much any brandish that has over 300 pixels per inch looks not bad, especially those that are included on tablets. Generally you view a tablet further away from your optics than a smartphone, which allows tablets more room to look awesome with lower pixel densities, and at 326 ppi the iPad mini definitely looks awesome. Text is well-baked, images are well-baked, videos are crisp, apps are crisp: basically, the sharpness is as fantastic as y'all've come to expect from previous Retina displays, and even better than the iPad Air.

The aspect ratio of the iPad mini's display still remains 4:three, which isn't platonic for watching about videos unless you bask significant letterboxing. Still, a standard 16:9 video yet takes up 7.2-inches diagonally, which makes it slightly larger than the video on a standard vii-inch Android tablet like the Nexus seven (which is coincidentally the same summit as the iPad mini). Where the 4:3 aspect ratio shines is in applications and web browsing, as more information is displayed on the screen, yet the tablet can however be held more comfortably than an 8-inch 16:nine tablet.

As far as the quality of the display is concerned, there are a few issues with the color gamut (as some other publications have noticed), which causes images to appear less saturated and vibrant every bit competing devices. Essentially the Retina iPad mini, like the offset-generation iPad mini before it, falls short of reproducing the total sRGB color spectrum. Most other competing tablet displays, including the iPad Air, have a near-sRGB colour gamut, so the iPad mini is noticeably lacking in this area.

While it can be proven through a colorimeter that the iPad mini's display doesn't have a total sRGB color gamut, will yous discover information technology in everyday usage? In my fourth dimension with the new Retina display, I found the moderate lack of saturation in images to be reasonably noticeable by itself, and very noticeable when compared with other displays like total-sized iPads, the Nexus 7 (2013) and my desktop PC monitors. When browsing the web and using apps it'due south thankfully less of an issue, simply people who demand quality volition detect the color quality of the iPad mini disappointing.

The good news is color gamut is the but major outcome with the iPad mini's Retina display. Black levels are very practiced, with all simply two of the squares in a standard black level test pattern being discernable, equally are white levels, which are very near 6500K. I didn't notice whatsoever light bleeding effectually the edges of the panel, indicating a high quality backlight, nor were there any image retentiveness issues with the model I received.

In terms of display brightness, the iPad mini with Retina display is reasonably bright, but non quite every bit bright every bit your typical smartphone. It is possible to read the iPad mini'southward display outdoors and in potent lighting, all the same in some situations information technology can be hard, so I'd recommend finding shade where possible. The brightness range of the panel is decent and fifty-fifty, and the tablet does come with automatic brightness, even though it merely adjusts each time you plough the display on, rather than continually.

The mini's Retina display uses IPS and IGZO technology, meaning viewing angles are very good in nearly all situations, with minimal amounts of color and brightness deviation at off-angles. Whether yous're reading the device's display forepart-on in your hands or at an angle on a desk, you should have no trouble thanks to the brandish's strong performance in this expanse.

Aside from the disappointing colour gamut of the Retina display used in the iPad mini, other areas perform well. The panel is the most crisp Apple has always used in a tablet, making text and visual elements look terrific, generally speaking, and the size is fantastic for mostly everything yous want to do on a tablet. If yous're not particularly concerned with the console'southward saturation (there's a hazard you won't even notice), the second-generation iPad mini's main attraction will suit you lot well.