Apple ipad mini with retina display. IPad mini specifications. Time for fun

The first iPad mini was introduced in the fall of 2012 and has become a very popular device. You can blame Apple for following the market, but no one will undertake to deny the success of the iPad mini. Millions of buyers have made their choice in favor of iPad mini with their wallet, which only confirmed the correctness of Apple's chosen path.

In the fall of 2013, Apple updated its line of tablets, including the iPad mini. The compact tablet received updated hardware and the long-awaited Retina screen, the absence of which in the first generation of mini held back many (including me). Now iPad mini with Retina screen is available for sale and I just couldn't help but buy it myself. Have I met my expectations for the iPad mini with Retina display and should you buy it yourself?

Model selection

I already had experience with the "large" iPad 2, but I was not satisfied with its dimensions. This is not to say that full-size iPads are very bulky and heavy, but typing in landscape orientation of the screen was uncomfortable for me, and carrying a 700-gram piece of hardware in my bag, with which I can't even work with text in full. moment just bothered. And I sold iPad 2.

Then I clearly understood that full-size tablets are not my format. The gadget that you constantly carry with you should be compact, lightweight and easy to use. I think of a full-size iPad as a tablet for the home.

I did not buy the first iPad mini due to the lack of a Retina screen, and the hardware on it was already far from the freshest at that time. Therefore, I waited for the second generation iPad mini, which from the point of view of hardware and screen I was completely satisfied with "on paper".

I chose the iPad mini with Space Gray Retina display and 16GB storage without cellular. Still, while in most of our country (including in my city) 4G is not yet available, I do not see much point in taking an iPad mini with a cellular module. And now there are more than enough Wi-Fi points, and in extreme cases, an iPhone or even a Mac can act as a router.

The 16 GB version is more than enough for me, because on the iPad I don't have as many applications and games as on the iPhone, I don't have a huge photo library, music and movies. If you want to watch or listen to something, then I prefer to do it using online services.

Purchase

Still, it's good that Apple has taken up the Russian market closely. Now you don't have to wait six months for new devices to officially go on sale. iPad mini Retina, for example, was available for order in the Apple Online Store on November 15, that is, just a few weeks after the start of sales in the West.

Of course, the iPad mini got to other stores later. I took my iPad mini Retina at the end of December and could not find it in the shop windows for an acceptable (read - officially established) price. It's good that there are online stores, in one of which I ordered a 16 GB iPad mini Retina for an acceptable 16 thousand rubles. After 3 days, the order has already arrived and I took my long-awaited tablet.

Box and equipment

You shouldn't expect any revelations from the box and configuration of the iPad mini Retina. Standard box, standard equipment: the tablet itself, lightning cable, Russian plug, documents and stickers. There is nothing else, including headphones.

Case and screen

The iPad mini Retina remains virtually the same in physical size and appearance as the original iPad mini. Rounded corners, a small bezel around the screen, a 7.9-inch screen diagonal. The weight of the device has only slightly increased. It is quite comfortable to hold the tablet in both hands, but when you use it with one hand, it still feels a little heavy. I hope that in the future Apple will put its compact tablet on a "diet", especially since its competitors weigh less.

The location of the connectors and speakers on the case remains the same. The body itself is also made of aluminum, its front part is covered with glass.

iPad mini in Space Gray looks great. After the "faceless" black in previous models, "Space Gray" looks much more interesting. It is worth noting that the paint will not peel off, as in the iPhone 5, during the time I use the tablet, there were no problems. It still looks like new.

The diagonal of the screen has not changed - 7.9 inches, but the resolution has grown to "retinovskoy" 2048x1536 pixels. The pixel density is 326 ppi, just like the iPhone, which is more than the iPad Air (264 ppi). We have to admit that you won't notice the difference between the Air and the Mini in terms of pixels - they are not visible on both the mini and the Air. However, the iPad mini's screen is inferior to the iPad Air due to its relatively pale colors, brightness, and contrast. Generally speaking, the screen is quite good for itself, but there are not enough stars from the sky.

The screen gets smudged with a bang, you have to constantly wipe it from dust and fingerprints. But this can hardly be called a specific feature of the iPad mini with Retina display. This is a problem with most modern mobile devices.

Another thing that catches your eye is that the screen is "deep" recessed into the body. Apple did not use any special technologies here (a screen without an air gap, for example) and the "depth" between the glass and the display itself is quite noticeable. This does not affect much in everyday use, but still I would like to see this point corrected.

Iron filling and performance

The new iPad mini comes with 1GB of RAM and the latest A7 processor - the same as the iPhone 5s and iPad Air. However, unlike its older brother iPad Air, its clock frequency is 100 MHz lower. When working with the iOS interface and most applications, there is no difference between Mini and Air, but Apple would not be Apple if there were no difference between them at all. And she is.

In the GeekBench 3 test, the iPad mini scores about 2500 points, which is slightly below the iPad Air, but this is not a synthetic number. When working with resource-intensive games such as GTA: San Andreas, Real Racing 3, the frame rate drops unpleasantly, which has not been observed before. Apparently this is due to the fact that the majority of applications are not optimized for the 64-bit architecture of the A7 processor. Or maybe those same 100 MHz frequencies played their fatal role?

It is worth noting that many applications on the iPad mini Retina perform as well or even worse (!) Than on the iPhone 5, which has an A6 processor. Here the high screen resolution and unoptimized software (especially for iPad) make themselves felt.

iOS 7 on a 64-bit iPad mini Retina works ... far from perfect. The animation often twitches, the screen orientation does not always change smoothly. I hope that with the release of iOS 7.1 Apple will cover up this shame, because there is absolutely no desire to endure constant resprings and freezes. This is not Android, this is iOS - a system that has made a name for itself thanks to its stable operation. And with this most stable work, iOS 7 has big problems.

Camera

There is a camera in the iPad mini Retina, it is capable of taking pictures of very average quality, but for a tablet this can be considered a good indicator. The video is recorded in good quality, the slo-mo mode, as in the iPhone 5s, is, of course, not here.


Photo taken with the main camera. The quality is very average

But the front camera pleased me. In good lighting conditions, the pictures are quite good (as far as they can be on the front camera). For selfshots and video calls in Skype, more than enough.

Vitality

Traditionally, Apple promises 10 hours of battery life for its tablets. With the iPad mini Retina, in practice, it turns out a little less. With active use (browser (half an hour to an hour a day), mail (an hour a day), social networks (an hour a day), games (2-3 hours a day), video (half an hour to an hour a day), books (an hour a day) day)) the tablet is enough for 1-1.5 days or 8-9 hours of continuous work. If you moderate your ardor, then you can achieve 2-2.5 days. Again, everyone has different usage patterns and these numbers can vary depending on your preference.

In any case, iPad mini Retina remains a very tenacious device - you will not worry about the battery and keep looking at the battery indicator all the time. You can charge iPad mini and take it with you all day long - the battery will definitely be enough for you. The iPad mini Retina takes about 4-5 hours to charge. With my usage pattern, I charge it about 4 times a week - quite a good result.

How I Use iPad All This Time

Reading articles from the web

iPad mini is a great reading gadget. Books, articles from the Web, RSS - iPad mini Retina copes with all these tasks easily. There are a lot of applications for this in the App Store. I'll tell you which ones I use.

As an RSS reader, I use Digg Reader... I used to prefer Feedly, but Digg seemed more convenient to me. Actually, its functionality is standard - you can subscribe to streams directly in the application, distribute subscriptions to folders, quickly share articles on social networks, or postpone them "for later." This is enough for me.

To keep track of news on topics of interest to me, I use Zite... Unlike Flipboard, it guesses much better with my preferences, although, of course, it loses in design. Once in Zite you add all the topics you are interested in and enjoy the news that comes quickly.

For deferred reading of articles, I use Pocket... Still, nothing better for iOS has yet been invented, despite the fact that Readability and Instapaper are also very good services. But Pocket has 3 bold pluses: it is supported by hundreds of applications, there is an opportunity to “put off for later” not only text articles, but also videos, links. And the third, of course, is the tags. They help categorize all articles and keep the repository tidy.

Books and magazines

On iPad, you can read e-books and magazines without any problems. I would like to emphasize that there are many interactive magazines for the iPad that are made specifically for the tablet. For example, this is how I read Slon.ru and Esquire magazines. Unlike paper versions, they have all kinds of interactive elements: graphics, animations, videos, and in some places even mini-games. If this does not turn everything upside down, it definitely transforms the experience of reading periodicals.

iPad mini Retina is perfect for reading PDF magazines and books. In the vast majority of cases, the font size is quite optimal so as not to squint or zoom in.

But with ordinary e-books, not everything is so simple. I confess that when I bought an iPad mini Retina, I even thought that it could replace my Kindle reader. But this did not happen. E-ink remains for me the best screen format for reading large books. But then who likes what more.

I can't help but remember the dimensions of the iPad mini Retina. On the one hand, the display is taller than the Kindle, which means more content can fit on the screen. But here this difference is not so critical.

But holding the Kindle reader in one hand is much more convenient and this played a decisive role for me. Amazon was able to find the optimal balance between the amount of text on the screen and usability. Not surprising, because for the iPad mini - reading books is only one of the tasks, and for the Kindle - in fact, the only one. But for small editions and iPad mini Retina is quite suitable for itself.

I use Marvin as my e-book reader. It has everything you need to read books in comfort.

Working with text and notes

iPad mini Retina is great for taking short text notes and viewing documents. Also, keep in mind that there are many handwritten note apps for iPad, such as INKredible or Skitch, that can help you jot down ideas at a workshop or educational event.

To work with text, I use Pages, iAWriter and SimpleNote. Despite the difference in functionality, the essence of using these programs on the iPad is absolutely the same for me - to write a small text. To fully work with text on the iPad, I don't have enough nerves, which I'll tell you about below :-)

Time for fun

I took the iPad mini Retina largely with the expectation that it would be my main gadget for games. I must say right away that I made the right decision in my choice, despite the problems with some games.

As I said, the same GTA: San Andreas on iPad mini Retina behaves strangely: the frame rate is low, everything slows down unpleasantly. At the same time, on the iPhone 5, the game practically did not work for me.

But my favorite Modern Combat 4 behaves very well 95% of the time. Even when playing on the network with a large number of players, MD4 practically does not slow down, only occasionally small lags occur. At the same time, the tablet practically does not heat up.

Simple games like Flappy Bird, Dungeon Highway, Angry Birds iPad mini Retina eats up with a bang, which, in general, is quite expected.

Business - an hour

I don't think of tablets as devices for full-fledged work, but despite this, it was still interesting to see the iPad mini Retina in action. At work, I fiddle with texts a lot, constantly check e-mail, social networks, work with the WordPress admin panel.

The miracle did not happen - iPad mini Retina, in my opinion, is completely unsuitable for permanent work. But in order to quickly write a post, correct the text or sketch out a post plan, it is fine.

Firstly, there is a lack of a physical keyboard, with which it is much more convenient to type text. Secondly, there is no normal WordPress iOS application that does not confuse publishing times and accidentally post articles to the site (which has happened to me many times). And thirdly, iOS itself is simply not adapted for such things. On a MacBook, you can simultaneously write text and look at its original English, on the iPad, you constantly switch between applications, and this, again, is discomfort.

This idea was shared by all and sundry, it is trivial and obvious, but it is worth noting once again: iPad mini is an ideal device for consuming content, not for creating it. Although, if you really want to, you can dodge by buying an external keyboard. But that won't solve the software problem.

iPad mini is the perfect device for consuming content, not creating it

Air or mini?

Despite the slight difference in specs, the only big difference between the Air and the mini Retina is the size of the tablet. V You should clearly answer the question - which size is more preferable for you? Because there is practically no difference in the rest of the tablet's capabilities. If you like full-size tablets - take iPad Air, if compact - iPad mini Retina. Our infographic will help you make the right choice.

conclusions

Despite all the disadvantages and disadvantages of iPad mini Retina, I was more than satisfied with my purchase. iPad mini Retina is a pleasant and easy-to-use tablet that in the vast majority of cases copes with its tasks with a bang. Many shortcomings are associated with the unstable operation of iOS 7 itself, which will very soon be corrected in the final version of iOS 7.1.

iPad is still a great device for consuming content and not very suitable for creating content. But as I said above, he is able to solve simple work tasks.

    2 years ago

    Great screen, size, battery, camera, iOS

    2 years ago

    Reliability, stability and lack of brakes, high quality display and perfect operation of all sensors, the speaker sounds good, the battery lasts for a day of almost continuous use, a very large number of accessories and applications, size.

    2 years ago

    Good screen quality, good processor, nice interface, beautiful design

    2 years ago

    Nice design, reasonable size for everyday use outside the home. The battery capacity is enough for me at least 8-9 hours of almost continuous use. Compared with Android tablets, it has a very good sound for a portable device in headphones

    2 years ago

    screen, battery, stability, design

    2 years ago

    Apple is Apple. Nice, ergonomic, insanely bright and clear display. The sound is great, especially when you consider that this is a tablet. Works quickly, practically flies. Good photo quality for a tablet, but it could be better for the money.

    2 years ago

    He is a dignity in itself. Excellent quality screen, pleasant sound, performance at the level. In the test, the antutu scored 35,000, which is important for games. Copes with any task. I don’t use the camera, but we looked for the sake of interest. The photos are even better than those of the top smartphones.

    2 years ago

    Great screen, Beautiful design, Reliability.

    2 years ago

    High ergonomics; - reliable (body - aluminum monolith); - beautiful (perfectly constructed and in design); - powerful; - good battery life; - the screen is beautiful; - the camera is very decent (both for tablets and mobile); - powerful stereo sound. Isn't that enough ?!

    2 years ago

    1) Battery life, enough for a day, sometimes for 2 2) Build quality at a height 3) Design-5 + 4) Nothing lags, does not hang, all animations are smooth and very pleasing to the eye 5) The price tag is quite reasonable

    2 years ago

    early versions of iOS7 experienced sudden reboots

    2 years ago

    limited volume (no support for memory cards), limited capabilities (file transfer, interaction with external media, etc.), after purchasing the iphone 6s, the lack of a touch ID is also a drawback.

    2 years ago

    2 years ago

    In 2013, all refreshed Apple devices received the same processor. And if for the iPhone 5s the performance of the graphics component of the A7 is quite enough, then due to the higher display resolution on the Air and Mini 2, some interface animations lag.
    -I don't understand how the OS developers managed to achieve this in iOS 7, but sometimes any browsers from scratch load pages when switching between two (!) Open tabs, for example, the mobile version of Yandex and the second heavier page. Sometimes it just pisses me off, for example, when you need to copy text from one tab to another.
    This happens even after the device is rebooted. And yes, after the release of iOS 8, almost nothing has changed, and some points even get worse as updates are released.
    Because of all this, h

    2 years ago

    Lack of normal ability to transfer data from other devices. 21 century. To open a book downloaded on a PC, I have to upload it to an icloud or a dropbox, then download it to a tablet. Then also export it to the application. Well, tin!
    Heavy. The hand gets tired if you read in transport.

    2 years ago

    inconvenience with video viewing, conversion, etc.

    2 years ago

    Constantly puts updates and requires a lot of memory for them!
    Inadequate price for functionality.
    Lots of complexities with common stuff like uploading music, videos, photos and even e-books.

    2 years ago

    Is that the price of apple products.
    Memory card is not inserted.

    2 years ago

    Fragility, Inability to transfer data to other devices without iTunes.

    2 years ago

    16 Gb very small amount of memory (depends on your needs);
    - not very convenient file transfer from PC to iPad.

Two years ago, we denied the need for a smaller iPad. And now we consider it to be the best tablet in the world with might and main. As soon as Tim Cook confirmed the exit, I knew that I would definitely buy it. And now he is lying next to him. Is this a good tablet? Definitely. Should you change to this one? No options. True, this is not a perfect device.

Apple employs engineers, not magicians. Pros in new devices are always easy to find: the euphoria and joy of owning a new toy help a lot in this. But getting to the bottom of the real cons in the first few days is almost impossible. I have been using the new iPad mini with Retina display for three weeks and found, in addition to obvious improvements, a few unexpected negative aspects, many of which were not written about in any popular review. Let's fix the situation by starting with ourselves!

For what?

Is the iPad mini with Retina display so bad that a separate article is devoted to its cons? Of course, this is not at all the case. Quite the opposite. I am sincerely, objectively delighted with this tablet: it is very fast, very light, very portable and functional. This is exactly the iPad mini that we secretly wanted when buying the previous model.

But after reading dozens of foreign and a couple of domestic reviews, I was left with mixed feelings: as always, journalists are in a hurry, want to be among the first to shoot a review, and slide into banal praise of the device and free quotation of marketing clichés from apple.com pages. And their readers are already talking about the minuses - on the forums, with angry responses towards the manufacturer. I think this is wrong. So that you are fully armed, I will freely walk roller iPad mini with Retina display. I will make a reservation right away that we will not discuss the advantages in detail.

Battery, charging and battery life

From year to year, Apple puts a charger and cable on its iPads, denying an extra pair of headphones. An interesting point: iPad mini is not equipped with a new one, but with an old 10-watt one. The manufacturer saves, but in practice this changes almost nothing: the tablet is charged for about 5-6 hours from zero to 100%. If you use it regularly and thoroughly, get into the habit of charging the device every two days - and everything will be fine.

The new mini is practically not powered from the USB port, except for the deep sleep mode. Considering that notifications are constantly received there, you will have at most 20-25% for the whole night. Plug it in, there is no other option. I warn you right away: with a capacity of less than 10,000 mA, they barely breathe, being connected to a new tablet. These are the realities of using a new display and much more gluttonous hardware.

When playing resource-intensive things like, the tablet discharges faster than the previous generation mini - mine refuses to live after 5 hours of continuous play. But here it is worth making an important remark: we are talking about the "heaviest" toy for iOS at the moment, which, in terms of processor load, even Infinity Blade III... Toys "lighter" will work in the region of 7-8 hours, and in the "naked" surfing on Wi-Fi without playing video and with low brightness, you can squeeze out of the tablet not even 10, but as much as 11, or even 12 hours of work ... That's more than 99.99% of us need. During the day, you will definitely have the opportunity to find a charger, which means that the iPad simply cannot physically let you down at the right time (hello, iPhone!).

By the way, I'm so used to the long and stable battery life of the iPad that I constantly forget about the helplessness of iPhones in this area. Do not count the calls and important emails that were missed due to the fact that I forgot to turn off 3G and prohibit geolocation. With an iPad, you never need to do this kind of bullshit. Well, if only you want to set records: there are people on Twitter who squeezed 13 hours of continuous work from a tablet. And when to live, eat, sleep? :)

Housing, design and heating

iPad mini with Retina display comes with iPad mini without Retina display. This could have ended. But no, Apple made a reservation that the body became a couple of tenths of a millimeter thicker and several tens of grams heavier. And now everyone wants to know: has he really become fat and terribly heavy, or can he be patient and somehow survive? Well, you understand, a whole tenth of a millimeter is not for you khukhry-mukhry!

No, it is not fat or heavy at all. The difference with the previous iPad mini is felt only when alternately weighing in the hands. And then all this looks more like a statistical error. In general, we immediately discard the weight.


The old cover could not stand the upgrade.

It would seem that in this situation, you can not think about the thickness at all. But no. You may not notice it, but covers and linings will not get off so easily. The new iPad mini does not fit well into the tightly fitted cases for the previous generation, for example, those with hard plastic clips on the sides. If the clamps are weak, then the novelty will not fit there properly at all. And if you are strong, then every time you “undress” you will pray so as not to wrinkle or scratch the sensitive sharpened edges of the tablet.


Not only have the grooves burst, but also the lid is now not fully closed.

Do not take risks with covers: take your tablet with you, go to the store and try on each option before buying. If it fits enchantingly tightly or not to the end - refuse and look for another. Unfortunately, not every manufacturer got it, and many of them willingly say that their old cases are fully compatible with the new iPad mini. In addition to the clamps, pay attention to the cover, if any. The protruding piece of the new tablet, timidly peeking out of the cover for the previous generation mini, is very frustrating: I personally have to look for a new cover for every day to replace the one I already love.

Warmer

The new iPad mini is nearly three to five times more powerful than its predecessor. This could not remain without consequences. Metal is an excellent thermal conductor, making it Apple's favorite material for legendary MacBook cases. Only Apple's mobile gadgets lack heatsinks, let alone coolers. Therefore, only the body plays the role of a cooler. You can probably already guess what I'm getting at.

iPad mini with Retina display may become warm. Strongly. About the same as two years ago - and even a little stronger. For example, the game GTA: San Andreas able to warm up the tablet to an unusual state, when the device is not hot enough to get burned, but already enough to really start to worry. Moreover, the warmth is felt not only on the back panel, but also on the screen: the gadget is relatively small, and there is especially nowhere for the heat to go. Apple knew this very, very well. Why I think so - below.

Performance, throttling and iOS 7

The previous generation iPad mini was a smaller version of the iPad 2 with an outdated processor. Surprisingly, Apple got away with it easily: we explained it by the limitations of the case and heat dissipation, and then we went to the stores in slender rows. In 2013, the trick did not repeat itself: iPad mini with Retina display uses an A7 processor. It also has an A7 processor. And in too. And so a reasonable question arises: why do these devices show different levels of performance not only in synthetic tests, but also in games?

Throttling


Chart from Anandtech's iPad mini review

Every A7 processor is different from every other device - be it the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, or the new iPad mini. Numerous tests of the A7 have shown that each of the three gadgets operates at a different frequency, which changes depending on the load on the processor. It is called Throttling: a programmed limitation of the processor's performance to protect it from overheating. Throttling is implemented in all processors, from full-fledged computer CPUs to mobile ARM. Thanks to throttling, your iPhone and iPad will not be able to overheat and damage from excessive stress. I explain this so that no one "rolls a barrel" onto the technology itself.

Well, Apple's new gadgets - and throttling boundaries - are programmed differently. The iPad Air performs best of all. Under high load, it very smoothly, almost one megahertz at a time, reduces the processor frequency to 1.3 GHz. This is a very small drop that an ordinary user will not be able to notice. Air is partly lucky: it is only provided for in its design.


Chart from the iPad Air review on Anandtech

But the iPhone 5s for real "Freaks out" as soon as it is faced with a resource-intensive task. The processor frequency in "esk" drops sharply from 1.3 GHz to 1 GHz, and then actively jumps up and down, and sometimes drops to 850 MHz - more than a third of the base value. But this is a third of the speed, which disappears into nowhere while your smartphone is cooling down.

If you are sitting in Safari at this moment, all these fluctuations will not be noticeable. But if you play GTA: San Andreas, you will see the moment when throttling is activated. naked eye... The toy will just start to slow down noticeably. The developers did not take into account the fact of throttling, so the engine loads the poor iPhone as if it had all 1.3 GHz. And there is 850 MHz, on the screen - 15 frames per second, and the back panel is slowly turning into a frying pan. In general, throttling greatly changes the balance of power in resource-intensive applications.

The success of these devices is important in comparison. IPad mini with Retina display has the same processor frequency as iPhone 5s. The throttling parameters in it are slightly better than in the iPhone: for example, the drop in performance stops at about 1 GHz, which is already much better. But the main problem remains: as soon as you load a new mini-tablet, it quickly drops a good quarter of its performance in favor of the temperature of the chip. The A7 proved to be significantly hotter than previous chips, and therefore Apple had to make such sacrifices.

iPhone 5s is still more powerful

If the previous moment is interesting primarily to developers, then the next "minus" can be easily understood by any ordinary user. The difference in real, effective video performance between the iPhone 5s and iPad mini is not in favor of the tablet. All thanks to the resource intensity of the new Retina display. After all, the processor in the iPhone 5s runs on a screen with half the resolution of the iPad mini 2013 display. This is partly confirmed by tests of the processing power of the processor:

But only GPU tests show the real difference:

The difference in effective 3D performance is over 30 percent in favor of the iPhone 5s. Lower resolution means less hardware load. And here even an increased throttling threshold cannot change anything.

What does all this mean for each of us? A simple fact: the most beautiful and high-quality games of 2014 will not only work slightly better on the iPhone 5s than on the iPad mini with Retina display, but will also show a better picture. Next time Apple should consider adding more powerful processors to its tablets than the ones that come with the company's miniature smartphones. This has already happened with the iPad 4 and A6x, so why not repeat the trick next year?

Going through the features of the processor, I want to note: everything is not at all as bad as it might seem after reading this section. For all the odd drawbacks, performance is the first reason that should force you to swap out your old iPad mini for a new one. Fact: no mobile game will slow down on this tablet for another year or two. The difference is noticeable to the naked eye: where the old model thinks for six seconds, the new one thinks only for a second or a half. iOS 7 dramatically increased the technical requirements for the device, and the first iPad mini finally ceased to cope with modern workload. Lags and freezes don't exist on the mini with Retina display, except for one and only - those that appear thanks to poorly optimized iOS 7.

iOS 7. Version matters

Very good. Especially her idea. Thanks to the seven, Apple devices have finally found not only a second life, but also a completely new vector of software development, which seemed impossible in the language of skeuomorphism. But let's be honest, just one minute. First, the iOS 7 icons are still ugly. We could get used to it, we could stop paying attention, but this cannot cancel the very fact of the soulless wretchedness of most of the icons of the main, home screen. Secondly, none of these icons and none of the official apps reveal the benefits of the gorgeous iPhone and iPad screens. Where there used to be super-detailed textures, there is now a two-tone gradient and spacious shapes. Finally, the performance of the system itself is often poor.

Thanks to the design nude iOS 7, the difference between the old iPad mini and the new iPad mini isn't nearly as strong as, say, between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 back in the days of iOS 5/6. It, at a glance, is dictated only by the desktop wallpaper - now much more detailed. We'll talk about the screen later. The main thing is that the "old man", that the new product has strange brakes: for example, applications switch with twitching, or close with a lag when using the gesture with five fingers. The A7 processor has nothing to do with it: it's just that iOS 7 is poorly optimized for new hardware, and Apple's system will have to work long and hard.

To really enjoy iPad mini with Retina display, you need to install the latest beta version on it. You cannot do this without registering a UDID, so take care of everything in advance so as not to be left with a brick at a crucial moment. The main plus of iOS 7.1 is ultra-fast, truly smooth animations for the first time, as well as the clearly increased performance of the system itself. After iOS 7.1, the officially available version seems to be hello from Android OS. Unfortunately, there are rumors that it is official, so for now we will have to beg for beta versions.

RAM

A conversation about hardware would not be complete without mentioning RAM. Today, all Apple mobile gadgets are strictly 1 gigabyte of RAM. According to bucket owners, this is very little. According to the owners of iDevices, everyone somehow do not care... The gigabyte limit, which applies to all top-end devices, has a good effect on the optimization of third-party games and applications: developers know what "ceiling" they need to target at least in the next six months. But it is already clear that the system is "suffocating" within the framework of such a large amount of RAM. For example, on iOS 6, the iPad could hold almost 7-10 Safari tabs in memory without requiring them to be reloaded. Today, their number does not exceed 4-5, and sometimes even less (depending on the weight of the opened pages).

When the second iPad mini with Retina display comes out, Apple is excited to announce that the device has more RAM, and we're right! - happily go to the store. Remember this when buying the current mini, and mentally prepare for this, so that later you will not be offended by the guys from Cupertino. They need to earn money.

Retina display. Afterglow, contrast issues - huegate

We were genuinely surprised that the technical specifications of the latest full-size iPad will match those of the mini version. It wasn't exactly Apple style. Somewhere the company had to really save money. Unfortunately, the savings were almost entirely on the Retina display. Chances are you already know: the screen of the new iPad mini is more recognized than that of the recently released iPad Air. The difference is in the depth, variety and contrast of the displayed colors: the new mini is much more passive and colder in color reproduction than the bright, sharp and mesmerizing iPad Air display.

The Russian transcription of the phenomenon sounds peculiar, but in the West this "scandal" was dubbed "Huegate"- by analogy with Antennagate() and Scuffgate(). As an iPad Air owner with a little experience, I can confirm that the colors in the new mini are really not as vibrant as on the large iPads. The range of displayed colors corresponds to that of the very first mini model. Therefore, we can conclude: the Retina screen of the iPad mini differs from the old display by an exceptionally doubled resolution. And nothing else.

There are two options for how to react to this minus. If you have used only a "minicom" last year and did not have a 9.7-inch Retina-iPad at hand, then all these scandals and "gates" do not concern you at all. Any difference is recognized by comparison, and if you compare the new mini with the old, and not with some "fourth" iPad, the previous generation does not have no one real advantage. Just take a new model and don't worry.

If you are still undecided about which model of the new iPad you should take, take a walk to the store and be sure to compare the iPad Air and the new iPad mini. The Air screen will definitely be of better quality in all possible parameters. Except, perhaps, the clarity of the picture: the density of pixels per inch, and hence the detail of the image in the new iPad mini deserves the highest praise.

Differences in color reproduction make you think twice about buying an iPad Air instead of a mini. But remember: whatever the difference in screens, the size of a large iPad still matters. Fact: mini is always more convenient and easier to take with you, carry in one hand, hide in a bag and so on. And the Air, no matter how lightweight and thin it is, still remains 9.7-inch. "Tray", which is not always comfortable to get in a public place. And even more so for them to photograph something. Accordingly, if you are going to take a mini, take a mini. If you were attracted to Air and you were previously happy with full-size iPads - don't waste your time.

Color reproduction aside, the new mini's screen is great. Huge viewing angles and high brightness make the picture incredibly solid, as if reproduced on paper. The old model ceases to be quoted here altogether. Now the small text on the pages of sites does not look like a cluster of blurry pixels, and with a certain skill and good vision, you can read the news on the pages without using the zoom. The sharpness of the picture is unusual for those who have been using the old mini for a long time: I swear, the first few days I continued to see pixels and their clearly delineated boundaries.


Like that.

Here, however, you have to make an unexpected remark. In the second week after buying a new mini, I discovered a strange feature of the new screen, which I had never seen on either iPad or iPhone. If the screen displays a dark picture for a long time, and then suddenly switches to bright, gray and white colors, then the color rendition changes significantly. Gray colors, and especially small text, seem to disappear against a white background, and all other shades become brighter - as if they were "burned out". The essence of the problem is suspiciously reminiscent. Only in the case of MacBooks on all "Internet", but something about mini is silent. Probably everyone is happy: it's better So than no Retina screen at all.

Most often I "caught" this problem in the official client Youtube: after watching a long video with a lot of black, I minimized it from full-screen mode with a gesture - and for 2-3 seconds I hardly saw the description text, comment block, and so on. There is no need to panic: the screen very quickly restores the normal color balance, and it is not so easy to achieve such a strange effect. However, this has never happened in previous Apple mobile devices. Problems with mini displays, which caused Apple to significantly delay the launch of devices on sale, were known back in. It is now evident that these were not just rumors. Have you seen such problems on your devices? Share in the comments.

P.S.

The Retina display makes the iPad mini a modern device, but does not create a rival for the full-size tablet. iPad Air is much better suited for home use: it is more interesting to watch movies and surf the web, because the benefits of a physically larger screen are obvious. But the new iPad mini is a versatile companion in the city and on the road, capable of everything you expect from a tablet. And if you move a lot in life, you are on the way with the "minicom".

I didn't want this article to be filled with negativity. But there are never perfect devices - and therefore, in order to make a truly correct purchase, each of us must know not only the pros, but also the cons. Euphoria is always good, but it tends to fade away, leaving behind purely practical conclusions. Now, when you make a decision and go to the store for iPad mini, you will know for sure that it will not disappoint you in any way. And this is the most important thing.

Roman Yuriev's impressions of the Retina iPad mini

The announcement of the new iPad models is a bit unsettling, to be honest. turned out to be MUCH lighter and significantly more compact than its predecessor, and in terms of power it does not lag behind its larger counterpart. What to choose against the background of the experience of working with two tablets at once - and? Everyone has it its pluses, but I still decided not to procreate entities and use only one new generation tablet, having sold both predecessors.

iPad Air is a larger display, weighing just 120g, more than the second generation iPad mini, plus better color reproduction. In general, from the color rendition of the display of the new iPad mini, and this also added its own confusion to the choice. Nevertheless, 80% of the time I work with iPad mini and it is always with me, there is even a chic shoulder bag for the gadget that the iPad Air does not fit in any way. A severe shortage for a compact new product almost became the reason for purchasing an iPad Air, but I still resisted and got hold of a Retina iPad mini, which I absolutely do not regret. And now, after such a long and dramatic introduction, my first impressions of the new product.

There was no WOW effect, except that I was quite a little excited by 128 GB of flash memory and the ability to throw not only 1.5-gigabyte "rips" of movies, but also HD versions of 4-5 GB, plus all the software and toys that were previously distributed between the two tablets. Still, a big family and everyone has something of their own on the device. Now all this easily fits into 128 GB and there is still a lot of space (about 30 GB, to be exact).

That is, the first feeling is that the new iPad mini is exactly the same as the old one, as if it did not change the tablet. This was the first few days of using the device, when I mostly sat on it in, and watched videos on the train. Although the increased weight of the device was slightly felt, plus the light gray color of the case was unusual.

When I returned home from a business trip (in which I got a new tablet), I started working more closely with the iPad mini. And here I already felt the whole thrill of the gadget. At first, was glad that he took it, and not the iPad Air. The high resolution of the display rules, and in fact, I got the experience when surfing the web (when the clarity of the picture is actually needed) as on the iPad 4 before, but in a more compact package. That is, there is no negative experience in connection with the reduced diagonal of the display.

Secondly without having an iPad Air at hand for direct comparison, I do not see any problems with the color reproduction of the new mini. Gorgeous display and excellent color rendering. I do not understand the hysteria of the people about this. If you are still in the throes of choice over the display, then do not bother yourself with bullshit. Normal LCD in iPad mini.

Thirdly, you begin to understand all the cool from the clarity of the screen only after a few days of heavy use of the device. Watching YouTube videos, reading books in iBooks, toys - the brain is happy, the eyes are dancing in ecstasy. At the same time "stuffed" my old iPad mini for a friend, and somehow there were no negative emotions about the display - everything is fine. That is what it means, high-quality adaptation of OS and software for different resolutions. Once again I took the Retina iPad mini in my hands and again began to rave about it.

Fourth, especially the increased productivity. Faster switching between applications, Safari crashes were no longer repeated (although it can clearly still be, given that the browser "crashes" from time to time on iPhone 5s), editing texts in the WordPress admin area goes like clockwork, finally, the keyboard has stopped slowing down when typing comments in the browser, etc.

I did not find any special heating of the tablet, although I played little games so far.

Thus, do not expect some kind of techno-maniac ecstasy from the transition from the old iPad mini to the new one. Everything will happen everyday, and only after some time will you begin to realize how cool the novelty is. This is how the overall picture of the ideal tablet develops in detail. Yes, the Retina iPad mini is the perfect tablet, in my opinion. This is the gadget I've been waiting for since I met when I realized that 10 inches is a lot for a travel device that you carry with you all the time.

The Retina iPad mini is the ultimate tablet without compromise, with an ultra-sharp display, very powerful hardware and a gorgeous software portfolio. There are no alternatives for travel and everyday lugging with you, IMHO.

Arthur Malosiev's impressions of iPad mini with Retina display

I consider my purchase of the second generation iPad mini one of the most useful in the past year. Its great display and resources are enough to meet all my needs. From past experience, I took exclusively the Wi-Fi version, so as not to produce SIM cards at home, because the iPhone 5s turns into a modem by pressing a button. In my opinion, the real "minicom" turned out to be a good and reliable friend, the power reserve of which will be quite enough for the next couple of years.

If you have already bought a new mini - do not hesitate, tell us about it. Like? How do you use it? Are you going to take the Air in pursuit? Thanks for reading - and Happy Holidays!

site Two years ago, we denied the need for a smaller iPad. And now we consider it to be the best tablet in the world with might and main. As soon as Tim Cook confirmed the release of the new iPad mini, I knew that I would definitely buy it. And now he is lying next to him. Is this a good tablet? Definitely. Should you change the previous mini to this one? No options. True, this is ...

iPad mini- an amazing device. When in 2012 rumors began to creep across the network that in the bowels of the Apple headquarters they were preparing a smaller version of the familiar and beloved ten-inch iPad, fans of the Cupertino technology rudely expressed their opinion, arguing the negative with fragmentation, imitation of the Android camp, impracticality, meaninglessness, and so on. more ... Few of them then could have thought that literally in a year, people would begin to abandon the classic iPad in favor of the iPad mini.

With a good aspect ratio, iPad is better suited for web surfing than widescreen tablets. The smaller version of the iPad turned out to be even more convenient for everyday use and all thanks to the excellent weight and size characteristics and only two significant drawbacks were in the first iPad mini - these are low resolution and the relatively weak A5 processor at the time of release. iPad mini 2 was deprived of these drawbacks and now it is, in my subjective opinion, the best tablet on the market.

Before us is still the same practical device, the design of which has not changed. The only visual difference between iPad Mini Retina and the first generation iPad Mini is color. The silvery-white model remained unchanged, and the black became gray, the color was officially named Space Gray, which in the Russian localization sounds like "milky gray".

What's inside the second generation iPad Mini? Let's talk about everything in order ...

What's new in iPad mini 2 (Retina)

First, let's take a look at the differences between iPad mini 2 and its predecessor.

1. First and foremost, a Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536.
This is exactly the same screen resolution as the ten-inch iPad, so the iPad mini has exactly the same DPI as the iPhone - 326! For a tablet, this is an impressive figure, the image is simply amazing. The display has become brighter, more contrasting, and the colors are even more saturated, the viewing angles are beyond praise, however, as always. It is infinitely pleasant to look at, both at the elements of the iOS interface and programs, and at games, there is no need to talk about fonts at all. It is a pleasure to read the text.

326 PPI. Pixels cannot be seen with the eye

2. Powerful filling.
The new iPad mini is significantly more powerful than the first model. The outdated dual-core A5 processor (the same was in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S) was replaced by the 64-bit A7, with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Judging by synthetic tests, the performance gain is over 400%, and the graphics processing speed has increased to 800%! The power of iPad mini Retina is almost the same as the iPad Air, the only difference in the filling is the understated frequency of the A7 processor by 100 MHz. The tablet also has an M7 coprocessor, its task is to process data on the position of the device in space - gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS.

3. Other changes:

  • the new iPad mini 2 has a quad-core g6430 graphics processor;
  • the amount of RAM has been increased from 512 Mb DDR2 to 1024 Mb DDR3;
  • the tablet has become thicker by 0.3 millimeters;
  • the weight of the Wi-Fi version has been increased from 308 g to 331 g, the weight of the Cellular version has been increased from 312 g to 341 g;
  • the battery capacity has been increased.

IPad Mini 2 (Retina) Specifications

Display IPS 7.9 inches (4: 3), oleophobic coating
Resolution 2048 × 1536 px (326 ppi)
CPU Apple A7 64-bit (2 cores, 28nm) + M7
Frequency 1.3 GHz
GPU PowerVR G6430 (4-core)
Memory 1 GB DRAM DDR3
Storage capacity 16/32/64/128 Gb
Camera iSight 5 Mpx
Full HD video recording 1080p / 30fps, stabilization
Front-camera 1.2 Mpx
720p / 30fps HD video recording
Sensors, modules GPS, Glonass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer

Micro-SIM, digital compass, 1 microphone, hotspot, wireless printing, AirPlay Mirroring

 Battery (working hours)
Music
Video
3G Internet *
Internet LTE *
Internet Wi-Fi
Expectation		 up to 140
to 10
up to 9
up to 9
to 10
up to 744		 6471 mAh
IOS version

Sales

 iOS 7.0

12.11.2013 - Present
Dimensions (mm)
Length
Width
Thickness		 200
134.7
7.5 		331 (341 *) grams
Communication standards GSM / GPRS / EDGE, UMTS / HSUPA / HSDPA (3G) *, CDMA, LTE (4G) *, Wi-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n), Bluetooth 4.0
* - Cellular model

But what about iPad Mini 2 in use?

iPad Mini Retina, like the previous generation tablet, is ergonomic indefinitely. I will add that, being Apple technology lovers for many years now, I have always not been very good at the classic 9.7-inch iPad. I never liked it in many respects, from weight and size characteristics to the visual component. The enormous weight, inconvenient dimensions, the widest frame around the display - everything prevented me from using the large iPad as a portable and practical tablet and it turned more and more into a device for the home, and the tasks that I assigned to it were more and more compensated for by a computer and phones. As a result, the "toy" has practically ceased to be used by me.

In the case of the iPad Mini, the situation is diametrically opposite. The tablet is lightweight and most practical for portable use, it fits into the inner pocket of most jackets, jackets and down jackets even in a case, taking it with you on the road is a pleasure, you can hold it with one hand for a long time, and playing is a special pleasure. Considering the powerful stuffing, I can advise you to choose the iPad Mini Retina for games, rather than the iPad Air, it is really very convenient to play, primarily due to its small size.

As for the battery life, everything is great here, however, as always with Apple. iPad Mini Retina is capable of surviving heavy use of modern games (for example) for up to 7 hours. Of course, this indicator depends on the individual brightness settings and the included modules, but I managed to squeeze out 10 hours in the daily operation mode, where it was mainly web surfing, light games, and mail. There are screenshots on the network that someone managed to torment their iPad Mini 2 at low brightness for 13 hours without recharging. Agree, these are impressive numbers.

Does the iPad Mini Retina have any downsides?

There is, where without them, perfect gadgets do not exist. But the downsides of the second generation iPad Mini are really few.

1. Apple has equipped the latest line of iOS devices with one gigabyte of RAM. The memory has become not only more, it has become even faster, but by today's standards, this is still not so much. In the Android camp, 2Gb RAM is already the norm, if the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air were equipped with the same amount, not many would want to change the gadget in a year, and Apple will happily announce at the end of the year that now regular iPads have twice the RAM more and many of us will run to the store with a smile on our face. Although, on the other hand, the existing filling will be enough for modern games for another couple of years and this is more than enough to not think about the hardware inside the device.

2. Retina display. "How so, because this is his main advantage!" - you say. Quite right, but this display is slightly worse than the iPad Air. The iPad Mini 2 display is inferior in contrast, brightness and color quality, but it wins in image clarity and this is visible to the naked eye. However, this small flaw should not be a reason for hesitating about the purchase, in practice you will notice the difference only when directly comparing the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air, but you can notice a higher clarity and pixel density in the Mini 2 without comparison.

3. iPad Mini Retina comes with a 10-watt power supply, while a 12-watt power supply has been on sale for almost a year and a half. Thanks to this, the charging of the tablet takes a really long time.

4. When playing "heavy" toys for a long time, the Mini 2 body heats up significantly, the large iPad Air is less prone to this problem, thanks to the large aluminum body. In fact, this is a heatsink for a tablet, so it turns out that a smaller heatsink takes less heat from the processor. Moreover, at some point the games may start to slow down, this is because the processor frequency, upon reaching a certain temperature, begins to decrease in order to prevent overheating.

5. Perhaps the last drawback, which can be called temporary. Regarding modern games, on the iPad Mini Retina you can see some jams in them, I will not say that they are very noticeable, but they are. This is due to the fact that not all developers have yet updated their applications for the 64-bit processor architecture, hence the corresponding problems.

It is also worth noting that some users have encountered the problem of a poor-quality display, allegedly distorting the color reproduction the next second after a long display of a black image. I have not encountered this problem, but even if you are "unlucky", you should not get stuck, this is a trifle.

The first generation iPad Mini is still on sale, is it worth saving or is it better to buy an iPad Mini Retina?

You can save a lot and buy the first generation iPad Mini, but you must realize that you are buying obsolete hardware that will not last for several years and soon you will find brakes, both in games and in iOS. If possible, compare the iPad Mini screen of the first and second generation, you will understand that the choice is obvious in favor of the second.

Should you choose iPad Mini 2 (Retina) or iPad Air?

In fact, the question is quite simple. Both tablets are almost identical in power, you won't notice the difference. The 9.7-inch iPad is significantly lighter than the 469 and 478 grams of Wi-Fi and Cellular, respectively. Its bezel has become thinner around the edges. In general, iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air are almost identical tablets, which differ in only three things:
  • price - each iPad Air model is exactly 4000 more expensive than a similar iPad Mini 2;
  • size - iPad Air is significantly larger than Mini 2;
  • Weight - iPad Air is about 140 grams heavier than iPad Mini 2.

IPad performance (single core performance)

IPad performance (multi-core performance)
Source http://www.primatelabs.com/geekbench/

It's simple, if you want a mobile, convenient, productive tablet, then don't hesitate to take the iPad Mini 2 (Retina), if you want a bigger screen, then the iPad Air. For everyday use, iPad Mini 2 will be more convenient, more enjoyable to play, and the image clarity is higher. iPad Air loses a little in mobility and image clarity, but the screen is brighter and has better color reproduction, but still, it is more suitable for home use. The Mini is easier to carry, even if the Air's weight was the same as the iPad Mini, it will still be large and bulky, while the Mini is compact and as practical as possible.

If we go to Wikipedia and see the meaning of the word "Convenience", we will see a detailed definition:

"Convenience - fitness for use, the availability of conditions, opportunities for easy, pleasant, non-burdensome use of something or the satisfaction of any needs, needs."

And for the iPad Mini 2, these words are more applicable than for the iPad Air. Air is the same, only more, from here it and its disadvantages, if this is a plus for you - take the iPad Air.

Join us in

The first generation of iPad mini tablets (a1455, a1454) caused a mixed reaction. The question immediately arose whether the small iPad could cope with all the tasks set for advanced users.

The device not only coped technically and functionally, but also became more convenient to use due to the small 8-inch diagonal. The second generation has pleased at times. The mini 2 version (a1490, a1489) with Retina display and updated hardware shocked everyone.

Specifications of the updated Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet

The diagonal of the IPS-screen of the new model remains the same, but the resolution has significantly increased - from 1024 by 768 to 2048 by 1536 pixels. These figures are much higher than the iPad Air. At the same time, the cost of the 2013 model year is more affordable. Several modification options are presented. You can choose a model with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular, in white or trendy Space Gray colors. As for memory, there are 128, 64, 32 and 16 GB available.

One of the features of Apple is the ability to create a unique design of equipment. Externally, the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet turned out to be ergonomic and incredibly convenient to use. Due to its reduced body size and 7.9-inch diagonal, the model was a huge success. The tablet of the 2nd generation does not differ much from the previous modification, but the thickness of the case has increased by 0.3 mm, the weight - by 30 g. This is due to the increase in the battery, which makes the device more powerful. Autonomy of continuous work reaches 9 hours without additional recharging.

Changed in the tablet and the shade from silver-white Black & Slate to a lighter - Space Gray and Silver. The updated black tint presented on the display side is less prone to chipping in the chamfer area. Another difference is the presence of a second microphone on the back of the case, which helps to reduce noise.

The frontal area of ​​the iPad Mini 2 Retina tablet is equipped with an integrated capacitive sensor and is covered with a protective glass. Above there is a 1.3 megapixel front camera, which has a light sensor, which is reflected in improving the quality of images. The Home key is located in the lower part, but the side zones are made with minimal edging, which allows you to comfortably hold the device in one hand.

As for the technical characteristics, they have been significantly changed, which is good news:

  • 2-core Apple A7 processor with a clock speed of 1.3 GHz;
  • PowerVR G6430 graphics;
  • 326 PPI Multi-Touch display, 2x the previous model;
  • IPS technology and bright LED backlighting;
  • RAM 1 GB and built-in 128Gb, ​​64Gb, 32Gb or 16Gb, depending on the selected modification;
  • main camera iSight F / 2.4 with a resolution of 5 megapixels and front FaceTime - with 1.3 megapixels;
  • five-element lens with ƒ / 2.4 aperture;
  • convenient focus and exposure control when shooting with just one touch;
  • panoramic shooting, HDR photos and their binding to the shooting location;
  • availability of autofocus, face recognition function, video recording in HD1080p format;
  • data transfer using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi + Cellular, depending on the model;
  • additional features in the form of a three-axis gyroscope, ambient light sensor, accelerometer;
  • oleophobic coating that eliminates the appearance of fingerprints.

Apple iPad Mini 2 Retina features an improved 64-bit A7 processor with M7 motion coprocessor, which is powerful enough for everyday productivity. Even in multitasking mode, the graphics are displayed in high quality resolution.

Also a plus in a large viewing angle, which allows you to use the device from any angle, and a reliable motherboard. The package includes instructions, a charger and a cable with a proprietary Lightning connector. Activation is carried out by connecting to a PC and launching iTunes.

Full review of the iPad mini 2 tablet video

iOS -improved OS for modern devices

Apple iPad Mini 2 Retina features iOS 7 with new design and features. Since the model was released in 2013, and Apple has not stood still, there are new iOS options that are available for the tablet in question. Each user can upgrade to iOS 11.2.6.

To understand what is the difference between OS, you need to consider their features:

  • iOS 7. Features a significantly redesigned and improved user interface. It has interesting fonts, new layers and icons that are understandable at an intuitive level, a decrease in the number of skeuomorphic elements. The action center is managed from top to bottom. It provides parameters such as display brightness, multimedia, airplane mode, quick access to applications. There is also background application refresh, smart search, the ability to switch the camera in 4 modes and use 9 filters. In the music section, iTunes Radio appeared, providing streaming audio playback.
  • iOS 8. The next OS version after 7 is presented with the new Health application, which allows you to measure health indicators, as well as with the integrated Shazam interface, which allows you to search for the music you want using Siri. Also updates are seen in the interface design. There are: new possibilities for editing photos, the ability to send photos, audio, only captured videos and a map with the location in dialogs, the ability to store various files in the cloud, install widgets from third-party developers, change the standard keyboard and much more.
  • iOS 9. It was introduced in September 2015. It now has the ability to plot a route taking into account public transport in several cities in America and Europe, added search by settings, the "News" application. The interface has completely changed, PassBook has changed its name to Wallet, there is a new San Francisco font, an energy saving function and other features.
  • iOS 10. The changes affected several areas at once. Apple News, Home, Maps, Photos, and Apple Music have been completely redesigned. Siri now has the ability to integrate third-party SiriKit apps. It is also now possible to send money using iMessage. A built-in extension store has been added, allowing you to update stickers, games, and various applications.
  • iOS 11. The latest OS available for update is one of the most advanced in the world, allowing the tablet to surpass all possible functions. It opens up more possibilities for applications and games, making them as real as possible. Also, there are more functions necessary for work and study. All documents are collected in the new application "Files". The Dock allows you to conveniently organize all your open tabs for the best multitasking experience.

The Apple iPad mini 2 Retina, like any Apple device, cannot be downgraded or downgraded. For each device, only the latest presented firmware is available, with all the necessary updates. The presence of the Jailbreak function in the improved OS allows you to further expand the capabilities of the device, regardless of the configuration, in what year it was released and how many inches its screen.

Enhanced Tablet Battery

The 2nd generation model has a more powerful battery - a 23.8 Wh battery, which provides up to 10 hours of operation with active use of the device. Its capacity has increased by 7.3 Wh. This is because the Retina display is more power hungry. The increased battery is reflected in the thickness of the case, but not significantly. According to the test results, 1 charge was enough for 8 hours of continuous use and 11 hours in standby mode, which corresponds to the indicators declared by the manufacturer.

Differences between Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Cellular iPad mini 2

The iPad Mini 2 Retina tablet is presented in two versions regarding data transfer Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular. The second option is suitable for those who are constantly located at a distance from the available Wi-Fi module. Such a device opens access to the Internet via mobile communications. It has an additional slot for a SIM card, the rest of the models do not differ.

Tablets that have a SIM card are not tied to points and provide Internet connection in almost any place where there is a 3G or 4G (LTE) mobile coverage area. At any time, the signal transmission mode from the operator can be changed to a Wi-Fi connection.

The comparison table shows the main differences between iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Cellular:

Wi-Fi Cellular Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.0 technology Bluetooth 4.0 technology
Wi-Fi (802.11a / b / g / n); dual bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and MIMO
Multiple Access System: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz) –
Mobile data transmission technology: GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz –
Geolocation services: Wi-Fi, Digital compass, Assisted GPS and GLONASS, cellular Location Services: Wi-Fi, Digital Compass
Cellular technologies: UMTS / HSPA / HSUPA / DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) –
Data transfer speed in the range from 1 to 26 Mb / s, depending on the terrain conditions –

The Cellular model with a SIM card will cost more, besides, you will need to pay the set amount of the tariff every month, but at the same time access to the Internet will always be uninterrupted regardless of location.

Retina display features

The main feature of the 2nd generation iPad mini is the new Retina display with increased resolution. Since the release of the previous version, Apple has been busy developing the screen, which has paid off. The features of the updated display include:

  • the front of the display module is made of scratch-resistant glass;
  • anti-glare filter that reduces the brightness of the reflection;
  • the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the glass, which allows replacing the glass in case of damage to the outer part without additional problems;
  • on the outer part of the constantly exploited area, an oleophobic - grease-repellent coating is provided that excludes the appearance of stains from fingerprints;
  • the pixel density of 324 ppi completely eliminates any signs of pixelation in the picture;
  • the brightness reaches 407 cd / m2, and the contrast ratio is 900: 1, which is higher than the first generation iPad mini;
  • due to the anti-reflective coating, the loss of contrast in daylight and external light is excluded;
  • automatic brightness control by light sensor;
  • good viewing angles without the effect of inversion and color shift.

The ultra-sensitive sensor reacts quickly to touch. All midtones are displayed with good brightness, and there is also sufficient detail. In general, the display has been significantly improved due to high resolution, increased brightness and additional functions, despite the small diagonal.

Features of replacing glass (touchscreen) on iPad mini 2 Retina

Due to the well-thought-out design of the display, glass replacement can be carried out in the event of damage. The front part of the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina tablet can be subject to splitting and cracking when dropped from a height and strong impacts. For specialists, the glass replacement procedure will not be a problem, but it is one of the most costly, since it is necessary to choose a high quality module that will be original.

One of the advantages of the model is the collapsible display design. In the previously released version, it was solid, which created significant difficulties in recovering the screen. With the help of modern equipment, damaged glass can be easily replaced.

Why can't my computer see iPad mini 2?

Often, users are faced with the fact that the PC or laptop does not recognize the tablet. The problem may be hidden in software failures or in the failure of some parts of the device. Make sure you have the latest software installed. After updates, you need to close iTunes and turn off the power, then restart the Apple Mobile Device service. After rebooting, you need to open iTunes and make a new connection. If the problem is not resolved, perhaps the reasons are as follows:

  • check the integrity of the cable, most often it is he who fails;
  • if, when replacing the cable, the device still does not recognize the device, the cause of the problem may be a malfunction of the USB connector;
  • if the connector shows signs of corrosion and damage, it may need to be replaced;
  • also malfunctions may appear if the connector loop is faulty;
  • the lack of recognition of the tablet can also be observed if the power controller chip is damaged.

If, after checking all the settings and visual inspection, no irregularities are found, it is necessary to contact a specialist, it is likely that repairs will be required.

If you forgot your password from iPad mini 2 how to unlock your device

If the password is entered incorrectly on the tablet after 6 attempts, it will be automatically locked. It is very important to have a backup. If it is missing, it will be impossible to restore the data, since you will have to erase all previously downloaded information and settings. There are several unlocking options: iTunes, iCloud, recovery mode, Pinfinderv, and factory reset. Each option is discussed in more detail in the video.

IPad mini 2 password recovery video

Unlock iPad mini 2 video

How to speed up iPad mini 2?

There are several ways to improve the performance of the "apple" tablet. Program slowdowns are often associated with newer versions of iOS. To make the device faster, you can carry out the following manipulations:

  • give time for new software to update;
  • reduce background transparency and movement of icons on the desktop
  • disable background app refresh;
  • free up storage space;
  • restart iPad .

How to restart iPad mini 2

To restart the tablet, you need to simultaneously press and hold the power key and the Home button. Wait until the display turns white and the Apple logo appears. You can also use the standard off and on option.

How to take a screenshot on iPad mini 2?

Another popular question is how to take a picture of the tablet screen. To do this, just press the Home key and the off key at the same time. It is necessary to correctly calculate the simultaneity of operations in order to avoid disconnecting equipment or closing the application.

Cost and user reviews

How much does a practical tablet cost? The starting price of the Apple iPad mini 2 Retina with 16GB Wi-Fi was $ 329, 32GB - $ 429, 64GB - $ 529.

As for the modifications with Wi-Fi + Cellular: 16GB - $ 459, 32GB - $ 559, 64GB - $ 659. Naturally, after 5 years since the release of the tablet, prices have dropped significantly. A model with 64 GB of Wi-Fi + Cellular memory now costs about 26 thousand rubles in 2018, 16 GB - about 20 thousand rubles.

In terms of reviews, the average score reaches 4 out of 5 points. Many people note the device's high performance, high quality display and perfect sensor performance. Compact size, wide range of applications and programs make the device indispensable for everyday use. Good battery autonomy allows you to make the most of your tablet throughout the day. Powerful sound and good quality of shooting were also noted.