What is the retina of the ipad mini. iPad mini with Retina display. Books and magazines

The leader among compact tablets

With a slight delay after the start of global sales of the iPad Air, the second new Apple product presented on October 22 - the iPad mini with Retina display - became available to customers. Being, perhaps, one of the most anticipated devices of this year, the iPad mini went on sale in Russia at the same time as the whole world, which is very rare. True, the official online store indicates a delivery time of 2-3 weeks, but this did not stop us from quickly getting hold of the new product for testing.

Because everything general information iPad mini with Retina display has already been discussed in the report from the Apple presentation, we will not repeat it. Let us just note that this is the first iPad update mini, and what’s more important is that Apple not only updated the “internals” of the device, but also equipped it with a screen of a fundamentally higher level.

• Apple A7 SoC @1.3 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8)
• GPU PowerVR G6430
• Apple M7 motion coprocessor including accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
• RAM 1 GB
• Flash memory from 16 to 128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 7.0
• Touch display IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video via FaceTime) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
• Cellular (optional): UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 24.3 Wh
• A-GPS (version with cellular module)
• Dimensions 200×134.7×7.5 mm
• Weight 331 g (our measurement)

Let's compare the iPad mini Retina to its main competitor, the 2013 Google Nexus 7, as well as the first-generation iPad mini and iPad Air.

*according to manufacturer information
** the weight of the version with a cellular module is indicated
*** the weight of the version without cellular module is indicated
**** for version with 16 GB flash memory and without cellular module

It is clearly seen that the iPad mini Retina is identical to the iPad Air in almost all characteristics (except for dimensions). And this is incredibly cool, because the first generation iPad mini, released simultaneously with the iPad 4, had the same characteristics as the iPad 2. That is, now the iPad mini line has made a leap through two generations!

As for the comparison with Google Nexus 7, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from the data presented in the table. However, it is significant that Google's tablet is slightly lighter and more compact than the iPad mini Retina. But at the same time it has a smaller screen and a plastic body.

Interestingly, despite the appearance of the new iPad mini, the previous model also remains in the company’s lineup, and its cost starts from 12 thousand rubles (which is 4 thousand less than the iPad mini Retina). In our article we will also try to answer the question of how much the difference between the two iPad minis is adequate to the amount of 4,000 rubles and how relevant the first iPad mini is today.

Packaging and equipment

The packaging of the iPad mini Retina is practically no different from the packaging of the previous generation tablet.

As for the packaging, everything here is also similar to the first iPad mini: leaflets, Charger(5.1 V 2.1 A), lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle (in the version with a cellular module).

Design

If the update of the large iPad affected, first of all, the design, then the appearance of the iPad mini remained practically unchanged.

The all-metal body (made of anodized aluminum) pleases with both appearance and functionality, and the frames around the screen even today, a year after the release of the first iPad mini, seem quite thin.

All buttons are metal and can be pressed with little effort. Their location is similar to the previous model. Top right - Power button, top left - 3.5 mm headphone jack. At the top center is the hole for the built-in microphone. On the right side there is a screen auto-rotate lock lever and a volume rocker.

On the model with a cellular module, there is a plastic insert at the top that hides the antenna. It, of course, somewhat spoils the overall appearance, but does not dampen the signal.

The main difference between the new iPad mini and the old one is the increased weight (by more than 20 grams) and thickness (by 0.3 mm). Visually they are the same. In the photo above there are two iPad minis different generations. But if the difference in thickness is really not visible, then the changed mass is already noticeable. However, this is quite acceptable, and these changes do not have a fundamental impact on the user experience.

Screen

The main feature of the new iPad mini is its Retina display with a resolution of 2048x1536. When testing the first iPad mini, which had a resolution of 1024x768, we noted the lack of a Retina display as its main disadvantage. And now Apple has solved the problem. True, today you won’t surprise anyone with screens with such a density of dots per inch, so other characteristics come to the fore, which, as a rule, are not indicated in official technical specifications and are revealed only through careful testing.

A detailed examination of the new Retina screen was carried out by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, approximately equal in reducing the brightness of the reflection to the screen filter of the Google Nexus 7 2013 (we will compare it with it below). For clarity, here are photographs in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off tablet screens (from left to right: Nexus 7, iPad mini with Retina display and old iPad mini):

Visually, the brightness of the reflection is difficult to assess due to differences in color tone and frame color, but statistics from graphic editor shows that the screen on the new iPad mini is slightly lighter (average brightness value of 95) than the Nexus 7 (83), and darker than old iPad mini (108).

The reflection in the screen triples, which suggests the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the outer glass. From the point of view of image perception, this is a minus, but the screen with separate outer glass (aka Touchpad) is easier and cheaper to repair. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 410 cd/m², and the minimum was 8 cd/m². The maximum value is quite high, and, given the good anti-glare properties of the screen, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front camera eye). In this case, the brightness can only automatically increase - when the level of external illumination decreases, we did not wait for a corresponding decrease in screen brightness. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with external conditions. The minimum and average levels in Auto mode depend on the initial position of the brightness adjustment slider. So, when the slider is set to maximum, automatic adjustment does not work - the brightness remains maximum regardless of external conditions. If the slider is approximately in the middle of the scale, then in bright light (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) the maximum brightness is 410 cd/m², in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux ) - 200 cd/m² (normal), in the dark - 150 cd/m² (too much). If the slider is at a minimum, then under the above conditions the values ​​are as follows: 410, 70, 8 cd/m². Thus, this function It works adequately at some average and slightly below average brightness adjustment positions. At the extreme initial positions of the slider, the brightness is either always maximum, or decreases too much in the dark. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

IN this tablet An IPS type matrix is ​​used. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 (pictured above) and the new iPad mini (bottom), with the brightness of both screens set to approximately 200 cd/m². Picture perpendicular to the screens:

And a white field under the same conditions:

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both tablets.

And a white field at an angle:

The brightness at an angle for both tablets decreased equally (about four times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the color tone did not change much.

When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a red-violet tint or remains almost neutral gray. A photo from the Nexus 7 shows this for comparison (the brightness of both tablets is the same!):

And along the other diagonal:

It can be seen that the new iPad mini has a different color tone of the black field depending on the diagonal, but its brightness is the same or slightly lower than the black brightness of the Nexus 7 at the same angle.

When viewed from a perpendicular perspective, the uniformity of the black field is very good, since in fact only along one edge one can see some hints of areas with increased brightness of the black field:

The Google Nexus 7's black uniformity is worse, but it has better black depth in the center of the screen. Indeed, the contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) of the new iPad mini is not the highest - about 790:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 22 ms (13 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the approximating indicator power function the result was 2.22, which is not significantly higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power law:

The color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix’s light filters mix the components with each other, and the spectra confirm this. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority) have a slightly reduced saturation. You can't tell from the photos above, as the camera slightly increases the color saturation.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is very good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (delta E) is significantly less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and delta E is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

The range of brightness adjustment for the iPad mini Retina screen is quite wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a sunny summer day outside and in complete darkness. There is automatic brightness adjustment, and it works more or less adequately, but only up, which will force the user to either set the brightness manually, or force the brightness to decrease, putting the tablet into sleep mode and turning it back on. However, all Apple tablet users are probably already accustomed to this feature. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, a standard gamma curve, very good color balance and excellent black stability to gaze deviation from perpendicular to the screen surface, as well as excellent black field uniformity. It was strange to discover that the color gamut is still less than sRGB, but this tablet must have at least one drawback!..

Partially software The iPad mini Retina has nothing fundamentally new except for the fact that it is sold with iOS 7 pre-installed, while the previous model left the factories with iOS 6. But it can also be updated to iOS 7. Note also that iPad mini Retina users have access to free popular Apple apps- Pages, Numbers, Keynote and GarageBand.

Performance

Like the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, the iPad mini Retina runs on Apple's new A7 SoC. In the articles on the links provided, we talked in detail about this SoC, so we won’t repeat ourselves and go straight to the tests. We were also interested in what the difference is between the two iPad minis with iOS 7.0.4 installed on both devices. That is why the test results below may differ from the results that were published in the article about the first iPad mini, since the benchmarks have since been updated and a new version of the OS has been released.

Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark and Kraken Benchmark. In all cases, on Apple devices we used Safari browser from iOS 7, and on Android - Google Chrome.

The results are interesting. The new iPad mini is about four (!!!) times faster than the first generation iPad mini, but at the same time is slightly behind the iPad Air, although it runs on the same SoC. It can be assumed that the SoC in the iPad mini Retina regulates the energy saving process a little differently and, for certain tasks, slightly reduces the CPU frequency. But, we emphasize, this is only an assumption. But the main Android competitors remained far behind the iPad mini Retina (although, of course, they overtook the first iPad mini).

In Geekbench 3 - a multi-platform benchmark that measures CPU and RAM performance - the situation repeated itself.

The layout is the same as in browser tests. And this indicates that the results are indeed correct.

Now let's look at the GPU performance. There are two multi-platform benchmarks available here: GFXBench (formerly GLBenchmark 2.7) and 3DMark. Let's start with the GFXBench results.

And again we see the same picture, with the only difference that now the results of both devices on the Apple A7 are exactly identical.

Here again you can see a slight loss of the iPad mini Retina to its older comrade. But what's more striking is the difference between the two generations of iPad mini. I can’t believe that these devices are only one year apart! However, the gap from Android tablets is also significant.

Thus, the iPad mini with Retina display is the most productive modern tablet in the mid-price segment. If you love playing 3D games and want a device that can be updated to a new version at least twice operating system, you can safely buy an iPad mini Retina. But the previous generation iPad mini is no longer relevant today, since for the same money (about 12 thousand rubles) you can buy a much more productive Android tablet with a Full HD screen.

Autonomous operation

If we knew the approximate level of performance in advance (since we had already tested solutions on the Apple A7 SoC), then the situation with autonomous operation created a real intrigue. After all, now the device needs to display an image with twice the higher resolution, but the body dimensions remain the same, so the battery cannot be greatly increased. This raised natural concerns that in terms of duration battery life the new iPad mini will be inferior to its predecessor.

However, as tests showed, these fears were in vain. The battery life not only did not decrease, but even increased slightly. Here, however, it is worth making a reservation that for this comparison we tested the first generation iPad mini on latest version operating system - iOS 7.0.4. It is possible that on the original iOS 6 with which it was released, the result would have been a little better. But even in the current version, this is a decent operating time - for both iPad minis.

The results are presented in the table.

Interestingly, the sensational result of the 2013 Google Nexus 7, obtained in reading mode, could not be surpassed by the new iPad mini. In general, all other devices are like the Moon. But in the other two modes, the iPad mini Retina outperforms both Android competitors.

We also note that under load, the new iPad mini heats up more than its predecessor, in which the heating is almost not felt.

Camera

iPad Air is equipped with two cameras - front with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and rear with a resolution of 5 megapixels, similar to the cameras of the first iPad mini and iPad Air. Since the iPad mini is much more suitable for shooting than the larger iPad, we decided to do a full test using our smartphone camera testing methodology, and at the same time compare the new product in terms of camera quality with the first generation iPad mini and iPad Air. Photography and commentary were done by Anton Soloviev.

iPad mini Retina
Good dynamic range and well-processed noise.
The sharpness is not bad, but the lack of any stabilization noticeably affects it.
The sharpness is quite good; if you wish, you can make out the license plate of the nearest car.
There is noticeable blur in the corners of the frame, although the upper central part is quite sharp.
The number plate of the nearest car is clearly visible.
At shorter shutter speeds the situation improves noticeably. Sharpness is uniform across almost the entire frame.
In such scenes, the camera chooses exposure well.
The camera is relatively good at macro photography in low light.

We can say that the shooting quality of the iPad mini Retina camera has not changed noticeably compared to the iPad mini. Minor improvements have only been made to noise processing: the algorithm for the noise reduction has remained almost unchanged, but visually its work has become softer, and due to this, small details are better processed in the pictures. However, the camera is still afraid of noise and tries to work at minimum photosensitivity values, compensating for exposure at the expense of shutter speed, so in low light there is a high probability of blur due to relatively long shutter speeds. As it turns out, relatively long shutter speeds in this case are values ​​from 1/40 of a second and higher, since the iPad mini Retina camera does not have any stabilization system. For example, almost all of the above photographs were taken under identical conditions, each in triplicate, and in almost all cases, two out of three photographs were blurred.

Lighting

As can be seen from the graph, in terms of relative resolution, the iPad mini Retina camera is not so far behind the iPad mini camera and has almost caught up with the iPad Air camera. However, after a detailed examination of the photos of the stand, it becomes clear that the iPad mini Retina is still a significant step forward compared to the iPad mini. It's also worth noting that the camera's angle of view has become slightly smaller, despite the same nominal focal length indicated in EXIF. Even though the camera hasn't changed much, it now looks refined. There are still some points that I would like to improve, but these are, rather, purely software limitations.

Among the characteristic features of the camera, we can highlight good noise reduction, good and fairly uniform sharpness across the plans and across the field, and a reasonable choice of exposure.

Overall, the camera's image quality is decent, especially for a tablet, despite the low resolution. The camera probably has no obvious shortcomings, but the lack of a flash significantly limits its scope of use. However, it is quite suitable for artistic or documentary photography in appropriate lighting.

conclusions

The previous iPad mini evoked mixed emotions: the form factor seemed interesting (the screen is larger than 7 inches, but the body can be grasped with one hand in a vertical orientation), but the low resolution of the display spoiled the whole impression. This was especially noticeable if you were using a larger iPad with a Retina display. After that, working with the iPad mini was simply physically uncomfortable.

And now Apple has released a second one iPad version mini - and here it not only corrected the situation with screen resolution, but also radically increased the performance of the device. The price remained quite attractive, and the battery life and dimensions remained virtually unchanged.

Thus, the choice is no longer between “big and modern device" and "compact but outdated." Now you have to choose exclusively between two screen diagonals and, accordingly, the dimensions of the tablet (which, however, does not affect the thickness). If you prefer a more compact format, plan to regularly take the tablet with you on trips, or use it in transport, then you can safely take the iPad mini Retina. It is a little more expensive than Android tablets of a similar form factor, but it is significantly better in performance.

In our opinion, the more likely competitors of the iPad mini Retina are not even compact form factor tablets, but tablet phones - Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, etc. In terms of performance, they are approximately on the same level as the iPad mini Retina, in terms of screen quality they are not inferior to it (and even superior in terms of pixel density per inch), but they can be used both as a tablet and as a smartphone. True, the cost of top-end tablet phones is significantly higher than that of the iPad mini, but the screen is still smaller. Therefore, the Apple product has its own specific niche, different from both tablet phones and compact Android tablets.

Overall, we definitely recommend purchasing the iPad mini with Retina display, unless you have already bought an iPad Air (or are not planning to do so). But the first generation iPad mini seems to us to be an acceptable option only if the buyer wants to get an Apple tablet as cheaply as possible, and the rest doesn’t matter. If possible, then, of course, it’s worth paying an additional 4,000 rubles and getting a fundamentally more modern device. And, by the way, owners of the first generation iPad mini can also safely go to stores for a new iPad mini, if their financial capabilities allow it. The update will not be superfluous at all.

At the end of the article, we bring to your attention our video review Apple tablet iPad mini with Retina display:

iPad mini with Retina display

Small miracle.

The iPad mini is great, no matter how you look at it. And the stunning Retina display is just the beginning. iPad mini with Retina display new processor A7, advanced wireless technologies And powerful applications, built into iOS 7. You now have more options than you ever imagined. It looks like the iPad Air in every way. Except for the ultra-portable design that fits easily in one hand.

7.9-inch Retina display.

Four times more pixels.

Same size.

Now iPad mini looks even more brilliant in your hand. The Retina display has over 3.1 million pixels, which is one million more than an HDTV screen. It has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, which is four times that of the previous generation iPad mini. The pixels are so close that they cannot be distinguished by the eye. So videos, photos and text all look incredibly clear. After all, the best pixels are those that are not visible.

Thin and light body.

Filled with lots of technology.

And still fits in one hand.

IN new iPad mini comes with many great new features. Stunning Retina display, incredible powerful processor A7, advanced wireless technology and much more. But it is still the same “mini”: thin and light. Its thickness is only 0.74 cm, and its weight is less than a third of a kilogram. You have even more options at your fingertips, but you won't feel the slightest increase in weight.

Incredible performance.

The Mini is getting more powerful.

The new Apple-designed A7 processor brings desktop-class 64-bit architecture to iPad. This means its processor is up to 4x faster and its graphics performance is up to 8x faster to get the job done. And you still have up to 10 hours on a single charge - for studying, working, gaming, creating and whatever else you love.

A7 processor

The A7 processor takes iPad to new heights of power and speed. The A7 processor makes apps run faster. Game responsiveness improves. Everything about the iPad mini feels faster. Because he really got faster. Up to four times faster, to be exact. But that is not all. It supports the OpenGL ES standard version 3.0 - this provides detailed graphics and visual effects, previously only available on desktop computers and game consoles. And the 64-bit architecture of the A7 processor opens the door to even more complex and powerful applications. This means you have even more options with iPad mini.

M7 Motion Coprocessor

iPad mini is designed for a dynamic life. This is why the M7 coprocessor is so important. It measures the movement of your iPad mini by getting data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. Therefore, many applications become even more realistic. The A7 processor could also perform this task. But the M7 handles it more efficiently and saves energy.

Still a long-lasting battery

iPad mini is designed to be powerful yet energy efficient. Although it's up to four times faster than the previous generation iPad mini, it still lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge.1 That's because the A7 is not only powerful, but also efficient processor. Wherever you go with iPad mini, you'll always have enough battery to go further.

Advanced wireless technologies.

Strengthen connections everywhere.

Your favorite app, book or movie. Your FaceTime conversation or iMessage. With super high speed wireless communication Everything you love is always close to you on iPad mini. It's easier than ever to stay informed and connected.

Superfast Wi-Fi

On iPad mini, Wi-Fi connection speeds are up to two times faster thanks to two antennas and MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) technology. WITH Wi-Fi connection 802.11n in two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and MIMO support, download speeds can reach 300 Mbps - twice as fast as the previous generation iPad mini. Now, whenever you want to download a movie, send documents or photos via AirDrop, or simply open a website, the connection will be even faster.

More ranges

iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular lets you connect to the Internet even where there isn't Wi-Fi signal. iPad mini supports even more bands and even more cellular data networks around the world.2 Now, in most places, you can connect truly high speeds- in some cases higher than with a broadband connection. And thanks to flexible tariff plans you don't need to sign a long-term contract.

Great apps for free.

Ready for work and rest.

iPad mini is the perfect everyday companion. Because it comes preloaded with apps that will make your daily tasks—like checking your email or calling your parents on FaceTime—a pleasure. And now you can download iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for free on iPad mini.3 You can write a great novel, create a great presentation, and score your home movie—right on iPad mini. All these applications are optimized for 64-bit architecture. That's why they work quickly and smoothly, giving you even more features on iPad mini. From the moment you turned it on.

FaceTime and iSight cameras.

Even more reasons to smile.

FaceTime HD camera

Sometimes you want to talk face to face. FaceTime video calls on iPad mini make your communication even better. Start a video call by Wi-Fi networks or cellular network- and share everything on a stunning display.4 The FaceTime HD camera now features the latest light sensor with more pixels. It brightens up all your FaceTime conversations, self-portraits, and group Photo Booth shots—even in low light.

5MP iSight camera

Dual microphones

iPad mini hears which side you're talking from. After all, he has two microphones. They don't just capture more sound - they work together to capture better quality sound and suppress sound from sources you don't point them at. This way, you can hear your FaceTime callers better due to the lack of background noise. And the sound on video recordings becomes even clearer.

iPad mini and iOS 7.

Together they reveal their best sides.

iOS 7 is designed for iPad mini, so it looks and performs great. iOS 7 comes with great new features like improved multitasking, AirDrop, and Control Center. It will be easier and more pleasant for you to deal with them. everyday affairs. Everything you love about iOS. With improvements you'll love even more.

iCloud.

All that is needed.

Wherever you need it.

iCloud syncs content across all your devices - automatically. The service is integrated with your devices, so you can create a document in Pages on your Mac and then edit it on your iPad mini. Photos you take on iPhone appear instantly on your iPad mini thanks to Public access to iCloud photos. Or start watching a movie on iPad mini on the train and pick up where you left off at home on Apple TV.

The first iPad mini was introduced in the fall of 2012 and became a very popular device. You can blame Apple for following the lead of the market, but no one can deny the success of the iPad mini. Millions of customers have chosen the iPad mini with their wallets, 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 mini deterred many from purchasing it (including me). Now the iPad mini with a Retina screen is available for sale and I just couldn’t help but buy it for myself. Did the iPad mini with Retina display live up to my expectations and should you buy one for yourself?

Model selection

I already had experience using 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 text in landscape orientation of the screen was uncomfortable for me, and carrying a piece of hardware weighing 700 grams in my bag, with the help of which I can’t even fully work with text in some way. I'm just tired of it at the moment. And I sold the iPad 2.

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

I didn’t buy the first iPad mini due to the lack of a Retina screen, and the hardware on it was far from the latest at that time. Therefore, I waited for the second generation iPad mini, which, from the point of view of hardware and screen, “on paper” completely suited me.

I chose the iPad mini with Retina display in Space Gray and 16GB of storage without cellular. Still, while most of our country (including my city) still doesn’t have 4G, I don’t see much point in buying an iPad mini with a cellular module. A Wi-Fi points now it’s more than enough, 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 I want to watch or listen to something, I prefer to do it using online services.

Purchase

Still, it’s good that Apple is closely involved in the Russian market. Now you don’t have to wait six months for new devices to officially go on sale. The 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 reached other stores later. I picked up my iPad mini Retina at the end of December and was unable to find it on display for an acceptable (read: officially established) price. It’s good that there are online stores, from one of which I ordered an iPad mini Retina 16 GB for a reasonable 16 thousand rubles. After 3 days, the order had already arrived and I took my long-awaited tablet.

Box and accessories

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

Case and screen

iPad mini Retina in terms of physical dimensions and appearance remains virtually the same as the original iPad mini. Rounded corners, small frame around the screen, screen diagonal - 7.9 inches. The weight of the device has increased only slightly. Holding the tablet in both hands is quite comfortable, but when you work with 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 connectors and speakers on the case remains the same. The body itself is also made of aluminum, its front part is covered with glass.

The iPad mini in Space Gray looks great. After the “faceless” black color in previous models, “Space Gray” looks much more interesting. It is also worth noting that the paint will not peel off, as in the iPhone 5; during the time I was using the tablet, no problems arose. It still looks like new.

The screen diagonal has not changed - 7.9 inches, but the resolution has increased to “Retina” 2048 × 1536 pixels. The pixel density is 326 ppi, just like the iPhone, which is more than the iPad Air (264 ppi). It is worth admitting that you will not notice the difference between the Air and Mini in terms of pixels - they are not visible on both mini and Air. However, the iPad mini's screen is worse than the iPad Air's due to its relatively lackluster color reproduction, brightness, and contrast. Generally speaking, the screen is quite good, but there are not enough stars in the sky.

The screen gets dirty like crazy, you will have to constantly wipe it from dust particles and fingerprints. But it’s hard to call this a specific feature of the iPad mini with a Retina screen. This is the problem with most modern mobile devices.

Another point that catches your eye is that the screen is “deeply” 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 have a significant effect in everyday use, but I would still like this point to be corrected.

Iron filling and performance

The new iPad mini comes with 1GB random access memory and the latest A7 processor - the same as in the iPhone 5s and iPad Air. True, unlike its older brother iPad Air, it clock frequency 100 MHz less. There's no difference between the Mini and Air when using the iOS interface and most apps, but Apple wouldn't be Apple if there was no difference between them at all. And she is.

In the GeekBench 3 test, the iPad mini scores about 2,500 points, which is slightly lower than the iPad Air, but this is not due to synthetic numbers. When working with resource-intensive games, such as GTA: San Andreas, Real Racing 3, the frame rate sags unpleasantly, which has not been observed before. Apparently this is also due to the fact that most 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 work the same or even worse (!) than on the iPhone 5, which has an A6 processor. Here the high screen resolution and unoptimized software (especially for the iPad) make themselves felt.

iOS 7 on the iPad mini Retina with a 64-bit processor works... far from perfect. The animation often jerks, and changing the screen orientation does not always happen 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 freezing. This is not Android, this is iOS - a system that has made a name for itself thanks to its stable operation. And iOS 7 has big problems with this very stable operation.

Camera

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

But the front camera pleased me. In good lighting conditions, the pictures turn out to be quite good (as far as they can be at all). front camera). More than enough for selfshots and video calls on Skype.

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), email (an hour a day), social networks (an hour a day), games (2-3 hours a day), videos (half an hour to an hour a day), books (an hour a day) day)) the tablet lasts for 1-1.5 days or 8-9 hours of continuous work. If you moderate your ardor, you can achieve 2-2.5 days. Again, everyone's usage patterns are different and these numbers may vary depending on your preferences.

In any case, the iPad mini Retina remains a very durable device - you won’t worry about the battery and keep looking at the battery charge indicator. You can charge your iPad mini and easily take it with you for the whole working day - the battery will definitely last you. The iPad mini Retina charges from the mains in about 4-5 hours. With my usage pattern, I charge it about 4 times a week - quite a good result.

How I've been using my iPad all this time

Reading articles from the web

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

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

To keep track of news on topics that interest me, I use Zite. Unlike Flipboard, it matches my preferences much better, although, of course, it loses in design. You add all the topics that interest you to Zite once and enjoy promptly arriving news.

To delay reading articles I use Pocket. Still, nothing better has yet been invented for iOS, despite the fact that Readability and Instapaper are also very good services. But Pocket has 3 big advantages: it is supported by hundreds of applications, it has the ability to “save for later” not only text articles, but also videos and links. And third, of course, tags. They help organize all articles into categories and maintain order in the repository.

Books and magazines

You can read e-books and magazines on your iPad without any problems. I would especially like to note that for the iPad there are many interactive magazines 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 sorts of interactive elements: graphics, animations, videos, and in some places even mini-games. If this doesn’t turn everything upside down, it certainly transforms the experience of reading periodicals.

The iPad mini Retina is also quite suitable 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 regular e-books, things are not so simple. I admit that when I bought the iPad mini Retina, I even thought that it could replace my Kindle reader. But this did not happen. E-ink remains the most important for me best format screen for reading large books. But here who likes what more.

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

But holding a Kindle reader in one hand is much more convenient and this played a decisive role for me. Amazon was able to find optimal ratio between the amount of text on the screen and usability. It’s not surprising, because for the iPad mini, reading books is just one of the tasks, and for the Kindle it’s actually the only one. But for small publications and the iPad mini Retina is quite suitable.

As a reader e-books I use Marvin. It has everything you need to read books comfortably.

Working with text and notes

iPad mini Retina is good for taking short text notes and viewing documents. Don't forget that there are plenty of handwritten note-taking apps for the iPad, like INKredible or Skitch, that can help you jot down ideas at a work meeting 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 short text. I don’t have the nerves to fully work with text on the iPad, which I’ll talk about below :-)

Fun time

I bought the iPad mini Retina largely with the expectation that it would be my main gaming gadget. I’ll say right away that I was right in my choice, despite the problems with some games.

As I said, the same GTA: San Andreas on the 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 freeze for me.

But my favorite Modern Combat 4 behaves very well 95% of the time. Even when you play online 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 are “eaten up” by the iPad mini Retina, which is, in general, quite expected.

It's an hour

I don't think of tablets as full-time work devices, but despite this, it was still interesting to see the iPad mini Retina in action. At work I tinker with texts a lot, I constantly look through email, social media, I work with the WordPress admin.

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

Firstly, there is a real lack of a physical keyboard, which makes typing much more convenient. Secondly, there is no normal WordPress application for iOS that will not confuse the publication time and accidentally post articles to the site (which has happened to me several times). And thirdly, iOS itself is simply not suitable for such things. On a MacBook you can simultaneously write text and look at its English original, but on an iPad you constantly switch between applications, and this, again, is an inconvenience.

This idea has been said by everyone, it is banal and obvious, but it is worth noting again: the iPad mini is an ideal device for consuming content, not for creating it. Although, if you really want to, you can dodge it by buying an external keyboard. But this will not solve the software problem.

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

Air or mini?

Despite some differences in specifications, the only significant difference between the Air and mini Retina is the size of the tablet. IN You must clearly answer the question - which size is preferable for you? Because there is practically no difference in the other capabilities of tablets. If you like full-size tablets, take the iPad Air; if you like compact ones, take the iPad mini Retina. Our infographics will help you make your choice.

conclusions

Despite all the disadvantages and shortcomings of the iPad mini Retina, I was more than satisfied with my purchase. The 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 be corrected very soon in the final version. iOS version 7.1.

The iPad is still a great device for consuming content, but not a great device for creating it. But as I said above, it is capable of solving simple work tasks.

There have been many reviews done focusing on the capabilities of the Retina iPad. The low display resolution and slow SoC, which were the only two real complaints about the first iPad mini, received ample attention. There were a bunch of options listed that Apple could have used to promote the mini:

“Apple chose to outright quadruple the number of pixels (2x in each dimension) to create Retina. With a mini display using a 1024x768 resolution, this option could give it a 7.85-inch 2048x1536 panel. This would be the same resolution as the iPad 3/4, but with a much smaller display, giving it a pixel density of 326 ppi (versus ~263 for the iPad 3/4). Apple could do this, but it would be the same changes it made to the Retina iPad. First of all, the introduction of a larger battery and a much larger SoC. A larger battery is needed to power the more powerful backlight, and the X-series SoC is needed to render the UI up-to-date and game at such a high resolution. Both of these things would increase the size and cost of the mini, making it a true un-mini."

This quote is from one review last year and it looks like Apple has decided to fix things this year. The review further concluded:

“Neither of these options is particularly tempting for Apple, especially given the iPad mini's low (for Apple) starting price. If you're expecting to have a Retina mini next year, don't hold your breath."

This is why I don't like making predictions.

I didn't expect the display power to drop this much. I didn't think the battery density would be so improved. And I definitely didn't expect Apple to integrate a large 4MB cache on-chip, thereby reducing the need for a super memory interface. The combination of these three things gave the iPad mini a Retina display, which may be exactly what Apple did this year after all.

The iPad mini with Retina, unlike the iPad Air, is very similar to its predecessor. You'd be hard-pressed to even notice the 4.1% increase in thickness (+0.3mm) or the 7.5% increase in weight (+23g).

From top to bottom: iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina, iPad Air

Retina mini now has a 44% larger battery (23.8Wh). This is almost the same battery capacity as the original iPad (25Wh), but only takes up 1/3 of the capacity in the chassis. It's also the highest battery capacity we've ever seen in a tablet of this size. The small impact on weight and thickness is impressive.

The battery powers two features of the new mini: mainly Apple's A7 SoC and, of course, the 7.85-inch 2048x1536 Retina display. Effective solution main problem the original iPad mini – the new mini is significantly faster and comes with a significantly better display. Keep in mind, the original mini debuted with the n-1 SoC, which makes the move to the A7 this year an even more significant upgrade. While ordinary users It'll be hard to tell the difference between the A6 and A7, but anyone who actively used last year's iPad mini will appreciate how much faster the new one is (especially if you've upgraded to iOS 7).

According to the source - http://www.anandtech.com/, the display itself does not need much explanation. The first generation iPad mini had a screen resolution of 1024x768, which was satisfactory but not ideal. I had no problem recommending the mini given how good the rest of the experience was, but it's clear that it could have been better. The move to a 2048x1536 panel gives the mini not only the right to use the term Retina Display, but also the title of the highest display density display in Apple's lineup.

The rest of the body doesn't look much different from the original mini. Apple likes to keep the design of its mobile devices from being too different across at least two generations, and the mini is no exception. This is in no way a complaint. I'm just fascinated high quality mini chassis, same as last year.

The front side of the tablet is characterized by an asymmetrical bezel, identical to the iPad Air. The bezels on the sides are narrow, while the top and bottom are wider to physically accommodate the home button and FaceTime HD camera. As before, Apple gives little extra work, rejecting previews placed on either edge of the mini to compensate for the missing part of the bezel before the "hold".

The solid aluminum backplate comes in Light Silver or Space (Dark) Gray. As with the iPhone, the Silver model gets a white bevel on the bezel, while the Space Gray gets a black finish and bronze beveled edges. Models with cellular modem have plastic RF windows located along the top edge of the tablet.


Around the edges you'll find: a power on/off button on the top, a volume up/down and rotation lock/mute volume up/down slider on the right side. If you have a cellular model, you'll find a nano-SIM tray - along right side mini.

The bottom edge is home to the Apple Lighting connector, on either side of the speakers. The mini doesn't sound bad, although you'll get better playback low frequencies on larger iPad Airs.

iPad mini with Retina features the same 5MP iSight camera (rear-mounted) and 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera (front-facing) as the iPad Air. An addition is the installation of a dual microphone to remove background noise, again, like in the iPad Air.

The Mini is available in exactly the same configuration as the iPad Air. It starts at $399 with 16 GB of memory and is available in 32 and 64/128 GB (+$100 for each memory upgrade). Cellular connectivity also adds $130. Like the iPad Air, mini with Retina is only available with LTE support and comes unlocked.

The old mini still costs around $299, although like the iPad 2, which is still on sale, you're unlikely to hear a recommendation to buy it. Perhaps, if you really don't mind the low display resolution, much slower SoC, and want to save some money, don't give up on iOS. For most people, the mini iPad with Retina is the device they need. If you are using a heavy tablet, the experience is truly like heaven and earth. While the iPad Air's form factor is what defines it empirically, the Retina iPad mini relies on the display and crystal to do the same thing.

Weight and usability

Much of the tablet experience has to do with weight and the distribution of that weight. The iPad Air is proof of how true this is. Whereas the iPad Air straddles the line between one-handed and two-handed comfort, the mini sits squarely in one-handed territory. Picking up the mini after using the Air for a couple of weeks feels like you have nothing in your hands. The Mini is the much more comfortable of the two tablets to use while lying down. When you're sitting upright, the Air's weight feels like a huge advantage over the mini, but when you're relaxing, the mini is much nicer to hold. You can read more about the comparison between the Air and mini tablets in the article “Which tablet do you need? »

The body is narrow enough that you can hold it with only one hand and use it like a giant smartphone. If you hold the mini with both hands and use it like a smartphone, you can actually do it super quickly using just your fingers. While the iPad Air is too big to hold in portrait mode and comfortably wrap your fingers around, the minis are too small to hold in landscape mode and use as a regular keyboard. When typing long emails iPad Air is better, assuming that I can come to the table or that I can sit down. But if I can't do either, then the iPad mini is the best companion.

Apple introduced an LTE model, which, in fact, duplicates most of the functions of the smartphone. With mini LTE, the smartphone stays in your pocket more often than not, although there are plenty of small/large, phone/tablet combinations you can list as you try to figure out the best balance for today. In many ways, this is similar to the comparison between a small laptop and a PC, and a large laptop and a docking station.

The mini's smaller display makes reading any content a little more difficult compared to larger iPads. But given the new Retina display, reading on the mini is quite good. Small text is always easier to read when it's on a larger display, but if you're looking at content that's properly formatted for a tablet, you'll love the mini. The experience of reading comics on the mini is also very pleasant. The bubbles text certainly wasn't as easy to read as it was on the iPad Air, but the overall experience was still good. Ultimately, you won't be sacrificing much functionality if you choose the mini over the Air. What you lose, you certainly gain in portability. The main question is where you are going to use the tablet, this will determine which one to choose.

Cases

Like the iPad Air, the iPad mini is quite light, and any kind of case adds a fair amount of weight to the device (in percentage terms).

Since the mini hasn't changed much in form factor, the first two batches of cases are pretty similar to what we got last year. Like its big brother, the mini is available with an optional Smart Cover ($39) or Smart Case ($69) depending on how much protection you need.

Apple offered me a black Smart Cover and a red Smart Case for the iPad mini. Both looked great on the Space Gray mini. It is worth noting that the red Smart Case has a less saturated color than the red iPad Air Smart Cover.


The Smart Cover attaches to the left side of the mini using a magnetic loop. If you line up the magnets correctly, the attraction force is strong enough to support the weight of the mini if ​​you pick it up by the lid (though I don't recommend doing that). The magnets along the edge of the cover are away from the sleep/wake loop on the tablet itself.

The Smart Case has the same sleep/wake functionality, but instead of connecting to the mini's magnets, the tablet sits inside a case that protects it on both sides. The Smart Case is preferable for travel, although it makes the tablet much more difficult to take out and put away and obviously adds more weight to the device.

Both protective covers have the same tri-fold design and can be used as a tablet stand. Since the previous mini used the same type of protective coating, the angle of the stand did not change, as was the case with the Air.


The inner surfaces of the protective covers are lined with microfiber, while the outside is covered with either soft polyurethane (Smart Cover) or leather (Smart Case). Both protect the mini well and show no signs of excessive wear.

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Contents: Tablet, power adapter with USB connector, Lightning - USB cable, SIM card eject key, instructions, packaging

Product description

No less magnificent

Now you have incredible beauty in your hands. The Retina display has over 3.1 million pixels, which is one million more than an HDTV screen. It has a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, which is four times more than the previous generation iPad mini. The pixels are so close that they cannot be distinguished by the eye. Therefore you...

The device works with NanoSIM cards from all GSM operators.

No less magnificent The iPad mini is an amazing thing no matter how you look at it. And the stunning Retina display is just the first impression. iPad mini with Retina display features a new A7 processor, advanced wireless technologies and powerful apps, built...

The device works with NanoSIM cards from all GSM operators.

No less magnificent The iPad mini is an amazing thing no matter how you look at it. And the stunning Retina display is just the first impression. iPad mini with Retina display features a new A7 processor, advanced wireless technology, and powerful apps built into iOS 7, meaning you'll be more capable than ever before. iPad mini is like the iPad Air in every way except for one thing—an ultra-portable, beautifully balanced design that can be held easily with one hand.

7.9-inch Retina display. Four times more pixels. Same size. Now you have incredible beauty in your hands. The Retina display has over 3.1 million pixels, which is one million more than an HDTV screen. It has a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, which is four times more than the previous generation iPad mini. The pixels are so close that they cannot be distinguished by the eye. So videos, photos and text all look incredibly clear. After all, the best pixels are those that are not visible.

Thin and light body. Packed with a LOT of technology and still fits in one hand. The new iPad mini brings together many great new features. Stunning Retina display, incredibly powerful A7 processor, advanced wireless technology, and more. But it is still mini - thin and light. Its thickness is only 0.74 cm, and its weight is less than a third of a kilogram. You have even more options at your fingertips, but you won't feel the slightest increase in weight.

Incredible performance. The Mini is getting more powerful. With the new A7 processor designed by Apple, 64-bit system-level architecture for desktop computers appears on iPad. This means its processor is up to 4x faster and its graphics performance is up to 8x faster to get the job done. And you still have up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge - for studying, working, gaming, creating, and whatever else you love.