As a technology blogger, I’ve covered the iPad mini repeatedly over the last six months. From the rumours to the ‘reveal’, it felt like I already knew the mini intimately before I’d even held one in my hands. I knew the specs back to front. I watched the tablet go in and out of stock, wondering if I should buy one before there were none left. But I remained sceptical about it as a useful, necessary device.
It wasn’t until I saw a mini that I understood what it was really for. However, having bought one myself, I can now see the mini becoming my favourite iPad. That’s even though it’s effectively a downgrade from my third-generation ‘new’ iPad, in terms of its specs.
However, what it lacks in sophistication, it more than makes up for in convenience. And I think the iPad mini is the most useful iPad there is.
The Screen: Get Over It
The iPad mini’s screen is a step backwards from the iPad 3 and 4. It has a 1024×768, 163 ppi display. When I first switched on my mini, all those memories of pixellated iPad 2 apps came flooding back. In fact, for the first few hours, I thought I’d made an expensive mistake. If you own an iPhone 5, or even an iPhone 4, you’ll notice the difference. If you have a Nexus 7, you’ll miss the 216 ppi display you’re used to.
However, I came to terms with the screen surprisingly quickly. I’m not saying it’s as good as a retina display – it’s not. I’m not excusing that. But does it need to be a retina display?
What are you buying a mini for? What’s its purpose?
To me, it’s a tool. Bigger than a phone, smaller than a full-sized tablet. I never take the iPad 3 out and about unless I’m going to a meeting because it’s too heavy; a retina display in the mini would make it bulkier and less portable. It takes a while to get used to the screen on the iPad mini, but I’ve found it’s a compromise I’m happy with.
Everyday Use
Apple’s estimate of 10 hours’ battery life seems to be accurate, surprisingly enough. The iPad mini still had 50 per cent battery power left after an afternoon’s constant use, and it charges quickly too.
However, I’ve found that the iPad mini is more prone to damage than the larger iPads we own. While putting the iPad mini in its case, it slipped from my hands and fell onto a hard surface about 20 cm underneath. Not far to fall, really, but the impact was enough to put a ding in the back of the casing, right in the middle of the Apple logo.
(On the subject of cases: don’t buy this one from Belkin. It has four curved brackets inside that interfere with the corners of the touchscreen, so using some of the buttons at the extreme left and right is tricky. It has no magnets in the case, and the stand is terrible. Go for a slim case or a hard shell that protects the back.)
The iPad mini: Should You Buy One?
Before buying the iPad mini, I checked out many, many Android tablets, which are considerably cheaper than the iPad mini. I wouldn’t buy a Kindle Fire because of the limited app store, but the Nexus 7 and Samsung Note 2 did tempt me. Both offer a lot more than the iPad mini in terms of specs.
Apple devices have always been more expensive than the competition. That’s been the case since the Apple II and possibly even before then. If you already have Apple devices, you’ve opted in to a more expensive ecosystem, and it’s your choice whether you want to continue buying into that ecosystem. Without getting into ‘brand racism’, I prefer iOS – for now. If you also prefer iOS, your choice is made.
If numbers matter to you, or if an HD screen is a big issue, I would honestly advise you to buy an Android tablet or wait for the ‘new’ iPad mini next year. If you have other Apple devices and you want something super-portable, give the iPad mini the benefit of the doubt.