iPad mini - How Does It Compare with Other Tablets?

 iPad Mini comparing with other tablets. Despite its relatively low-key debut, by now most tablet fans will know that Apple has launched its latest tablet, the iPad’s little cousin, iPad mini.  Arriving on store shelves just over two and a half years after the launch of the first iPad in 2010, the iPad mini is the first major gadget release since Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs, died in 2011.

Packed with the regular iPad features you already love, this little version has a few appealing tricks up its sleeve.  See how it compares with its competition in terms of size and display, special features, cameras and durability, and find out if it’s the mini tablet for you.

Size and display

Compared to the 9.7 inch iPad, the iPad mini is only 7.9 inches and can comfortably be used with one hand.  It is Apple’s first entry in the small 7+ inch tablet market and competes directly with Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD 7 and Google’s Nexus 7.  It has the biggest display of the three, with a 1024x768 pixel resolution at 163 ppi (pixels per inch). Despite lacking the richly vibrant, super-clear Retina display of the larger iPad 2, it doesn’t get left in the shade because the pixels are actually smaller.

For many this is isn’t really an issue, although some dislike seeing any hint of minuscule pixels when reading.  Both Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 boast 1280x800 pixels and have 216 ppi, therefore giving them a better ability to display crisp, clear images. 

However, because iPad mini’s display is bigger than their 7 inch version, it doesn’t fare too badly in comparison. The iPad mini beats its competitors by being the lightest and thinnest (23% slimmer than iPad 2), weighing only 308 grams and measuring 0.28 inches.

Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD are 32 and 92 grams heavier respectively, and both are just over 0.4 inches thick. Does size actually matter?  In 2010 Mark Zuckerberg, the famous Facebook founder, stated that the iPad wasn’t “mobile - it’s a computer.”  This didn’t seem to matter to consumers when it was the new star of the tablet marketplace, but now that the iPad mini has come on the scene it compares favourably as a truly portable hand-held device.

When matched against the iPad 2, it seems that the mini version’s main attractions are that it fits in the palm, it can be taken anywhere, it is convenient for typing and easy to use with one hand, and it is light and comfortable to hold for reading.  On top of this, it carries most of the usual iPad features despite its reduced size, and works with full-screen built-in iPad apps as well as the easily downloadable apps from the store.

Features

Apple describes the iPad mini as a concentrated version as opposed to a reduction of its predecessor.  Its unique design is smoother, with the display fusing seamlessly with the adjacent edges of the aluminium casing.  The thinner battery lasts for ten hours, just the same as with the iPad 2 and the Nexus 7, but the Kindle Fire HD has only half that battery life.

As well as the promise of super-quick Wi-Fi technology for today’s increasingly fast-paced life, the iPad mini features a lightning connector port, while the Kindle Fire HD has micro USB and micro HDMI ports and the Nexus 7 also has a micro USB port.

Cameras

The front-facing FaceTime 1.2 megapixel camera is good for video calls, while the 5 megapixel iSight camera is back-facing so people can view what you are seeing.  Photos and videos are easier to manage than on the bigger iPad because you only need one hand.  Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7 only have front cameras - 720p “Web chat” for the Kindle and 1.2 megapixels for the Nexus 7.

Durability

Although the iPad mini feels sturdy and tough, Android Authority website decided to perform a drop test to compare the durability of two of the 7+ inch contenders.  A four foot drop on its side resulted in a couple of corner dents for the iPad mini and the corner of the Nexus 7’s display shattering and losing some plastic pieces.

A fall on its back gave the iPad mini a cracked screen but didn’t affect its ability to work, while the Nexus 7 shattered further and wouldn’t start.  A face-plant left the iPad mini still alive, while the Nexus 7 was already out of commission.

Is this the mini tablet for you?

Despite the interesting innovation and some advantages of the iPad mini when compared to fellow tablets, the main issue giving concern to consumers is the price.  At US $329 for the 16GB model, some feel that it is better to pay just $199 for the Nexus 7 or the Kindle Fire HD.

If you aren’t sure about taking the plunge yet and need to take some time to test the waters, consider the fact that if Apple follows its usual pattern there may soon be a new and improved iPad mini 2 on the horizon to tempt us all again.

     Sam Jones

About the Guest Author:

Sam Jones, the author, has been trying to compare mobiles and tablets to find something good for his extensive travels.