Closer Look: iPad mini with Retina display

The new iPad mini with Retina display brings in new features such as the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion coprocessor, class-leading Retina display, and 128GB storage option. Will these be enough to sway users to upgrade from their old iPad minis or to convince Android/Windows 8 users to switch? Let's find out.



The iPad mini with Retina display comes with a unibody aluminum construction that is very much the same as the one used in the original iPad mini. It comes in both Space Gray and Silver color options. Like the other iPads, it looks sleek and has a premium feel to it. It measures 200 mm x 134.7 mm x 7.5 mm and weighs only 331 grams, which makes it one of the slimmest and lightest tablets around.

It packs Apple's new A7 processor, which has faster CPU and graphics performance when compared to the previous generation. It is also among the first 64-bit tablets in the world. The A7 chip is also designed to be energy efficient. Along with the new A7 chip, the iPad mini with Retina display also packs the new M7 coprocessor. It is designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer and gyroscope. It also has an ambient light sensor. It's been long overdue and finally, the iPad mini now packs a Retina display. Sporting the same 7.9-inch multi-touch display of its predecessor, it now has more pixels than an HD TV. It has a 2,048 x 1,536 display resolution and a pixel density of 326 ppi. The display is protected by a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. The new iPad mini will run on iOS 7 and will contain apps such as Passbook, Newsstand, and Game Center. iPhoto, iMovie, and the iWork Suite (Keynote, Pages, Numbers) can also be downloaded for free with the new Retina iPad mini. The iPad mini with Retina display packs an 5-MP iSight primary camera, ƒ/2.4 aperture, backside illumination, five-element lens, and hybrid IR filter. Camera features such as autofocus, tap to focus, face detection, and photo and video geotagging are all on-board. The camera is also capable of 1080p FullHD video recording at 30 fps. A front-facing Facetime camera can also be found, capable of shooting 1.2-MP photos and 720p HD video recording. There is also backside illumination sensor on the front cam. Through it, Facetime can be done via Wi-Fi and cellular network. In terms of connectivity, the Retina iPad mini comes in both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular models (LTE-capable). It also has 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. Noticeably lacking is NFC support. Virtual assistant Siri is on-board, which you can use to search, send messages, make a call, set reminders, and more. It has a built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, which can be charged through USB or a power adapter. Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours while browsing on Wi-Fi (9 hours on cellular data), watching videos and listening to music. The iPad mini with Retina display Wi-Fi + Cellular model will only accept nano-SIM to operate and will have to rely on a Lightning connector for charging, unless you buy a separate dock. Pricing starts at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model up to $829 for the 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Steve Jobs once said that 9.7 inches is the tablet display's sweet spot but with the introduction and success of the iPad mini, selling more units than the iPad (4th Gen), Steve Jobs may be mistaken. The iPad mini with Retina display builds on the strengths of the iPad mini and adds some more to it, features mostly borrowed from the iPhone 5S. It is not a revolutionary device but innovative and fresh enough to create a strong demand and help keep Apple on top of the tablet market.

Note: Images came from Apple's website.

Til then...

xoxo Nash