Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular

Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular

The iPad mini is probably the worse-kept tech secret of the year. The device has been subjected to much speculation over the past two years and the rumors got most of it right when the 7.9-inch slate was finally unveiled in October. Apple's response to the affordable 7-inch Android tablets that have carved a niche in the small tablet category is predictable. The iPad mini is a premium device that attempts to differentiate on design and build quality. At US$329 for the cheapest Wi-Fi-only model, it's hardly in the same price bracket as rivals which start from US$199. Underneath its sleek chassis, the hardware on the mini is identical to the iPad 2. It's slightly over a year since the iPad 2 was launched, but we have already seen two newer iterations. The rapid pace of the improvements on Apple's flagship tablet may create an impression that the iPad mini is outdated. It certainly feels slower in more intensive apps, but we had no complaints while navigating the interface and using basic apps such as the Web browser. Instead, it's the lack of a Retina display on the iPad mini that is probably its biggest drawback. After the excellent display on the iPad, it's difficult for us to go back to the lower-resolution screen on the mini. Even its cheaper Android competitors now have screens that more than match the iPad mini's. If you don't have a tablet, the iPad mini is an expensive habit to get into. Besides the cost of the device, you'll probably end up spending more on iOS apps compared with other platforms. However, the iPad mini looks good and offers users an LTE option, which isn't always available on cheaper alternatives. As usual, Apple charges a heavy fee to upgrade the amount of internal storage--going from the base 16GB model to the 64GB version that we reviewed here would incur an additional US$200. That's sufficient to buy a 7-inch Android tablet from Amazon or Google. We believe that's more than enough incentive for the average consumers to stick with the 16GB version and simply manage their storage more efficiently. Is the iPad mini the best 7-ish-inch tablet that you can buy now? We don't think so, but it's without a doubt, the best-looking one. Design A tablet is typically rectangular with a screen bordered by a wide bezel. Ever since the first iPad relaunched the tablet segment, this has been the standard look for slates. The back of the tablet and the materials used in its construction may vary across manufacturers, but from the front, they looked mostly similar. In fact, they didn't appear all that different from digital photo frames. Which makes the design of the iPad mini such a pleasant surprise. For one, the side bezel has been reduced significantly, making the 9.7-inch iPad appear chunky in comparison. With such a thin bezel, it would seem difficult to hold the tablet. Except that it isn't: A new feature in iOS 6 includes finger rejection, which differentiates between gripping the screen with your finger, and actually using it. It means that you can hold onto the iPad mini with one finger touching the screen and yet be able to use the touchscreen normally with another finger. While this feature seems to be designed specially for the iPad mini, it's also present on other Apple devices with the latest version of iOS. 

News Source :  www.asia.cnet.com