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Ars Technica reviews Apple’s iPad mini: You’ll find yourself reaching for it over a full-sized iPad with Retina display

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 · 12:13 pm · 14 Comments

“I didn’t really want to like the iPad mini as much as I did before I reviewed it for several days,” Jacqui Cheng reports for Ars Technica. “I didn’t want to dislike it, but as a third-gen iPad owner, I couldn’t see the iPad mini having any purpose in my life. But as I began to wrap up this review and laid off on my requirement to use the iPad mini over my iPad 3 at all times, something changed. I found myself voluntarily reaching for the iPad mini over my full-sized iPad when it came time to relax on the couch or read in bed.”

“I can’t help but feel like my preference for the mini when entering into ‘iPad mode’ is almost entirely due to its Kindle-like shape and weight. It’s just that much easier to hold and carry around,” Cheng reports. “Picking up my third-gen iPad feels like lead after spending days on end with the mini. And the iPad mini’s screen isn’t actually that mini—the experience is largely the same. Again, it reminds me of the 11″ versus 13″ MacBook Air—and I happen to prefer the 11″ for the same reason.”

Cheng reports, “I also didn’t want to be one of those people wishing for a Retina display in the iPad mini. I didn’t consider it to be an absolute requirement for the mini before its launch, and I understand Apple is aiming for a more ‘affordable’ price point. But again, after having used it (and after becoming used to other Apple products with retina displays), I realized — yep, I’m one of those people. Adding a retina display would undoubtedly add to the cost of the iPad mini, but I wish the option was there.”

Much more in the full review here.

Categories: Review

Tags: 7.9-inch iPad mini, Ars Technica, iPad, iPad mini, iPad with Retina display, review

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Comment Feed

14 Comments

JG

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 12:17 pm · Reply

I’m quite happy with the iPad mini I picked up last Friday (32GB Wi-Fi). However, once a retina display version is available, I will get the absolute top of the line model (64GB with LTE) without any hesitation. With a retina display the iPad mini will be virtually perfect and I can’t wait.
derss

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 12:32 pm · Reply

Apple uses IPS screens with amorphous silicon transistor colour filters in iPad mini, and as well as in iPad 3/4 with Retina screen. And it is different subtype of technology to that of phone-sized screens: LTPS/FFS, which allows more translucent colour filter matrix, but it is too pricey to use in such big screen as in 9.7″ iPad (and no one mass-produces bigger than phone-sized displays with LTPS/FFS technolgy anyway).

So Apple had to use more typical technology for such size, and it required making iPad 3/4 thicker and heavier than iPad 2 simply because the backlight had to be so much brighter to compensate for dramatically more obstructive interpixel areas, which is not compensated with higher translucency of transistors themselves as with LTPS/FFS technology that used in phone-sized screens.

Sharps’s IGZO technology finally solves this issue even for bigger screen, but output levels are still low, so Apple was not able to update iPad 4 screen to use of such technology. And of course Apple was not able to use it in iPad mini.

This means that to make iPad mini with Retina display **right now** Apple had to make much heavier, thicker and pricier device that it wanted it to be. And up to 100 g lesser weight is one of the biggest usability advantage over much smaller screen 7″ rivals.

Apple will update both iPad and iPad mini screens with IGZO technology next year, when production levels will allow that.
- Nerd Beautiful
  
  Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 1:09 pm · Reply
  
  Excellent post. Thanks!
Zulkifli

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 12:34 pm · Reply

Yep another review about the amazing form factor and powerful ,intuitive OS.
The only issue is the non retina screen.
Dont worry guys , as soon as the samsung display for the current ipad mini is sold out, apple will switch to the LG / sharp fused display retina screen..woohooo
Ballmer's left nut

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 12:44 pm · Reply

The iPad mini’s iMac mini cousin.
- Zulkifli
  
  Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 12:46 pm · Reply
  
  Hilarious and totally shows why a touch screen is ridiculous on a desktop
  - althegeo
    
    Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 1:16 pm · Reply
    
    Only if the iMac is vertical.
    
    If it’s horizontal to 20 degrees from horizontal it will work just fine.
    
    Think about the possibilities.
    
    That’s right! If Microsoft’s Big Ass Table was at 20 degrees from horizontal it would have been the Big Ass Desk.
  - derss
    
    Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 1:21 pm · Reply
    
    Yes, this would be horrible disaster.
    
    The only way how it could work if iMac screen could be movable to nearly-horizontal position so user’s hands would not fall off.
    
    But the construction would be too rigid anyway, very unlike to mobile freedom of iPad and iPad mini.
    
    So, at best, there could be “iPad Maxi” model with like 13″ screen, but it would be barely mobile, so Apple will hardly ever make something like this until, say, 2025 when such device could be done very thin and light.
Jeff

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 1:43 pm · Reply

What’s next?
The iPad mini will next go to Retina, then OLED Retina.
radtech5000

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 1:57 pm · Reply

(Quote) “Adding a retina display would undoubtedly add to the cost of the iPad mini, but I wish the option was there.”

This is exactly what I’ve been saying from the beginning. I’ll also say that this is the new preferred size format for Apple’s iPad and I don’t see Apple holding back the Retina display from the iPad Mini for very long. The option will come sooner than you think.
Jack

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 2:21 pm · Reply

It isn’t just a cost issue. When you hav the retina you have to have the bigger processor and then you need a bigger battery and then all of the sudden you have something thing and shitty like a fire hd. The reason everyone is going crazy over the iPad mini is its form factor. The reason it has the incredible form factor is what they decided to cut. They made a brilliant move.
Derek Currie

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 7:39 pm · Reply

I personally like the easy portability and functionality of the SMALLEST iPad: The iPod Touch.

I continue to have no use for the iPad mini. If you do, then great. Enjoy.
- ppctyler
  
  Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 2:41 am · Reply
  
  Oh please Derek, you were denying its existence until now!
  - Derek Currie
    
    Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 4:13 pm · Reply
    
    Anyone sane was pointing out that there was ZERO verifiable information about any iPod ‘Mini’.
    
    I like facts. Why don’t you?
    
    Speculation with zero data is lunacy.