Ipad Mini Review and tablet general comparison..

Well i thought about reviewing ipad mini, which i got mid november from U.S., now that its launched in india i bought another one for my little brother… So here is small review for all those who are yet to buy it…

The iPad mini is once of the most impressive pieces of technology I’ve ever seen. The latest generation of Apple products has really brought production quality to a new level. The mini is ridiculously thin and light, build quality on this is a generation or two ahead of the the iPad retina. This is one of those products you really need to pick up and handle to really appreciate.

The display is not retina quality, but it’s easily better than the iPad 1 or the iPad 2. Colors are good and brightness is good. I really like that they were able to shrink the bevels on the sides, it keeps the mini portable enough to slide in your pocket in a pinch. It’s not comfortable in the back pocket of your jeans, but it fits there for short trips or if you need a hand in a hurry.

I haven’t pushed performance enough yet so it’s hard to say where it sets with regards to that. Trying out a few videos I didn’t notice any lag or missed frames and the actual UI is smooth and responsive. Because it’s screen is lower resolution, you can still play iPad games on it with a good frame rate.

Sound is surprisingly good and loud for a product this size. The only downsize to the sound is the fact that the stereo speakers are placed near each other on one of the narrow sides of the device. In cinema/ landscape orientation, the sound is on one side or the other. Even in portrait orientation, the stereo effect is not great. I tend to listen using headphones so I’m not sure it’s a huge issue. It’s a 3.5 star sound system, great sound, but frustrating placement.

The lightning adaptor is a nice upgrade. You do lose access to older accessories, but it’s quicker to use than the 30 pin adaptor (or microUSB, but that’s another story). Charging is fast, 30 minutes to top it off which is awesome.

Comparison Shopping -—-

The iPad mini Wins when:

• Apps are a priority (in my case, access to a few specific iPad only apps is a big showstopper)
• Weight and portability are a important
• You want the rear facing camera (The iPad 4G has this too)
• You have invested in Apple accessories
• Ease of use is a big concern
• A solid, well engineered product appeals to you

The iPad 4th gen Wins when:

• Reading is your biggest use, the retina display is fantastic and the mini doesn’t compete.
• You want a future proof product; the A6X chip is a scorcher compared to the mini and it is almost certain to be supported longer.
• The bigger size is an asset

The Nexus or the Kindle Wins when:

• Price is your biggest concern
• Nexus has built in GPS and NFC (though navigation is limited unless you get the 3G version)
• You are using it exclusively for web surfing, reading PDFs, and watching videos.
• Hack-ability and open-ness are important
• You are invested in the Google or Amazon’s eco-system
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Below is my observation after using it for some time:
- Perfect form factor. Feather weight, incredibly thin yet feel substantial.
- Good for games that require lots of maneuverability.
- Huge number of existing high quality iPad apps available for iPad mini.
- Most ideal ebook reader period.
- Act as a portable digital album with enough real estate for detail showcasing.
- Perfect for work use. Much lighter to carry and pass around showing demos etc.
- Less awkward for camera use.
- Less awkward to pull out in the middle of a bus ride and watch a movie.
- Sustain much longer period of holding without hand straining.
- One hand holding. not quite one hand usage but feels great to be able to hold comfortably in one hand.
- Bring everywhere, use anywhere. almost pocket sized and serve well as nightstand and desk accessory (alarm clock, desk weather display etc).
- Perfect travel companion. ultra long battery life. easy to pack, carry and use at all times.
- Perfect notetaker/notepad. In meetings/conferences, easy to carry around and write on.
- Perfect for children. it may be mini but the most ideal iPad in terms of size and weight for them.

Minor negatives:
- Would prefer bigger screen for mindless browsing.
- Retina hd for video playback won’t hurt.
- Easier to mistype in portrait mode.
- Some games just look better on the bigger iPad.
- Apple may screw us by releasing a retina display iPad mini with the same price early next year.
- Complements but does not completely replace the iPad. May need to carry both in same cases

So that it from my side…if you guys have anymore doubt you can ask me anytime or just pm me..