Apple had an event couple of days ago where it introduced the new breed of iPads. The most notoriously leaked and anticipated was iPad Mini 2. Not only did Apple release it, they also released iPad Air which seems to be the 5th Gen iPad with a more "iPad Mini" like design. We review the duo right here.
iPad Air
The 5th Gen iPad wasn't rumoured much since iPad Mini had stolen the show with its unique design and almost "affordably acceptable" price. Seeing that as a cue, Apple decided to copy the design from iPad Mini and paste it on a larger screen. "The power of lightness" is what Apple brands the iPad Air and we couldn't agree more.
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iPad Air is packing a ton of advanced features in a body that weighs just a pound. With a body that light, the waist takes a trim and is only 7.3mm making it incredibly light and thin. The "retina display" bearing 264 ppi with 2048 x 1536 resolution on a 9.7 inch IPS LED Backlit display, isn't the sharpest around but I figure most people wouldn't even bother for more res. With the all new A7 chip and 64 Bit architecture, 1GB of DDR3 RAM and iOS 7, the performance and graphics is 2x the last gen but the battery life of 10 hours remains the same. Like always, a 5MP iSight camera with backside illumination and 1080p video capture is still present. iPad Air now has 2 antennas which make it a very Wi-fi and Cellular hungry, meaning it has 2x the Wi-fi and Cellular(4G/ LTE) performance. Apps like Garage Band, iPhoto, iMovie, keynotes and Pages are now available for free. The smartcovers were also shown which make a great pair with the iPad Air, waking up when the cover is opened and going back to sleep when closed. With a price tag of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB and $799 for 128GB, we think Apple might have added the right amount of salt.
iPad Mini 2(Retina Display)
iPad Mini 2 seems like a much bigger upgrade for those who have the original Mini. The 7.9 inch 2048 x 1536 res IPS LED Backlit display with 326ppi is definitely worth a look. With A7 processor and 64 Bit architecture, 1GB DDR3 RAM and iOS 7 under the hood, the new Mini boasts 4x the original performance and 8x graphically without sacrificing the standard 10 hours of battery life. Just like iPad Air, the new Mini comes with iPhoto, iMovie, Garage Band, keynotes and Pages for free. The Wi-fi and Cellular(4G/ LTE) also seem to be upgraded with 2x the original's. The smart cases also warp around the new iPad Mini. Available from November 1, Space Grey and Silver are the two color options and the price tag being $399 for 16GB, $499 for 32GB, $599 for 64GB and $699 for 128GB, making this one of our best gift devices this holiday season.
Apple iPad Air & iPad Mini 2(Retina Display) - Full Tablet Spec Comparison
| Specifications | Apple iPad Air | Apple iPad Mini 2(Retina display) |
|---|---|---|
| 2G Network | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900(Wi-fi and Cellular) | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900(Wi-fi and Cellular) |
| 3G Network | HSDPA 900/ 2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO(Wi-fi and Cellular) | HSDPA 2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO(Wi-fi and Cellular) |
| Display Type | IPS LED Backlit capacitive touchscreen 16M Colors | IPS LED Backlit capacitive touchscreen 16M Colors |
| Display Size | 2048 x 1536 pixels, 9.7 inches (~267 ppi pixel density) | 2048 x 1536 pixels, 7.9 inches (~326 ppi pixel density) |
| Features | Wifi only and Wifi+Cellular(4G/LTE), Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based), iOS 7.0.2, 1 GB RAM | Wifi only and Wifi+Cellular(4G/LTE), Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based), iOS 7.0.2, 1 GB RAM |
| Phonebook | Yes, Practically Unlimited | Yes, Practically Unlimited |
| Call Records | Yes, Practically Unlimited | Yes, Practically Unlimited |
| Internal Memory | 16,32,64,128 GB Internal Storage, 1 GB RAM | 16,32,64,128 GB Internal Storage, 1 GB RAM |
| Card Slot Memory | No | No |
| GPRS | Yes, Class 12 | Yes, Class 12 |
| EDGE | Yes, Class 12 | Yes, Class 12 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wifi Direct, Wifi HotSpot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wifi Direct, Wifi HotSpot |
| USB | Yes, MicroUSB 2.0 | Yes, MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Bluetooth | Yes v4.0 With A2DP | Yes v4.0 With A2DP |
| 3G | DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 100 Mbps; EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps | DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 100 Mbps; EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps |
| Camera Primary | 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, Geo Tagging | 5 MP iSight camera, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, Geo Tagging |
| Video | Yes, 1080p @ 30fps | Yes, 1080p @ 30fps |
| Secondary | Yes, 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | Yes, 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular |
| Sound Alert Type | Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones | Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| OS, CPU, Chipset And GPU | iOS 7.0.2, Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) and PowerVR G6430(Quad core) GPU | iOS 7.0.2, Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) and PowerVR G6430(Quad core) GPU |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM |
| Browser | HTML5(safari) | HTML5(safari) |
| Radio | No | No |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS support | Yes, with A-GPS support |
| Java | No | No |
| Colors | Space Grey, Silver | Space Grey, Silver |
| Battery | Not Available | Not Available |
| Talktime | Up to 10 hrs | Up to 10 hrs |
| Standby | Not Available | Not Available |
| Price | Wifi only $499-16Gb, $599-32GB, $699-64GB, $799-128GB. Wifi+Cellular $629-16GB, $729-32GB, $829-64GB, $929-128GB. | $399-16GB, $499-32GB, $599-64GB, $699-128GB. Wifi+Cellular $529-16GB, $629-32GB, $729-64GB, $829-128GB. |
Author : Nadeem Ansari
Designation: Senior Editor
Bio: A gadget freak who can't make a day without his tiny little toys and is constantly trying to keep himself up to date with the latest events in tech history. Loves to read and write articles.
Bio: A gadget freak who can't make a day without his tiny little toys and is constantly trying to keep himself up to date with the latest events in tech history. Loves to read and write articles.
