Apple iPad Mini

Pros: Excellent battery life
More durable than expected (so far)
Super light: Usable in one hand like a smartphone
Dual speakers louder than I expected
Non-retina display isn't hard to get used to; keeps device thin, light, less hot and less pricey

Cons: No retina display yet

Summary: [This is a "Response Review" written for anyone wondering if the Mini's UI, performance, and build quality stand up to everyday use compared to its big brothers, originally meant as a reply to a user, but which quickly tripled CNET's character limit for replies and morphed into a three-point look into the Mini. For the review that inspired this one, read "I returned my iPad Mini in less than 24 hours!" by MindObix]


Mr. or Ms. reviewer "MindObix," thank you for sharing so much thought-out detail about your experiences with Apple's latest li'l tablet, and inspiring me to make an account just to go over a few things with the Denizens of the Interwebs. As an iPad Mini owner myself, there are a few things that drove me absolutely nuts about some of the reviews it received (yours included), so I'll touch on those points and reference your review for the groundwork.


First, iPad Mini Performance:

For someone who stated to have decent exposure to multiple iPads, it was jaw-dropping to see you consider the Mini to be "sluggish." You do realize that the Mini has exactly the same performance (A5 @ ~1GHz) as the iPad 2 and iPad 3, right? All three are, on average, twice as fast as the A4 in the original iPad, which still hasn't become exactly a slouch even by today's high standards, and all three are a bit faster than the 800MHz A5 that's in your iPhone 4S—the second-hand flagship device for another year, and a device which many, including yourself and yours truly, don't seem to mind using.

Since the Mini is as fast or faster than all iPads with one exception, are you suggesting that every single generation until the 4th iPad has been trash in the performance department? I don't think that argument can be soundly made, saying the least.


Secondly, Text & UI size:

This one didn't completely drive me up a wall like the performance comments, as I can empathize with less-than-stellar eyesight. But from 2010 until March of this year, you and all other iPad users have been using 1024x768 iPads with horrible pixel density (stretched out, blurry text and images at 132ppi). Now, you have a much sharper, cleaner version of that same resolution, with a pixel density, UI size, and text size that's exactly the same as the first iPhone, the 3G, and the 3GS (all 163ppi), and it's suddenly crap?

I don't really follow the logic. Were one to say that they simply couldn't read iPhone UI elements until 2010 with the retina display, then I may be able to understand (your review stated that you'd rather use Mail on your 4S). This reveals—however—that you are in fact ok with the size of text and UI on the iPad Mini and all iPhones, but that you simply need that UI with more pixels. But, if one were to say they loved their 3GS but couldn't read anything on the iPad Mini, you can see how this wouldn't make sense (again, given that both devices have the same pixel density, font size, and UI size, only one has more real estate).


Lastly, qualms with Anodized Aluminum and Build:

I can't disagree with MindObix and similar reviewers more on this one. To me, my anodized black iPad Mini feels like a high-class "bite me" to all dark plastic tech devices. It's the "Darth Vader" way to make black gizmos instead of flimsy, hollow materials. The silver/white models look equally cool in my opinion, more angelic than 'Vader-esque. I've also been less than completely gentle with my Mini, and I haven't had a single scratch, mar, or ding show up yet (knock on wood), even though I expect them from my gadgets nowadays. Some say that the 4/4S and other iPads "feel" more durable, but I'd urge such people to check out drop tests of these new anodized Apple toys on the googlywebs; their durability seems to often be better than their thicker, heavier forebears, and sometimes better than their competitors. Plus, videos are always more entertaining than feelings.

When people say they'd rather buy an iPad 2 instead of an iPad Mini, my brain translates that into saying, "I'd rather pay $70 more for the same speed processor and graphics, a less crisp stretched out version of the same resolution screen, worse front & back optics, older, worse wireless hardware, and twice the weight.

I'd totally pay money for that."

Not me, Mr. Anonymous Internet Person. I'll keep my dollars and extra features.


Sent from my iPad Mini

Updated on Nov 27, 2012

— = long hyphen

This is how CNET's text editor prints long hyphens, apparently. Sorry for any trouble reading. =(