iPad Mini with Retina Display Full Review

The world finally heaved a sigh of relief when Apple announced a few months back that they’re going to offer an iPad Mini with Retina Display. A lot of people have switched from the big 9.7-inch iPad to the first-generation 7.9-inch iPad Mini because of how thin, portable, and compact it was. However the outdated internals and the lackluster display was a turn-off, especially for tech-savvy folks. That all changed with the iPad Mini with Retina Display. The quality of the display is actually just half the story because the iPad Mini also now has the same internals as the iPad Air (A7 Chip) making it a certified screamer.

We’ve been using the iPad Mini with Retina Display for the last two weeks and we’d like to share with you guys our full take on it. Before we start let’s have a refresher on the specifications.

iPad Mini with Retina Display Spec Sheet

• 1.3GHz Cyclone ARM V8 Apple A7 Chipset
• PowerVR G6430 Quad-core Graphics
• 1GB RAM DDR3
• 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB Internal Storage
• 7.9-inches LED-backlit IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen
• Retina Display, 2048 x 1536 resolution, 324 pixels per inch
• 5.0-megapixels primary camera with auto-focus
• 1.2-megapixels secondary camera
• WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, GPS/aGPS/GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0
• 3G, HSPA+, LTE
• iOS 7.0.4

As you can see it goes toe-to-toe with the iPad Air except that this one has a smaller form factor. Same power in a more compact body! It’s also compatible with Smart’s LTE network so you get to enjoy  fast internet while on-the-go (you can  get it through their postpaid plans). Let’s move on to the review!

>>> SEE ALSO: Apple iPad Air Full Review – In a League of Its Own

Same Stunning Design, New Innards and Display

When it comes to build and aesthetics the Apple iPad Mini with Retina Display is almost identical to the first-generation model. We have the same aluminum clad chassis, 7.9-inch oleophobic coated glass display, and slim profile. While it looks exactly the same, it actually isn’t. The new iPad Mini with Retina Display is slightly thicker so that means that it won’t be compatible with previous iPad Mini cases, especially the form-fitting ones.

Apple really nailed it for compact tablets with the first-generation iPad Mini. It’s comfortable to hold, has enough screen size to give users a better appreciation for their content, and it definitely doesn’t look cheap. That’s probably the reason why they didn’t bother to change it too much with the new model. Why fix it if it ain’t broke right? Heck, Chinese manufacturers are scrambling to copy the exact dimensions of the iPad Mini! Almost all of the Android tablets we’ve featured lately have the same look and feel, lol.

The biggest change of the new iPad Mini though (other than the insides) is the display. Apple upgraded it to Retina (2048 x 1536 resolution) which means it does Full HD! The difference between the display quality of the new iPad Mini and the first-generation model is very noticeable, especially if you love watching HD movies or playing graphics intensive games. Here’s a close-up shot of the usual icon set on the iPad Mini with Retina Display. Almost feels as if they’re hovering over the glass!

Why is an upgrade in display important? Because everything you do with a tablet uses the display. Reading eBooks, watching movies, going through your songs, playing games, checking your calendar, or random web browsing, all of them utilizes the 7.9-inch screen. A better display means an all-around upgrade to your over-all iPad experience. Is it a must-have? No. Is it something that will rock your world? Oh yeah.

Apple made the right choice in keeping the same form factor and just slapping on the Retina Display. Two thumbs up when it comes to the hardware build and design!

Stronger, Faster, Better

Like what we said earlier, the Retina Display is just half the story of the new iPad Mini. The second half, which is just as important, can be found under the hood. The new iPad Mini is powered by the Apple A7 chip with quad-core graphics. Yes, it’s the same chipset that powers the venerable iPad Air. This new “engine” is rip-roaring powerful (this is the first time I’ve used that to describe a processor, lol) and the benefits extend to everything that you do with the iPad Mini!

With a more powerful processor basic transitions and multi-tasking became much smoother. Loading time of apps, even the more demanding ones like Infinity Blade 3 were blazing fast. Mowing down hordes of zombies in later stages of Dead Trigger 2 was still fluid and lag-free. Even editing photos or movies using the tablet became a much more efficient activity thanks to the new processor.

We felt the power the most though with the productivity apps. More often than not Keynote usually kept on hanging even with the iPad 3. That all changed with the iPad Air and now also with the iPad Mini with Retina Display. Everything was buttery smooth save for rare instances when you stuff a deck with high quality videos.

The App Store: Still the Best

There’s no shortage of high-quality and fun apps as well for the iPad Mini. The iOS store is still by far the most vast and complete app front. Google is slowly catching up with Google Play but the difference is still quite huge between the two. Not only does iOS get apps first, they also get the updates quickly.

The app store combined with the upgrades of the iPad Mini with RD truly makes it the best compact tablet in the market to date.

Camera: For Casual Sharing Only

The 5.0-megapixel shooter of the new iPad Mini takes decent photos in good lighting. It’s okay for quick sharing of pictures on social media but you’ll be hard pressed to get really good shots with it. Composition can only do so much if the optics can’t capture everything.

Battery Life: Still Legendary

Despite the stronger engine and the more power-hungry display, we’re happy to report that the new iPad Mini wit Retina Display manages to keep it’s legendary 10 hour battery life.

Verdict: Still the Best

So what’s the verdict? The two changes made on the iPad Mini are core fundamental upgrades that enhances the over-all experience with the product. It’s a big step forward especially for iPad power users. That said, we believe that the iPad Mini with Retina Display is the best compact tablet in the market.

The next question is… should you upgrade? If you’re coming from an iPad Mini here’s what we recommend:

• If you don’t use it too much (as in it just gathers dust at home), don’t bother. It’s a waste of money.
• If you use it a lot, we suggest you sell the iPad Mini and then just add the difference to get this. Or you can just apply for a postpaid plan with Smart Bro.
• To maximize it get the LTE model, stuff in a Smart Bro LTE sim, and use it as a portable hotspot when needed, hehe.

The iPad Mini with Retina Display is already available locally but we heard that the Apple reseller stores are very low on stocks. You can also get it from Smart.