We have been hearing about a smaller, cheaper iPad since last fall, and the rumors really reached a tipping point this summer, until we finally got to today's unveiling.
Analysts and pundits were saying that Apple would never go downmarket, but Cupertino proved them wrong, occupying the last niche where Android tablet were roaming unabated in one fell swoop.
Since the iPad mini is aimed directly at those affordable 7-inchers powered by Google's mobile OS, we decided to pit it against the two that embody the idea for the 7" Android slate universe - the Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD - that are both sold at cost or subsidized to gain market share quickly against a competitor than launches with 275,000 tablet-oriented apps behind its back from the get-go.
Have a look at the specs sheet below, and tell us what you think about the chances of the newest member of the iPad family to put a dent in their sales numbers and win the hearts and minds of the consumer.
DESIGN
Device type
Tablet
Tablet
Tablet
OS
iOS (6)
Android (4.1.2, 4.1.1, 4.1)
Android (4.0)
Dimensions
7.87 x 5.30 x 0.28 (200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm)
7.81 x 4.72 x 0.41 (198.5 x 120 x 10.45 mm)
7.6 x 5.4 x 0.4 (193 x 137 x 10.3 mm)
Weight
11.01 oz (312 g) the average is 4.1 oz (116 g)
11.99 oz (340 g) the average is 4.1 oz (116 g)
13.9 oz (395 g) the average is 4.1 oz (116 g)
Colors
Black, White
Black
DISPLAY
Physical size
7.9 inches
7.00 inches
7 inches
Resolution
1024 x 768 pixels
1280 x 800 pixels
1280 x 800 pixels
Pixel density
162 ppi
216 ppi
216 ppi
Technology
IPS LCD
IPS LCD
IPS LCD
BATTERY
Stand-by time
12.5 days (300 hours) the average is 19 days (463 h)
Video playback
10.00 hours
9.00 hours
Capacity
4325 mAh
Type
Li - Polymer
Li - Polymer
HARDWARE
System chip
Apple A5
NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30L
TI OMAP4460
Processor
Dual core
Quad core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9
Dual core, 1200 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9
Graphics processor
PowerVR SGX543
ULP GeForce @ 416MHz
PowerVR SGX540 @ 384 MHz
System memory
-
1024 MB RAM / DDR3 (1333 MHz)
1024 MB RAM (Dual-channel) / DDR2 / 16384 MB ROM
Built-in storage
16 GB
8 GB
12.6 GB
CAMERA
Camera
5 megapixels, Immobile
Aperture size
F2.4
Features
Back-illuminated sensor (BSI), Auto focus, Touch to focus, Digital image stabilization, Geo tagging
Camcorder
1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)
Features
Video calling, Digital image stabilization
Video calling
Video calling
Front-facing camera
1.2 megapixels
Yes
1.3 megapixels
Video capture
1280x720 (720p HD)
TECHNOLOGY
Positioning
A-GPS, Glonass, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning
GPS
Wi-Fi positioning
Navigation
Yes
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth
4.0
3.0
Yes
Wi-Fi
802.11 a, b, g, n, n 5GHz
802.11 a, b, g, n
802.11 b, g, n, n 5GHz
USB
Yes
USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Connector
Proprietary
microUSB
microUSB
Features
USB charging
USB Host
Headphones connector
3.5mm
3.5mm
3.5mm
HDMI
Micro HDMI (Type D)
Charging connector
Proprietary
microUSB
microUSB
Other
Computer sync, OTA sync
NFC, Computer sync, OTA sync
Computer sync, OTA sync
AVAILABILITY
Officially announced
23 Oct 2012
27 Jun 2012
06 Sep 2012
Scheduled release
02 Nov 2012 (Official)
SHOPPING INFORMATION
MSRP price
$329
$199
$199
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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