Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
When Apple releases Modern hardware like the newiPad mini 4 , one way to look at it is to compare the raw equipment to the one it replaces . In this case , the replaced equipment is theiPad mini 3 , a completely forgettable iPad . How forgettable was it ? Apple decided to keep the iPad mini 2 — not the iPad mini 3 — as the affordable iPad option in its lineup . The only new features the iPad mini 3 had over its predecessor was Touch ID and the option to buy a atomic number 79 version . That was it — the CPU , display , cameras , and everything else were the same as the 1 in the iPad miniskirt 2 .
The iPad miniskirt 4 ( leave ) is a piece taller than the iPad mini 2 . It ’s fragile , too .
Fortunately , the iPad miniskirt 4 has a sight more to offer for owner of older iPad models . It ’s a much better rising slope to the iPad mini 2 . And with the holidays upon us , do n’t be surprised if the iPad miniskirt 4 is on the want list of your sept and friends , or even your own .
Looks the same, but different
At first glance iPad mini 4 looks like the iPad miniskirt 3 ( and iPad mini 2 ) . However , the iPad mini 4 bar 8 inches tall , 0.13 inches magniloquent than the iPad mini 3 ; the iPad mini 4 is also 0.05 inches thinner . The new iPad is the same breadth as its herald , but it ’s also 0.08 pounds clean . If you have a case that you used with an old iPad , it may not suit dead on the iPad miniskirt 4 .
The display may also depend the same as before . But upon close inspection , the iPad mini 4 has honorable overall image quality . The showing is still a 7.9 - inch , 2048 - by-1536 - pixel resolution , result backlit exhibit , but Apple now uses laminate exhibit with anti - reflective software . The result is better color chroma that make wake photos on the iPad mini 4 a plenteous experience . And it ’s much easier to see the display in smart light source — there ’s still a small amount of spotlight , but it ’s so minor equate to the premature iPad mini model .
Th raw cover in the iPad mini 4 ( correct ) is much more viewable in smart sunlight than the iPad miniskirt 2 ( left ) .
While I use my subjective evaluation to tell you the iPad mini 4 has a better - look showing , the folks atDisplayMate technologieshave done lab examination to corroborate my tip of view . DisplayMate says the iPad mini 4 mates the iPad Air 2 and the iPhone 5 and 6 in coloration accuracy , and that the iPad mini 4 does an even better job at cutting down screen glare than the iPad Air 2 , which DisplayMate had previously deemed as the top performer in reflectance tests .
Finally, a processor upgrade
The iPad mini 3 had the same A7 processor as the iPad miniskirt 2 . The iPad mini 4 features Apple ’s A8 CPU , which is a significant upgrade . It ’s not as fast as the A8X central processing unit in theiPad Air 2 , but there as size of it and rut considerations that need to be taken into account .
If you ’ve been using an older iPad miniskirt , the iPad mini 4 immediately feels snappier . Web pages stretch quickly , and switch between apps pass without a singultus . Overall , I did n’t see any exaggerated processor meantime .
To collect numbers to form a benchmark compare , I usedGeekbench . The iPad miniskirt 4 was 27 per centum quicker than the iPad mini 3 in both the Geekbench exclusive - core and multi - core tests .
iPad mini 4 Geekbench 3 results
Longer bars are expert .
The iPad mini 4 ship with iOS 9 , so you get all the benefits of Split View , Picture in Picture , Maps transit information , and more . We ’ve cover up iOS 9 extensively if you ’d like to learn more about Apple ’s mobile operating organisation .
Battery life
Apple touts a ten - hour barrage fire spirit of mixed role that include Wi - Fi web access and video and medicine playback . Of course , your mileage will vary depending on your use , but ten hours should be enough for most multitude .
I never had to care about barrage fire life while using the new iPad miniskirt 4 during an extended period of use — an extended period being over two hour . I tended to netmail , save , see connection sites ( some with video recording ) , chatting online , played a pair of games , and other tasks . It engage a few days of using the iPad miniskirt 4 for a twosome of 60 minutes , put it away for a while , and then afterward using the iPad again before I needed to charge it .
I did run a telecasting test , where I continuously play videos on the iPad mini 4 until the battery was debilitate . I coiffe the twist to airplane mode , since a long flight would be the proper site where you might see several video in a quarrel . The iPad miniskirt 4 battery lasted on ordinary just over 11 hours , an hour longer than Apple ’s specification .
Geekbench has a battery test , and when I ran it on the iPad miniskirt 4 , the battery lasted on average just over 6 hour . This trial is a heap more strenuous than my picture test ( it has an option to dim the projection screen , which I turn off ) , and I ideate it might be tougher on the bombardment that what most people do as work .
Better camera
The iPad mini has long been stuck with a 5 - megapixel iSight camera ( that ’s the back - facing camera ) . Now , I do n’t usually practice any kind of iPad to take film , but there ’s an old saying that goes something like , “ the beneficial photographic camera is the one you have with you . ” And sometimes , when you ’re using your iPad , a photo moment appears , and , hence , the best photographic camera you have is the iPad ’s .
My point is that a better camera — regardless of how often you use the iPad as a pic - taking gimmick — is a welcomed feature , and Apple has ultimately outfitted the iPad mini with a effective tv camera . The iPad mini 4 ’s iSight camera matches the 8 megapixel specs of the iSight television camera in the iPad Air 2 ; along with a new burst fashion , it ’s a nice upgrade from the 5 - megapixel camera that could n’t hit in burst mode in the late iPad mini model . Video transcription is still done at 1080p , but there ’s now funding for slow - apparent movement television capture .
The iPad mini 4 ’s iSight camera ( top ) did a better job of deal outside shots in bright sunlight and shadows than that in the iPad mini 2 ( bottom ) .
The iPad mini 4 ’s iSight camera captures very adept detail and nice color quality . I conceive the iPhone 6s Plus get much better image lineament overall — Apple outfits the iPhone with a better iSight camera than the iPad because it ’s the tv camera you have with you all the time . But if you do need to shoot exposure or videos using the iPad mini 4 , you’re able to roost assure that it will do an satisfactory job .
The FaceTime HD photographic camera ( the front - present photographic camera ) has only one alteration : burst mode support . Otherwise , it ’s still a 1.2 - megapixel camera capable of recording 720p HD video .
Bottom line
With the holidays fast approaching , the iPad mini 4 will be a pop giving , maybe even for yourself . If you own an older iPad — especially if it ’s over two years one-time — you’ll be very satisfied with the iPad mini 4 as an upgrade . It ’s tight , lark about a great - looking display , and it ’s even lighter than its herald . It ’s also available in amber if that ’s your character of thing .
Spend the spare money on the 64 GB edition , particularly if you think you will take a lot of photos or video , or run a lot of game . As an owner of a 16 GB iPad 2 , I hit the storage ceiling very quickly , mostly because of games . With iOS 9 , Apple released app slicing , which will help owners of 16 GB iPads by installing smaller apps , but I would play it safe and get more entrepot .
The iPad miniskirt 2 is still in Apple ’s lineup and has a importantly low price . If you ’re a budget - conscious purchaser , the iPad mini 2 is a right pile .
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