iPad Mini Vs. iPad 4: Which One Should You Buy
You know the remarkable third-generation iPad with all the Retina Display? It’s gone. Apple replaced it Tuesday, just a little over six months right after launching it, using a significantly updated model.
The iPad 4 uses exactly the same chassis and overall design of its instant predecessor, but tends to make many alterations beneath the hood. The Retina Display would be the similar, the software is definitely the similar, and the dimensions/weight are the same.
Searching at the differences, it has an A6X processor, which Apple claims is twice as rapid as the outgoing model’s A5X chip. The iPad 4 has new Wi-Fi radios, which Apple also claims are twice as quickly as the outgoing model’s. It supports dual-band 802.11n (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) furthermore to 802.11a/b/g. It truly is compatible with Sprint’s LTE network, where the outgoing model was only readily available for AT&T and Verizon. The iPad 4 loses the 30-pin port for the Lightning port. The FaceTime camera has also been improved.
Pricing for the new iPad 4 would be the identical as the outgoing iPad, starting at $499 for the 16-GB version. In case you’re curious, Apple still sells the iPad 2 (no Retina Display) starting at $399, giving Apple tablets with prices at $329 (iPad Mini), $399 (iPad 2), and $499 (iPad 4) for the base models. That’s not a bad spread to have.
The iPad 4, however, tends to make choosing between the larger iPad plus the iPad Mini even a lot more difficult than it was before. Here would be the key points to consider.
Display — The iPad Mini’s display measures 7.9 inches and has 1024 x 768 pixels, giving it a PPI of 163. The iPad 4′s display measures 9.7 inches and has 2048 x 1436 pixels and a PPI of 264. That’s a significant difference in quality between the two.
Size/Weight — The iPad Mini measures 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28 inches and weighs 0.68 pounds. The iPad 4 measures 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.37 inches and weighs 1.44 pounds. Clearly, the iPad Mini will be easier to hold and use with its smaller, thinner, lighter design.
A5 versus A6X -- Without benchmarks or clock speeds it truly is difficult to compare the performance of the processors, but the fact remains that the iPad Mini utilizes an older A5 processor as well as the iPad 4 makes use of the brand new A6X processor that is twice as rapidly because the outgoing model’s A5X processor.
Pricing -- The pricing is one of the biggest differentiators. The entry-level iPad Mini starts at $329 and the entry-level iPad 4 starts at $499. That $170 is a big gulf, bridged only by the presence of the $399 iPad 2. Spend less money to get the smaller, less-spec-rich iPad or spend far more to get the top-of-the-line hardware.
Moot — Options that are identical between the iPad Mini and iPad 4 include storage options, LTE 4G options, platform/software, Lightning port, and FaceTime/iSight cameras.