Yesterday Apple unveiled a new smaller iPad – the Apple iPad mini. It features a 7.9 inch display, up to 64GB of storage, optional 4G LTE, a 5 megapixel camera capable of 1080p HD video, a secondary HD camera for FaceTime video calls and is powered by a dual-core Apple A5 processor. Its smaller lighter and cheaper than the iPad, so you would think it would be the perfect tablet for someone looking to get a cheaper iPad.Should you invest in the newest Apple product? We don’t think so, and here are five reasons why.
1) Low Resolution Display
The iPad mini may have a larger 7.9 display compared to its competitors, but the display has the same 1024 x 768 pixel resolution as the Apple iPad 2. In an age where Apple releases almost every product with a Retina display, its disappointing that the iPad mini is restricted to low resolution display. With the release of the Apple iPad 4, the refurbished Apple iPad 3 is being sold at $375, which offers a (2048 x 1536 pixel) retina display on a larger screen and a more powerful processor for less than $50 more.
Anyone considering the iPad mini, should also check out the Google Nexus 7. It may have a smaller 7 inch display, but its resolution is a higher 1280 x 800 pixels. The high resolution results in a higher 216 ppi pixel density on the Nexus 7 compared to the 163 ppi of the iPad mini. It was Apple who pointed out the advantages of higher resolutions and a higher pixel density results in a better viewing experience. So why should we settle for less ?
Users may even want to consider the 4 inch iPod Touch (7th Generation ), which also features a dual core processor, but has a Retina display with 32GB of storage for the $299 price tag.
The iPad mini will eventually be succeeded by a newer model with a Retina display. We would suggest waiting for that one instead, and given Apple’s quick upgrade on their regular iPad lineup we may see the iPad mini 2 within a year.
2) Last year’s processor
Unlike the Nexus 7 which is powered by a quad-core processor, Apple products continue to use different iterations of dual-core processors on their products. The Apple A5 was the first dual core processer by the company, which was first introduced on the iPad 2 in March last year. Since then Apple has introduced the iPad 3 with an updated A5X processor and most recently the iPad 4 with a new A6X processor, so why did they decide that their newest product deserved last year’s technology?
If the iPad mini users want to purchase the same apps which are now optimized for the newest iPad hardware, wouldn’t there be an obvious lax in performance?
3) Lightning Dock
Apple is quickly replacing their entire product line with the lightning docks, which could be another reason for the quick disappearance of the iPad 3. However we don’t think there will be many of us who would have upgraded every single one of their iOS products, just based on the upgraded dock. It is likely there are several Apple products around the house and with your friends which still use the legacy 30-pin connector. Keep in mind that you will have to spend an additional $29 on an adaptor, if you want to use the lightning dock with your older iOS devices.
This may not be a valid reason not to buy the iPad mini, but we are sure it’s a valid reason to wait for some time before upgrading.
4) First is not always the best
Apple has not always been successful with first releases. The best example of this was with the Apple iPhone 4 which suffered from connectivity issues due to a radical design change.
Apple has always felt that their portfolio has no room for a smaller iPad, and their former CEO Steve Jobs, went as far as to say a 7 inch tablet would be dead on arrival. Apple of course would always suggest that they have done the small tablet the right way unlike their competitors, but based on Apple’s track record, the future generations should offer much better value for the money.
By next year we will have all the features mentioned about and more added to the iPad mini 2 and Apple would have worked out all their bugs from this model as well. The next iPad mini may even come in a range of attractive colors similar to the latest iPod Touch and we should also get a good discount on the current model when the next model comes out.
3) Price
I left this point for last as I felt it was the most important element of an affordable tablet. While competitors keep offering the best products for the ever so low cost of $199, Apple decided that their classy outer appearance of the iPad mini was enough to award it a premium cost of $320. While I do agree that it is the cheapest iPad in the market, we will soon see cheaper refurbished models and if we wait long enough, the iPad mini 2 should award the us with a $100 discount on the current generation.
Overall the iPad mini is a nice addition to the iOS family, and if you are looking to purchase an Apple device and the iPad mini fits your budget, you may consider purchasing one. However we wouldn’t recommend this to someone who already owns an iPad 2 or higher, as the specifications just don’t justify the cost.
Potential tablet buyers, should also take a closer look at the Google Nexus 7 or the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, which offer stellar hardware at an amazing $199 price. The iPad mini may look prettier than some these tablets, but when it comes to pure power, it will be left far behind.