Apple's little tablet made an appearance. As expected, after 7:45 p.m. today, October 23, the Cupertino-based multinational showed its fifth tablet in the iPad range (the surprise came from the hand of a fourth model based on the third, but with improvements). We will know it as iPad Mini, and as it already happened with the iPhone 5, rumors and leaks have been primed with the device to the point that any hint of surprise is mere coincidence.
What has been shown is a tablet with a screen less than eight inches. Specifically, 7.9 inches that distribute a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels, giving as a result one density of 163 dots per inch. The device is very thin, marking only 7.2 millimeters thick. The design itself of the iPad Mini emulates the line of the last two releases of the house, although reducing, of course, its proportions due to the conditioning of its new screen. Its weight, in addition, is only 308 grams.
In connections what we find before this terminal is with the profile that we already knew from the new iPad, although with a novelty: the presence of Lighting. The small proprietary connector of the iPhone 5 moves to the iPad Mini, and it does so for faster transfers and communications. However, remember, you may lose a margin of compatibility with some of your accessories, if you are a user of previous Apple terminals.
The iPad Mini also includes LTE, that is, access to fourth generation data networks, although it is still not compatible with the frequency bands on which this standard operates in the different regions where there are commercial services of this type ”” unfortunately, Spain is not one of them. On the other hand, the iPad Mini includes a 3G connection in specific models, the presence of the Wi-Fi sensor being a constant in all editions of the small tablet.
It also has aGPS, Bluetooth and a standard headphone jack. The integrated sound output becomes stereo, located in the lower area of the terminal, as if it escorted the Lighting connector in the way that we have already seen in the aforementioned iPhone 5.
Let's move on to the multimedia plane. This iPad Mini has two cameras. The principal, located on the back of the computer, has a resolution of five megapixels and provides the ability to make video captures HD quality with a maximum FullHD. As for the secondary camera, it is located on the front, on the screen, and its function is focused on the possibility of making HD 720p video calls through Facetime. Also captures 1.2 megapixel photos
For the rest, when it comes to playing music and video or viewing images, the iPad Mini will behave like its older brothers, being subject to the dictatorship of the iTunes guardian, so only the formats supported by the well-known Apple desktop application they will be available on the small tablet.
The performance of the iPad Mini is borne by the A5x processor in the new iPad. It is a dual-core unit, as you already remember, which is accompanied by a one GB RAM. And since we are talking about memory, we can put on the table one of the main points to consider when getting an iPad Mini "" in addition to the price, which is linked, to a large extent, precisely to this section.
We refer to the internal storage capacity, which in the iPad Mini, as usual, is divided into three varieties. Based on this, we could select our small tablet with 16, 32 or 64 GB. A classic that did deny the rumors, which pointed to the presence of a basic model of eight GB.
The basic model will cost, as announced, 330 dollars, although the currency exchange will be lost in the translation, with what in Europe we would see the iPad Mini Wi-Fi of 16 GB for 330 euros. By the way, models based only on Wi-Fi connectivity will go on sale first. It will be next November 2 when they begin to be sold in many countries, among which is Spain. A couple of weeks later, the distribution of the model with access to mobile networks will begin.
At the top of the pyramid, the iPad Mini Wi-Fi with access to cellular networks and 64 GB of integrated memory would require an outlay of 660 euros. Crossing models following three variables "" memory, connectivity and frame color "" would be configured a price range that, between the two exposed extremes, would include the labels of 430, 460, 530 and 560 euros.
In autonomy, Apple ensures that the iPad Mini will be able to last in use the ten hours that are practically the canonical duration in the iPad family. However, as usual, it is difficult to specify the type of use with which the small tablet would withstand that time.
Are we facing what we expected? Completely. Apple proves, once again, that the era of secrecy has become a relic in its information policy. It is interesting to see how the firm validates the idea that Amazon and Google have become a real threat in the tablet market with their Kindle Fire and Nexus 7, thus responding with the same artillery, namely: a tablet of small dimensions that can be achieved, at least in its simplest version, for a fairly competitive price in relation to its features (although notably higher than what its enemies propose) .And also, with the added value of being Apple, a firm so linked to a hypnotic corporate image as a benchmark in the tablet market.
With this , Apple diversifies and recognizes the threat in the enemy, while confirming, as dean and still leader of the next generation tablet market that the small format models are here to stay.
