iPad mini

The iPad mini is the smallest iPad yet. Built around a 7.9" display, it has the same 1024 x 768 resolution as the first two iPads, yet it's small and light enough to be comfortably held in one hand. In terms of display space, the 7.9" screen has 35% more area than a 7.0" tablet - yet at the same time 30% less than the full-sized iPad.

To further reduce the Mini's footprint, it has less border along the sides of the screen (in portrait mode), where previous iPads all have the same width of border surrounding the screen. Overall, two iPad minis side-by-side are just a bit larger than a full-sized iPad.

All three models of the Mini (as well as the new iPad 4) include 802.11n WiFi on both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands, and there are two cellular versions - both support GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA+/DC-SHSPA, but one supports LTE bands 4 and 17, while the other supports CDMA and LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 13, and 25.

For peripherals, the iPad mini uses Bluetooth 4.0, and it uses Apple's new Lightning connector for data and charging, just like the iPhone 5 and 5G iPod touch introduced a month earlier.

As with the iPad 2 and later, the Mini includes two cameras - a rear facing 5 MP/1080i camera for regular photos and video plus a front facing 1.2 MP/720p FaceTime camera for video chat.

Storage capacities are 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB, just like other iPads.

Prices qwithout cellular: 16 GB, $329; 32 GB, $429; 64 GB, $529. With 3G/4G/LTE cellular: 16 GB with 3G, $459; 32 GB, $559; 64 GB, $659.

Specifications

  • announced 2012.10.23; preorder 2012.10.26; non-cellular version available 2012.11.02, cellular model to follow in 2-3 weeks
  • requires iOS 6 or later
  • CPU: dual-core 1 GHz (?) Apple A5
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Level 2 cache: 1 MB
  • performance: Geekbench
    • overall:
    • integer:
    • floating point:
    • memory:
    • stream:
  • display: 7.9" 1024 x 768 LED backlit, 163 ppi resolution
  • video out: with adapter
  • flash drive: 16, 32, and 64 GB
  • ports: Lightning port, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, SIM card tray (cellular models only)
  • WiFi: 802.11n (supports 5 GHz band)
  • Bluetooth: 4.0
  • G3: UMTS/HSDPA/GSM/EDGE or CDMA
  • sensors: accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass
  • microphone: built in
  • Battery: rated at 10 hours, one month on standby
  • size: 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28" (200 x 134.7 x 7.3 mm)
  • weight
    • WiFi: 0.68 lb. (308 g)
    • 4G: 0.69 lb. (312 g)

Online Resources

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
The Vintage Mac Museum
Deal Brothers
DealMac
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
Macgo Blu-ray Player
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay

Low End Mac's Amazon.com store

Advertise

Open Link