Full-HD Display. Experience brilliant images every time – on our
crystal-clear, 440PPI, 5-inch, 1080p full HD display – delivering
superior sharpness, white balance, and color accuracy for everything you
see.
Two Amazing Cameras in One. Never miss a shot with front and
back cameras. Capture high-quality photos that are true to life,
regardless of lighting conditions. With this device, it’s easy to look
like a pro.
Quad-Core Snapdragon S4 processor. With the power of this unbelievably fast, latest generation, 1.5 GHz Quad-Core S4 processor, multi-tasking is a breeze.
Up and running in no time
With HTC Get Started, you can easily
customize all aspects of your phone through a web-based wizard, or you
can choose a content pack that best suits your lifestyle.
You’ll never experience a dull moment on the captivating 5-inch,
1080p full HD display. View all your favorite shows, movies, photos, and
more. Thanks to the eye-popping, 440 PPI display, you’ll enjoy rich,
print-quality images in all their breathtaking beauty.
Amazing Cameras.
Capture every moment using the front or back camera. Get more people
in the frame – including you – with the 88 degree, ultra-wide front
angle lens. The front-facing countdown timer makes it easy to take
picture-perfect portraits every time. And thanks to 1080p HD resolution
and HTC Media Link HD, you’ll never have to compromise image quality
when chatting or wirelessly sending video to your TV.
Authentic Sound.
Enjoy deeper bass, sharper vocals and more detailed high notes than
ever before. With the help of our exclusive built-in amplifier for Beats
Audio™, you can listen to uncompromised, high-definition sound anywhere
you go.
Sophisticated Design.
Enjoy comfort and style right in the palm of your hand. Thanks to
innovative stacking methodology, the HTC Butterfly is slimmer, curvier,
and more comfortable than any other phone of its kind. Instead of
placing the battery on top of the working parts, we install ours
directly into the case first, leaving room for design without compromise
– and comfort beyond compare.
Powerful Quad-Core Processor.
Do more of what you want to do. Surf the web and stream HD movies to
your TV wirelessly at the same time. Reply to emails and download apps
simultaneously. With the power and performance of the unbelievably fast,
latest generation, 1.5 GHz Quad-Core S4 processor, anything’s possible.
Apple's
former CEO Steve Jobs famously slammed small tablets a few years back,
leading many to believe the Cupertino-based firm would never dabble in
the budget end of the market, but here we are.
In terms of
consistency in the tablet market Apple cannot be matched, as it now lays
claim to two of the top three places in our top 10, with the iPad mini
the jewel in an already glistening crown.
The slight downsides to
the iPad mini are that it misses out on a Retina display and it pushes
the upper end of the budget price bracket, but you can justify that
price with its slick operation and premium build quality, letting you
know you have a top piece of kit in your hand.
Quick verdict
"The
iPad mini is the best iPad Apple has ever created" - need we say more?
That's the official verdict from our in-depth review. If you have the
extra cash to spend on the iPad mini over the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, you won't be disappointed.
Number 2: Google Nexus 7
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
3. iPad 4
New iPad 4 details UK release date: October 2012 Price at launch: from £399 OS:iOS 6 TechRadar review: 4.5/5 Compare Apple iPad 4 prices
We're not a fan of the name, but we reckon the new iPad 4 is the best full sized tablet out there.
The
stunning Retina Display is certainly the highlight of Apple's latest
tablet, and you won't see a better tablet screen on the market today.
It may be slightly bigger and heavier than the iPad 2,
but with a bigger battery, beefed up processor and THAT screen, you can
hardly blame Apple for this – plus it still keeps the famous iPad
styling that has become something of a cult classic.
The price tag
is eye-watering, however, and the lack of widgets and customisation
will put some people off, but there are plenty of Android tablets that
can satisfy your need for tweaking.
The Android experience cannot
compete when it comes to dedicated apps, with the App Store rising head
and shoulders above the competition, offering reams of quality
applications made especially for the iPad.
Number 4: Google Nexus 10
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
4. Google Nexus 10
Google Nexus 10 details UK release date: November 2012 Price at launch: £319 OS:Android Jelly Bean TechRadar review: 4.5/5
The
10.1 display is one of the biggest talking points on the Google Nexus
10. At 300 pixels per inch it's the highest resolution tablet display on
the planet - take that Apple and your Retina screens.
It's a
great performer too. Other than taking a while to process panoramic
photos we never felt like it was struggling to keep up. It's fast and
smooth whatever you throw at it.
Sure it may not be as stunning to
look at, or as well built as an iPad, and the lack of expandable memory
will irk some, but overall the Nexus 10 gives you a quality, big-screen
Android experience which is not to be sniffed at.
Number 5: Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
If
it wasn't for the higher price, the Infinity would be a real contender
for the top spot. It's got everything you could want in a tablet - and a
keyboard dock as standard too.
With the latest version of
Android on the way, a simple interface and more ports than you can poke
with a stick, the Infinity is the tablet that can handle anything you
can throw at it.
Add in the Super IPS panel with a tremendous
resolution, and you can see why this is a tablet to rate very highly -
especially if you're fond of typing on the go but crave the simplicity
of a slate too.
Number 6: Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
What's
better than a modern tablet with a quad core processor? One that costs
just £159. That's right: the power of the Kindle brand has mated with an
HD screen and won't charge you the earth to own it.
Coming in at
16GB and 32GB flavours, the Kindle Fire HD is sure to be a big hit,
bringing the simplicity of the e-book range to the tablet arena, with
dedicated space to access your movies, games, apps and music too.
It's
a little simplistic for some, but for others it's the perfect mix of
curated content and easy to use interface - and despite the price, it's
got a decent build quality too.
Number 7: Microsoft Surface
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
7. Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface details UK release date: November 2012 Price at launch: from £399 OS:Windows RT TechRadar review: 4/5 Buy direct from Microsoft
What
do you do when you don't think your manufacturers are making good
enough hardware? Design and create your own, of course... and that's
what Microsoft has done here.
The Surface has a great build and
the built-in kickstand is a key part of the device, and provided us
with plenty of pleasing moments when we momentarily searched for a
place to prop up our tablet before remembering there was no need.
Two
types of keyboard, support for SD cards and the ability to choose
multiple versions of Windows make this a powerhouse tablet that will
unleash the power of Windows 8 to many.
Number 8: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
What's
better than a tablet with a big screen? A tablet with a big screen, a
quad core processor and the might of the S Pen... known as a stylus to
me and you.
Well, not just a stylus - with many levels of pressure
sensitivity and the ability easily sketch and annotate on a wide range
of items, the Galaxy Note 10.1 offers so much more than your average
tablet.
We're huge fans of the alternative choice here, and it
even comes with a microSD slot to boot - plus we're now looking at
Android Jelly Bean sitting proudly underneath the TouchWiz OS.
Number 9: Apple iPad 2
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
For a whole year the iPad 2 reigned supreme, usurping the original iPad and setting the standard for all other tablets to aspire to.
However, as the Apple product cycle goes, one year later and the new kid on the block, cleverly named the new iPad, had stolen its thunder, only for that to be replaced six months later by the iPad 4 - crazy times.
It's
not all bad news though. The iPad 2 still offers a top tablet
experience with access to the huge app store and iTunes libraries, and
while the screen is not the Retina Display of its successor, it's gosh
darn good.
Number 10: Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
Updated Top tablets compared: which is best for you?
Before
the onslaught of the tiny budget tabs, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 cut a
lonely figure at the smaller end of the tablet market.
Based on its bigger brother the Galaxy Tab 10.1,
the Tab 8.9 provides another decent Android tablet experience, with a
lighter body, but of course a sacrifice in screen size.
The
smaller and lighter Galaxy Tab 8.9 is great for reading books, checking
emails and browsing the web, and as it trumps the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook and Acer Iconia Tab A100, it's able to deliver reasonable movie playback too.
Quick verdict
The
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is great for those who want an ebook reader
with extra media functions, or for those who are more conscious of
weight than screen size.
To
say that Amazon has been the single most powerful catalyst in the
e-book revolution would not be an exaggeration. Before the introduction
of the Kindle,
many who adored the printed page universally scoffed at e-book readers,
claiming that such devices would never replace the traditional reading
experience.
But Amazon's hardware has been a real game changer,
enough to force even the most ardent ebook critic to admit that Amazon's
take was genuinely impressive, perhaps begrudgingly. Yet in the recent years, the competition has become quite stiff. Mostly in the form of Apple's iPad,
which offered the same functionality and form factor, but the ability
to do much more. Even Amazon itself has tried producing a similar "do
everything" machine, the Kindle Fire HD, which relies upon the Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.
But
what about those who have no need or desire to watch movies, listen to
their MP3 collection, and play games? What about those who just want to
snuggle up with a good book, even if its just ultimately ones and
zeroes?
Leave it to Amazon to change the game again. The latest
device in the traditional Kindle line, the Kindle Paperwhite, is easily
its best effort yet. Five years of refinements and improvements are
clearly evident, resulting in what might be the finest pure ereader in
the market today, even if it's not 100% perfect.
It comes in at
just £109, which is again an impressive price for some top-end kit; yes,
it's pricey compared to some e-readers, but there's no doubt this is
one of the best.
Design
First impressions of the any new
piece of hardware, while not indicative of the overall experience in the
end, will contribute significantly towards toward one's overall
opinion. We're happy to report that it's all smiles when one unboxes and
handles their Paperwhite for the very first time.
The WiFi only
unit, which we're reviewing here, weighs just 213 grams and measures
16.9 cm x 11.7 cm x 0.91 cm, so it's a bit thinner than the previous
Kindle model, the Kindle Touch.
On a purely visual level, the Paperwhite appears to have quietly take
design cues from both its predecessor and its Android driven cousin, the
7-inch Kindle Fire HD, mostly due to its sleeker, simpler profile. Indeed,
it's by far the best looking traditional Kindle we've ever designed.
Even those who have been turned off by previous models should have very
little to complain about here. The slightly garish physical keyboard
from earlier modes has become a thing of the past. It also drops the
rather subpar cursor pad from previous generations as well.
Instead,
the front of the device sports a smooth, black matte plastic bezel,
with just the Kindle name on the bottom, in white. The edges are
comfortably rounded, which is nice since your hands will be rubbing
against them quite a bit. Due to its low profile on all counts, the
Paperwhite is a joy to behold, and seems expertly designed to fit in one
hand. Again,
the device is effortless to hold, thanks to a rubberized plastic
coating. It allows for easy gripping and simply cannot slip out of one's
hand, no matter how sweaty your grip becomes. There's an immediate
impression that the Paperwhite is a device that's suitable, and
comfortable, for all situations.
Amazon has produced protective
cases for the Paperwhite, but it would be purely for decoration with
this latest Kindle. The overall construction is rock solid and withstood
quite the pounding, while showing zero wear and tear in the end.
Display
The
Kindle Paperwhite's main attraction is its display. Like all of
Amazon's ebook readers, it uses E Ink, which provides some real
advantages over devices like Apple's iPad 4. The non-reflective screen can be read in direct sunlight, and it makes extended periods of reading easier on the eye.
Yet
the Paperwhite's screen is unlike those of previous Kindles models.
First there's the increase in resolution. The previous model, the Kindle Touch,
had an impressive 167 ppi (pixels per inch), which the Paperwhite
manages to best with 212 ppi. Text, no matter the font, no matter the
size, simply looked crisp, clear and incredible. As
impressive as high-density screens like Apple's Retina display might
be, the Paperwhite is easier on the eyes. It simply does an excellent
job of mimicking actual paper.
Another distinguishing feature is
the front lighting, which is quite different from the traditionally
backlit solutions. The screen is actually comprised of three separate
layers: the first is the actual E Ink display, and directly on top of
that is the capacitive touchscreen. On top of that is the fiber
optic-like system that illuminates everything below. Simply
put, this is best E Ink display of the market today. There has also
never been an e-book reader display that is so pleasing to the eye.
The
goal was to ensure a reading experience with minimal eyestrain, even in
the dark. Amazon has met this challenge handily. With 24 levels of
brightness to choose from, no matter how sensitive to light your eyes
might be, the Paperwhite can be adjusted for your best possible reading
comfort. Yet
it's not absolutely perfect. Some might see the Paperwhite's 2GB of
storage as a bit of a step back, since past models had 4GB. However,
when you consider that this reduction is probably how the device
achieved its minuscule form factor, and that the Paperwhite can still
hold around 1,100 titles, it's not much of a sacrifice.
More
irritating are some lighting irregularities near the bottom of the
screen, which creates slight dark spots. We personally had no issues
with the matter, but did notice them when using the Paperwhite in low
light situations. They were hardly distracting, and since it was at the
very bottom of the page, it never disrupted the actual text.
Yet
enough people have complained for Amazon to issue a statement, in which
they stated that their hardware is not defective, just not 100% perfect.
A few might take issue, but probably the same amount of people who feel
that 1,100 books makes a low-capacity ereader.
There's no doubt
the non-uniform glow is disappointing, as the thought of a pure white
display would be stunning; in reality it doesn't really matter in day to
day use though, so we would barely even call it a negative.
Charging and Battery Life
Of
all the traditional ebook readers that Amazon has produced, the Kindle
Paperwhite has the least amount of buttons: just one, at the very
bottom. There you'll find the on/off switch, the status light, and
micro-USB port for charging with a PC.
This is where in which the
first serious omission is found: the lack of a headphone port. This
means no text to speech functionality, which might be a flat out deal
killer for some, if not many. The
reasoning for this is to keep the Paperwhite as light and small as
possible; Amazon has already explained that the audio chip required, or
even just a headphone jack, would compromise such goals.
The
Paperwhite ships with a micro-USB cable (which is white, an odd choice
since everything else is all black), so it can be charged by connecting
with a computer. This is a bit inconvenient if you're traveling and
don't have your laptop handy. Though Amazon does sell an AC adaptor for a
reasonable £9, the "sold separately" attitude is a bit annoying. Thankfully,
the Paperwhite's battery performance lives up to the fine tradition
that previous Kindles have established. Amazon claims that a single
charge can last upwards of eight weeks, and with moderate use, the
device can certainly hang in there. Various tests under an assortment of
circumstances proved Amazon's jaw dropping claims to be true.
Though
one does have to be mindful of usage to get peak performance. The new
screen is quite sexy, but does take a toll on battery life, and so does
keeping WiFi on. In the case of the latter, the solution might seem
simple enough: just keep it off at most times, but that's easier said
than done.
For starters, many users might want to have their last
read page synced across all their devices, so having a consistent
connection is nice. If you're upgrading from a previous Kindle, you'll
be amazed how quickly the battery drains with everything turned on...
but in reality, it's still going to be weeks at a time you can use it,
even with the backlight.
Getting to storage size, consumers may
scoff at the Paperwhite's mere 2GB of storage. However, when you
consider that, according to Amazon's estimates, that's enough room for
1,100 titles, we there's more than enough for the most avid of readers.
Still, the last Kindle had 4GB, so this can be seen as something of a step backwards.
Interface part one
The
operating system that drives the Kindle Paperwhite is quite a departure
from previous Kindle devices. Like the overall physical design of the
Paperwhite hardware, it takes various cues from the Kindle Fire HD.
Since
there are no physical buttons, navigation primarily consists of screen
swipes and other gestures. Tapping on the right of the display will turn
the page forward, while tapping the left most portion of the screen
will turn back the page. Topping
the upper portion of the screen is the Kindle toolbar, which on a
purely visual level, is much like the upper portion of a web browser's
window or many desktop application interfaces.
When inside a book,
you have four basic tools. First is Fonts, where you can choose the
size of the type, and as well typeface, from six options in total. Line
spacing and margins can also be adjusted. It's worth noting that the
menu appears like a pop up window that you'd find in Windows or OS X,
right down to the X in upper corner, which can be used to dismiss the
tool and get back to your book.
Next is the Go To menu, which
allows you to navigate various portions of a book and jump between
sections in a quick manner, depending on how the book itself is laid
out.
X-Ray lets you explore the "bones" of a book, as Amazon puts
it. It's essentially a more robust, in-depth version of Go To, it goes
beyond the book itself. Selecting X-Ray provides a list of all the
noteworthy characters, places, phrases, even themes contained on a
single page, in a chapter, or the book as a whole.
Choosing a
particular phrase or word provides additional background information. In
the case of characters or locations in non-fiction, Wikipedia will be
referenced. If not, curated information from that particular book's
Amazon-selected expert handles the embellishment.
This feature
does not use the web for reference; instead it refers to an additional
file that comes with X-Ray-supported titles. As a result, when pulling
up info, it's instantaneous, and no internet connection is required.
That means you don't need a constant WiFi signal to use this feature, it
just needs to be am X-Ray compatible title.
At this point not a
whole lot of books support this new feature, but hopefully the numbers
will grow over time. It's a great tool for keeping track of extended
casts of characters. Finally
there's the Share button, which allows you to share portions of a book
with other users. To select a word, simply hold your finger on it.
Immediately, a pop will appear, asking if you'd like to highlight it.
Here one can also find the definition of the word, provided that a
dictionary is loaded on the device (there are countless free
dictionaries provided by Amazon, but none are pre-installed; they must
be downloaded first).
When it comes to adding a personal message,
the on-screen keyboard will appear. It is here, along with the
navigating the new operating system as a whole, in which Kindle veterans
will note how much snappier everything moves along. While there is
still a delay between action and result, it's nowhere near as slow and
pokey as with the first generation of Kindle devices. Though many who are used to more modern mobile operating systems, like iOS 6 or Android 4.1,
might find it a bit of a culture shock. A few things feel like they
should be faster, more immediate. However, given how little you'll
interact with the operating system, compared to an iPhone or Android
tablet, this is a minor inconvenience.
The only issue is when it
comes to typing; there is a tendency for the Paperwhite to miss a text
input, which will require you to go back and try again. Simply typing a
tiny bit slower will solve the problem. Basically, if you don't type
like you're hurriedly texting a friend, but simply making a notation,
there won't be problem.
Interface part two
The
very top of the Kindle Paperwhite toolbar has options that provide
consistent controls, in or out of a book. First there's the Home button,
which provides an immediate exit from a book to the launch page. Upon
turning the Kindle Paperwhite on, this is also where everyone will
start.
At the upper left of the launch page are two sections,
Cloud and Device. Cloud is your entire Amazon library. As noted, in
addition to whatever books you might already own, you'll find a variety
of dictionaries for download. To
navigate this portion of the Paperwhite, simple taps will not do.
Instead, you'll swipe back and forth, like on an iOS or Android device.
Upon getting all the way to the beginning of a sub-section, the Back
button comes into play. It's a bit jarring, this little navigation
inconsistency (simply tapping the Home button will suffice in most
occasions), but it's nothing earth-shattering, and we got used to it
quickly.
Next to the Back button is a light bulb icon that allows
you to adjust the screen's brightness. As noted previously, there are 24
different levels, which should insure a comfortable degree of
illumination in almost any circumstance.
The only quibble here,
and it's a minor one, is how there's no immediate on/off, or toggle
options. But again, the Paperwhite's OS is so snappy that the omission
is not a true issue. Dragging your finger down your slider works well
enough. Then
we have the Kindle Store button. Here you can browse books, newspapers,
magazines, and more. It's easy to make purchases directly from within
the device. The layout is similar to the experience of shopping with
Amazon on the web. Any purchased material shows up in the Device
immediately.
The Kindle Store is the device's killer app, and is
even more impressive than the Paperwhite's advanced display. There's
simply more reading material here than on any competitor's marketplace. Right
next to the Store button is the universal search function. When inside a
book, it can be used to search for specific words and terms, though
outside, in the main screen, it can search across all the items in your
library, provided that they are installed on your device (meaning items
in the cloud but not synced to the device will not appear). Inside the
store, it can be used to look for all things within Amazon's ecosystem.
Finally
we have more advanced options, including settings and sync related
options. One can find special offers in the Kindle Store, as well as a
means to organize one's library, by placing them in Collections. Though
the most interesting item of them all is the Experimental Browser.
Experimental
is putting it mildly. It's designed to serve up popular portals, often
mobile versions, as well as full pages properly, but it's very tough to
navigate, and is the only time in which the Paperwhite feels as if its
over extending itself.
It's really not worth the bother, although
if you've ditched the smartphone for some reason and simply MUST get
online, enjoy feeling like you're using a dial-up browser while wearing a
blindfold.
Connectivity
There are several different versions of the Kindle Paperwhite. The one tested was the Kindle Paperwhite 3G, which costs £169. In
some countries, such as the US, there are options to buy and
ad-supported version... thankfully we're spared such a travesty in the
UK.
3G is unlimited (within reason, although you'd struggle to
download too much using it) meaning you can get hold of a new book
without Wi-Fi whenever you're on the go. We found the 3G to be excellent
in nearly every scenario, and even when it dipped to EDGE, things still
downloaded without an issue.
It uses Vodafone's network to chuck
books and newspapers down to the Paperwhite, so if you know you're in a
Voda blackspot for the times you'd want to be buying new books, steer
clear of this version. However, the chance to get daily content for free
when on holiday is worth the £60 extra in our opinion. The
WiFi model costs £109, which will probably be OK for most people; after
all, most will download books at home and read on the bus or train -
but with no extra cost for data we like being future-proofed, even for
the higher cost.
Unless you are downloading a new book literally
every five minutes and absolutely cannot stomach ads in any form or
fashion, the most expensive version might seem a bit excessive, but we
love choice.
Hands on photography
A beautiful display, powerful A5 chip,
FaceTime HD camera, iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording,
ultrafast wireless, and over 275,000 apps ready to download from the App
Store. iPad mini is an iPad in every way, shape, and slightly smaller
form. Watch the video
Perfectly sized LED-backlit display.
iPad mini makes one thing clear: Its 7.9‑inch display more than
measures up to the complete iPad experience. View web pages in Safari.
See where you are and what’s around you using Maps.1 Flick through your photos and watch videos in vivid detail. And wave hello to the family on a FaceTime call.2
The iPad mini display uses the same LED backlight technology as iPad to
give you plenty of pop per square inch. And it’s perfectly sized to
work with hundreds of thousands of apps made for iPad.
Thin and light design.
iPad mini has everything that makes an iPad an iPad, but it’s a
fraction of the size. At just 7.2 millimeters, it’s pencil thin and
unbelievably light.3 You can easily hold it in your palm. And stash it in your smallest bag without a second thought, so it’s always close at hand.
iPhoto
iPhoto is everything you love about viewing, editing, and sharing photos — but with the power and simplicity of Multi‑Touch. View iPhoto in the App Store
iMovie
You can shoot 1080p HD movies from your iPad mini. And with
iMovie, you can turn that footage into a Hollywood-style trailer or mini
feature film. View iMovie in the App Store
GarageBand
GarageBand lets you play a collection of Touch and Smart
Instruments that sound just like their real counterparts — but let you
do things you never could on a real instrument. View GarageBand in the App Store
Pages
Apple-designed templates and easy-to-use formatting tools let
you create beautiful letters, flyers, reports, invitations, and more. View Pages in the App Store
Numbers
Make innovative spreadsheets in a few taps with over 250
easy-to-use functions, an intelligent keyboard, flexible tables, and fun
3D charts. View Numbers in the App Store
Keynote
Create presentations with elegantly designed themes, custom graphic styles, stunning transitions, animated 3D charts, and more. View Keynote in the App Store
Facebook
Keep up with the people you know. Share your updates, photos, and videos. And see what friends and family are up to. View Facebook in the App Store
MLB.com At Bat
See every pitch and every at bat — live on iPad mini. Get
home and away radio broadcasts, video highlights, news, stats, and more.
View MLB.com in the App Store
Gilt Taste
Get great deals on food and wine, and read exclusive stories and recipes from famous chefs and food writers. View Gilt Taste in the App Store
Manage your finances with a free account from Mint.com. View
balances for your bank and credit card accounts, group spending by
category, and more. View Mint.com Personal Finance in the App Store
Built-in apps.
Right out of the box, iPad mini is ready for big things. Map
out your next adventure. Then shoot it in 1080p HD. Ask Siri to help you
find the best pizza in town. Watch a webcast or a movie. Read a best
seller or a magazine. Check email. Send messages. Or stay in touch
face-to-face over FaceTime. You’ll be amazed at how much is built right
in.1 Learn more about built-in apps
Over 275,000 apps from the App Store.
The App Store is home to over 275,000 iPad apps and counting.4
And right from the start, they work on iPad mini. But quantity is only
part of the story. These are beautiful, immersive, made-just-for-iPad
apps. And they change the way you do everything. You can make a
spreadsheet for work, make a Hollywood-style trailer for fun, plan a
lesson, plan a trip, or simply plan a meal — all on a device you can
hold in one hand. Learn more about apps from the App Store
Powerful A5 chip.
iPad is known for its fast, fluid performance, and iPad mini
doesn’t disappoint. It features the powerful and power-efficient A5
chip, which makes everything you do feel smooth and natural. From the
little things like switching from app to app and swiping from page to
page, to the big things like editing photos, watching movies, and
playing games.
10-hour battery life.
iPad mini wouldn’t be an iPad without incredible battery life.
Even with so much performance packed into such a small space, it still
lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge.5 So you can read, watch, play, write, and create whatever you want, as long as you want.
Wave hello with FaceTime video calling.
With FaceTime built into iPad mini, you can make a video call over Wi‑Fi or cellular.2
The front-facing FaceTime HD camera gives everyone a great view of you,
while the iSight camera on the back lets you show others what you’re
seeing. So even when you’re out and about, your friends and family are
never out of the loop. You can hear every laugh and see every smile. And
with the 7.9‑inch display, you’ve got more than enough screen to take
in the whole scene. You can also use the front-facing camera for taking
self-portraits or recording 720p HD video.
Record HD video in full 1080p.
An impromptu performance on the subway, the winning shot at
your daughter’s soccer game, an awesome 360-degree view from the top of
the mountain — the iSight camera on iPad mini lets you capture all these
unpredictable, beautiful, spectacular moments. In 1080p HD, no less.
The spacious iPad mini display gives you a great view of whatever you’re
filming. And with automatic video stabilization, your recording is free
of bumps and shakes. So your videos are instantly ready to share.
Shoot 5‑megapixel still images.
The 5‑megapixel iSight camera features a backside illumination
sensor that captures great-looking pictures whether by sunlight or
candlelight. When you shoot photos, the big, beautiful iPad mini display
becomes a big, beautiful viewfinder — giving you plenty of room to
compose your shot. Autofocus, tap to focus, and tap to set exposure
functions mean every photo you take instantly becomes frameworthy. And
with built-in face detection that automatically balances focus and
exposure across up to 10 faces, there’s more room for more grins. So
everyone look at iPad mini and say “Cheese.”
Advanced Wi‑Fi technology. Built in.
iPad mini features advanced Wi‑Fi that's up to twice as fast as
any previous-generation iPad. With dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 802.11n
Wi‑Fi and support for channel bonding, download speeds can reach up to
150 Mbps.6 Translation: The things you do every day may start to feel a whole lot faster.
Next-generation cellular connectivity — up to LTE.
If you want to connect to the Internet even when you don’t have
access to Wi‑Fi, choose iPad mini with Wi‑Fi + Cellular. It can make
ultrafast cellular network connections around the world — including LTE7 and
other advanced wireless networks such as HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. So
you can download content, stream video, and browse the web at amazing
speeds — without a contract or long-term commitment. Learn more
Siri helps you do the things you do every day. All you have to do is ask.Ask Siri for baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer scores as well as schedules, rosters, and stats.Ask Siri to get showtimes, look up movie facts, play trailers, show you reviews, and more.Ask Siri to help you find
restaurants by cuisine, price, location, outdoor seating or a
combination of choices. Siri gets you photos, reviews, and reservations.Ask Siri to update your Facebook status and post a comment.Twitter integration means you can ask Siri to tweet for you.
Just ask Siri.
Siri is the intelligent assistant that helps you get things
done, just by asking. Talk to Siri as you would to a person: Ask “Do I
need an umbrella?” or “Did the Giants win last night?” or “What time is
the barbecue on Sunday?” Siri not only understands what you say, it
knows what you mean. It figures out the right apps to use to find the
right answer. Then, just like a personal assistant, Siri provides you
with the information you need.8Learn more about Siri
iOS
The world’s most advanced mobile operating system.
At the core of every iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch is iOS. It
includes all the built-in apps you use every day and all the intuitive
technology — like Multi‑Touch and Siri — that makes iPad mini so
advanced. With every free iOS update comes even more capability for your
devices. You’ll find the latest version, iOS 6, already installed on
iPad mini. So right out of the box, you get more than 200 new features
to make the things you do every day even better. Learn more about iOS
iCloud
Your content. On all your devices.
iCloud is built right into iPad mini. Just turn it on and you’ll
have instant access to all the things you need, whether you’re on your
iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC.9 New features in iOS 6
let you do even more with iCloud. Share the photos you want with the
people you choose using Shared Photo Streams. Locate, lock, and recover
your misplaced iPad mini easier than ever. Browse a web page on one
device and pick up where you left off on another device using iCloud
Tabs. And that’s just for starters. Learn more about iCloud
Stream via AirPlay.
All the great stuff on your iPad mini — your music, photos, and
videos — can stream wirelessly to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV10
or to AirPlay-enabled speakers over a Wi‑Fi network. With just a tap of
the AirPlay icon, you can rock the house with your favorite album, have
a movie night, or show off some photos. And go big. Learn more about AirPlay
Print via AirPrint.
Print right from your iPad mini over Wi‑Fi with AirPrint.
There’s no software to download, no drivers to install, and no cables to
connect. Print from Mail, Photos, Safari, and iBooks. Or any of the
iWork apps — Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. With just a few taps, you can
send whatever's onscreen to an AirPrint-enabled printer.
Click and drag
Made for iPad mini. And vice versa.
The cover that wakes up, stands up, and brightens up iPad has been redesigned for iPad mini.11
And what a smart pair they are. iPad mini and the iPad mini Smart
Cover, that is. Magnetic technology built into each one really pulls
them together. The Smart Cover snaps perfectly into place to protect
your screen — without adding bulk. Open the Smart Cover and your iPad
mini wakes up. Close it and your iPad mini goes to sleep. Fold the Smart
Cover and it becomes a stand. It’s all just so, well, smart. View more iPad accessories
iPad mini is so thin and light, it requires an ultraslim
connector. It’s called the Lightning connector, and it features an
all-digital, eight-signal design that’s significantly more durable than
the 30‑pin connector. Another brilliant feature of Lightning: It’s
reversible. Which means there’s no wrong way to plug in the cable.
Lightning to 30‑pin Adapter.
If you have an iPad accessory that depends on the 30‑pin
connector, you can still connect it to your iPad mini. Simply use a
Lightning to 30‑pin Adapter (sold separately).
Full-HD Display. Experience brilliant images every time – on our crystal-clear, 440PPI, 5-inch, 1080p full HD display – delivering superior sharpness, white balance, and color accuracy for everything you see.
Two Amazing Cameras in One. Never miss a shot with front and back cameras. Capture high-quality photos that are true to life, regardless of lighting conditions. With this device, it’s easy to look like a pro.
Quad-Core Snapdragon S4 processor. With the power of this unbelievably fast, latest generation, 1.5 GHz Quad-Core S4 processor, multi-tasking is a breeze.
