iPad Mini: iPad mini build quality and fingerprints

[shadowjeff]

I just got the ipad mini yesterday, and I love the size and everything else about it. The screen does bug me though but it has nothing to do with the screen resolution, it has more to do with the build quality of the screen.

I'm not entirely sure how to describe it but when you touch the glass of the ipad mini screen, it actually doesn't feel as solid or high quality as the glass on the ipad 4. It feels as though it can be bend. Not sure if its because of the thinner layer between the glass and LCD panel, but the glass kinda makes the ipad mini feels a little cheap.

Another issue is the fingerprints on this thing, it is driving me crazy. Just used it for a day, the fingerprints are everywhere on the screen. I don't eat anything oily when using any of my electronic devices and the fingerprints isn't that apparent at all when I'm using the normal ipad and my iPhone 5. Tried wiping them off with a microfibres cloth but the fingerprint 'oil' seems to not come off at all.

[EMAN19]

I can careless about the screen not being of high quality or not.

Easily getting fingerprints on the back is a bit of an annoyance that I noticed though. Oh well.

[LanEvo]

Get a case and screen protector, problem solved... Both those items can be had for under $10.

[Rogifan]

I have a 3rd gen iPad and I'm constantly wiping the screen on it too.

[greenchiliman]

I put a matte finish protector on my iPad and don't have to worry about wiping fingerprints anymore. I also got a thin case for the back so, again, I don't have to wipe off constantly.

[Appl3FTW]

BREAKING NEWS: if you touch the screen, you will leave fingerprints.. which is annoying

[Mikhailov]

I use a ZAGG Invisible Shield HD. You don't notice the screen is even there and it takes care of the fingerprint issue.

[nanotoj]

Originally Posted by Mikhailov

I use a ZAGG Invisible Shield HD. You don't notice the screen is even there and it takes care of the fingerprint issue.

Same here...it looks good. Tried a case I got at Walmart which started pulling it up on one side, returned it and I am now waiting on a sleeve ordered from Amazon which should allow me to leave the smartcover on.

[Nychot]

The screen is sxxi. If you even slightly accidentally drop the mini the screen will shatter. This is definitely NOT gorilla glass. I can just imagine after Xmas when kids get their hands on this thing the lineup at the Genius Bar for shattered screens. Apple's going to have come up with a new one.

[EMAN19]

I got the White & Silver model yesterday and no visible smudges on the back or front! Woohoo!

Originally Posted by tomjleeds

Because it's irritating, and I'm pedantic.

The whole "could care less" thing is ridiculous enough, and you took it to a whole new level.

I can care less if you're "pedantic" and find it irritating. Just contribute to the thread.

[CNeufeld]

I've got an iPad 2 and an iPad 3. The 3 is significantly more prone to getting covered with fingerprints than the 2 is, with the same amount and type of use. Not sure if they changed their coating or what, but it sounds like the Mini is more similar to the 3. Bummer.

Clint

[layziegtp]

ITT - Semantics

[Izzybeff]

Originally Posted by Nychot

The screen is sxxi. If you even slightly accidentally drop the mini the screen will shatter. This is definitely NOT gorilla glass. I can just imagine after Xmas when kids get their hands on this thing the lineup at the Genius Bar for shattered screens. Apple's going to have come up with a new one.

Not true. I dropped mine out of the car and onto the cement on Saturday from about 3 feet up in my husbands work van and it didn't shatter. Didn't even crack a corner or anything. It was in a knitted case at the time, but it was perfect when I took it out of the case.

Yes, I was freaking out and I though my husband was going to have a heart attack considering I had only had it for 24 hours at that point.

[scupking]

I see no difference in smudges or reflections between my mini and my now sold iPad 3.

[mctroki]

I switched my Ipad 2 for a mini and the difference in terms of left fingerprints is huge. I spend my time cleaning the mini which I did not need to do on the 2.

What has changed between the 2 screens?

[AppleRobert]

Originally Posted by mctroki

I switched my Ipad 2 for a mini and the difference in terms of left fingerprints is huge. I spend my time cleaning the mini which I did not need to do on the 2.

What has changed between the 2 screens?

Don't know but I have sort of an interesting story. I personally rid myself of the Mini and the fingerprints was a reason besides the screen and older chip.

My GF saw an open box ipad 2 in BB the other day. She went to the display area to first check this model out. She immediately noticed far less fingerprints. I said well how but the text? She said it was OK but she knew she could use a different browser like Perfect so we went back to the employee and she purchased it. We get it back to her place, opened the box and the thing was brand spanking new, the ipad 2 still in plastic wrap along with the connector and charger as well!

She is returning the Mini getting a new ipad 2 basically for the same price.

[xMClass]

Don't want fingerprints all over your device? Don't use it.

[SnowLeopard2008]

Originally Posted by AppleRobert

Don't know but I have sort of an interesting story. I personally rid myself of the Mini and the fingerprints was a reason besides the screen and older chip.

My GF saw an open box ipad 2 in BB the other day. She went to the display area to first check this model out. She immediately noticed far less fingerprints. I said well how but the text? She said it was OK but she knew she could use a different browser like Perfect so we went back to the employee and she purchased it. We get it back to her place, opened the box and the thing was brand spanking new, the ipad 2 still in plastic wrap along with the connector and charger as well!

She is returning the Mini getting a new ipad 2 basically for the same price.

Apart from physical size, there are no discernible differences in hardware. The processor is similar (A5 in iPad mini is slightly faster), screen resolution is same, both panels are IPS, camera is better on iPad mini, etc. iPad mini has stereo speakers which is better than the mono speaker in iPad 2. Now if she got an iPad 3 then I'd say that is a big difference.

[AppleRobert]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard2008

Apart from physical size, there are no discernible differences in hardware. The processor is similar (A5 in iPad mini is slightly faster), screen resolution is same, both panels are IPS, camera is better on iPad mini, etc. iPad mini has stereo speakers which is better than the mono speaker in iPad 2. Now if she got an iPad 3 then I'd say that is a big difference.

She liked the size of it better to tell the truth versus the Mini. It isn't a BIG difference from the 3 or 4 size and weight but it is noticable.

See noticed the fingerprint difference with it and the Mini which kind of shocked me. I never mentioned it to her it was one of the reasons I returned the Mini.

----------

Originally Posted by xMClass

Don't want fingerprints all over your device? Don't use it.

Geez! You know how some people are on this forum by just looking at some of the threads. EVERYTHING matters to some.

And something changed, the difference is noticable. And why if it was enough to bother some folks did it need to? If that feature wasn't broken to begin with, why make it worse?

I guess maybe there are different screen manufacturers so that might be it.