Hands-On With Apple's New iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 5

[MacRumors]

Apple last week surprised us with a brand new iPad in the iPad Air family and a new iPad mini 5, both of which are outfitted with Apple's latest chip technology.

Both the iPad mini 5 and the iPad Air 3 began shipping out to customers, and, as of today, are available in stores. We picked up both tablets to give MacRumors readers a look at Apple's new middle-tier iPads.

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Priced at $399 for the iPad mini and $499 for the iPad Air, Apple's refreshed iPads are not as expensive as the iPad Pro (starts at $799) nor as affordable as the 6th-generation 2018 iPad (starts at $329), and the hardware and design match up with a middle-of-the-road tablet.

The iPad Air is using the same design as the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, while the iPad mini 5 uses the same design as the previous-generation iPad mini 4. Both tablets feature thick top and bottom bezels, with the bottom bezel housing a Touch ID Home button for biometric authentication purposes.

In comparison, the iPad Pro has much slimmer bezels thanks to the removal of Touch ID in favor of Face ID, while the $329 iPad has the same general design but a body that's not as slim.

When it comes to the screen, both of these tablets are using a laminated Retina display that supports wide color for vivid, true to life images and True Tone for adjusting the white balance to match the ambient lighting in the room. It's a better display than the non-laminated display on Apple's cheapest iPad, but lacks the ProMotion technology used in the iPad Pro for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.

The iPad Air and the iPad mini support the original Apple Pencil, so for the first time, Apple's entire iPad lineup works with either the original Apple Pencil or the Apple Pencil 2.

Inside, the iPad Air and the iPad mini are using the A12 Bionic chip, which is the same chip that's in the 2018 iPhone lineup. The $329 iPad is still using an A10 Fusion chip from the iPhone 7 era, while the iPad Pro models use a faster A12X chip.

Functionally, both the iPad Air 3 and the iPad mini 5 are the same tablet with the same specs, with the only difference between the two being screen size and Smart Keyboard compatibility. The iPad Air has a Smart Connector that can be used with a Smart Keyboard, which costs $159. There's no Smart Keyboard for iPad mini because it lacks a Smart Connector.

The two iPads have mediocre 8-megapixel rear cameras, the same camera that's in the $329 iPad, but the 7-megapixel front-facing camera is the same camera (minus Face ID technology) used in the iPad Pro. It's odd to have front and rear cameras that are nearly on par, but it makes sense if you think of the iPad as a FaceTiming device more so than a photography device.

Both of these iPads offer significant performance improvements over their predecessors. The iPad mini 5 is a good deal faster than the iPad mini 4, and the iPad Air is faster than the 10.5-inch iPad Pro (though it lacks the same ProMotion technology). It's also leagues faster than any previous iPad Air model as that was a line that was last refreshed in 2014 before being revived in 2019.

Old iPad Air on left, new iPad Air on right​

If you're using an older iPad and are in need of an upgrade, you're not going to go wrong with the iPad mini 5 or the iPad Air 3 given the incredible speed boosts these tablets bring thanks to the A12 chip. As everyday tablets, the iPad mini and iPad Air are a solid value and a welcome addition to Apple's iPad lineup, which was previously split between high end (iPad Pro) and low end (iPad). Check out our iPad Buyer's Guide for help choosing an iPad if you're not sure which one is right for you.

You can get the iPad mini for $399 for 64GB of storage, and 256GB is available for $549. The iPad Air starts at $499 for 64GB of storage, with 256GB available for $649. Cellular models are available too, for an extra $130 over each base price.

What do you think of the new iPad mini and the new iPad Air? Have you purchased one or are you planning to get one? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New iPad Air 3 and iPad Mini 5

 

[kirk.israel]

I bought an iPad Mini yesterday. It's great, very comfortable for doodling on, and a great reader. And the first iPad I've bothered to set up Touch ID on. People who hate on "but the bezels" can go suck an egg - this is very comfortable to hold. I'm sure Apple will provide a Pro version in a few years if you REALLY want to spend a few more hundred for bezels and a flat clip-on pencil.

 

[Skyblve]

Just got the iPad mini. It is amazing, keyboard is much easier to use than iPad Pro and iPad Air. Fast Touch ID gen2 and it just amazing for the price range. ~300

 

[thadoggfather]

Just got my mini5 too

Will be giving it a good run down

Not having a mini since the 2 and giving it to a family member years ago and not liking the new iPad Pro direction, this makes this feel Even more epic (familiar of course but)

 

[Digital Dude]

My 2017 Chevy SS Sedan dash would allow the Mini to rest over the utterly useless Chevy Nav unit. However, I do have in-car wifi (monthly service) so the Mini would be a viable solution for mapping with WAZE. It would be a rather expensive experiment, but with the Apple two-week return policy, I may just try it!

 

[adamw]

New iPads are always appreciated. Did they upgrade the screen quality or camera quality?

 

[thadoggfather]

New iPads are always appreciated. Did they upgrade the screen quality or camera quality?

Camera quality I think so but it’s still potato quality for 2019. I will genuinely take it without camera bump as the trade off using the thing nude

The screen is quite nice! It’s like a shrunk 9.7 pro or proMotion-less 10.5

 

[NickName99]

I got my iPad Mini on Wednesday. It’s brilliant. The laminated TrueTone P3 display looks great. A12 is speedy. 3GB RAM confirmed in GeekBench. TouchID is gen 2, pretty much instant. This is my first iPad, I’ve never wanted a full size one. I’m very happy with the $399 price, the performance and display. Recommended!

 

[Klae17]

New iPads are always appreciated. Did they upgrade the screen quality or camera quality?

Did you read the article?

 

[FightTheFuture]

A lot of mini lovers in here and god love ‘em. I thought it was put out to pasture when the education 9.7” was released last year.

 

[code-m]

Just got the iPad mini. It is amazing, keyboard is much easier to use than iPad Pro and iPad Air. Fast Touch ID gen2 and it just amazing for the price range. ~300

Maybe I missed the memo and logic says it should have TouchID 2, however has anyone confirmed.

 

[NickName99]

A lot of mini lovers in here and god love ‘em. I thought it was put out to pasture when the education 9.7” was released last year.

Full sized iPads have never interested in in the least, who wants to lug that around? The Mini is the size of a book, it’s perfect. It’s always been a bit too slow, the display lacked TrueTone, the $399 model only had 16GB, but this time it checks all the boxes. It’s great to have options!

 

[thadoggfather]

YES!!

The space grey is satisfyingly slate-ish on the mini5. Was not at all expecting this! / didn’t watch many hands on or read reviews this time.

 

[coolfactor]

The physical-click Home button is what baffles me. I wonder if they are recycling these components from older devices? I'd be surprised, since this clickable button does tend to wear out. The haptic Home button was a smart upgrade, so it's confusing why Apple didn't standardize on that. Maybe the haptic feedback is not as effective on a tablet vs a phone?

 

[realtuner]

Going to pick up 3 of the Minis for my house for HomeKit controllers. Was really hoping to see a new iPod Touch to compare, but it doesn't look like any more hardware announcements are coming.

 

[NickName99]

The physical-click Home button is what baffles me. I wonder if they are recycling these components from older devices? I'd be surprised, since this clickable button does tend to wear out. The haptic Home button was a smart upgrade, so it's confusing why Apple didn't standardize on that. Maybe the haptic feedback is not as effective on a tablet vs a phone?

I was baffled by that too. Maybe the haptic one wasn’t a straight drop-in part? I think on the iPhone 7/8 the haptic “click” relies on the phone vibrator, and I guess the iPad doesn’t have an, um, vibrator?

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/09/25/video-iphone-6s-taptic-engine/

 

[69Mustang]

YES!!

The space grey is satisfyingly slate-ish on the mini5. Was not at all expecting this! / didn’t watch many hands on or read reviews this time.

Next to my space grey 12.9 2017

The 50 Shades of Space Gray. I could never understand why Apple couldn't land on one shade and stick with it. That mini color should be called slate.

 

[Seanm87]

Got my iPad Air today. Love it.

 

[DesertNomad]

I just got a pair of mini 5s for my wife and I. Does anyone know why Apple discontinued the silicone rear case for the mini 4? I never use the microphone and this backing was really nice on my mini 4.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Full sized iPads have never interested in in the least, who wants to lug that around? The Mini is the size of a book, it’s perfect. It’s always been a bit too slow, the display lacked TrueTone, the $399 model only had 16GB, but this time it checks all the boxes. It’s great to have options!

I have the 12.9, but I never leave the house with it. However, I use it every single day as my daily home device. It’s a little big, and it has me considering the 10.5” model. It has Truetone and the laminated display, though I wonder how much I’d miss the quad speakers.

The physical-click Home button is what baffles me. I wonder if they are recycling these components from older devices? I'd be surprised, since this clickable button does tend to wear out. The haptic Home button was a smart upgrade, so it's confusing why Apple didn't standardize on that. Maybe the haptic feedback is not as effective on a tablet vs a phone?

I think haptic just doesn’t translate well in tablets. Apple has never had it in an iPad that I know of. Maybe it just requires too big of a motor to properly resonate through such a large device?

 

[Stridr69]

So glad there's a mini 5 out there, but there's just one problem. My mini 4 still runs great!
But when my 4 has died and gone to recycle heaven a mini 5 will be had. Why no 128Gb edition though?

 

[Greenmeenie]

Love that they finally updated the ipad mini. And i do plan to get one to replace my beloved but dying 5 yr old ipad mini 2.

But If I had only two complaints, it’d be the physical home button, and the lack of pencil 2 support.

Every home physical home button has eventually failed on my previous ipads. If they weren’t going to go full on face ID...i wish they would have at least made the home button like on the iphone 8 with the haptic feedback. A physical button is the ipad mini’s weakest link.

And yeah, the Apple pencil 2 was a long shot with this update I know. I don’t think we will be seeing a radical redesign of the ipad mini for awhile...if ever. But after using the apple pencil 2 with my 11” ipad pro, it’s hard to go back to using the first gen. I just love the way the new one charges. So easy & convenient. Unlike the first gen which...isn’t.

Otherwise, an awesome & much appreciated update.

 

[Solomani]

I'm buying the iPad Mini for sure! But IMHO the 64GB base model is a travesty. Someone at Apple who decided this was acceptable should be buried alive in Steve Jobs' grave.

 

[Azeroth1]

My mini 5 comes in a few days. I still wish I could get a silicone case for it like for my mini 4 but doesn’t look like any options available yet.

 

[dilbert99]

So glad there's a mini 5 out there, but there's just one problem. My mini 4 still runs great!
But when my 4 has died and gone to recycle heaven a mini 5 will be had. Why no 128Gb edition though?

We still have two original iPad airs in the house among others and they are still fine for what they are user for - browsing and you tube.