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iPad Is the iPad mini screen 'really' dull?

Fireball Dragon

Fireball Dragon

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 26, 2012
880
256
Chigwell, England
It would be great if all those who have actually compared the retina mini and Air screens could comment here.

I currently have both on order, and will only be keeping one.

Is the Air screen genuinely superior to the retina mini? And is the retina screen really as washed out and yellow as people claim?

Honest answers please. Thanks.
 
I have had both and the mini screen is better in my opinion. The Air screen had some serious issues that I couldn't justify for $800+. I have no idea about color "gamut" (the new buzz word on here that no one really understands - they just read it somewhere) but the overall quality seems to be higher.
 
The colors on the Air do look a bit more saturated but obviously when using the devices separately you won't notice anything.

I'm staying with the mini retina.
 
I compared the mini to the Air in store at full brightness. The Air screen appears slightly more saturated and gives an extra 'pop' because of that. I actually believe the mini screen looks more natural to me but of course that is just too devices. Different machines may have a differently sourced screen so it's almost a moot point until you have one in your possession.
 
From what i've read, it seems similar to the issues the first iPad Mini suffered from.

Duller colours, less contrast etc etc. To sum it up in a word I would say MUTED.

The Air display is more vibrant and accurate.

However, if you don't have them side by side to compare, you would find it hard to complain about the Retina Mini display.
 
Yes the Mini definitely has low gamut whereas my Air has its gamut cranked up to 100, from what I can tell. My advice is, if you want a gamuty ipad (I.e gamut levels over 99) then the Air is really the only way to go. It has by far the most gamuts per inch.
 
Yay! It's the gamut! :p

Honestly, comparing two devices side by side is a bit pointless. I almost would prefer to hear from rMini owners who've never seen an Air. How does it look?
 
Here's what Richard Devine of imore.com says, along with a pic of both devices.

http://www.imore.com/retina-ipad-mini-unboxing-and-first-hands#comments
Nope. Every possibility there are some issues but mine's so sharp and bright and stunning it's cutting my eyeballs open :)
Click to expand...

air_retina_mini_hero.jpg
 
The colors looks for vivid and brighter on the air. The mini gives out that dull look similar to the non-retina mini...
 
Fireball Dragon said:
Is the Air screen genuinely superior to the retina mini? And is the retina screen really as washed out and yellow as people claim?

Honest answers please. Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you are going to believe people online who claim the rMini screen is dull, washed out and yellowed why would you then believe people who say the opposite? Plenty of people in this very forum have praised the rMini screen.

Do yourself a favor and just go to a store and look at it for yourself. The thing about the Internet is we don't know who is writing -- people with ridiculous high expectations, people with cataracts, people who have never seen an rMini but are bored and want to stir the pot.

That is my honest answer, but I do love my rMini.
 
zbarvian said:
Whoa, maybe it is a display lottery. Those colors on the Mini really pop, moreso than the Air.
Click to expand...

He didn't say what the screen brightness was on each.

The few reviews I've seen so far didn't mention the mini screen looking "washed out" or "dull". Of course they weren't AnandTech style reviews but if the min screen is that blah it would have to pop up in someone's review.
 
The iPad 3, 4, Air and iPhone 5,5s,5c have full 100 percent standard Color Gamuts. The iPad mini & mini w/ Retina Display has smaller 62-65 percent Color Gamut.
 
ZBoater said:
Yay! It's the gamut! :p

Honestly, comparing two devices side by side is a bit pointless. I almost would prefer to hear from rMini owners who've never seen an Air. How does it look?
Click to expand...

I have just the rMini and to me the screen looks great.

Starting to wonder if maybe Apple didn't oversaturate the Air just a bit too much.

-Kevin
 
Chupa Chupa said:
If you are going to believe people online who claim the rMini screen is dull, washed out and yellowed why would you then believe people who say the opposite? Plenty of people in this very forum have praised the rMini screen.

Do yourself a favor and just go to a store and look at it for yourself. The thing about the Internet is we don't know who is writing -- people with ridiculous high expectations, people with cataracts, people who have never seen an rMini but are bored and want to stir the pot.

That is my honest answer, but I do love my rMini.
Click to expand...

I think the problem at the moment is you CAN'T go to a store and look for yourself. You have to order blind. There aren't any on display anywhere I don't believe.
 
zbarvian said:
Whoa, maybe it is a display lottery. Those colors on the Mini really pop, moreso than the Air.
Click to expand...

I agree with you; the picture here is the opposite of what I saw in another thread. These colors look better on the mini than the iPad. What's going on here? Different display sources?
 
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