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iPad mini Is the non-Retina Mini still worth considering?

Cool Pup said:
But... in the end, the screen is the most important part of a tablet, and I think once you see the clarity of a Retina Mini, you'll probably want one.
Click to expand...

I think most people think this way--but i dont. I like retina on my iphone--but I am fine with the mini screen. In fact I bought a mini today. I feel like the ipad 3 was a problem and the retina mini will also be a problem. And I have enough problems.

Oh yes--and the new smart case is awesome on the current mini
 
Mini yes, regular no. But mainly for newer processors, etc. not the screen.

I don't see I am attached to retina MBP, and I don't see I like "close to retina" nexus 7 or other Android.

So for mini the small screen, I won't see the urge to change the screen, especially it is now cheap at $249.
 
I'm kind of suffering the same conumdrum.

The iPad mini 1's were a lot more attractive when Target was offering the $25 gift card. The promotion ended yesterday.

I actually wanted to pick up a 32GB iPad Mini Wifi+LTE, but the price that Target was wanting ($559) had absolutely no discounts included, which is a shame.
 
rzod said:
I did the Target trade-in on my 1st gen iPad last night. I think I'd like to use the gift card on a Mini, but I'm a bit torn between the current model and the upcoming Retina. The advantages of the new version are obvious, but is the older model still worth considering at $299? Target is giving you a $25 gift card with purchase and I have another coupon which is pushing me toward the old one. Usage would consist of reading, web surfing, videos, and light gaming.

Also, does the Mini come with iOS6? That could be another factor as I've read many reports of iOS7 being not-so-great on the Mini. Is that a real concern or a case of internet exaggeration?
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The Mini is an iPad 2 with a smaller screen. The iPad 2 is like 3 years old.

Would you buy an iPad 2 today?
 
Jinzen said:
The Mini is an iPad 2 with a smaller screen. The iPad 2 is like 3 years old.

Would you buy an iPad 2 today?
Click to expand...
Except...
  • iPad Mini has a higher PPI
  • FaceTime HD camera which takes 1.2MP photos, does 720P videos, has face detection, and backside illumination (iPad 2 is VGA resolution)
  • iSight camera which takes 5MP photos, has face detection, backside illumination, five-element lens, hybrid IR filter, f/2.4 aperture, does 1080p videos, and has video stabilization (iPad 2 takes 960x720 photos and does 720p videos)
  • iPad Mini is supported on T-Mobile and Sprint
  • iPad Mini has Bluetooth 4.0
  • iPad Mini supports more cellular bands, including LTE
  • iPad Mini has Siri
  • iPad Mini has a lightning port (which can be a plus if you already have an iPhone 5 or later)
So really, the only thing similar between the two is the A5 chip, and maybe the amount of RAM?

All I'm saying is that it's still a pretty good tablet, and I'd totally pick it over the iPad 2 any day of the week.
 
KylePowers said:
Except...
  • iPad Mini has a higher PPI
  • FaceTime HD camera which takes 1.2MP photos, does 720P videos, has face detection, and backside illumination (iPad 2 is VGA resolution)
  • iSight camera which takes 5MP photos, has face detection, backside illumination, five-element lens, hybrid IR filter, f/2.4 aperture, does 1080p videos, and has video stabilization (iPad 2 takes 960x720 photos and does 720p videos)
  • iPad Mini is supported on T-Mobile and Sprint
  • iPad Mini has Bluetooth 4.0
  • iPad Mini supports more cellular bands, including LTE
  • iPad Mini has Siri
  • iPad Mini has a lightning port (which can be a plus if you already have an iPhone 5 or later)
So really, the only thing similar between the two is the A5 chip, and maybe the amount of RAM?

All I'm saying is that it's still a pretty good tablet, and I'd totally pick it over the iPad 2 any day of the week.
Click to expand...

I definitely would pick up the mini 1...at a certain price point.
 
Jinzen said:
The Mini is an iPad 2 with a smaller screen. The iPad 2 is like 3 years old.

Would you buy an iPad 2 today?
Click to expand...
That's what I thought, until I looked closer, yeah, it uses the A5 chip, and so does the iPad 2, however, it is an entirely different creature altogether otherwise...
KylePowers said:
Except...
  • iPad Mini has a higher PPI
  • FaceTime HD camera which takes 1.2MP photos, does 720P videos, has face detection, and backside illumination (iPad 2 is VGA resolution)
  • iSight camera which takes 5MP photos, has face detection, backside illumination, five-element lens, hybrid IR filter, f/2.4 aperture, does 1080p videos, and has video stabilization (iPad 2 takes 960x720 photos and does 720p videos)
  • iPad Mini is supported on T-Mobile and Sprint
  • iPad Mini has Bluetooth 4.0
  • iPad Mini supports more cellular bands, including LTE
  • iPad Mini has Siri
  • iPad Mini has a lightning port (which can be a plus if you already have an iPhone 5 or later)
So really, the only thing similar between the two is the A5 chip, and maybe the amount of RAM?

All I'm saying is that it's still a pretty good tablet, and I'd totally pick it over the iPad 2 any day of the week.
Click to expand...
^^This. AND:

• iPad Mini does AirDrop!:cool:

...Although it might have the same A5 chip that the iPad 2 has, it seems to be a whole different creature, in fact, it seems to be up to date w/iPad 4 except for the processor chip, which, is not a big deal, considering it does not have a retina display, and, the screen is smaller in size, so not as much power required for the display and fewer LEDs to backlight it, in the end, it has a smaller battery with the same battery life, but only needs an iPhone sized charger square, instead of the bigger one used for full size iPads (I was surprised to see this in the box!). ...both cams have the same specs as the iPad 4 released at the same time (which remains unchanged for iPad Air/retina Mini), plus all the things mentioned by KylePowers.

I got one, and it is a significant upgrade from my old iPad 1. I have an iPhone 5, and, while the iPhone 5 is a bit faster, for the most part this is barely noticeable. I'm very happy with it.

EDIT: one more thing, although somewhere I read that the iSight cam does not do HDR, with iOS 7 it actually does. The only thing it doesn't do w/iOS 7 is the live filters in cam, but they are there after taking pic when you edit it.
 
Last edited:
Do people already bored of Ipad design???
Its always the same since Ipad 1. Ipad 2 is thinner, Ipad 3 turns out to be thicker, Ipad 4 is same as 3 only change connector, Ipad air is still pretty much alike in design only thinner bezel and different speaker.

I can afford an Iphone 5s but i choose to stay with 4 because its just better better design. I dont play game on my phone so speedy cpu means nothing. If i do play game, i would opt for android phone for bigger screen. Walking pass apple store these days, i dont even bother to try on their device because it just never really changed much.
 
Well I am in the same boat I traded in a iPad one that I have to my parents for a regular iPad mini as they told me I have to buy a iPad but we are taking it back for a iPad mini for the retina as the speed difference and the retina screen is worth it for my parents. Plus the price difference is not that much as in the long run the retina mini will get more iOS updates.
 
racoonboy said:
Do people already bored of Ipad design???
Its always the same since Ipad 1.
Click to expand...
Please, no.

The iPads are pleasing to look at. More importantly, they don't get in your way when you're actually using them. I buy my devices to use them, not to keep around as furniture. When I'm using them, I don't notice their appearance. All I see is the screen. That's the way it should be. They should not change the design unless it would improve the utility of the device.
 
I actually just picked up a refurbished 1st gen Mini from Walmart's web site yesterday. While I would have loved the retina, I will not be using the Mini as much as I do my 5S and rMBP, so I couldn't justify dropping $400 on it. Although since both my iPhone and MBP have retina, it may be hard to not have a retina Mini. But the worst case scenario is that I keep the Mini for a little while until the retina becomes readily available in stores and online.
 
Quantus said:
According to Apple's spec sheet, the new non-retina has a 23.4wh battery (http://store.apple.com/us/buy-ipad/ipad-mini). The previous model is 16wh. Unless the new spec is a typo, then yes the non-retina is worth considering for truly epic battery life.
Click to expand...
I saw that too, but, I think that's a typo, someone in a hurry to update the site now that retina iPad mini is available...my main reason I think it's a typo is because they list it as having 10 hours of use, the 16 battery gets 10 hours, so, if they are putting the same battery in it as the retina w/A7 (23.4), then it should have a longer battery life, which is not stated there.

----------

FYI: Apple has iPad Minis on refurb, which, is limited to stock on hand (includes new battery, new warranty, free ship)...sometimes they have the 16GB wifi for $250, but runs out of stock fast, right now I see 32GB wifi for $340, $10 more than a new 16GB model went for a month ago. They currently refurb all but the iPad 1st gen, check it out:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad
 
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