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Donka

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 3, 2011
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Here is a comparison of the Mini 4 with he Mini 2 and the Air 2. All screens at 100% brightness. The Mini 4 is warmer than the Mini 2 but the colours are more natural and pop a bit more - the Mini 4 to me has an improved colour gamut but I don't think it quite matches the Air 2. This is all subjective though as I have no hardware to measure the output.
 

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Here is a comparison of the Mini 4 with he Mini 2 and the Air 2. All screens at 100% brightness. The Mini 4 is warmer than the Mini 2 but the colours are more natural and pop a bit more - the Mini 4 to me has an improved colour gamut but I don't think it quite matches the Air 2. This is all subjective though as I have no hardware to measure the output.

interesting - would maybe be clearer to tell with a homepage set the same on all three, like the colourful wallpaper
 
I think the screen is much nicer than my retina Mini (2) I had before. Feels a lot crisper and has better blacks and color as it seems to my eye at least.
 
Comparing my mini2 and mini4... it's night and day!
The reds are red again and the blues blue! :)
Colors in pictures really pop and contrast is much better. The laminated glass gives less reflection. The bezel is even pitch black because there's so little reflection.

To my eyes the gamut is on par with Air1!
 
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The only reason I might get the mini 4 instead of the mini 2 is the laminated glass/lcd that will make dust under the screen a thing of the past.
 
interesting - would maybe be clearer to tell with a homepage set the same on all three, like the colourful wallpaper

I'll try and get some identical pics of that tomorrow. The mini 4 is definitely a marked improvement over the 2.
 
Gamut is fixed. It's just not on par with the Air 2. I'd say it's fixed to an 80% level, if that makes sense.

Good enough for me. So pleased with it!
 
Gamut is fixed. It's just not on par with the Air 2. I'd say it's fixed to an 80% level, if that makes sense.

Good enough for me. So pleased with it!
Great post! Makes perfect sense to me. I agree that the Gamut issues have been fixed and that the Mini 4's display is just a bit shy of the more vibrant colors of the Air 2....but they are very close this time around. I owned the Original and Mini 2 and lived with the reduced color gamut.

By the way.....I'm finding Gold Mini 4 with midnight blue cover to be an awesome combination!
 
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Gamut (and color accuracy) aren't "fixed" at "80%," and you can't eyeball those, either - you need expensive hardware.

If you mean that the display is a lot better to look at than the Mini 2/Mini 3, I believe you and agree that ANY progress from the panel used in the Mini 2/Mini 3 is a big step forward. The article here: http://www.displaymate.com/iPad6_ShootOut.htm shows you just how bad the Mini 2/3 display is and how far it has to go to catch up with the Air/Air 2.
 
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Gamut is fixed in my opinion.

Just come across something slightly concerning; viewing angles. Whites are lost...
 
Great post! Makes perfect sense to me. I agree that the Gamut issues have been fixed and that the Mini 4's display is just a bit shy of the more vibrant colors of the Air 2....but they are very close this time around. I owned the Original and Mini 2 and lived with the reduced color gamut.

By the way.....I'm finding Gold Mini 4 with midnight blue cover to be an awesome combination!

HHmmm, midnight blue cover. Guess I'll consider it then but never really thought about it.
 
Gamut (and color accuracy) aren't "fixed" at "80%," and you can't eyeball those, either - you need expensive hardware.

If you mean that the display is a lot better to look at than the Mini 2/Mini 3, I believe you and agree that ANY progress from the panel used in the Mini 2/Mini 3 is a big step forward. The article here: http://www.displaymate.com/iPad6_ShootOut.htm shows you just how bad the Mini 2/3 display is and how far it has to go to catch up with the Air/Air 2.
I think you can eyeball it a bit. I along with many were able to eyeball the fact ( on this forum) a couple of years back when the color gamut of the mini 2 was severely deficient ( i.e. Reds were orange, purples were blue, etc...). This was before Displaymate or other reviews were even acknowledging there was a problem. I can dig up and link to the posts.

This time around, the things have definitely improved ( i.e. Reds are red, purples are purple, etc...), so in that sense, one could argue rather gamut issues have been fixed. At the same time, the colors still appear less vibrant/rich (i.e. Compared to the Air 2). Is this a "gamut" issue, or something else?
 
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@DSTOFEL and @kbmb thanks for your posts here and in DSTOFEL's iPad Mini unboxing and review thread. Colors look a LOT sharper, crisp and bright.

I was seriously considering the iPad Pro; that money has to go into a new desktop. The Mini I can swing.

I'll have to check the Mini 4 in the store a couple of times but I really appreciate how helpful your posts have been.
 
I have an Air 2 and just picked up a Mini 4. I'd have to say that while the Mini 4 is much improved over the Mini 2/3 it's still not as punchy as the Air 2. My Mini
4 is what I would describe overall as underwhelming.
 
I think you can eyeball it a bit. I along with many were able to eyeball the fact ( on this forum) a couple of years back when the color gamut of the mini 2 was severely deficient ( i.e. Reds were orange, purples were blue, etc...). This was before Displaymate or other reviews were even acknowledging there was a problem. I can dig up and link to the posts.

This time around, the things have definitely improved ( i.e. Reds are red, purples are purple, etc...), so in that sense, one could argue rather gamut issues have been fixed. At the same time, the colors still appear less vibrant/rich (i.e. Compared to the Air 2). Is this a "gamut" issue, or something else?

I agree that subjective impressions are both important and helpful. In terms of the comparison to the Air 2, color can be fairly involved because there are quite a few variables. Color gamut is basically the range of colors represented, but color accuracy could be an issue, and basic brightness and contrast could affect the display, too.

I will admit that I may be being too picky about this. I don't think anyone is going to be doing photo or art work where color is critical on a Mini, simply because the display is on the small side. I've tried photo editing on a full-size iPad and even that's far from ideal (IMO). With the iPad Pro, you could envision photographers, artists and designers really beginning to make some use of the iPad, assuming the hardware is up to the task and the developers respond with apps that address these needs.
 
Are those 2 or 3 vs. 4? It looks promising, especially the third comparison. And it may look even more impressive in real life, rather than turned into a video that then got uploaded to YT and then had still extracted. :)
 
I agree that subjective impressions are both important and helpful. In terms of the comparison to the Air 2, color can be fairly involved because there are quite a few variables. Color gamut is basically the range of colors represented, but color accuracy could be an issue, and basic brightness and contrast could affect the display, too.

I will admit that I may be being too picky about this. I don't think anyone is going to be doing photo or art work where color is critical on a Mini, simply because the display is on the small side. I've tried photo editing on a full-size iPad and even that's far from ideal (IMO). With the iPad Pro, you could envision photographers, artists and designers really beginning to make some use of the iPad, assuming the hardware is up to the task and the developers respond with apps that address these needs.
I'm right with you in terms of being picky about the details. That's part of the fun of a new release for we detailed types;--)

Believe me, I picked over the Mini 2 when I upgraded from the Mini "O". I was never happy with the display of the 2, especially the washed out dull colors.

To my eye, things have greatly improved with the Mini 4 display in terms of color. However, I don't think they have hit the ball completely out of the park, but they've made it to the warning track this time (i.e. Obviously subjective). The colors appear to my eye to be very accurate, but just lack punch/vibrancy for my taste....when compared to the Air 2. It's like the black levels and contrast are not quite on par with the Air 2. I still need to spend some more time with it. Displaymate review will be interesting.

Battery life is my major concern with the Mini 2. I'm finding it drains quickly with browsing.
 
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Could part of the issue on colors be "warm" vs cooler", like with TVs?

I find a warm colors on a TV more accurate, the "colder" setting is a bit much for me but I do understand some really like cooler temp of colors when watching TV.

vs washed out dull colors that appear to an accuracy issue (at least to my mind), on the iPad 2/3
 
I can notice the differences in the pictures but since I'm on the Mini 2 I can't help realizing I'm still not seeing what the rest of you are seeing! And I just realized I've been trying to evaluate the color of the Rose Gold iPhone on a device that's seriously screwing with the colors!
 
I'm right with you in terms of being picky about the details. That's part of the fun of a new release for we detailed types;--)

Believe me, I picked over the Mini 2 when I upgraded from the Mini "O". I was never happy with the display of the 2, especially the washed out dull colors.

To my eye, things have greatly improved with the Mini 4 display in terms of color. However, I don't think they have hit the ball completely out of the park, but they've made it to the warning track this time (i.e. Obviously subjective). The colors appear to my eye to be very accurate, but just lack punch/vibrancy for my taste....when compared to the Air 2. It's like the black levels and contrast are not quite on par with the Air 2. I still need to spend some more time with it. Displaymate review will be interesting.

Battery life is my major concern with the Mini 2. I'm finding it drains quickly with browsing.

There's a tweet by Andrew Cunningham with some tests using a Spyder4 that looks like the color gamut issue has largely or completely been fixed. (Yay, about time!)
 
Could part of the issue on colors be "warm" vs cooler", like with TVs?

I find a warm colors on a TV more accurate, the "colder" setting is a bit much for me but I do understand some really like cooler temp of colors when watching TV.

vs washed out dull colors that appear to an accuracy issue (at least to my mind), on the iPad 2/3

Warm/cool is white balance, yet another variable! In general, most mobile displays and many desktop displays tend to be too cool (bluish). Both on the numbers and esthetically I agree with you about preferring a white point that's warmer than you often encounter.
 
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There's a tweet by Andrew Cunningham with some tests using a Spyder4 that looks like the color gamut issue has largely or completely been fixed. (Yay, about time!)
Thanks! Well that's great news! I've decided to keep the Mini 4 (i.e. ove the Air 2). I'm 100% in (i.e. On the Mini 4)....after much testing between the two!!
 
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