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Roundup: iPad Air and Retina iPad Mini First Impressions

The retina display on the iPad mini was the only big announcement here. So the larger iPad got a little lighter and a bit faster. Nice for gamers and people who climb up hills but for everyone else yawn.

Yes they will sell well over Christmas but the iPads are good gifts that do not take a lot of thought to give. Hence the perfect present.

I was surprised they kept the iPad 2 around. It is looking old and is not that much cheaper.
 
priyamsingh said:
This is actually interesting but these are only browser benchmarks for which iOS is know to be superior. Has the same kind of testing been done to test for GPU and CPU performance in a more direct way? I remember AnandTech did that when iPad 3 came out.
Click to expand...

How hard was it to go to the next page? Here. Let me post some of your beloved numbers:

58183.png


Compared that to the Nexus 10 score of 876.

58182.png

Nexus 10: 1523

Source.

As you can see from those numbers the A7 outperforms every single Android device by quite a margin on single-thread performance, and all but the top 5 devices on multithread - most of which are QUAD-CORE.

Combine this raw power with Apple's software and ecosystem advantage it would take an incredibly deluded spec-jockey like yourself to declare any device a winner over the iPad.
 
priyamsingh said:
2GB RAM, 2560 x 1600 pixels, 10.1 inches (~299 ppi pixel density), Corning Gorilla Glass 2, 1.9 MP Front Cam, Dual-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A15 (this beats many quad core Android processors even)

VS

1GB RAM, 1536 x 2048 pixels, 9.7 inches (~264 ppi pixel density), No Gorilla Glass, 1.2MP front cam, Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone Processor

I do concede that the Nexus 10 is heavier and thicker than iPad Air and battery life is 1hr less but that's because it's pushing more pixels and it's more powerful. Keep in mind the Nexus 10 is ONE YEAR older which is like a light year for tech. The new Nexus 10 that will be released in the next few days will blow iPad Air out of the water on pure specs no question. I'm not saying the experience will be as pleasant though. We'll have to see.
Click to expand...

More ppi isn't everything. Display analysis confirms the iPads are MUCH more accurate than the Nexus 10. Better contrast. Larger gamut coverage....and as far as specs are concerned, if you're really interested....last year's iPad was extensively tested against other tablets (& phones) by Anand and his team. A link to those results

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6472/ipad-4-late-2012-review/4

Notice the improvements in almost every benchmark....the Nex 10 is bested by the iPad mini in several pertinent benchmarks. But in comparison to the A6&6x it gets absolutely smoked. Double, triple....in some cases quadruple the performance of the Nex 10. Again, follow the link. Then, take into account the A7's doubling in performance, yet again. Without the need of the 'x' factor (extra GPU silicon). Here's a link to the 5s/A7 review and benchmarks...again, with other nexus devices to compare to (phones and tablets)

Here, the CPU tests...notice the massive increase in the Google Kraken and Octane tests over last year's A6x

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/5

And the GPU power (you may need to open a couple tabs up with the first link to compare...as it seems the Nex10 wasn't tested....these are phone specific, but the benches are the same so you can compare them both)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/7

And a direct quote about the forthcoming Adreno 330 for the Nex5 on the way

"There are obvious thermal differences between the two platforms, but if we look at the G2's performance (another S800/A330 part) we get a better indication of an apples to apples comparison. Looking at the leaked Nexus 5 (also S800/A330) T-Rex HD scores confirms what we're seeing above. In a phone, it looks like the G6430 is a bit quicker than Qualcomm's Adreno 330."

The A7 is a wicked chip. The Nex 10 was a true pile of doo! Hope is they'll improve it significantly this year and the Android development community will begin supporting and releasing tablet optimized apps for devices like the Nex10. I'm a fan of both Android and iOS. But this A7 is a game changing SoC. It's a powerhouse. There is absolutely NO comparison to ANY other tablets or phones on the market. Period.

As far a GG is concerned, Apple does use Corning's latest glass products. I'd bet dollars to donuts they in fact are instrumental in the development and help with R&D of their glass...and incorporate the latest Corning has to offer. You have to read between the lines on Corning's site. Many OEMs prefer to keep their pieces n parts 'hush-hush'

Sorry to disappoint. But if you're actually looking to buy a tablet...stay as far away as you can for the first gen Nex 10 (I still own the original Xoom!)

J
 
iPad Air, the new name to introduce next year the iPad PRO, with izgo and fingerprint sensor, better camera, NFC... An huge price increase...

This is what I expect after watching the keynote.
 
So I guess the storage wars are over. The iPad Air mad Mini according to the store max out at 128GB.

Also no AC wifi.
 
davidbrummy said:
So I guess the storage wars are over. The iPad Air mad Mini according to the store max out at 128GB.

Also no AC wifi.
Click to expand...

Someone unable to clean up his iPad 64GB will not change with iPad 128GB... It is just pushing the problem further instead if focusing on the real one...
 
akdj said:
More ppi isn't everything. Display analysis confirms the iPads are MUCH more accurate than the Nexus 10. Better contrast. Larger gamut coverage....and as far as specs are concerned, if you're really interested....last year's iPad was extensively tested against other tablets (& phones) by Anand and his team. A link to those results

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6472/ipad-4-late-2012-review/4

Notice the improvements in almost every benchmark....the Nex 10 is bested by the iPad mini in several pertinent benchmarks. But in comparison to the A6&6x it gets absolutely smoked. Double, triple....in some cases quadruple the performance of the Nex 10. Again, follow the link. Then, take into account the A7's doubling in performance, yet again. Without the need of the 'x' factor (extra GPU silicon). Here's a link to the 5s/A7 review and benchmarks...again, with other nexus devices to compare to (phones and tablets)

Here, the CPU tests...notice the massive increase in the Google Kraken and Octane tests over last year's A6x

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/5

And the GPU power (you may need to open a couple tabs up with the first link to compare...as it seems the Nex10 wasn't tested....these are phone specific, but the benches are the same so you can compare them both)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/7

And a direct quote about the forthcoming Adreno 330 for the Nex5 on the way

"There are obvious thermal differences between the two platforms, but if we look at the G2's performance (another S800/A330 part) we get a better indication of an apples to apples comparison. Looking at the leaked Nexus 5 (also S800/A330) T-Rex HD scores confirms what we're seeing above. In a phone, it looks like the G6430 is a bit quicker than Qualcomm's Adreno 330."

The A7 is a wicked chip. The Nex 10 was a true pile of doo! Hope is they'll improve it significantly this year and the Android development community will begin supporting and releasing tablet optimized apps for devices like the Nex10. I'm a fan of both Android and iOS. But this A7 is a game changing SoC. It's a powerhouse. There is absolutely NO comparison to ANY other tablets or phones on the market. Period.

As far a GG is concerned, Apple does use Corning's latest glass products. I'd bet dollars to donuts they in fact are instrumental in the development and help with R&D of their glass...and incorporate the latest Corning has to offer. You have to read between the lines on Corning's site. Many OEMs prefer to keep their pieces n parts 'hush-hush'

Sorry to disappoint. But if you're actually looking to buy a tablet...stay as far away as you can for the first gen Nex 10 (I still own the original Xoom!)

J
Click to expand...

Thanks for your lengthy reply. I would never buy the Nexus 10 because the new one is coming out in the next few days and I was only using it as an example. I'm probably gonna end up buying the iPad Air anyway because I haven't had a good experience with Android tablets. I just had my heart set that the new iPad would have an IGZO display and besides the improved A7, nothing has improved specs wise so I was extremely disappointed (I hadn't seen Anand's test that show A7 was this powerful). But if I buy now and in April they come out with an iPad with A7x, IGZO, 2GB RAM it will hurt my iPad's resale value and will also cause me to have a headache.
 
priyamsingh said:
To prove my point I have some benchmark results.

http://media.bestofmicro.com/A/H/371033/original/geekbenchmem.png

----------



I have never heard or seen anywhere apple claim that the iPads use Gorilla Glass, let alone Gorilla Glass 2 or 3. Post a link that confirms iPad uses Gorilla Glass if you can actually back up your claims.

EDIT: this link CONFIRMS that Ipads DO NOT use Gorilla Glass!

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/products-with-gorilla/full-products-list
Click to expand...

They've never added apple to the list. They actually added that a few products might not be listed due to the company's request in fine print but they don't have that now i guess.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
priyamsingh said:
Thanks for your lengthy reply. I would never buy the Nexus 10 because the new one is coming out in the next few days and I was only using it as an example. I'm probably gonna end up buying the iPad Air anyway because I haven't had a good experience with Android tablets. I just had my heart set that the new iPad would have an IGZO display and besides the improved A7, nothing has improved specs wise so I was extremely disappointed (I hadn't seen Anand's test that show A7 was this powerful). But if I buy now and in April they come out with an iPad with A7x, IGZO, 2GB RAM it will hurt my iPad's resale value and will also cause me to have a headache.
Click to expand...

Not sure why you had you heart set on the IGZO display since Sharp JUST started product for their 5" phones. Going to 8 to 10" will take some time. Especially at volumes for iPhone and iPads.

As for the A7x, I think Apple was sort of forced to up the graphics (thus A5x and A6x) in order to push the retina.

The A6x uses the SGX554MP4, the A7 uses the new chipset with the G6430 which is powerful enough to drive the retina display. They probably could have gone with the G6630 if they needed to. But I have a feeling Apple is underclocking the A7 in the iPhone5s for thermal reasons. Will be interesting to see when Anand benchmarks the iPad Air and the mini 2 to see how the 3 different A7 performs.
 
davidbrummy said:
The retina display on the iPad mini was the only big announcement here. So the larger iPad got a little lighter and a bit faster. Nice for gamers and people who climb up hills but for everyone else yawn.

Yes they will sell well over Christmas but the iPads are good gifts that do not take a lot of thought to give. Hence the perfect present.

I was surprised they kept the iPad 2 around. It is looking old and is not that much cheaper.
Click to expand...


iPad Air 478g vs iPad 4 662g = 28% lighter, this is not what I call "a little lighter" but "much lighter".
 
Someone may have touched on this already but does the "ipad air" mean that an "ipad pro" is not far away?
 
Vtwo said:
Not sure why you had you heart set on the IGZO display since Sharp JUST started product for their 5" phones. Going to 8 to 10" will take some time. Especially at volumes for iPhone and iPads.

As for the A7x, I think Apple was sort of forced to up the graphics (thus A5x and A6x) in order to push the retina.

The A6x uses the SGX554MP4, the A7 uses the new chipset with the G6430 which is powerful enough to drive the retina display. They probably could have gone with the G6630 if they needed to. But I have a feeling Apple is underclocking the A7 in the iPhone5s for thermal reasons. Will be interesting to see when Anand benchmarks the iPad Air and the mini 2 to see how the 3 different A7 performs.
Click to expand...

There were serious talks that IGZO would be used so that the mini would not be made thicker to get retina (the retina mini is now slightly thicker). Also since we knew iPad 5 would be thinner, it was assumed that IGZO would have to be used to allow for that.

Yes it will be interesting to see the benchmarks. iPad air should perform even better than 5S.
 
D.T. said:
...but I agree, the A7 is packaged into an SOC (with GPU/RAM), so it's possible to be A7 powered and have a different amount of RAM. At this point, it's possible the A7 is even clocked differently vs. the iPhone 5S!
Click to expand...

I'd say it's very likely that the iPad A7 is clocked differently since as far as I can remember every single iPad had a higher clocked processor than their iPhone counterpart.

An "SoC" actually refers to the whole chip - A7 - which includes the GPU and a bunch of other stuff. But RAM isn't part of the SoC even though it's packaged together.
 
I wonder if next year will be the time we will finally see 32GB became the base like it should have been for awhile. It's almost funny that it has several times the graphics and CPU power, amazing screen etc.. yet the same memory since the original iPad.
 
priyamsingh said:
I'm a troll just because I criticize Apple? The nexus 10 came out last year and its hardware is better than this unreleased iPad Air, which is a fact.

Also just to put it out there, I bought an Android tablet and returned it the same day because it was a piece of junk. I evaluate products based on facts and rational thought, not because of their brand. The people on this forum unconditionally defend apple as if it's their own dad's company or something. "Oh you don't like it? don't buy it then." Well ya I won't buy it but that doesn't prove in any way that I was incorrect in saying iPad Air is outdated or that Apple's ripping people off selling iPad 2 for $400.
Click to expand...

Actually, you aren't a troll. That would be an insult to trolls.
 
Can't wait to get my hands on an iPad Air! Now I just have to decide which colour and whether I was a Smart Cover or a Smart Case. I think I'll go for a Smart Cover because I feel like the Smart Case adds too much bulk.
 
iPad mini was my first iPad. I couldn't be happier with it. I will definitely upgrade at some point for that display! I don't personally see the need for a bigger tablet. I would imagine writing would be really hard on a regular iPad.
 
The most amusing piece of article I read today:
"The camera technology on current iPad models is incredibly outdated, to the point where it’s laughable to see someone hold up their iPad like a camera."

Only possible thanks to the biased writers of TechCrunch.
 
YEAH! Mini with retina display is so nice and ipad air gets the design ipad should have from the start and wow so light.

Hard to decide which of these i am gonna buy.
 
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