iPad mini: A niche product becomes a lifestyle must-have

iPad mini
A niche product becomes a lifestyle must-have

Apple is addressing a rather small target group with the iPad mini.

© Apple

So far, the iPad mini has had a rather subordinate life in the Apple tablet family. Now it got a real makeover.

It was the innovation at the Apple Keynote 2021: The 6th generation iPad mini is now available in a completely new look. The news agency spot on news already had the opportunity to test the new tablet from Apple before it went on sale. Since September 24th, the devices have also been available in Apple stores around the world.

With the relaunch of the smallest member of the iPad family, Apple relies on the Lifestyle card a lot, which can also be seen from the colors available. In addition to space gray and polar star (white), there is rose and violet. The latter two in particular clearly have a female target group in mind. After unpacking, the iPad mini really impresses with the chic, simple design and the usual strong workmanship of Apple products.

Design fits in

The completely revised design is convincing and is based on the iPad Pro, the iPad Air and the current iPhones. The angular design takes on the current Apple look, which has been used in iPhones since the 12th generation. In principle, only the entry-level model of the normal iPad has not yet arrived in the new look. Not even in the latest version, which was presented parallel to the new iPad mini.

The liquid retina display of the iPad mini has grown significantly compared to the previous model. Apple calls it advertising-effective all-screen display. The 8.3-inch screen with 2266 x 1488 pixels replaced the home button. It finds its new place on the top right of the case.

Even more compact despite the larger screen

Overall, the dimensions have become smaller compared to the previous model. The width of 134.8 mm remained the same, the 0.2 mm lower thickness is negligible, but the 195.4 instead of 203.2 mm length is definitely noticeable. The iPad mini fits into jacket pockets and disappears easily into clutches, which should make it even more attractive, especially for women.

There is also some news underneath the case: With the A15 Bionic Chip, the iPad mini delivers up to 80 percent faster performance than the previous generation. The tablet also supports 5G technology and is equipped with new, more powerful cameras. On the one hand a 12 MP sensor ultra wide-angle front camera and a 12 MP sensor rear camera with focus pixels and a larger aperture. The Apple Pencil is now also supported.

Conclusion

In recent years, tablets from many manufacturers have mostly become larger. Smaller devices could often not keep up with high demands due to insufficient performance. Apple is now pushing itself into this niche with its new iPad mini. The target group will be manageable, but if you are looking for a small tablet that can easily compete with bigger brothers with its performance, you cannot avoid the smallest Apple tablet.

The price is – at least by Apple standards – relatively moderate. It starts for 549 euros for the 64 gigabyte tablet with Wi-Fi. The iPad mini with 256 gigabytes and Wi-Fi plus cellular connectivity is available for 889 euros. For comparison: the new iPad is between 379 and 689 euros, the iPad Air between 649 and 959 euros. The high-end solution from Apple, the iPad Pro, costs between 879 and 2,409 euros.

SpotOnNews

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