Choosing between the world’s hottest tablets has just gotten a lot harder. Thanks, Apple.
With the recently launched iPad Air now on the market, we thought we’d discuss the differences between it and the iPad Mini. Both are devices that cater to those who want to downsize a bit from the classic iPad, and both are critical to the app market in general.
The differences are nowhere near as drastic as we expected, however. In fact, the devices are barely different at all! As we’ve concluded, the decision between them boils down mainly to screen size preference and price concerns. But for those who want to get into the details, let’s start off with the features that make the iPad Air a new type of iPad.
iPad Air
The essence of lightness, indeed.
The Air brings the iPad’s weight down to one pound, which is noticeably lighter than the iPad 2. For comparison, while the iPad 2 is 1.35 lbs., the iPad Air cuts its weight down by about a quarter, resulting in a 1.05-lb. device (the iPad Mini is .75 lbs.). For many users, this means that the iPad can now be used one-handed. Everyone probably felt silly complaining about the weight of a tablet computer, but when you’re holding it up for hours on end, even the iPad’s miniscule weight is significant. With the introduction of the Air, the issue has been reduced quite a bit.
Performance of the iPad Air is upgraded, too, as the Air features an A7 chip, while the iPad 2 only offers an A5 chip. Put simply – the Air is faster.
Comparisons to the Retina iPad Mini
Interestingly enough, the Retina iPad Mini now also boasts an A7 chip, so processing power is the same as in the Air. In fact, graphics, battery life, storage space, and lots of other features are equivalent in both devices. What’s a tech-savvy user with disposable income to do?
Choosing between them boils down to screen size preference, really.
The Air has a 9.7” screen, while the Retina Mini has a 7.9” display. The best strategy is to head down to the Apple store and to play with the devices yourself to see if you have a preference. In addition, for some users, price will also be a factor. The Retina Mini starts at $399 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model, and a comparable iPad Air is $499. If you want to save some money on your fancy new tablet computer, the choice becomes pretty simple – the Mini is cheaper.
So that’s it! There are other features to consider, of course, but these are the ones that jumped out at us on our first look. If you want to see the various iPad models side-by-side for yourself, however, you can check out Apple’s own handy chart, here.
