How to distinguish iPad models: external differences and numbers. How to distinguish an iPad from a fake, how to find out the iPad model What is the difference between ipad mini 1 and 2

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

The leader among compact tablets

With a slight delay after the start of global sales iPad Air the second one became available to customers new Apple of those presented on October 22 - iPad mini with Retina display. Being, perhaps, one of the most anticipated devices of this year, the iPad mini went on sale in Russia at the same time as the whole world, which is very rare. True, the official online store indicates a delivery time of 2-3 weeks, but this did not stop us from quickly getting hold of the new product for testing.

Because everything general information iPad mini with Retina display has already been reported in a report from Apple presentations, we will not repeat ourselves. Let us only note that this is the first update to the iPad mini, and it is all the more important that Apple not only updated the “internals” of the device, but also equipped it with a screen of a fundamentally higher level.

• Apple A7 SoC @1.3 GHz (2 cores, 64-bit Cyclone architecture based on ARMv8)
• GPU PowerVR G6430
• Apple M7 motion coprocessor including accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
• RAM 1 GB
• Flash memory from 16 to 128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 7.0
• Touch display IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video via FaceTime) and rear (5 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
• Cellular (optional): UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 24.3 Wh
• A-GPS (version with cellular module)
• Dimensions 200×134.7×7.5 mm
• Weight 331 g (our measurement)

Let's compare the iPad mini Retina to its main competitor, the 2013 Google Nexus 7, as well as the first-generation iPad mini and iPad Air.

*according to manufacturer information
** the weight of the version with a cellular module is indicated
*** the weight of the version without cellular module is indicated
**** for version with 16 GB flash memory and without cellular module

It is clearly seen that the iPad mini Retina is identical to the iPad Air in almost all characteristics (except for dimensions). And this is incredibly cool, because the first generation iPad mini, released simultaneously with the iPad 4, had the same characteristics as the iPad 2. That is, now the iPad mini line has made a leap through two generations!

As for the comparison with Google Nexus 7, it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from the data presented in the table. However, it is significant that Google's tablet is slightly lighter and more compact than the iPad mini Retina. But at the same time it has a smaller screen and a plastic body.

Interestingly, despite the appearance of the new iPad mini, the previous model also remains in the company’s lineup, and its cost starts from 12 thousand rubles (which is 4 thousand less than the iPad mini Retina). In our article we will also try to answer the question of how much the difference between the two iPad minis is adequate to the amount of 4,000 rubles and how relevant the first iPad mini is today.

Packaging and accessories

The packaging of the iPad mini Retina is practically no different from the packaging of the previous generation tablet.

As for the packaging, everything here is also similar to the first iPad mini: leaflets, Charger(5.1 V 2.1 A), Lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle (in the version with a cellular module).

Design

If the update of the large iPad affected, first of all, the design, then the appearance of the iPad mini remained practically unchanged.

The all-metal body (made of anodized aluminum) pleases with both appearance and functionality, and the frames around the screen even today, a year after the release of the first iPad mini, seem quite thin.

All buttons are metal and can be pressed with little effort. Their location is similar to the previous model. Top right is the Power button, top left is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At the top center is the hole for the built-in microphone. On the right side there is a screen auto-rotate lock lever and a volume rocker.

On the model with a cellular module, there is a plastic insert at the top that hides the antenna. She, of course, spoils it somewhat general form, but does not extinguish the signal.

The main difference between the new iPad mini and the old one is the increased weight (by more than 20 grams) and thickness (by 0.3 mm). Visually they are the same. The photo above shows two iPad minis of different generations. But if the difference in thickness is really not visible, then the changed mass is already noticeable. However, this is quite acceptable, and these changes do not have a fundamental impact on the user experience.

Screen

The main feature of the new iPad mini is its Retina display with a resolution of 2048x1536. When testing the first iPad mini, which had a resolution of 1024x768, we noted the lack of a Retina display as its main disadvantage. And now Apple has solved the problem. True, today you won’t surprise anyone with screens with such a density of dots per inch, so other characteristics come to the fore, which, as a rule, are not indicated in official technical specifications and are revealed only through careful testing.

A detailed examination of the new Retina screen was carried out by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, approximately equal in reducing the brightness of the reflection to the screen filter of the Google Nexus 7 2013 (we will compare it with it below). For clarity, here are photographs in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off tablet screens (from left to right: Nexus 7, iPad mini with Retina display and old iPad mini):

Visually, the brightness of the reflection is difficult to assess due to differences in color tone and frame color, but statistics from graphic editor shows that the new iPad mini's screen is slightly lighter (average brightness value of 95) than the Nexus 7 (83), and darker than the old iPad mini (108).

The reflection in the screen triples, which suggests the presence of an air gap between the surface of the matrix and the outer glass. From the point of view of image perception, this is a minus, but a screen with a separate outer glass (also known as a touch panel) is easier and cheaper to repair. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 410 cd/m², and the minimum was 8 cd/m². Maximum value quite high, and, given the good anti-glare properties of the screen, in bright daylight The image on the screen should be clearly visible. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the peephole front camera). In this case, the brightness can only automatically increase - when the level of external illumination decreases, we did not wait for a corresponding decrease in screen brightness. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it back on, the brightness will be set in accordance with external conditions. The minimum and average levels in Auto mode depend on the initial position of the brightness adjustment slider. So, when the slider is set to maximum, automatic adjustment does not work - the brightness remains maximum regardless of external conditions. If the slider is approximately in the middle of the scale, then in bright light (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) the maximum brightness is 410 cd/m², in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux ) - 200 cd/m² (normal), in the dark - 150 cd/m² (too much). If the slider is at a minimum, then under the above conditions the values ​​are as follows: 410, 70, 8 cd/m². Thus, this function It works adequately at some average and slightly below average brightness adjustment positions. At the extreme initial positions of the slider, the brightness is either always maximum, or decreases too much in the dark. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

IN this tablet An IPS type matrix is ​​used. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

The screen has good viewing angles without inverting shades and without significant color shifts, even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the screens of the Nexus 7 (pictured above) and the new iPad mini (bottom), with the brightness of both screens set to approximately 200 cd/m². Picture perpendicular to the screens:

And a white field under the same conditions:

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on both tablets.

And a white field at an angle:

The brightness at an angle for both tablets decreased equally (about four times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the color tone did not change much.

When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a red-violet tint or remains almost neutral gray. A photo from the Nexus 7 shows this for comparison (the brightness of both tablets is the same!):

And along the other diagonal:

It can be seen that the new iPad mini has a different color tone of the black field depending on the diagonal, but its brightness is the same or slightly lower than the black brightness of the Nexus 7 at the same angle.

When viewed from a perpendicular perspective, the uniformity of the black field is very good, since in fact only along one edge one can see some hints of areas with increased brightness of the black field:

The Google Nexus 7's black uniformity is worse, but it has better black depth in the center of the screen. Indeed, the contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) of the new iPad mini is not the highest - about 790:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 22 ms (13 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve constructed using 32 points did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the index of the approximating power function turned out to be 2.22, which is not significantly higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

The color gamut is noticeably narrower than sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix’s light filters mix the components with each other, and the spectra confirm this. This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and these are the vast majority) have a slightly reduced saturation. You can't tell from the photos above, as the camera slightly increases the color saturation.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is very good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (delta E) is significantly less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the variation in color temperature and delta E is small, which also has a positive effect on the visual perception of color balance. (Dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since there the color balance does not have of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

The range of brightness adjustment for the iPad mini Retina screen is quite wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a sunny summer day outside and in complete darkness. There is automatic brightness adjustment, and it works more or less adequately, but only up, which will force the user to either set the brightness manually, or force the brightness to decrease, putting the tablet into sleep mode and turning it back on. However, all Apple tablet users are probably already accustomed to this feature. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, a standard gamma curve, very good color balance and excellent black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen surface, as well as excellent black field uniformity. It was strange to discover that the color gamut is still less than sRGB, but this tablet must have at least one drawback!..

In terms of software, the iPad mini Retina has nothing fundamentally new except for the fact that it is sold with iOS 7 pre-installed, while the previous model left the factories with iOS 6. But it can also be updated to iOS 7. We also note that iPad users mini Retina available for free popular Apple apps- Pages, Numbers, Keynote and GarageBand.

Performance

Like the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, the iPad mini Retina runs on Apple's new A7 SoC. In the articles on the links provided, we talked in detail about this SoC, so we won’t repeat ourselves and go straight to the tests. We were also interested in what the difference is between the two iPad minis with iOS 7.0.4 installed on both devices. That is why the test results below may differ from the results that were published in the article about the first iPad mini, since the benchmarks have since been updated and a new version of the OS has been released.

Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark and Kraken Benchmark. In all cases, on Apple devices we used Safari browser from iOS 7, and on Android - Google Chrome.

The results are interesting. The new iPad mini is about four (!!!) times faster than the first generation iPad mini, but at the same time is slightly behind the iPad Air, although it runs on the same SoC. It can be assumed that the SoC in the iPad mini Retina regulates the energy saving process a little differently and, for certain tasks, slightly reduces the CPU frequency. But, we emphasize, this is only an assumption. But the main Android competitors remained far behind the iPad mini Retina (although, of course, they overtook the first iPad mini).

In Geekbench 3 - a multi-platform benchmark that measures CPU and RAM performance - the situation repeated itself.

The layout is the same as in browser tests. And this indicates that the results are indeed correct.

Now let's look at the GPU performance. There are two multi-platform benchmarks available here: GFXBench (formerly GLBenchmark 2.7) and 3DMark. Let's start with the GFXBench results.

And again we see the same picture, with the only difference that now the results of both devices on the Apple A7 are exactly identical.

Here again you can see a slight loss of the iPad mini Retina to its older comrade. But what's more striking is the difference between the two generations of iPad mini. I can’t believe that these devices are only one year apart! However, the gap from Android tablets is also significant.

Thus, the iPad mini with Retina display is the most productive modern tablet in the mid-price segment. If you love playing 3D games and want a device that can be updated to a new version at least twice operating system, you can safely buy an iPad mini Retina. But the previous generation iPad mini is no longer relevant today, since for the same money (about 12 thousand rubles) you can buy a much more productive Android tablet with a Full HD screen.

Autonomous operation

If we knew the approximate level of performance in advance (since we had already tested solutions on the Apple A7 SoC), then the situation with autonomous operation created a real intrigue. After all, now the device needs to display an image twice as large high resolution, and the dimensions of the case remain the same, so the battery cannot be greatly increased. This raised natural concerns that in terms of duration battery life the new iPad mini will be inferior to its predecessor.

However, as tests showed, these fears were in vain. The battery life not only did not decrease, but even increased slightly. Here, however, it is worth making a reservation that for this comparison we tested the first generation iPad mini on latest version operating system - iOS 7.0.4. It is possible that on the original iOS 6 with which it was released, the result would have been a little better. But even in the current version, this is a decent operating time - for both iPad minis.

The results are presented in the table.

I wonder what sensational Google result The Nexus 7 of 2013, received in reading mode, could not be surpassed by the new iPad mini. In general, all other devices are like the Moon. But in the other two modes, the iPad mini Retina outperforms both Android competitors.

We also note that under load, the new iPad mini heats up more than its predecessor, in which the heating is almost not felt.

Camera

iPad Air is equipped with two cameras - front with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and rear with a resolution of 5 megapixels, similar to the cameras of the first iPad mini and iPad Air. Since the iPad mini is much more suitable for shooting than the larger iPad, we decided to do a full test using our smartphone camera testing methodology, and at the same time compare the new product in terms of camera quality with the first generation iPad mini and iPad Air. Photography and commentary were done by Anton Soloviev.

iPad mini Retina
Good dynamic range and well-processed noise.
The sharpness is not bad, but the lack of any stabilization noticeably affects it.
The sharpness is quite good; if you wish, you can make out the license plate of the nearest car.
There is noticeable blur in the corners of the frame, although the upper central part is quite sharp.
The number plate of the nearest car is clearly visible.
At shorter shutter speeds the situation improves noticeably. Sharpness is uniform across almost the entire frame.
In such scenes, the camera chooses exposure well.
The camera is relatively good at macro photography in low light.

We can say that the shooting quality of the iPad mini Retina camera has not changed noticeably compared to the iPad mini. Minor improvements have only been made to noise processing: the algorithm for the noise reduction has remained almost unchanged, but visually its work has become softer, and due to this, small details are better processed in the pictures. However, the camera is still afraid of noise and tries to work at minimum photosensitivity values, compensating for exposure at the expense of shutter speed, so in low light there is a high probability of blur due to relatively long shutter speeds. As it turns out, relatively long shutter speeds in this case are values ​​from 1/40 of a second and higher, since the iPad mini Retina camera does not have any stabilization system. For example, almost all of the above photographs were taken under identical conditions, each in triplicate, and in almost all cases, two out of three photographs were blurred.

Lighting

As can be seen from the graph, according to the relative resolution iPad camera mini Retina is not so far behind the iPad mini's camera and has almost caught up with the iPad Air's camera. However, after a detailed examination of the photos of the stand, it becomes clear that the iPad mini Retina is still a significant step forward compared to the iPad mini. It's also worth noting that the camera's angle of view has become slightly smaller, despite the same nominal focal length indicated in EXIF. Even though the camera hasn't changed much, it now looks refined. There are still some points that I would like to improve, but these are, rather, purely software limitations.

Among the characteristic features of the camera, we can highlight good noise reduction, good and fairly uniform sharpness across the plans and across the field, and a reasonable choice of exposure.

Overall, the camera's image quality is decent, especially for a tablet, despite the low resolution. The camera probably has no obvious shortcomings, but the lack of a flash significantly limits its scope of use. However, it is quite suitable for artistic or documentary photography in appropriate lighting.

conclusions

The previous iPad mini evoked mixed emotions: the form factor seemed interesting (the screen is larger than 7 inches, but the body can be grasped with one hand in a vertical orientation), but the low resolution of the display spoiled the whole impression. This was especially noticeable if you were using a larger iPad with a Retina display. After that, working with the iPad mini was simply physically uncomfortable.

And now Apple has released a second one iPad version mini - and here it not only corrected the situation with screen resolution, but also radically increased the performance of the device. The price remained quite attractive, and the battery life and dimensions remained virtually unchanged.

Thus, the choice is no longer between “large and modern device” and “compact but outdated”. Now you have to choose exclusively between two screen diagonals and, accordingly, the dimensions of the tablet (which, however, does not affect the thickness). If you prefer a more compact format, plan to regularly take the tablet with you on trips, or use it in transport, then you can safely take the iPad mini Retina. It is a little more expensive than Android tablets of a similar form factor, but it is significantly better in performance.

In our opinion, the more likely competitors of the iPad mini Retina are not even compact form factor tablets, but tablet phones - Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, etc. In terms of performance, they are approximately on the same level as the iPad mini Retina, in terms of screen quality they are not inferior to it (and even superior in terms of pixel density per inch), but they can be used both as a tablet and as a smartphone. True, the cost of top-end tablet phones is significantly higher than that of the iPad mini, but the screen is still smaller. Therefore, the Apple product has its own specific niche, different from both tablet phones and compact Android tablets.

Overall, we definitely recommend purchasing the iPad mini with Retina display, unless you have already bought an iPad Air (or are not planning to do so). But the first generation iPad mini seems to us to be an acceptable option only if the buyer wants to get an Apple tablet as cheaply as possible, and the rest doesn’t matter. If possible, then, of course, it’s worth paying an additional 4,000 rubles and getting a fundamentally more modern device. And, by the way, owners of the first generation iPad mini can also safely go to stores for a new iPad mini, if their financial capabilities allow it. The update will not be superfluous at all.

In conclusion of the article, we bring to your attention our video review of the Apple iPad mini tablet with Retina display:

iPad iPad mini 2 and mini 4 are older generation iPad models that are still actively supported through marketing and technical support companies. The Mini 2, officially called the iPad mini with Retina display, launched in 20131, while the iPad mini 4 debuted in October 2015. 2 (Mini 3 is a generation of tablets that soon lost Apple support. 3) The Mini 2 and Mini 4 are similar in many surface specifications, but the Mini 4 is quickly starting to outperform the Mini 2 in terms of performance and quality.

Apple no longer sells the iPad mini 2 as of spring 2017, but has reduced it since fall 20164, so the model is still available in stores retail, such as Amazon. Refurbished models may be available for even longer.

physical characteristics

The Mini 2 and 4 use a Retina display with 326 ppi and a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels; therefore, their physical dimensions are quite close. However, the Mini 4 is slightly taller than the Mini 2, being thinner and lighter - small tweaks that show additional improvements between generations. More precisely, the mini-4 is 0.65 pounds, 8.0 inches tall, 5.3 inches wide, and 0.24 inches deep. 5 Mini 2 is 0.73 pounds, 7.87 inches high, 5.3 inches wide, and 0.29 inches deep. 6

Although the Retina display resolution is the same on these models, the mini 4 has an anti-glare coating and an improved color gamut. While the mini 2 has 62% of the color gamut, the mini 4 is much closer to 100% - testing puts it within 1 or 2% of the iPad Air 2's color gamut. During this display update process, Apple also removed the air gap separating LCD panel from the front glass (although this is due to the fact that the display system is more vulnerable to damage). 7

In streamlining the design of the mini 4, Apple also removed the button that was on the side of the mini 2, allowing you to mute and lock the tablet. This functionality has been moved to the Control Center in software mini 4.8

Color options for the mini 2 are silver and taupe, while the mini 4 also includes gold. 9

camera

Like other next-generation tablets and smartphones from Apple, these models offer a traditional rear camera and a front camera for men. The front camera used in these mini cameras is a FaceTime HD camera. This camera provides 1.2 megapixel resolution and 720p HD video. It also comes with geotagging and backlighting; The mini 4 also comes with a burst mode with which the user can take multiple pictures per frame. 10

On the camera back, the mini 4 provides an upgraded camera with better quality than its predecessor. The mini 4 camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels with an f/2.4 lens and a panoramic mode that allows continuous shooting of up to 43 megapixels. 11 In contrast, the mini 2 camera has 5 MP (also with f/2.4 lens and panorama mode). 12 They both offer facial recognition, geotagging, illumination, a hybrid IR cut filter, short-term focusing/control of images and videos, and a five-element lens. As with the front camera, the mini 4 camera offers a burst shooting mode. 13

For video recording, both models offer HD quality up to 1080p, as well as 3x zoom, stabilization, face detection and time-resolution video. Video mode The mini 4 also has Slo-mo mode capability at 120fps. 14

audio

Both models have frequency response 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, as well as a “user adjustable maximum volume level.” However, the mini 4 supports Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) which the mini 2 does not support - they use all other audio formats. 15

Specifications

Apple has also made hardware upgrades between mini-generations; While it's not as noticeable as the camera or interface, these modifications should provide faster and cooler performance for the mini-4. The Mini 4 sees a change from the A7 chip to the A8 and from the M7 coprocessor to the M8. 16

Mini 2 has 1 GB of RAM, and mini 4 has 2 GB. At this memory level, doubling the mini-4's RAM will have a dramatic impact on performance - point vs mini-2. 17

The Mini 2 and 4 are available in 16, 32, 64, and 128 GB storage capacities in WiFi and WiFi and Cellular models. Apple currently only sells the Mini 4 in 128GB and, as the model ages, will likely only sell it at that specification. The Mini 2 was last sold by Apple in a 32GB capacity. 18 For both models, third party retailers must have new and used models with different capabilities.

Both models were tested according to the same environmental standards (temperature, humidity and atmospheric altitude). 19

iOS support

Every update iOS versions Apple is creating a period of activity and excitement for both the tech community and Apple's millions of customers, but compatibility may become an issue for the Mini 2 and 4 as they age. Currently, Apple continues to support both Mini 2 and Mini 4 in iOS 10 and the upcoming iOS 11.

The Mini 2 comes with iOS 9 pre-installed, but this can be updated through the device settings or, if necessary, by connecting the tablet to a Mac with an updated version of iTunes for syncing. 20 Thanks to a slightly newer manufacturing date, the mini 4 boots with the current iOS 10. 21

Apple announced that both models will be able to upgrade to iOS 11, a system that went into beta testing earlier this year and is scheduled to launch this fall. 22

Miscellaneous

Mini 4 includes two other features not available in Mini 2-Touch ID and Split View Multitasking. Touch ID is a biometric fingerprint sensor that allows you to quickly open the Mini 4; in new generations its main function is to Apple Pay, which the mini-4 can use in applications but not at retailers. Split View Multitasking allows the user to open two applications on the screen at the same time, dividing them by 75-25 or 50-50. Multitasking is a big memory drain and requires additional mini-4 RAM to handle multiple active applications without crashing or significant freezing. 23

Performance and differences overview

The latest mini 4 coprocessor and double the RAM provide the biggest performance advantage over the mini-2. A basic level of The mini 4 delivers at least 20% better performance than the mini 2 thanks to these hardware upgrades. 24 A new anti-reflective coating and improved color gamut also improve the mini-4's display quality, all of which complement updated cameras. Physically, the Mini 4 is slightly smaller but taller, and its button layout has been changed since the Mini 2 was created. All specs on the Mini 4 are either the same as the Mini 2, an upgrade or an add-on (eg batch mode).

Differences between mini 2 and 4

Comparing the iPad mini and iPad mini 2 will allow you to conclude how important all the improvements that Apple has introduced in the newer tablet are. The devices differ little in appearance. At the same time, the transformations affected many functions. The iPad mini Retina doesn't just come with a new screen. It has a more powerful filling compared to its predecessor. Despite the fact that the devices are not new today, many will be interested in comparing the characteristics of the gadgets. Users have so far successfully used the iPad mini, released on November 2, 2012, and the iPad mini with Retina display, released on October 22, 2013. It's no secret that there is a category of users who prefer to update their gadgets as soon as a new product is released. In modern English language even a new term “Mac nazi” has appeared, which characterizes a big fan of Apple products. Comparing devices allows you to find the answer to the question of how justified the upgrades are. Users will also be able to conclude how relevant are products released 2-3 years ago. Today they cope with many tasks no worse than the new products of 2015.

The appearance of the iPad mini and iPad mini 2 is practically the same. At first glance, it will be difficult for an inexperienced user to distinguish between two mobile devices. However, despite the similarities, there are still differences. The body dimensions of the first generation tablet are 200×138×7.2 mm. At the same time, the newer model is slightly thicker than its predecessor - its dimensions are 200x134x7.5 mm. Such an insignificant difference is practically not felt when using the tablet.

The iPad mini with Retina display is 29 grams heavier than the first generation gadget - its weight is 341 grams. Such an insignificant difference is hardly noticeable to the average user. The location of the buttons remains unchanged. They are made of metal High Quality and press with little force. The body remains metal - it is made of anodized aluminum. The frames visually seem very thin, which is an indicator of a high-end device. All connectors remain in the same place - at the top left you can find a headphone jack, at the top center there is a microphone. Power button remained in the same place - top right. On the right side there is a button for auto-locking screen rotation, which is very convenient. Nearby are the volume control buttons. Both models are produced only in two colors already familiar to Apple - silver and space gray.

Display

The biggest difference between the two Apple tablets is the . The disadvantage of the iPad mini could be considered the lack of a Retina display. This is actually a marketing name for an LCD screen in which the pixel density is so high that it is not visible to the human eye. If in the first generation gadget the resolution is 1024 × 768 pixels (equal to 163 dpi), then in the iPad mini it is 2048 × 1536 pixels (326 dpi).

Retina display has higher pixel density

Camera At first glance, there are no differences in the camera on the two tablet models. The resolution of the rear camera of the iPad mini and iPad mini 2 is 5 megapixels.

Testing of the rear camera shows that more new tablet allows you to achieve image quality a little better than its predecessor. But still, a comparison of the image shows that the camera of the iPad Air, released at the same time as the iPad mini 2, copes with its tasks better. A comparison of the first and second generation tablets speaks in favor of the latter. The camera absorbs noise better and allows you to achieve excellent quality photos and videos, despite the resolution of 5 megapixels. Among the disadvantages is still the lack of flash.

Features and performance

The second-generation tablet is equipped with a more powerful dual-core Apple A7 processor, clocked at 1.3 GHz. Its predecessor is equipped with an Apple A5 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. The two tablets have 1 GB and 512 MB, respectively. Of course, the filling makes the second generation tablet more productive and ensures performance. At the same time, the newer gadget may heat up, which was not the case in its previous version.

The battery capacity of the first generation mobile device is 4440 mAh, and the second - 6471 mAh. Such indicators provide, which equals an average of 10 hours. Despite the fact that the battery capacity is much higher in the newer mobile gadget, the improved performance does not significantly extend the operating time without recharging.

Users have the opportunity to choose different modifications of two tablet computers. The model, released at the end of 2012, comes with built-in memory of 16, 32 and 64 GB. Mobile device The second generation comes to the market with memory of 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB. The disadvantage can be considered the lack of opportunity to increase internal memory via SD storage. In addition, we do not recommend purchasing budget models that only have 16 GB available. This amount of memory is very small, given that modern applications require not only powerful hardware, but also enough space.

A comparison of the iPad mini and iPad mini 2 led to the conclusion that both devices have a lot in common. At the same time, the second-generation tablet stands out from its predecessor with an improved screen, increased performance and the ability to purchase a gadget with more memory. It is not easy to distinguish the two devices by appearance. In our opinion, Apple, having released the second generation tablet, did not introduce to the market mobile technologies a fundamentally new device. The company only corrected the disadvantages that were present in the iPad mini.

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To distinguish the iPad Mini, Pro or Air models, you need to know the external features of each version. The number printed on the back cover will also help you determine which model you have in your hands. For example, if you see a number, you can be sure that you are holding an iPad mini. You can check this information on the Apple website.

iPad

First apple tablet went on sale in 2010. Visually, they are the most angular - the streamlined shape came only in the second generation. The front panel of the iPad 1 is exclusively black. On back cover can be one of two numbers:

• A1219 – with Wi-Fi.
• A1337 – with Wi-Fi and 3G.

The first model of the tablet does not have cameras, but the model with 3G support has a tray for a SIM card and an insert for the antenna.

• A1395 – Wi-Fi.
• A1396 – GSM.
• A1397 – CDMA.

The version with GSM has a SIM card tray on the right side. The developers moved the speaker to the back wall of the device. The next two generations of the iPad received this design, so if the question arises of how to recognize the model, you will have to rely on the number.

The iPad 3 cannot be externally disconnected from the iPad 2 until you turn on the device - the updated version is provided by the Retina display. To avoid mistakes, look at the numbers on the back cover:

• A1416 - Wi-Fi.
• A1430 – GSM.
• A1403 – CDMA.

iPad 4 continues the design traditions of the second and third versions, but presents itself as a modified port for connecting to a PC or laptop. The 4th model uses a small Lightning connector.

The fifth iPad, released in 2017, has virtually nothing to do with the previous four, because it comes in the body of the first iPad Air. The fifth model can be distinguished from the Air only by the presence of TouchID and the absence of hardware buttons for volume control.

mini series

The first iPad mini can be distinguished from other models by its size. In addition, all the buttons on it are made of metal, which is also a noticeable feature. There are three versions:

• A1453 - Wi-Fi.
• A1454 - Cellular for the USA.
• A1455 - Global Cellular with CDMA support.

The second generation of the iPad mini tablet model is no different in appearance from the first, so you have to focus on the screen (the Retina screen is used for the first time in the series) and the numbers on the back panel:

• A1489 - Wi-Fi.
• A1490 – LTE.

The difference between the second and third generations is the addition of Touch ID and a new gold color scheme. Plus numbers:

• A1599 - Wi-Fi.
• A1600 – LTE, sold in most countries of the world.
• A1601 – LTE, sold in Southeast Asia.

iPad mini 4 has a slightly longer and thinner body than its predecessors. Plus, the device does not have a hardware button to turn on silent mode - only volume control keys. There are two models - A1538 with Wi-Fi and A1550 with LTE.

Air Series

In the iPad Air, users saw a long-awaited update to the design that was boring during the release of the iPad 2, 3 and 4. It looks a bit like an enlarged version of the mini: the frames around the display have become smaller, as well as the thickness of the device itself. At the bottom there are paired speakers.

There are three varieties:

• A1474 - Wi-Fi.
• A1475 - LTE.
• A1476 - TD-LTE, aimed at Southeast Asia.

The latest tablet in the series, called Air 2, has a Touch ID scanner on the Home button, the silent mode switch has disappeared, the design of the speakers has changed, and the thickness has decreased. Apple Company abandoned further production of the Air series, using the same design in the iPad 5, as we said above.

Pro Series

The Air line was chronologically replaced by the Pro series. The first model, with a 12.9-inch diagonal and incredible performance for a tablet, is noticeably different from anything Apple has done before. The difference is added by the appearance of a new Smart Connector port for connecting a compatible keyboard.

A little later, a smaller version with a diagonal of 9.7 inches appeared. Outwardly, it is indistinguishable from the iPad Air 2, but the protruding lens and dual flash give it away as a representative of a different line.

In 2017, two more versions appeared - 10.5 inches and the second generation 12.9 inches. To distinguish the entire range of tablets from each other, look at the numbers. First generation 12.9 inches:

• A1584 - Wi-Fi (32, 128 or 256 GB of memory).
• A1652 - LTE (128 or 256 GB of memory).

Second generation 12.9 inches:

• A1670.
• A1671 – Wi-Fi + Cellular.

Pro 10.5 inches will be numbered A1701 and A1709 (Wi-Fi + Cellular). If you see numbers A1673, A1674 or A1675 (Wi-Fi + Cellular), then you know that this is in front of you iPad Pro 9.7 inches.