I’ve had my eyes on the iPad Mini since it was released. Why wouldn’t I? Apple took all of what’s great about iOS & the original iPad and neatly wrapped it in to a smaller, more elegant package. Taking in to consideration that I’m on the move a lot too, the prospect of a thinner, lighter and faster iPad was pretty enticing!
So, what’s the problem? Even though the iPad Mini satisfies many of my needs, there’s one major issue that stops me from giving Apple my hard earned cash.
The iPad Mini Needs A Retina display
It’s the one reason I’ve refused to buy the iPad Mini. I’ve read a heap of articles justifying why it doesn’t have Retina, mentioning things like keeping costs down and a better battery life. Most of the justifications have a fair point to prove, but for someone who’s used to seeing things in full HD (on my iPad 3 Retina & Thunderbolt display), the iPad Mini simply feels like a step backwards to me.
The image above should be a clear enough example of how much of a difference the display makes. The extra pixels you get on the 3rd generation iPad go a long way in sharpening text and making graphics like photos & icons look much better.
Yes it’s lighter, slimmer and definitely more compact than the traditional iPad; but from a financial perspective, I simply don’t see real value in purchasing the Mini because I’ll be “settling” rather than buying something I’m happy with.
Why Does It Matter?
The recent developments by Samsung and Google (with their Chromebook) are proof of a wider appeal for Higher Definition displays. Ranging from the 3,200 x 1,800 resolution 13″ laptops to the new 4K TV’s, customers want better displays for their gadgets and companies like Samsung are delivering. Apple may have gotten away with including a 1024×768 resolution with this device and made a success of it, but I’d be surprised if they’re able to do it again. Having said that, it’ll be interesting to see the decision they make with the updated version of the iPad Mini later on this year.
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Reviews
If you’re after a full review of the iPad Mini, I’d recommend looking at Joshua Andrew Davies’ article for Ultralinx, as well as this one from The Verge. Both give a really good breakdown of the pros and cons of the iPad Mini and will give you a different perspective about what to consider if you’re looking for a smaller tablet.
Like both the articles above will tell you, power users who care about resolution will be reluctant to buy the Mini where perhaps the average consumer won’t even notice the difference. At the end of the day, if you’re considering the purchase the decision is yours to make – but I know that I’ll be waiting for Apple to release a Retina iPad Mini rather than “settling”.
What do you think though? Would you say that the quality of the display on a gadget can make or break the deal?
