How to distinguish iPad mini from 2. Comparison of iPad models
) have already been the topic of our articles. Today, at the request of our readers, we will talk about the development of Apple tablets and the differences between them. After reading this article, You will be able to freely answer the question: “What is the difference between the iPad 4 (iPad with Retina display) and the iPad 3 and other Apple tablet models.”
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At this time Apple moment positions only three models iPad, as relevant and officially available: , iPad 2 and , and the “kopeck piece” is only available in a Wi-Fi modification with 16 GB of memory. On the secondary market and on the Internet you can find all generations of iPad in any modifications.
iPad original
First iPad(or iPad original) was a pilot and revolutionary project for Apple at the same time. It was presented at a presentation in San Francisco on January 27, 2010. As it turned out later, the idea of releasing a tablet is not new and has been exciting the brain for quite some time. And so, his dream came true and the world saw it for the first time apple tablet. The pilot project was based on the fact that not all the developments were applied in the first iPad, as if Apple were afraid of a negative reaction from users and did not make a too expensive and technological device. 
Despite this, the “Apple magic” worked once again and tablets were swept off store shelves. The first pancake didn’t turn out to be a big deal, but critics blasphemed the first iPad for its weak processor, lack of camera, and all the other limitations of iOS.
iPad 2
Having worked on the mistakes, on March 2, 2011, Apple announced iPad 2. The model received two cameras and became a little lighter and thinner than its predecessor, and its improved version iPad 2 (Rev A) with a more advanced processor, it is still Apple's best-selling tablet. 
iPad 3 (The New iPad)
March 7, 2012 iPad line a real revolution awaited in the form The New iPad . The creators specifically did not mark the tablet with the number “3”, explaining this by the fact that new model— rethinking the entire line. became thicker than its predecessor, however, this made it possible to hide more capacious battery. This was done for the stunning Retina display. The filling has also improved The New iPad.
iPad 4 (iPad with Retina display)
The happy owners of the third iPad, after all, just half a year later, on October 23, 2012, Apple released . He became an exact copy predecessor with a new connector and slightly more advanced hardware internals.
It was presented at the same time. For the first time, Apple reduced the screen size from 9.7″ to 7.9″ and dressed the tablet in a matte black shell. This is how Cupertino entered the budget “tablet” market. iPad Mini Mostly criticized for the lack of a retina display. Analysts suggest that the smaller first-generation tablet is a tentative step into a new niche, and is already next model will be able to brag. 
Half a year later, without much fanfare, Apple announced (all previous models have only modifications of 16, 32 or 64 GB).
Separately, it is worth mentioning the 3G/4G (radio) module. All versions of the iPad are available in versions with a 3G module, they are called cellular, and without it. It is quite easy to distinguish this modification by the black plastic roof on the rear panel and a small slot for sim cards from the side. 
Such modifications are more expensive and have the ability to access the Internet via networks mobile operators. Of course, this requires a SIM card and costs money, but here lies the second difference between the models, which is not advertised by Apple. All iPads with a 3G module have a built-in GPS module, which is missing in Wi-Fi models. This allows cellular tablet versions determine location without an Internet connection and use applications for navigation and geolocation. Wi-Fi versions of the iPad can only do this if there is an Internet connection. 
In order to determine the model by appearance iPad use a simple algorithm. With its help you can always determine which model it is. iPad in front of you. If you have never held in your hands iPad 2 or iPad 3, then a little difficulty may arise in identifying them. If both tablets are nearby, the difference is obvious, but when only one sample is visible, you will have to take a closer look. In other cases it is possible without special effort distinguish one version of the tablet from another.
In conclusion we present comparison table with the characteristics of all Apple tablets.
| iPad | iPad 2 | iPad 2(Rev 2) | iPad 3(The New iPad) | iPad 4 ( With Retina display) | iPad Mini | |
| Model name |
A1219 (Wi-Fi) A1337 (GSM) |
A1460 (GSM+CDMA) |
A1455 (GSM+CDMA) |
|||
| Generation name | ||||||
| Start of sales |
April 2010 |
November 2012 February 2013 (128 GB) |
November 2012 |
|||
| End of sales |
November 2012 |
|||||
| Case colors(back/front) |
Metal/black |
black or white |
black or white |
black or white |
black or white |
Metal or black/ black or white |
| Required versioniTunes | ||||||
| Minimum versioniOS |
6.0.1 others |
6.0.1 others |
||||
| MaximumversioniOS | ||||||
| Battery (mAh) | ||||||
| Length (mm) | ||||||
| Width (mm) | ||||||
| Thickness (mm) | ||||||
| Weight (g) | ||||||
| CPU |
Proprietary architecture |
|||||
| Frequency (MHz) | ||||||
| RAM | ||||||
| Display resolution | ||||||
| Pixels per inch | ||||||
| 2 G(GSM/GPRS/Edge) | ||||||
|
3G (UMTS/ HSDPA/HSUPA) |
||||||
|
4G (LTE) |
+* (13/700, 17/700) |
|||||
|
Glonass |
||||||
| Wi-Fi b/g/n | ||||||
| Bluetooth | ||||||
| Accelerometer | ||||||
| Gyroscope | ||||||
| Light sensor | ||||||
| Rear camera(Mpix) | ||||||
| Front camera(Mpix) | ||||||
| Access Point Mode | ||||||
| AirPlay Mirroring | ||||||
| Connector | ||||||
| Siri |
* - only models with GSM (cellular) module
** - CDMA models only
Apple, being one of the pioneers of fashion in the production of portable electronics, in its model range submits for execution various tasks, and several screen options various sizes cover the requests of almost every user.
Comparison and review of two tablet models: iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3
One of these models is miniature iPad tablet mini. It has a slightly smaller screen, and is intended mainly for those who are not large enough iPhone screen, But regular iPad already too big. The most popular models are the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3. Users of the second generation device are wondering whether to upgrade their tablet to a newer one, and potential buyers do not know which of two very similar models to choose.
To answer these questions, let's compare the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3. Let's look at how they differ and what they have in common.
Externally, both models are practically no different from each other. Same size (200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm), weight (Wi-Fi - 331 g, Wi-Fi with 3G - 341 g), screen size (7.9 inches). An unprepared buyer may not be able to distinguish them from each other. Without going into details, pay attention to the camera, or rather, to its appearance. In the newer iPad, the camera looks like in the iPhone 5s, without additional edging, and in the second iPad there is a edging that matches the color of the case.
On top of that, in the third generation model the manufacturer added a new color scheme- golden. iPad mini 3 is now available in gold and gray colors, as well as color " gray space", while iPad mini 2 - only in the last two. That, in principle, is all the external differences.
Screen
If you compare the screens with each other, you can confidently say that they are no different: iPad mini 2 and 3 are equipped IPS matrix 7.9-inch diagonal, with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, pixel density 326 ppi, scratch-resistant coating. The display is set quite deep when compared with the same iPhone. Color rendition is excellent, Retina technology makes itself felt. The picture looks bright, juicy, colors do not fade even at large viewing angles.
The only slight difference is that the iPad mini 3 display has received an improved anti-reflective coating, which makes working under the bright rays of the sun somewhat easier. But you shouldn't rely on it too much, because Sun rays - the main problem IPS matrices.
Processing power
The devices do not differ in this indicator either: dual-core A7 processor with an operating frequency of 1.3 GHz, 1 GB random access memory, PowerVR G6430 video adapter with four cores. Both processors operate on a 64-bit chip. The M7 coprocessor not only controls the operation of sensors and sensors, but also allows you to use less, which has a very positive effect on efficiency. Both devices demonstrate excellent results performance tests. We can definitely say that in terms of hardware power there is no difference between these two tablets.
Camera
All Apple fans were eagerly awaiting the iPad mini 3 to receive best camera than its predecessor. But, alas... Third iPad mini is no different from the second one in terms of camera: both devices are equipped with a 5 megapixel main camera, with spot focusing and autofocus, without flash. It was quite logical to install a camera of at least 8 megapixels on the updated model. Although it would be wrong to say that the photo is of low quality, in normal lighting the pictures are quite good.
The front camera has a resolution of 1.2 megapixels, which is quite enough for high-quality video communication and unpretentious communication. The camera has a face detection function, which makes the shooting process easier.
operating system
Initially, iPad mini 2 ran iOS 7, while iPad mini 3 already ran iOS 8.1. Today, both versions of the tablet can be updated to .
Memory
In terms of RAM capacity, the indicators are, again, absolutely identical: 1 gigabyte, which is quite enough to perform any tasks. The only difference is the volume physical memory. iPad mini 2 entered the market with pre-installed memory 16 and 32 gigabytes. Small volume, considering the fact that memory cards Apple devices are not supported. But the iPad mini 3 is already available with memory sizes of 64 and 128 gigabytes (a bonus for those who store everything on the tablet). True, the company removed the model with 32 gigabytes.
Wireless connections, connectors and sensors
Both tablets come in two variants: only with Wi-Fi module or Wi-Fi+3G. Both support mobile networks LTE. SIM card format - microSIM.
In addition, the models are equipped with standard Bluetooth, GPS (with A-GPS support), GLONASS, automatic screen rotation, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and light sensor. In this regard, the tablets are also completely identical.
Battery life
And in this aspect, both tablets do not differ from each other. Yes, when reading e-book The tablets can last about 11.5 hours from the screen, and about 10.5 hours when playing YouTube videos via Wi-Fi. Impressive, isn't it? Equals among similar devices can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Touch ID
So are there any significant differences between the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3, other than the modified camera eye, memory capacity and body color? Yes, this is in the third generation model.
What kind of sensor is this? This is a fingerprint sensor built into the Home button. It remembers the owner’s fingerprint and makes it possible to quickly unlock the device, confirm payment for a purchase in an online store, or App Store. Developers use the sensor to secure access to some applications.
What's the advantage? In safety. If, for example, the PIN code or graphic key If someone can spy on it and thus gain access to information on the tablet, it is impossible to fake a fingerprint.
conclusions
So, we compared two models of miniature tablets Apple: iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3. Let's return to the question raised at the beginning of the article: is it worth changing the mini 2 to the mini 3? If the presence of Touch ID and a memory capacity of 64 or 128 GB are not critical for you, then there is absolutely no need. All other parameters of the tablets are exactly the same.
If you are just going to buy one of these two tablets, then decide whether you need Touch ID enough to overpay $100 for it? This is the starting price difference between two models of similar configuration. In addition, the iPad mini 2 has fallen a little in price, and with iPad output mini 3 hasn't become one bit worse.
Which model would you prefer? Would you buy more new device for the sake of the fingerprint sensor? Share your opinions with us in the comments.
- Displays iPad Pro 12.9 inches and 11 inches are rectangles with rounded corners. The display diagonal is measured without taking into account the curves and is 12.9 inches for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 11 inches for the 11-inch iPad Pro. The actual viewing area is smaller.
- Volume available space less than stated and depends on various factors. The standard configuration (including iOS and pre-installed apps) takes approximately 10 to 12 GB depending on the device model and settings. Pre-installed applications occupy about 4 GB; they can be deleted and downloaded again. Tariff plan cellular communication sold separately.
- Size and weight vary depending on device configuration and manufacturing process.
- To communicate using FaceTime, both users must have FaceTime-enabled devices and be connected to a Wi-Fi network. Availability of FaceTime over cellular networks varies by carrier; Data charges may apply.
- Data plan required. Gigabit Class LTE, 4G networks LTE Advanced and 4G LTE are not available in all regions or with all carriers. Speed calculated based on theoretical bandwidth and depends on local conditions. Detailed information about support LTE networks Available from your carrier or from .
- Cellular plan must be purchased separately. The model you purchase is configured to work with a specific technology cellular networks. For availability information tariff plan cellular service and compatibility, please contact your carrier.
- Not all carriers support apple cards SIM and eSIM. Behind additional information Contact your carrier. Not available in China. eSIM technology is supported on the 11-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation). Apple technology SIM is supported on iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 or later.
- Battery life depends on device settings and usage. More details on the page
iPad mini – amazing device. When in 2012, rumors began to creep across the Internet that a smaller version of the familiar and beloved ten-inch iPad was being prepared in the depths of Apple headquarters, fans of the Cupertino technology rudely expressed their opinion, arguing the negative with fragmentation, imitation of the Android camp, impracticality, meaninglessness, etc. more... Few of them could have thought then that literally a year later people would begin to abandon the classic iPad in favor of the iPad mini.
Having a good aspect ratio, the iPad is better suited for web surfing than widescreen tablets. Reduced iPad version turned out to be even more convenient for everyday use and all thanks to the excellent weight and dimensional characteristics and only two significant drawbacks were first iPad mini has a low resolution and a relatively weak A5 processor at the time of release. iPad mini 2 was deprived of these disadvantages and now this, in my subjective opinion, best tablet On the market.
We still have the same practical device, the design of which has not changed. The only visual difference between the iPad Mini Retina and the iPad Mini first generations are color. The silver-white model remained unchanged, but the black one became gray; the color was officially named Space Gray, which in Russian localization sounds like “milky gray.”
What's inside the iPad? Mini second generations? Let's talk about everything in order...
What's new in iPad mini 2 (Retina)
First let's look at iPad differences mini 2, relative to the previous model.1. First and foremost is the Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536.
This is exactly the same screen resolution as a ten-inch iPad, as a result of which the number of dots per inch of the iPad mini is exactly the same as the iPhone - 326 pieces! For a tablet this is an impressive figure, the image is simply stunning. The display has become brighter, more contrasty, and the colors are even more saturated; viewing angles are beyond praise, however, as always. It’s endlessly pleasant to look at both the elements of the iOS interface and programs, as well as games; there’s no need to talk about fonts at all. The text is a pleasure to read.
326 pixels per inch. Pixels cannot be seen with the eye
2. Powerful filling.
The new iPad mini is significantly more powerful than the first model. To replace the obsolete dual-core processor A5 (the same was in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S) came 64-bit A7, with a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Judging by synthetic tests, the performance increase is over 400%, and graphics processing speed has increased to 800%! The iPad mini Retina is almost the same in power as the iPad Air, the only difference in the filling is the lower frequency of the A7 processor by 100 MHz. The tablet also has an M7 coprocessor, its task is to process data about the position of the device in space - gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS.
3. Other changes:
- the new iPad mini 2 has a quad-core GPU g6430;
- the amount of RAM was increased from 512 Mb DDR2 to 1024 Mb DDR3;
- The tablet has become 0.3 millimeters thicker;
- weight Wi-Fi versions increased from 308 g to 331 g, weight of the Cellular version increased from 312 g to 341 g;
- The battery capacity has been increased.
Specifications iPad Mini 2 (Retina)
| Display | IPS 7.9 inches (4:3), oleophobic coating Resolution 2048 × 1536 px (326 ppi) |
 |
||
| CPU | Apple A7 64-bit (2 cores, 28nm) + M7 Frequency 1.3 GHz |
|||
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 (4-core) | |||
| Memory | 1 GB DRAM DDR3 | |||
| Storage capacity | 16/32/64/128 Gb | |||
| Camera | iSight 5 Mpx Full HD video recording 1080p/30fps, stabilization |
|||
| Front-camera | 1.2 Mpx HD video recording 720p/30fps |
|||
| Sensors, modules | GPS, Glonass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer Micro-SIM digital compass, 1 microphone, access point, wireless printing, AirPlay Mirroring (mirroring) |
Battery (hours of operation) | ||
| Music Video Internet 3G* Internet LTE* Internet Wi-Fi Expectation |
up to 140 to 10 until 9 until 9 to 10 up to 744 |
6471 mAh | ||
| iOS version Sales |
iOS 7.0 11/12/2013 - Present |
Dimensions (mm) |
||
| Length Width Thickness |
200 134.7 7.5 |
331 (341*) grams | ||
| Communication standards | GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSUPA/HSDPA (3G)*, CDMA, LTE (4G)*, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 | |||
| * - Cellular model | ||||
But what about the iPad Mini 2 in use?
iPad Mini Retina, like the previous generation tablet, is ergonomic to infinity. I will add that I, being a lover of technology from Apple has already It’s not the first year, I’ve always not had a very good attitude towards the classic 9.7-inch iPad. I never liked it for many reasons, from weight and size characteristics to the visual component. Huge weight, inconvenient dimensions, a wide frame around the display - everything prevented me from using the large iPad as a portable and practical tablet, and it increasingly turned into a device for the home, and the tasks that I assigned to it were increasingly compensated by computers and phones, in As a result, I practically stopped using the “toy”.In the case of the iPad Mini, the situation is diametrically opposite. The tablet is lightweight and is extremely practical for portable use, it fits into the inner pocket of most jackets, jackets and down jackets even in a case, taking it with you on the road is a pleasure, you can hold it for a long time with one hand, and playing is a special pleasure. Considering the powerful hardware, I can recommend choosing the iPad Mini Retina for games rather than the iPad Air; it’s really very convenient to play, primarily due to its small dimensions.
As for the time battery life, everything is great here, however, as always with Apple. iPad Mini Retina can survive heavy use with modern games (for example) for up to 7 hours. Of course, this indicator depends on individual settings brightness and included modules, but I managed to squeeze out 10 hours in everyday use, where I mainly surfed the web, light games, and email. There are screenshots online that someone managed to torture their iPad Mini 2 for 13 hours without recharging at low brightness. Agree, impressive numbers.
So, does the iPad Mini Retina have any downsides?
There are, where would we be without them, there are no ideal gadgets. But the second generation iPad Mini really has few downsides.1. Apple has equipped its latest line of iOS devices with one gigabyte of RAM. Not only has there been more memory, it has also become faster, but by today's standards this is still not that much. In the Android camp, 2Gb of RAM is already the norm; if the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air were equipped with the same amount, not many would want to change the gadget in a year, but at the end of the year Apple will happily announce that the next iPad will now have twice the RAM more and many of us will run to the store with a smile on our faces. Although, on the other hand, the existing hardware will be enough for modern games for another couple of years and this is more than enough not to think about the hardware inside the device.
2. Retina display. “How can this be, because this is its most important advantage!” - you say. Absolutely true, but this display is a bit worse than that, that of the iPad Air. iPad display Mini 2 is inferior in contrast, brightness and color quality, but wins in picture clarity and this is visible to the naked eye. However, this small drawback should not be a reason to doubt the purchase; in practice, you will notice the difference only when directly comparing the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air, but more high definition and the pixel density of the Mini 2 can be noticed without comparison.
3. The iPad Mini Retina is equipped with a 10-watt power supply, when a 12-watt power supply has been on sale for almost a year and a half. Thanks to this, charging the tablet takes a really long time.
4. When playing “heavy” toys for a long time, the Mini 2 body heats up significantly; the large iPad Air is less susceptible to this problem, thanks to the large aluminum body. Essentially, this is a radiator for a tablet, so it turns out that a smaller radiator takes less heat from the processor. Moreover, at some point games may begin to slow down, this happens because the processor frequency, upon reaching a certain temperature, begins to decrease in order to prevent overheating.
5. Perhaps the last drawback, which can be called temporary. It concerns modern games, on the iPad Mini Retina you can see some stuttering in them, I won’t say that they are very noticeable, but they are there. This is due to the fact that not all developers have yet updated their applications for the 64-bit processor architecture, hence the corresponding problems.
It is also worth noting that some users have encountered the problem of a low-quality display, which allegedly distorts the color rendition the next second after a long display of a black image. I haven’t encountered this problem, but even if you are “unlucky”, you shouldn’t get hung up on it, it’s a trifle.
The first generation iPad Mini is still on sale, is it worth saving or is it better to buy an iPad Mini Retina?
You can save a lot and buy a first-generation iPad Mini, but you must realize that you are buying obsolete hardware that will not last for several years and soon you will experience slowdowns in both games and iOS. If possible, compare iPad screen Mini of the first and second generations, you will understand that the choice is obvious in favor of the second.But what to choose, iPad Mini 2 (Retina) or iPad Air?
Actually the question is quite simple. Both tablets are almost the same in power, you won’t notice the difference. The 9.7-inch iPad has become significantly lighter at 469 and 478 grams for the Wi-Fi and Cellular versions, respectively. Its frame around the edges has become thinner. In general, the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Air are almost identical tablets, which differ in only three things:- price – each iPad Air model is exactly 4000 more expensive than a similar iPad Mini 2;
- size – iPad Air is significantly larger than Mini 2;
- weight – iPad Air is approximately 140 grams heavier than iPad Mini 2.
iPad performance(single core performance)
iPad performance (multi-core performance)
Source http://www.primatelabs.com/geekbench/
It’s simple, if you want a mobile, convenient, productive tablet, then don’t hesitate to take the iPad Mini 2 (Retina), if you want a larger screen, then the iPad Air. For everyday using iPad Mini 2 will be more convenient, more enjoyable to play, and the image clarity will be higher. The iPad Air loses a little in mobility and image clarity, but the screen is brighter and has better color reproduction, but still, it is more suitable for home use. The Mini is easier to carry, even if the Air were the same weight as the iPad Mini, it would still be large and bulky, while the Mini is compact and as practical as possible.
If we go to Wikipedia and look up the meaning of the word “Convenience”, we will see a detailed definition:
“Convenience is suitability for use, the presence of conditions, opportunities for easy, pleasant, unburdensome use of something or the satisfaction of any needs or requirements.”
And for the iPad Mini 2 these words are more applicable than for the iPad Air. Air is the same, only bigger, hence its disadvantages, if this is a plus for you, take the iPad Air.
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If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.
Warranty and responsibility
A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.
Half the battle is Apple repair- this is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts current models so that you don't have to waste extra time.
Free diagnostics
This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for service center. Diagnosis is the most difficult and an important part repair, but you do not have to pay a penny for it, even if you do not repair the device as a result of it.
Service repairs and delivery
Good service values your time, so he offers free shipping. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: correctly and according to technology can only be done in a prepared place.
Convenient schedule
If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00
The reputation of professionals consists of several points
Company age and experience
Reliable and experienced service have known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.
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If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give to Macbook repair an expert in the field Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices
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If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.
