How to distinguish iPad models: external differences and numbers. Comparison of iPad models

At the September presentation, Apple, among other things, announced a new version of the iPad mini - the fourth. However, it received the least attention: both Apple representatives and the press focused on the iPad Pro and the new generation of iPhone. In principle, this is understandable: there is nothing truly innovative in the iPad mini 4. But there are much more differences from the iPad mini 3 than the iPad mini 3 had compared to the iPad mini 2. A year ago, Apple only equipped the Retina version of its mini-tablet with a fingerprint scanner and a new body color. Now both the hardware and the body itself have been updated - this is not counting the software improvements.

Apparently, due to the fact that the iPad mini 4 does not have any technological innovations, Apple was able to release the tablet earlier than the other new products announced on September 9. Moreover, the iPad mini 4 immediately went on sale in many countries, including Russia (while the official start date for sales of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is still unknown in our country, we were not included in the first wave of sales). Thus, today we have the opportunity to get acquainted with the iPad mini 4 and understand how it differs from other current iPad models.

It is curious that Apple currently does not have the iPad mini 3 in its product range, while the iPad mini 2 is still available for purchase, and its price has been reduced. At the time of writing, the price for the iPad mini 2 in the Russian Apple online store was 22,490 rubles for the minimum version (16 GB, without a cellular module), while for the iPad mini 4 they are already asking 32,990. The difference is significant, more than ten thousand. And our task is to find out how much this difference is justified.

Let's look at the technical characteristics of the new product.

Specifications Apple iPad mini 4

• Apple A8 SoC 1.5 GHz 64 bit (2 cores, Typhoon architecture based on ARMv8-A)
• GPU PowerVR GX6450
• Apple M8 motion coprocessor including GPS, barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope and compass
• RAM 2 GB
• Flash memory 16/64/128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 9.0
• Touch display IPS, 7.9″, 2048×1536 (326 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video via FaceTime) and rear (8 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (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 4.2
• Touch ID fingerprint scanner
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 19.1 Wh
• A-GPS (version with cellular module)
• Dimensions 203×135×6.1 mm
• Weight 299 g (manufacturer's stated weight of the version without the cellular module) / 307 g (our measurement of the version with the cellular module)

For clarity, let’s compare the characteristics of the new product with the previous generation iPad mini (we will consider the second and third versions as one generation) and with the iPad Air 2.

*according to manufacturer information
** version with cellular module, our measurement
*** for the version with a minimum of flash memory and communication capabilities

So what should you pay attention to? Firstly, on the SoC. The iPad mini 4 has an Apple A8 installed, and compared to the processor of the same model in the iPhone 6, this is an overclocked version (1.5 GHz versus 1.4 GHz). However, this is not an Apple A8X, as in the iPad Air 2. The differences are in the GPU and the number of CPU cores (three for the iPad Air 2 and two for the iPad mini 4).

As for the comparison with the iPad mini 2 and 3, it is worth paying attention, of course, to the Apple A8 SoC instead of the Apple A7 and the presence of 2 GB of RAM instead of 1 GB. However, the battery of the new iPad mini is less capacious than the old one. Obviously, Apple expects that battery life will be maintained due to the greater energy efficiency of the new SoC. Whether it is true or not, we will check in our testing.

Packaging and equipment

The packaging of the iPad mini 4 is traditional for Apple tablets and is practically no different from the packaging of the previous generation tablet.

As for the packaging, there are no surprises here either: leaflets, charger (10 W, 2.1 A, 5.1 V), Lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle.

Design

Externally, the iPad mini 4 is not much different from its predecessor: all the buttons remain in the same places, and the appearance of the front panel has also not changed. However, when you take the iPad mini 4 in your hand, you immediately feel the difference: the body has become thinner by almost one and a half millimeters and lighter by about 10% (the exact figure depends on the versions being compared - with or without a cellular module), and this can be noticed even without a “face-to-face” » comparisons (provided, of course, that you have used iPad mini before).

The remaining design differences are so insignificant and of such little significance that they are worth mentioning only for the sake of accuracy and completeness of description. So, the speaker grilles located on the bottom edge are now one row of holes, rather than two. At the same time, the number of holes in a single row is also smaller, but the holes themselves are larger.

This is unlikely to have any effect on the sound quality. In general, we are not inclined to attribute the sound of the iPad mini 4 speakers to either the advantages or disadvantages of the tablet. The advantage here is fairly intelligible speech and relatively good (as far as possible under such conditions) vocal transmission, but the disadvantage is the location of the speakers: it turns out that the sound comes from only one side of the device. We are not talking about the obvious (missing low frequencies coupled with slightly rattling mids) - this is the problem with almost all tablets and smartphones.

On the back surface, despite the brushed aluminum, fingerprints are visible. This is especially true for the mirrored apple, which almost always looks dirty (when using the tablet every day). On the rest of the surface area, the prints are visible at an angle, but they are not noticeable and can be removed quite easily.

There are two microphone holes next to the camera. The iPad mini 3 had one microphone and it was located in the center of the top edge. Now the iPad mini is completely similar to the iPad Air 2 in design and placement of microphones and speakers. But there was no flash near the camera. But there is a fingerprint sensor located in the Home button and inherited from the iPad mini 3.

In general, we can say that the iPad mini 4 is simply a smaller iPad Air 2. By the way, the body thickness of these two tablets is identical. As well as the placement of absolutely all elements.

Screen

The declared screen parameters of the iPad mini 4 do not differ from those of its predecessor: it is an IPS matrix with a resolution of 2048×1536 and a screen diagonal of 7.9″. However, the fact that the key parameters are identical does not mean that the screens are exactly the same in all their properties. There really are differences! Detailed testing of the screen was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Below is his conclusion.

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, the anti-glare properties of the screen are much better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). At the same time, some tint of the screen surface, which appears at large angles, gives reason to assume that in the case of the iPad mini 4 some kind of anti-reflective coating is used. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - iPad mini 4, then in all comparative photographs the tested tablet is located below the Nexus 7:

The screen of the iPad mini 4 is noticeably darker (brightness according to photographs is 66 versus 111 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the iPad mini 4 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. 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 and when the white field was displayed in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 430 cd/m², the minimum was 4.8 cd/m². The maximum brightness is not very high, however, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors will be at a decent level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on light sensors (there are two of them, they are located in the upper corners (in portrait orientation), masked with a white coating on the inside of the glass, and the readings of the sensor that produces the larger value are taken into account). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider - the user uses it to set the desired brightness level for the current conditions. If, in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux), the slider is moved to maximum (we will assume that it is 100%), then in complete darkness, the automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 4.8 cd/m² (a bit dark, but something visible), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) the brightness increases to 440 cd/m² (very bright), in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) is set to the same 440 cd/m² (as needed). The brightness slider in the “office” is at 50% - the values ​​are as follows: 8.3, 110-130 and 440 cd/m² (normal), at 0% - 4.8, 4.8 and 31 cd/m² (dark, but a trend expected). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works more or less adequately, and it is possible to adjust the nature of the brightness change to the user’s requirements, although there are some not obvious features in its operation. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

This tablet uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the iPad mini 4 and Nexus 7 screens, with the screen brightness initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field in full screen, on the iPad mini 4 this corresponds to a value of 65% brightness at using third-party programs), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K. There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

Color balance varies slightly, color saturation is normal. 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 change much on both screens and the contrast remained at a high level. And a white field:

The brightness of the screens at an angle decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the iPad mini 4 the drop in brightness is less. When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a violet or red-violet hue. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is not ideal:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 760:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 21 ms (12 ms on + 9 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes the same 21 ms in total (but 9 ms on + 12 ms off). This unusual ratio of response times is explained by the fact that for transitions between halftones there is a slight acceleration of the matrix - at the fronts of some transitions bursts of brightness are clearly visible:

This does not lead to noticeable artifacts, but the speed of the matrix increases. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 1.70, which is lower than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power-law dependence:

Typically, such a deviation is associated with the work of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image, but in this case we did not detect any signs of it.

Color gamut is almost equal to sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix filters mix the components with each other to a moderate extent. The spectra confirm this:

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is slightly higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from shade to shade - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

Let's summarize. The screen does not have a very high maximum brightness, but has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day without any problems. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of air gaps in the layers of the screen and flicker, high black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane, as well as sRGB color gamut and good color balance. There are no significant shortcomings. This is perhaps the best display among small screen tablets at the moment.

Summing up the testing of the iPad mini 4 screen, we can note that a big step forward has been made here compared to the iPad mini 3: firstly, this is getting rid of the air gap between the matrix and the glass; secondly, improved color gamut and anti-glare properties. But you need to understand that if the iPad mini 4 screen is damaged, replacing it will be significantly more expensive than if it were an iPad mini 3.

Performance

iPad mini 4 runs on the Apple A8 SoC, created using a 20 nm process technology. The single-chip system includes a dual-core 64-bit CPU with Typhoon architecture based on ARMv8-A, PowerVR GX6450 GPU and Apple M8 motion coprocessor. The difference between the Apple M8 and the Apple M7, used in previous generations of iPad mini, is the presence of a barometer.

As for the SoC in general, we have already seen it in the iPhone 6 / 6 Plus, but there the CPU operated at a lower frequency. On top of that, the amount of RAM was half as much.

Let's compare the performance of the iPad mini 4 with the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and iPhone 6 Plus. iOS 9.0 was installed on the iPad mini 4, iOS 9.1 beta on the iPad Air 2, and iOS 8.0 on the remaining devices.

Let's start with browser tests: SunSpider 1.0, Octane Benchmark and Kraken Benchmark. We will also add to our standard set a new browser benchmark, recommended by the creators of SunSpider as a replacement for it.

Based on browser tests, it is clear that the iPad mini 4 outperforms both its immediate predecessor and the iPhone 6 Plus, and the gap is significant (apparently, it’s a matter of RAM). But the absolute leader is still the iPad Air 2, although its superiority is far from significant. It is unlikely to be noticeable during actual use.

Now let's see how the iPad mini 4 performs in Geekbench 3, a multi-platform benchmark that measures CPU and RAM performance.

There is a similar picture here. The situation is the same, but the gap between the iPad mini 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus is already minimal. But the difference with the iPad Air 2 in multi-core mode is quite noticeable.

The last group of benchmarks is dedicated to testing GPU performance. We used 3DMark, GFXBench 3.1, as well as the new Basemark Metal benchmark, created specifically for devices with Metal technology. In addition, we launched GFXBench Metal (a benchmark option optimized for Metal devices) on iPad mini 4. We present the results separated by a slash with the results of the regular version (3.1). For some unknown reason, GFXBench did not launch on the iPad Air 2 in any version - perhaps this is due to the beta version of iOS. So in the table below you see the results for the iPad Air 2 that were at the time of our first testing of this tablet (respectively, on iOS 8).

Let us remind you that Offscreen tests involve displaying a 1080p image on the screen, regardless of the actual screen resolution. And tests without Offscreen mean that the image is displayed in exactly the resolution that matches the device screen resolution. That is, Offscreen tests are indicative from the point of view of the abstract performance of the SoC, and real tests are indicative from the point of view of the comfort of the game on a specific device.

So, the iPad mini 4 demonstrates clearly better results than the previous generation tablet - in particular, the T-Rex scene now runs at a frequency above 30 fps, and therefore, a game with this level of graphics will be comfortable and uncomfortable on the iPad mini 4 - on the iPad mini 3. At the same time, the iPad Air 2 is still far ahead. So it remains the best gaming solution. As for the results of the iPad mini 4 in comparison with the iPhone 6 Plus, we must take into account that the screen resolution of the iPhone 6 Plus is lower than that of the iPad mini 4, so in Onscreen mode the smartphone has slightly better results, although the GPU is the same.

Next test: 3DMark. Here we are only interested in the Unlimited mode, because in other modes these devices exceed the maximum.

And again the picture is very predictable - the only difference is that the gap between the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 3 is not as great here as in GFXBench.

Finally - Basemark Metal. Since we do not have results for the iPad mini 3 and iPhone 6 Plus, we present only data for the iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2.

When the test scene was displayed, there was a frames per second counter in the upper left corner. In the case of the iPad mini 4 it showed 5 fps, in the case of the iPad Air 2 - 9-10 fps.

An interesting result, once again proving that the iPad Air 2 can still be considered an unrivaled gaming solution among Apple mobile devices (well, at least until the release of the iPad Pro). In general, testing confirmed our assumptions: iPad mini 4 is noticeably faster than its predecessor and slightly faster than iPhone 6 Plus (although this will not be felt in games), but slower than iPad Air 2. However, all this (and the difference between iPad mini of different generations, and the difference between iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4) will be felt only in two years, not earlier - when games focused on fundamentally more powerful SoCs appear.

Playing video

To test the output of video files on the screen of the device itself, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methodology for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In the tests, we used a standard video player, launched via direct links to files. The test results are summarized in the table:

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the device itself is nowhere better, since frames (or groups of frames) are always (under the conditions of this test) output with uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on the tablet screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the wide border of the screen, however, with inevitable interpolation, which somewhat reduces clarity. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the actual range of the video file.

Autonomous operation and heating

We conducted detailed tests of the battery life of both tablets. In them, both new iPads showed excellent results. Thus, 3D games can be played on them for more than five and a half hours. This is significantly better than the Nvidia Shield Tablet, although the latter is positioned specifically as a gaming tablet. We emphasize that we checked the battery life in games both using the Epic Citadel test scene (it is on the Unreal engine, used in games such as Infinity Blade III, Dark Meadow and Horn), and using a real game - Asphalt 8.

It takes three hours to fully charge the tablet battery from the included charger. Too much!

As for the ergonomics of the iPad mini 4, the Apple tablet remained barely warm while playing Asphalt 8 and running through the Epic Citadel scene. This is a great result!

Below is a thermal image of the rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:

It can be seen that the heating is slightly more localized on the right side of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 38 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), which is not very much.

Work in LTE networks

The tablet will work on almost all LTE networks. That is, you can safely buy a tablet in another country and at the same time be sure that with us it will be fully functional in terms of communication capabilities.

LTE reception is reliable. Speed ​​measurements using the iOS application Speedtest.net (using an MTS SIM card) showed not the most outstanding results for receiving data, but quite decent results for downloading. However, the results may greatly depend on the operator.

We also note that the iPad supports hot insertion and SIM card replacement (without rebooting). And one more detail: iPad mini 4 supports the Apple SIM virtual SIM card standard (however, this is only relevant for the USA for now).

Camera

iPad mini 4 is equipped with two cameras - a front one with a resolution of 1.2 megapixels and a rear one with a resolution of 8 megapixels (the first time such a resolution has been found in an Apple tablet!). The camera parameters of the iPad mini 4 are identical to the iPad Air 2, and compared to the iPad mini 3, the resolution of the main camera has increased (from 5 to 8 megapixels). Let's see what the iPad mini 4's main camera can do! Anton Soloviev photographed the stand and commented on the photos from the street.

As we have repeatedly noted, the camera in a tablet is nothing more than a bonus, the quality of which, however, is taken very seriously by some manufacturers. And some - not so much. In this case, we can conclude that the tablet camera is not bad and will cope with many scenarios, but it still falls a little short of the iPhone 6 camera.

Just for fun, we decided to compare the iPad's camera with the iPhone 6's under the harshest conditions. As a result, we were once again convinced that it is better not to shoot at night with both cameras, although the iPhone 6 camera still works better with noise. The iPad Mini 4 camera is contraindicated for video shooting in low light, since even in slight twilight or shadows it is noticeably noisy. In good lighting, in most cases it will do no worse than the iPhone 6.

conclusions

The iPad mini 4 is perhaps the best compact tablet available today. Yes, there were no revolutionary changes here, but Apple has made many small improvements. From the obvious - a thinner and lighter body (and you really feel it), a more powerful SoC, twice as much RAM, a camera with a higher resolution and capabilities that the iPad mini 3 did not have. From the less obvious and revealed only during thorough testing - a better screen without an air gap and decent battery life. In general, there are practically no shortcomings. It's just a shame that the camera still doesn't have a flash, and the performance isn't up to par with the iPad Air 2.

At the time of the start of sales of the iPad mini 4 in Russia, for the minimum version (without a cellular module, 16 GB of flash memory) they are asking 32,990 rubles. At the same time, the iPad mini 2 remains in Apple’s assortment, and its price is about a third lower: from 22,490 rubles. Therefore, despite all the advantages of the iPad mini 4, from the point of view of practical considerations, the iPad mini 2 seems to be the optimal solution. All the same, we will not be able to feel the increased performance in real applications (existing games will run equally well on both tablets), and still not everyone uses the camera on a tablet as actively as on smartphones - especially in the absence of a flash. As a result, it turns out that you overpay 10,500 rubles for one and a half millimeters of thickness, a fingerprint sensor and a slightly better screen. If the difference was at least five thousand, then it would make sense to think about it. In the meantime, the iPad mini 4 looks like a fashion solution, aimed at enthusiastic perfectionists and those users for whom the difference of ten thousand rubles is not fundamental.

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

The 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. The back cover can have 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 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. Adding to the differences is 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 an iPad Pro 9.7 inches.

Replaced iPad mini 2(iPad mini with Retina display) is also good, but some people think that paying that kind of money for it is a robbery.

In contact with

It is worth noting that iPad Air 2 received an improved camera, a powerful A8X processor, anti-reflective coating and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Concerning iPad mini 3, That Apple paid less attention to it - no significant improvements were implemented in the tablet. So, the device received a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and a golden version - this is where the updates end. Everything else iPad mini 3 identical to last year iPad mini 2– the same design, cameras, Wi-Fi module and memory capacity. Engineers Apple deprived mini 3 and a laminated display with anti-glare coating, a barometer and a slow-motion (interval) mode, which the older brother received at the same time iPad Air 2.

Apple didn't even equip iPad mini 3 processor A8, which is present in and 6Plus. However, the cost of the new product is $100 higher than the previous model.

Note that in this case iPad Air 2 significantly different from iPad Air. Thus, the 64-bit A8X chip provides 2.5 times greater GPU performance compared to the A7 chip iPad Air And iPad mini 2. In addition, CPU performance has increased by 40%.

Camera iPad Air 2 received an 8-megapixel matrix, which made it possible to shoot video in 1080p format. Let us remember that the previous model was equipped with a 5-megapixel matrix. None of these improvements have been implemented in iPad mini 3. So, the new product is equipped with the same A7 processor, the same cameras and display.

If mini 3 practically no different from mini 2, then why pay $100 more? Just for Touch ID? Note that the cost of the basic model iPad mini 3 is $399, while almost identical iPad mini 2 will cost those interested $299.

As a rule, it is customary to compare models of Apple devices from different lines. But today's review will be completely different. We will try to compare different versions of the iPad mini model, since many are interested in this issue. On online forums you can often come across the question of what are the similarities between the iPads of this line and what are their different characteristics.

Comparing mini iPads will show which one is better. It will also be clear whether each new device has brought something exclusive. But let’s immediately make a reservation that the design of all the gadgets that will be considered is very similar.

But as far as the functionality of the models is concerned, you can see a lot of changes here. The technical characteristics of mini-tablets have also changed over time. The Apple iPad mini 16 Gb has been replaced by gadgets with much larger amounts of memory. Or the appearance of versions with an innovative Retina display, which caused great excitement.

The second option has a more powerful “filling” inside than a simple mini. The same can be said about devices 2 and 3 and so on.

But it should be noted that even the tablet released in 2012 is still popular among users. Models 2 and 3 also remain at the peak of popularity.

It is known that there is a category of users who update their gadgets immediately as soon as a new product comes out. Such people are called by the English term “Mac nazi”. This prefix characterizes the user as a big fan of Apple products.

Comparative characteristics of iPad models of different versions will help this kind of buyer answer the question of whether such frequent equipment updates are necessary. After all, Apple releases new products almost every year. Based on the analysis, we will try to draw objective conclusions about how relevant devices released 2-3 years ago are in modern conditions. Most likely, they perform their functions no worse than the latest models. So is it worth spending money on them or making do with your good old tablet for now? You will learn about this and much more from this article.

The first small iPad and version 2 are identical in appearance. To the untrained eye it will be difficult to distinguish one device from another. But despite almost 100% similarity, there are still differences. Model number two is slightly thicker than its predecessor. In other dimensions the dimensions are almost the same. When visually examining the devices, this difference is not felt at all.

The mini model with a Retina display – that is, the second iPad mini – is almost 30 grams heavier than the first generation device. But this also had no effect on the differences. When you hold two devices in different hands, their weight seems the same.

The placement of buttons on the second iPad remains the same. The elements are made of high quality metal. To press them you will need to apply a little force.

The manufacturer, as before, made the case from aluminum. The frames look stylish and thin.

The connectors haven't moved anywhere either. On the top left side there is a hole for headphones. In the very center at the top is a microphone. The Power button is still at the top right. On the side on the right side there is a button for auto-locking display rotation, which is very convenient for the user. Near it are sound control elements.

The color schemes of both devices are the same. The gadgets came in silver and dark gray shades.

The most significant difference between these tablets is the new display that appeared in the second model. So the absence of this innovative detail in a simple mini can be considered a disadvantage.

In fact, while the new display is really good, it's more marketing than technical improvements. This screen is a liquid crystal element with increased pixel density. Such characteristics make it possible to make the picture very impressive, since it is simply impossible to see the pixels, even when peering into the image.

The display resolution in the first mini is 2 times lower than in the second. The latest model is also equipped with an anti-glare coating. This is very important when working in bright light. The manufacturer equipped both gadgets with an IPS matrix.

iPad mini and mini 2 camera

Visually, the cameras of both models have no differences either. The resolution of the main elements of both versions is 5 MP. It is possible to shoot videos with video formats over 1000p.

At the same time, selfie cameras have a modest resolution of 1.2 MP. But in a more modern tablet model, this element is equipped with a sensor and backlight. All this allows you to take high-quality photographs even in poor light.

Tests of the rear part of the second tablet showed that the quality of the finished photos is only slightly better than those taken on the previous gadget. However, a comparison of mini versions with other tablets using this criterion showed that, for example, the Air model has even better camera quality than the second generation tablet. By the way, Air came out at the same time.

If we compare all other characteristics of devices, then the newer device will also have superiority. But if we return to the cameras again, in the Pad mini 2 it absorbs noise better and allows you to take beautiful, clear photographs, despite such a low resolution. The main disadvantage is the lack of flash.

Comparison of tablet versions 3 and 4

The developer presented the fourth tablet no less pretentiously than all its products. But the Apple iPad Pro received much more attention at the same event. Despite this, many experts considered the four to be the best. If we talk about version 3 of the tablet, then the comparison, as always, will be in favor of the newer model.

The design of the four, as in the previous case considered, is similar to the previous model. But this does not mean that the manufacturer cheated and introduced almost the same model to the market. As always, there are differences and we will talk about them further.

Pad mini 3 and 4 design

Let us emphasize once again that the Apple company does not practice changing the design of its gadgets. This also applies to tablets, as can be seen from the mini line. Externally, three and four are practically indistinguishable. To add individuality to his gadget, the user can choose an interesting case and other accessories.

Both tablets have 8-inch displays. The back of them is made of metal. The front part is made of glass, and has several button elements/ports.

Digging further, we see that the similarities between the compared tablets are even more striking. So, the “Home” button has not gone away. This item can be found in its usual place, but there is a hidden fingerprint inside it. The only difference is the absence of a mute button on the fourth gadget. Also, the microphone began to be located instead of the central part - closer to the main camera. The speaker grille at the bottom has also changed a little; there are more circles by one row.

Both devices have a Lightning port and it is located at the very bottom of the device. The element is surrounded by 2 speaker grilles. The sound control buttons for both tablets are on the right. But the earlier model also has a “Hold” switch, which can be used to completely turn off the device. The manufacturer removed it from the four. The power supply is located in the upper part, and the headphone jack is located in the same place, only on the left side.

The only significant difference between the three and four is the dimensions and weight. The newest model has lost about 10% of its weight compared to the previous version of the tablet. This happened due to the reduction in the size of the outer frame. Because of this, the device became thinner.

To summarize, we will say that the comparison of the hardware parts of the devices is again in favor of the latest tablet. Even though the differences here are not so significant, but thanks to small improvements, the four works faster.

It must be said that the appearance of mini tablets caused a revival in this market. Various companies - not only major competitors of Apple, but also small Chinese companies - offered their alternatives, since there was an increased demand for the small device. Thus, the Xiaomi mipad model has become very popular. What immediately catches your eye when studying the tablets of this brand is the variety of color palettes of the cases. Xiaomi mipad is made in bright youth colors, which many liked.

What's the difference between iPad and Cellular?

Another thing I would like to talk about is the term Cellular. Many have heard of it, but do not know what it means. So, usually tablets with Wi-Fi, and Apple also released models with Wi-Fi and Cellular.

The first type of device has access only to wireless networks, while the second also has 3 and 4 G networks. Thus, a user who has a gadget with Cellular can always and everywhere access the network, without being tied to Wi-Fi.

How to recognize the model of a Cellular device? It's very easy to do. A tablet with this technology has an additional black or white cap on the back cover at the top. It is designed to protect the antenna, which both transmits and receives data from the 3 and 4 G networks.

Apple, being one of the pioneers of fashion in the production of portable electronics, offers in its model range to perform various tasks, and several screen options of different sizes cover the needs of almost every user.

Comparison and review of two tablet models: iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3

One of these models is the miniature tablet iPad mini. It has a slightly smaller screen, and is intended mainly for those who find the iPhone's screen size is not enough, but the regular iPad is 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, 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, the manufacturer added a new color scheme to the third generation model - gold. The iPad mini 3 is now available in gold, gray and space gray, while the iPad mini 2 only comes in the latter 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 with a 7.9-inch diagonal IPS matrix, with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, a pixel density of 326 ppi, and a 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 an improved anti-glare coating, which makes working under bright sunlight somewhat easier. But you shouldn’t rely on it too much, because sunlight is the main problem with 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 of RAM, 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 show excellent performance test results. We can definitely say that in terms of hardware power there is no difference between these two tablets.

Camera

All Apple fans were eagerly expecting the iPad mini 3 to have a better camera than its predecessor. But, alas... The third iPad mini is no different from the second 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 amount of physical memory. iPad mini 2 entered the market with pre-installed memory of 16 and 32 gigabytes. Small volume, considering the fact that memory cards are not supported by Apple devices. 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 versions: only with a Wi-Fi module or Wi-Fi+3G. Both support LTE mobile networks. 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. So, when reading an e-book from the screen, tablets can last about 11.5 hours, and when playing videos from YouTube via Wi-Fi - about 10.5 hours. 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 and confirm payment for a purchase in an online store or App Store. Developers use the sensor to securely access certain applications.

What's the advantage? In safety. If, for example, someone can spy on a PIN code or pattern key and thus gain access to information on the tablet, then it is impossible to fake a fingerprint.

conclusions

So, we compared two models of miniature tablets from 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 mini 2 to 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 fell a little in price, and with the release of the iPad mini 3 it did not become a bit worse.

Which model would you prefer? Would you buy a newer device just for the fingerprint sensor? Share your opinions with us in the comments.