Apple has been very busy this year. After launching two new iPhones recently, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, the company is back on its foot again with two new offerings before the holiday arrives and the year is over. And for Apple fans who are eager to update themselves with the newest top-of-the-line tablets, the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 are finally here to say, at least for an entire year.
With their new and quite catchy names, it is undeniable that Apple has outwitted its game and brought us all two new devices that in many ways than one are different from their predecessors. After all the negative reviews and lashings on last year's Apple iPad 4, it seems that the company wants to forget its past and move on with a new generation by zeroing in the model count. Lo and behold, we are starting a new generation of iPads and they are not just going to be called "iPad" or "New iPad" but they will be known as "iPad Air" from now on. As for the iPad Mini 2 well it doesn't stray away from the counting since the Mini is a rather new flagship for Apple, but at least it is safe to say that it certainly has an identity of its own because to be exact, Apple would like everyone to call this new installment as the iPad Mini with Retina Display, and not simply one with an additional no. 2. Given their brand new status, which is the better pick for the holidays?
In a nut shell, here is a head-to-head comparison of the iPad Air Vs. the iPad Mini 2 in terms of specs, features, & hardware for the new iPads:
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Design
In terms of design, we can see right away that the iPad Air is reminiscent of the iPad Mini, only bigger. What Apple did is decrease the bezel on the sides of the device, giving it a sleeker look. The 43 percent decrease in the bezel on the sides and the 20 percent reduction in the width or thickness of the device just give it a new identity, far from the first four installments. Additionally, because of the major reductions, the over-all weight of the iPad Air has dropped to 469 grams and 478 grams for the Wi-Fi and4G models, respectively. Another noticeable tweak on its build is the volume rocker, which now has metal buttons instead of the plastic ones before.
As for the iPad Mini with Retina Display or more simply the iPad Mini 2 still sports the same build and design with only very minimal changes that can be observed on its weight only. The Wi-Fi is at 331 grams while the cellular version is at 341 grams. What's great about the two new iPads however is the fact that both of them will come in Space Gray color scheme aside from the white one.
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Features
The iPad Air does not only flaunt a new design, but internally it has been altered as well. It runs with the 64-bit, A7 processor along with the M7 co-processor found in the iPhone 5s. Apple claims that users will surely notice the faster performance of this iPad compared with the older ones.
Interestingly, Apple has also considered improving the speed of the new device. It has now incorporated the dual-band MIMO (Multiple-In, Multiple-Out) Wi-Fi which basically speeds up the performance of the device when it is connected to a Wi-Fi network. This is similar to Amazon Kindle Fire HDX's Wi-Fi booster.
The iPad Air has a lot of improved functionality features as well. It has a 5-megapixel iSight camera with 1080p video recording capability. On the other hand, its front-facing camera is a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime shooter with 720p video. It comes with Bluetooth 4.0, a digital compass, and two microphones. However, GPS is only available in the cellular version.
As for the iPad Mini 2, it comes with the A7 and M7 processors as well and also has the MIMO Wi-Fi upgrade. Other aforementioned features found on its big brother are also present in its small frame. The only difference lies on the Retina resolution display of the 7.9-incher which is at 2048 x 1536 pixels.
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Software
The iPad Air and the iPad Mini 2 will sport the new iOS 7. Although the iPad 2 and the iPad Mini support the same type of software version, the two new Apple devices will not only come with standard apps such as iTunes, Safari and Newsstand, but also these four other apps: iPhoto, GarageBand, Keynote, and Numbers out of the box. Yet these are simply downloadable from the App Store along with the 475,000 apps available to anyone's liking.
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Battery
Although the iPad Mini 2 will come with a slightly smaller battery than the one found in the iPad Air, Apple still claims that the two new devices can run for 10 hours with Wi-Fi browsing or media playback on. But for the 4G version, battery life will obviously run shorter.
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Storage & Pricing
The iPad Air will come in four choices: four Wi-Fi models and four 4G ones. The price starts at $500 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model while the 4G 16GB model is at $630. The pricing then continues to increase in this order: 32GB (Wi-Fi-$600, 4G-$730), 64GB (Wi-Fi-$700, 4G-$840), and 128GB (Wi-Fi-$800, 4G-$930).
On the other hand the iPad Mini 2 starts at $400 for the Wi-Fi version and at $530 for the 4G version. The succeeding models go as follows: 32GB (Wi-Fi-$500, 4G-$630), 64GB (Wi-Fi-$600, 4G-$730), and 128GB (Wi-Fi-$700, 4G-$830).
iPad Air Vs. iPad Mini 2: Release Date & Pre-Order
Apple has not released any information if the two new tablets will have a pre-order period. In terms of release dates, Apple has already announced that the iPad Air will arrive on November 1st both online and in-stores. Major networks including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have not yet confirmed their release dates but they have already put up Coming Soon pages on their websites. On the other hand, the iPad Mini 2 doesn't have any specific release date, Apple has only stated that it will arrive some time in late November.
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