Let’s compare the iPad mini and the iPad mini with the Retina display

The mini-tablets have emerged as a very popular product and there are many advocates of the compact say they are much better than the large format tablets. They offer a great viewing experience and their size makes them much more manageable and easy to carry, the perfect combination. Apple was reluctant to reduce its 9.7-inch iPad original but finally got its arm twisted and iPad mini came true.

It’s been over one year since then and Apple renewed their compact Tablet last October with a much-needed change: Retina display. The absence of this component was one of the most criticized of the first edition. The power is the other pillar on which Apple supported its new toy, which mounts a 64-bit processor A7. We have missed the glove to these two models as below we offer an analysis of their differences to see if the improvement was really necessary, and above all to check if the price increase is justified.

If something works why change it there. In Apple are not keen on the changes if they are not needed. Admittedly, the design of the iPad mini original was already very successful and the company has exactly the same appearance in its new edition, but not only that, it also copied the model for large format, the iPad Air.

The back and the whole structure is made of a single piece of aluminum that provides a lot of resistance, plus it is a much more attractive and elegant material. The aluminum surface is very resistant to scratches, although part of the Apple logo has a chrome finish and there that usually appear striped with ease.

Getting back to the matter at hand, which are the differences between these two models. It has become clear that are aesthetically the same, but there are certain changes in the dimensions and weight. The thickness of the model with Retina display has increased by 0.3 millimeters, a difference almost imperceptible to the eye than even noticed to have it in hand. The weight of the new model has also increased, but only 7%. The WiFi version is a difference of 23 grams more and again not too notes. Apple also repeated ringtones available: black and silver or black and gray space.

The answer is emphatic: Yes, it shows. The first time that we look at two screens, side by side, does not seem to be a huge difference, however with a more continuous use our eye is accustomed to the Retina display, and when we return to the previous model, we noticed a big difference.

To get a more specific idea, the first mini iPad had 786.432 pixels and the new Retina display more than three million points. We are talking about four times more points across the surface of the panel, a fact so had to notice.

When you look closely at the screen iPad mini our eye is able to clearly distinguish the array of pixels that form the image. However in the case of mini iPad with Retina display, but look closely screen no points, but the colors are totally bounded point without any visible surfaces. The effect is especially noticeable Retina display icons as they tend to have well-marked spot colors and edges on the merits.

As mentioned earlier, power is one of the arguments of the new iPad mini in 2013. Processor Apple A7 integrates architecture has a 64-bit dual core runs at 1.3 gigahertz and is accompanied by a quad-graph nuclei. Meanwhile the iPad mini takes a processor Apple A5, the same that bore the iPad 2. This chip has an older architecture (Cortex A9), also has two cores and runs at one gigahertz frequency. The processor difference is obvious, but also the 2013 model carries one Gb of RAM and above will have to settle with 512 MB

On paper there is a clear advantage of the new model that is proven by subjecting both to a performance test. The tool Geekbench 3 provides a fairly reliable results and according to their data, the new iPad mini four times the power of its predecessor. To handle and perform simple tasks do not notice too much difference, although it can be seen that the mini iPad with Retina display tends to execute orders more quickly. For example animations are faster, open applications more quickly and not is never locked when you scroll in a long list.

However when we open many background processes or use tools that require more system resources, the new model clearly anticipates offering speed and stability. However, we must recognize that the original iPad mini works very fluid to bring an old processor, a clear proof of the excellent optimization of the operating system Apple.

As already mentioned the Retina display was a completely necessary improvement in the iPad mini and should have been available since the first model. The difference is remarkable sharpness and is very difficult to go back if we come from a panel of these characteristics. The power is also an important, but perhaps less demanding users can go perfectly with the fluidity offered by the standard model.

The price plays a decisive role, comparing models 16Gb WiFi only, we see that the iPad mini has dropped to 290 euros, but the new model costs 390 euros. The difference between the two is 100 euros, not excessive for two products of different generations.

We believe that the most demanding users will appreciate the improvements of the new model and notice its advantages, but those who want to try the experience of iPad without scratching the pocket too can opt for the previous model and be satisfied. There is a third scenario in which a user of the iPad mini will be considering whether to buy the new model, and again the decision must be based on the level of demand for each. However in this case we see no need to change because the user experience is very similar, perhaps best in this case would you wait for the next edition due out in 2014 and so squeeze the most from its current device.