Apple iPad Mini launches with 7.9in screen, prices from £269
Read our iPad Mini review in full
Apple has officially launched the iPad Mini claiming it's "not just a smaller iPad".
The iPad Mini has a 7.9in LED backlit display with a 1024 x 768 resolution, the same as the iPad 2, and the option of WiFi only or WiFi+Cellular models offering 4G LTE connectivity.
Read our round-up of Pad Mini hands on reviews
Available to pre-order from this Friday October 26th, the iPad Mini WiFi version will start shipping the following week on Friday 2nd November in the UK. We will have to wait until 'late November' for cellular models.
The smallest iPad yet is also the most affordable, with the cheapest iPad Mini being the 16GB, WiFi-only iPad Mini, which will sell for £269.
iPad Mini prices
Apple iPad Mini 16GB £269 (WiFi) £369 (WiFi+cellular)
Apple iPad Mini 32GB £349 (WiFi) £449 (WiFi+cellular)
Apple iPad Mini 64GB £429 (WiFi) £529 (WiFi+cellular)
The iPad Mini is 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the 3rd generation iPad and has the same 10-hour battery life.
It can be held one-handed, as you can see, and has the Apple A5 chip.
It will run all the available iPad apps straight away - it has the same resolution screen as the iPad 2 - so that's 700,000 specially-made iPad apps to choose from.
The infamous new Lightning connector is present here, too, so you'll need an adapter for existing dock connections. A Lightning to HDMI connection is here, too.
FaceTime HD camera on the front, 5MP iSight camera on the back and "ultrafast wireless" 802.11n WiFi connectivity.
The iPad Mini will also be available with the option of a 4G LTE cellular connection, though we'll have to wait a few weeks longer for these in the UK.
There's Apple's Personal Hotspot feature, too, so you can share that superfast connection via WiFi, Bluetooth or USB to multiple devices.
Want to know more? Check out Apple's official iPad Mini video.
Pre-orders start this Friday, will you be buying one? If so, which model? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
It looks like an exceptional wodge of money.
I am even less convinced it represents good value against the Nexus.
I can however see the attraction of using it with a Sonos.
The comparison with the Nexus 7 reveals that the 0.9" larger screen on the iPad Mini not only provides 35% more screen area (more than a third extra!), but when actually browsing websites or reading online magazines etc, the iPad Mini dislpays 49% more of the page in portrait mode and 67% more in landscape mode.
That's a huge difference and should make the user experience far better for looking at web sites or reading publications.
This is also going to be a great controller for audio systems like Sonos, Naim, Linn etc, etc
.....
makes iPod touch look over priced
I don't understand their big price differences between the models - if only the size of memory is changed?
On retail websites, you can get 32GB flash for less than a tenner and 64GB for £20 now. So how do Apple justify an extra £160 between the 16GB and the 64GB?
I'm definitely buying one of these to replace my iPod with a device that I can actually see!!Been waiting ages for it too. 32gb model wifi only for me.
Google supposedly aiming for a $99 tablet in time for Christmas... That would be interesting.
Will have a play around with one in store first before I make a decision.
Also curious as to what Google will unveil next week.
Decisions decisions......
It had a new iPod touch on order which I cancelled only a couple of days ago because of the rumours , I'm glad I did now
I have finally found an Apple product[excepting the ATV}that I find to be at least reasonably priced, especially against the price of an ipod. I was looking at the new Chromebook and although this 'mini' is dearer I think I am prepared to pay the extra. It will certainly make control of my itunes music to ADMs significantly easier.
Google Nexus is £159 for cheapest, 8GB model...
Like the look of this sleeker Apple device. On the other hand, the Google Nexus has (I think) the latest Android OS and is out there for £199...
I agree Andrew. The mini is going to make an excellent platform for the Sonos app.
Ho, and indeed hum, but was in the market for a new Touch to use as a remote for various network music players I have for test – battery in the old one is EDITEDed and only holds charge for an hour or so –, so for that reason, I'm in.