VERDICT
It might look just like the old model, but the new iPad Mini is a vastly more powerful tablet with an upgraded screen and Apple Pencil support
FOR A PRODUCT so popular – and made by a company so fond of annual refreshes – it’s been an awfully long time since there was a new iPad Mini. The last, fourth-generation version launched in 2015, and what a different world we live in now. It’s all the more surprising, therefore, that this new fifth-gen iPad Mini doesn’t appear to have changed much physically. The case design is the same, down to the last millimetre; the button positions are the same; and the screen is the same size and resolution, too.
That’s a little disappointing. You might have thought Apple would have fitted some more contemporary upgrades, such as an edge-to-edge display, or perhaps removed the home button in the interest of a higher screen-to-body ratio.
Still, it’s good to see that there have been some tweaks. Despite some familiar key specs, the display’s underlying technology has been upgraded, while fresh internal, performance-critical components mean this is the fastest iPad Mini ever. And it’s also now compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, making it a handy note-taking companion.
In typical Apple fashion, it’s not cheap: we tested the most basic £399 model, with 64GB of internal storage and Wi-Fi-only connectivity. Splash out on the top £699 model, and you upgrade to 128GB of storage and mobile data as well as Wi-Fi. You can also get a couple of other combinations in between these storage and connectivity options.
RECYCLABLE MATERIAL
On paper, the iPad Mini looks an absolute shoo-in for anyone looking for a smaller, more compact tablet, but we’ll reiterate: physically, this tablet is no different to its four-year-old predecessor. That will probably be a disappointment for all those who like new, shiny toys.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2019 من Computer Shopper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2019 من Computer Shopper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G
VERDICT This is the most affordable of the first 5G smartphones, but even with great hardware, the service isn’t yet worth the expense
RHA T20 Wireless
VERDICT They’re not cheap, but these well-designed earphones deliver superb sound quality
Protect And Preserve
Data might be A Valuable Commodity, But It’s Remarkably Easy To Lose Or For Others To Get Their Hands On. Mike Bedford Provides Guidance On How To Preserve, Recover And Destroy Data, And Looks At The Technologies Involved
NZXT H510i
VERDICT Some qualities shine through, but this is an underwhelming case from a maker we know can do better
Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?
With the new football season well and truly under way, David Crookes talks to Jon Hare about reviving the spirit of Sensible Soccer with a new, more sociable offering that he hopes will avoid an own goal
NAIM Mu-so 2
VERDICT A luxurious and fine-sounding slab of metal, but for most homes it won’t be worth the expense
Motorola One Vision
VERDICT The One Vision comes close to being a brilliant mishmash of tech – shame about the camera
JBL Xtreme 2
VERDICT With top-quality sound and a versatile design, this is a great – if expensive – rugged Bluetooth speaker
HUAWEI MateBook 13
VERDICT What the MateBook 13 lacks in flourish, it makes up for in value and performance
GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master
VERDICT A loaded and forward-thinking motherboard, but not one that fully justifies its high price