KEEPING TABS

When it comes to versatility as a work and play device, the iPad mini is the best advert for a small tab. Have you checked out the others?

- Ashwin Rajagopalan

OF ALL the products Apple launched at its recent iPhone 13 event, it was the 2021 version of the iPad mini that had our attention. For long, the mini has been the best advert for a small tab to do ‘tablet things’ like read e-books or catch videos or dash a long email on the go. Tabs are seeing a resurgence almost since WFH became a norm. Even as many corporates are switching to a blended model, tabs continue to stay on consumer wish lists thanks to their sheer versatility as a work + play device.

THE BACK CAMERA OF THE IPAD MINI GETS A BOOST WITH A 12 MP SENSOR WITH FOCUS PIXELS AND A LARGER APERTURE TO CAPTURE VIVID IMAGES

IPAD MINI

FIRST it was the iPad Air last year, now Apple’s popular small tab gets a longoverdue overhaul. The mini has been largely unchanged for almost a decade. The design language is similar to what we saw on the Air. Apple has shaved off the bezels and maintains its compact footprint despite a larger display. Touch ID is now added to the power key, making it easy to unlock especially when you’re masked. The mini switches to USB-C and also offers support for the second generation Apple Pencil.

This one’s not just a design makeover. At its core is the same A15 Bionic chip that powers the new iPhone 13 quartet. The 6-core CPU delivers a 40 per cent jump in performance, and the 5-core GPU delivers an 80 per cent leap in graphics performance compared to the previous generation of iPad mini. The back camera gets a boost with a 12MP sensor with Focus Pixels and a larger aperture to capture vivid images.