Apple finally introduced a somewhat affordable tablet a few months after the likes of Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD made their mark in the market. It’s a completely different landscape for Apple this time around since it has gone from being a stage-setter by creating the tablet market to a being a mere follower by creating its version of a product that has already been introduced before.
It seems that Apple suddenly got scared of its competitors. Since the death of its founder Steve Jobs, it seems that the company lost its zest for disrupting existing markets and creating innovative, immaculate devices. It has now become open to taking the back seat and peering at the rear view mirror – something that hardcore fans of the brand aren’t used to. Its latest release, the junior version of the well-received iPad tablet, has specifically become the target of critics due to its unimpressive qualities. If you’re planning to get one, here are a few points that would make you reconsider your impending purchase of the iPad mini.
Sub-par specs
It doesn’t make that much sense that the iPad mini’s specifications aren’t on par with its bigger brothers, the iPad 3 and the iPad 4. Case in point, the screen doesn’t have Retina display. Plus, Apple has thrown in the “outdated” A5 chip into the device instead of the A6 chip present in newer devices. Apple said they had to resort to entry-level specs to minimise production costs that inevitably results to lower prices on the shelves – but I’m not buying it. Perhaps it’s their way of getting rid of the surplus of old manufacturing components (that’s just a personal theory, though). Had they made the iPad mini sport the Retina display or an A6 chip, then people wouldn’t be as disappointed even if it was $50 more expensive.
Less immersive
While deciding on the size of a tablet really boils down to a matter of personal preference, a 7-inch tablet will never be better than a 10-inch tablet. Even if you fill it with all the bells and whistles in terms of display, GUI, or hardware, it will never be as immersive as a 10-inch tablet when it comes to viewing photo slideshows, watching videos, reading email or internet fax, browsing websites, playing games, and basically everything you’d want to do with a touchscreen device. It’s just not cut out to be “superior” to a full-sized tablet with fairly acceptable specs.
Too expensive
Granted, you’re really after the portability of the iPad mini rather than the specs. But for a starting price of $199 for the 16 GB version, you can get a similarly sized and equally powerful counterpart in Google’s Nexus 7. The $130 price difference (the iPad mini starts at $329) between the two can be a huge deciding factor, especially when you’re planning to download tons of apps. And let’s face it, even if Apple’s App Store is host to, shall we say, more “premium” apps, it wouldn’t be too hard so search for their Android counterparts on Google Play with a little diligence – and $130 is a lot of money for apps, mind you. The built-in apps for the iPad just won’t cut it if you want to maximize the use of your device.
Measly issues
There are some small issues that potential buyers might find distracting about this new pseudo-tablet from Apple. Take note of the list below and see if you’ll be having second thoughts about buying the iPad mini after reading this:
- For girls with smaller hands, the iPad mini can be awkward to hold with one hand.
- iPad mini-optimized versions of apps are still on their infancy.
- There aren’t as many accessories like cases, bags, and protectors available on the iPad mini as compared to the normal-sized iPads.
But hey, the iPad mini is still selling like hotcakes despite the few objections customers and critics have prior to and following its release. What’s been imprinted upon users’ minds is the collective belief fact that people would buy the iPad mainly for its portability. So if you need a 7-inch tablet but hate Android or any other OS available, then buy the iPad mini; it’s as simple as that.
Would you still consider buying the iPad mini? Hit the comments below and let us know.
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