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(iPad Mini 4 review)

WHAT IS THE IPAD MINI 4?

Often the unloved tablet in Apple’s lineup, the latest mini-iPad is pretty much an iPad Air 2 with a 7.9-inch display.

It probably is what the poorly received iPad Mini 3 should have been, thanks to the improved CPU, 2GB of RAM, laminated display and overall thinner body.

It’s a fantastic little media machine that while pricey, has all the functionality of its bigger brothers. Just in a smaller package.

IPAD MINI 4 – DESIGN

The iPad Mini 4 looks just like the iPad Mini 3 before it, which in turn looked just like the iPad Mini 2. Apple clearly feels it’s reached peak iPad design, and I mostly agree.

Those chamfered edges glisten, the curved sides sit comfortably in your hands, and the flat back helps the device perch, without rocking, on a table. It’s as slippery as ever, though: I often feel a little uneasy when holding the tablet in one hand.

Along the side of the iPad Mini 4 is a volume switch, and a lock button sits along the top; Apple has done away with the rotation lock slider of the iPad Mini 3. This is in order to make the device slimmer – 6.1mm as opposed to 7.5mm – and the trade-off is fine by me. It’s lighter, too, by about 30g.

On the bottom you’ll find the precisely machined speaker holes and a Lightning charging port.

The defining feature of the iPad Mini 4, as its name implies, is its size. It’s far more manageable in one hand than the iPad Air 2 or 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and when placed next to the iPad Pro 12.9-inch the difference is almost comical.

image: http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/000038d2a/55d7_orh616w616/mini-12.jpg

In certain situations, I much prefer the compact style. Reading, for instance, is far better on the iPad Mini 4. I can hold up the device comfortably with one hand for extended periods, something that wouldn't be possible with a larger tablet. It also feels more natural to be reading on a device that is the actual size of a paperback book.

The iPad Mini 4 is also the perfect companion when out and about. Pulling it out on the bus, tube or train feels less intrusive to others – especially on jam-packed public transport – than it does with a full-sized tablet, which makes it a great little media machine to always keep around.

However, I don’t find the iPad Mini anywhere near as productive as larger devices. Its smaller display leads to a smaller on-screen keyboard, making typing more difficult and therefore typos more common. The size issue affects third-party keyboard accessories, too, which again makes them far less functional than their larger counterparts.

IPAD MINI 4 – DISPLAY

Since it was announced months before the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the iPad Mini 4's display doesn’t feature True Tone technology. Still, this is a fine screen – in fact, of all the iPads this is the most pixel-dense panel.

The 2,058 x 1,536 display is the same as both the iPad Air 2 and smaller iPad Pro, but those pixels are packed much tighter together in the 7.9-inch panel as opposed to the 9.7-inch version.

This is also the first iPad Mini display to be laminated, ditching that tiny air-gap that previously sat between the glass and the actual display. Of all the changes in the iPad Mini 4 this is one of my favourites, and you’ll really notice the difference if you’re coming to the iPad Mini 4 from previous generations of iPad. It feels like you’re actually touching the pixels.

There’s a wider colour gamut too – the same as the iPad Air 2 – so the panel can display a broader range of hues. Again, put the iPad Mini 4 side by side with either the iPad Mini 2 or 3 and you’ll instantly notice the difference. Blacks are deeper, reds are more vivid and whites are less dingy.

It’s an all-round fantastic display, and a huge step-forward over the screen on the iPad Mini 2 and 3 – both of which I found a little washed out and lacking in vibrancy.

Outdoor usability remains limited, however, especially in direct sunlight – and after even a few minutes of use the display is an absolute fingerprint magnet.

IPAD MINI 4 – PERFORMANCE

The iPad Mini 4 is the iPad Air 2 in a compact shell, proved by the fact that the internals are almost identical. There's Apple’s A8 CPU, rather than the more graphically capable A8X, the M8 co-processor for movement tracking and 2GB of RAM.

Really, it’s the amount of RAM that makes all the difference. With only 1GB, the iPad Mini 3 struggled with having multiple tabs open at once and apps often reloaded with a delay when they were closed. Neither are issues this time around.

The iPad Mini 4 is an impressive performer. Apps open without any lag and navigating iOS is generally snappy and instantaneous. Even more intensive apps, such as Lightroom and iMovie, cope perfectly fine with the internal spec. I opened up a RAW picture file in Pixelmator on both the iPad Mini 4 and iPad Air 2 and both devices loaded it up in the same time.

The iPad Air 2 is marginally faster when exporting a five-minute 1080p movie edited on the tablet in iMovie, but only by a few seconds.

Gaming is just as impressive. Unlike the iPad Mini 3, which struggles with the latest titles, the iPad Mini 4 handles them with ease. Hitman: Sniper, Halo: Spartan Strike and Asphalt 8 all run smoothly and without any dropped frames. Thanks to its compact size and strong performance, this is one of the best tablets on the market for gaming on the go.

In terms of benchmarks, the iPad Mini 4 scores 3,120 in the multi-core test in Geekbench and 1,717 in the single-core version. This is slightly lower than the Nvidia Sheild K1 (3,602), but it beats it in the single-core test.

I’ve been spoiled by the speakers on the iPad Pro, and the two speakers – as opposed to four – on the iPad Mini 4 sound weak and distorted in comparison. They lack oomph and are distinctly quieter than the iPad Air 2. They’re fine for light "Netflixing", but for music you’ll probably want a Bluetooth speaker. Or some headphones.

As is commonplace with iPads, LTE/4G models are available. These will set you back an extra £100, but it’s a nice bonus to have. I’ve been using it on Three’s network, and an always online iPad is so much more useful than one that’s restricted to Wi-Fi.

Internal storage options start at 16GB, which simply isn't enough. From that 16GB, about 11.4GB is available – which will soon be filled up by a couple of games, films and apps. You’re much better off opting for the 64GB model, or if you’re really keen to store as much offline content as possible then a 128GB version is available too. Since it’s Apple, don't expect a microSD card slot.

IPAD MINI 4 – IOS 9

iOS 9, or iOS 9.3 to be more precise, on the iPad Mini 4 is just like iOS 9 on the iPad Air 2. Or the iPad Pro 9.7-inch. Or even the huge iPad Pro 12.9-inch.

This is one of the operating system's biggest plus points, but also one of its shortcomings. Nothing is specific for this screen size. This isn't as much of an issue with the iPad Mini as it is with the larger iPad Pro, but it’s still a niggle.

iOS 9’s highlight iPad feature was a new way of multi-tasking, and it’s good to see it at work here. I’ve found myself using the split-screen feature – where it's possible to have two apps open side-by-side – far less on the smaller screen, simply because everything feels quite cramped. But, Slide Over – where you can pull a different app in momentarily – is probably more useful since it requires less screen space.

You can also pop videos out into floating windows – again, only in certain apps – so you can continue watching the latest episode of some hugely overrated American drama series while you vent your frustrations on Twitter.

Even with these superb multi-tasking features, iOS 9 still feels like it’s limiting the iPad. The apps are fantastic, so much better than Android tablet apps, but the desktop grid of icons leaves too much space wasted. I’d like some widgets, some information accessible without jumping between apps and a few more tablet-specific additions. Maybe they’ll come with iOS 10.

Night Shift, the nifty mode that reduces the amount of blue light displayed by the screen, was introduced in 9.3, and it makes sense for a tablet designed to be great for reading. By turning the screen a slightly warm, orange hue, it makes late-night reading much easier on the eyes.

IPAD MINI 4 – CAMERA

The iPad Mini 4 has a camera on the rear, and although the 8-megapixel iSight unit with an f/2.4 aperture is perfectly adequate, I’m going to take a guess and say that the smartphone in your pocket can probably do a much better job.

Pictures taken in daylight are generally colourful and, as long as you don’t use the zoom, they're sharp. There’s no OIS, but 1080p footage is smooth and looks good. Things take a downturn when there isn’t a decent light source, however, with night time pictures not even being worthy of sharing on Instagram.

Landscape pictures are fine, for a tablet, with nice colour accuracy and enough detail

I’d argue that front-facing cameras are more important on tablets, and the one on the iPad isn’t all that great. It’s a 1.2-megapixel sensor, the same as the iPhone SE, and is just about acceptable for FaceTime chats.

IPAD MINI 4 – BATTERY LIFE

Battery life on tablets is rarely an issue; they’re expected to last multiple days without needing to be charged.

Since the iPad Mini 4 is smaller than the iPad Air 2, but has just as many pixels to push, I initially thought it would struggle in terms of battery life. I’m happy to say that it doesn’t.

Throughout a week of using the tablet for a couple of hours per day, I've had to charge it only once. It loses about 8% streaming a 40-minute HD TV episode from Netflix at 70% brightness, while a stored video in similar situations takes up 6%.

It’s a similar story for gaming, with a 45-minute round of Hitman: Sniper eating through 10% and a lighter game, in this case Monument Valley, using 7%.

Standby times are fantastic, too. I can leave the tablet in my bag and even if I don’t come to it again until the following day, it will have dropped only a percentage or two.

Charging is done via a Lightning cable, but it’s on the slow side. Unfortunately, there's no quick-charging feature available on the iPad Mini 4, and on average it took 2hrs 30mins to fully charge the tablet. You’ll get to about 60% in 1hr 20mins.

SHOULD I BUY THE IPAD MINI 4?

Apple’s latest compact iPad is great. It’s a powerful device that’s ideal for cramming with media and chucking in your bag.

It’s slim, with a stunning screen and a battery that doesn’t require constant attention. It’s includes all the features that made the iPad Air 2 so good, but in a more manageable body.

Whether or not you take the plunge will really depend on the size of screen you want. With prices starting at £319, the iPad Mini 4 is only £30 cheaper than the iPad Air 2. Its bigger screen makes it far better for productivity, yet it remains so thin and light that you’ll barely notice it in your bag.

However, for those with their heart set on a compact tablet running iOS, the iPad Mini 4 won't disappoint. If you're looking for an Android alternative then the excellent Nvidia Shield K1 costs just £149.

VERDICT

It’s an iPad Air 2, but smaller. Great for media, reading and checking your emails, but not as productive as its bigger brothers.

Thanks to Three for providing the iPad Mini 4 for this review