AAPL iPad Mini 4 Review: A Great Small Tablet

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Although it was barely mentioned at Apple’s (AAPL) September event, the new iPad Mini 4 is a big improvement over previous generations, making it easily one of the best small tablets — if not the best.

iPad Mini 4 Review: AAPL's Newest a Great Small Tablet
Source: Apple

The problem is the market has shifted seismically since the first iPad Mini in 2012.

Many consumers are opting to skip small tablets altogether in favor of phablets (super-sized smartphones like Apple’s own iPhone 6S Plus), while Amazon (AMZN) is attempting to disrupt what’s left of small tablet demand with the $50 Fire tablet.

Given those factors, the $399 starting price for the iPad Mini 4 may make it a tough sell. It definitely is not an impulse buy.

So, should you consider buying one?

Read our iPad Mini 4 review to find out.

iPad Mini 4 Review: Thinner, Lighter, Better Display and Much Faster

iPad Mini 4 Review: Thinner, Lighter, Better Display and Much Faster
Source: Apple

Incremental tablet upgrades are the norm these days and when Apple released the iPad Mini 3 last year, the only real change was adding a Touch ID sensor.

Read any iPad Mini review from 2014 and the general theme is that Apple phoned it in, making that new model far from a compelling upgrade for consumers.

The iPad Mini 4 is a different story — Apple really went to town on this device.

As a result, the iPad Mini 4 is 18% thinner than the previous model, and lighter too. It gets the A8 CPU powering the iPad Air 2, giving it a 30% boost in processing power and graphics that are 60% faster.

Apple also improves its display by employing the laminated screen and antireflective coating introduced with the iPad Air.

The iSight camera gains a bigger and more advanced 8MP sensor, and even Wi-Fi is faster, as the smallest iPad finally gets dual-band 802.11ac with MIMO.

In short, this is no mere incremental upgrade — the iPad Mini 4 is significantly improved in all ways. By many measures, it’s the best small tablet on the market today.

iPad Mini 4 Review: But Do You Need a Premium Small Tablet?

iPad Mini 4 Review: But Do You Need a Premium Small Tablet?
Source: Apple

The question potential iPad Mini 4 buyers face is whether they actually need a small tablet of this caliber.

Those who already own a previous generation of iPad Mini are likely to shrug. Unless you have the original (which lacks the high resolution Retina display introduced in the second generation), or you use the iPad to play demanding games, what you have is probably still good enough.

And if you own a phablet like the iPhone 6S Plus or a Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy Note 5, chances are you’re not in the market for a small tablet at all. Yes, the smartphone’s display is still considerably smaller than the iPad Mini 4’s (5.5-inches and up compared to the iPad’s 7.9-inch screen), but for an increasing number of consumers, that’s good enough.

And speaking of good enough, anyone looking for a small tablet for web surfing, casual gaming or watching video may just find the $50 Amazon Fire covers that need.

Those who are actually shopping for a premium tablet are then faced with the option of choosing Apple’s iPad Air 2 — for $100 more, they get a larger display (in a still extremely svelte tablet) that’s better able to make use of iOS 9’s split screen mode and a slightly faster CPU in the A8X.

iPad Mini 4 Review: Specs

iPad Mini 4 Review: Specs
Source: Apple
  • 7.9-inch full laminated Retina display (326 ppi) with antireflective coating
  • 64-bit A8 chip, with M8 motion coprocessor
  • 16GB storage (basis of iPad Mini review), with 64GB and 128GB options
  • 8MP iSight camera, 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera
  • Dual microphones, stereo speakers
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac dual channel Wi-Fi with MIMO (LTE optional)
  • Bluetooth 4.2
  • Lightning port
  • Touch ID sensor
  • Lithium-polymer battery rated at up to 10 hours Wi-Fi
  • 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24-inches, weighs 0.67 lbs
  • Available in Gold, Silver and Space Gray
  • Runs iOS 9
  • Starts at $399

iPad Mini 4 Review: Conclusion

iPad Mini 4 review conclusion
Source: Apple

The iPad Mini 4 is easily the best small tablet Apple has ever made, and it makes a strong case for being the best small tablet currently on the market.

The iPad Mini 4 is fast; it has a bright, razor-sharp display; its camera takes decent pictures (if you’re one of those tablet-wielding photographers); you can use it with online Apple Pay; and its premium design still stands out.

So long as you don’t need Android, this is the small tablet to beat.

Once again, the question becomes whether you need it.

Bottom Line

Most people who already own an iPad Mini won’t have a terribly compelling reason to upgrade, and many of those toting big smartphones find they simply don’t need a small tablet.

Shoppers looking for an inexpensive tablet — for casual use or kids — will be sorely tempted to choose a $50 Fire instead, while those interested in shelling out for a premium tablet may opt for the more useful iPad Air 2.

If you’re in the market for a premium small tablet, the iPad Mini 4 should be at the top of your list.

Otherwise, at $399 and up, it’s essentially a niche product now.

As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2015/09/ipad-mini-4-aapl/.

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