Today, Apple announced yet another iPad Mini. Something we all knew they were going to do, despite the fact that Apple are an industry leader in doing things differently. This latest and greatest iPad Mini is surely the best device below 10-inches ever. Or, at least, that is what Tim Cook and Apple would have you believe. We know better however, and there are already a slew of Android tablets of similar sizes that offer more choice, more flexibility and are a lot kinder on your wallet. So, let’s take a look at this new iPad Mini and some of its main competitors and how it stacks up.
This year’s iPad Mini has finally been upgraded to a high-resolution display. Which means that Apple has finally caught up to the rest of the competition. There’s the same A7 chip from the iPhone 5S which is 64-bit and magical. The iPad Mini 2 is a decent tablet, if you’re into that sort of thing but, the below options are some of the best Android tablets out there and are more than likely a better way of spending your money.
The Galaxy Note 8.0
Coming in at 8-inches, the Note 8.0 offers a decent enough compromise for those looking for something smaller, but not that small. The screen resolution of 1280 x 800 is a little disappointing here but, the Note 8.0 makes up for it other ways. The S-Pen is here and at this form factor it makes a whole lot of sense. After all, an 8-inch tablet is reminiscent of those paper notebooks. With the Note 8.0, you can multitask – properly, unlike the iOS 7 version of “multitasking” – and you can get a whole lot more done on the go. Sure, the iPad Mini might have more apps but, can it let you take precise notes without the need for an accessory? You can buy the Note 8.0 from Amazon and take a look at our review here.
- 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos 4412
- 8-inch WXGA display (1280 x 800 at 189 ppi)
- Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- 5 megapixel (rear), 1.3-megapixels (front)
- 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 and 5 GHz; WiFi Direct; AllShareCast; Bluetooth 4.0; USB 2.0
- 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB storage with microSD card support (up to 64 GB)
- 210.8 x 135.9 x 7.95
- 338 grams
- 4,600 mAh
The Google Nexus 7
The Nexus 7 was a great tablet but, the follow-up 2013 model was even better. With a super-slim frame and a 1920 x 1200 display on a 7-inch tablet, this year’s Nexus 7 has a dizzying ppi of 323, making it one of the highest resolution 7-inch tablets on the planet. Sure, the new iPad Mini has a display of 2048 x 1536 but, at 7.9-inches, this leaves the Nexus 7 that little bit ahead. We don’t have to tell you how cheap the Nexus 7 is, you can find one at a very attractive price on Amazon and you can check out our review here.
- 7-inch 1920—1200 resolution display (world’s highest resolution tablet)
- 2GB of RAM
- 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor
- 16GB and 32GB internal storage options
- 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front-facing camera
- Android 4.3 – Jelly Bean
- 3,950 mAh battery
- Wireless Charging
LG G Pad 8.3
LG’s latest foray into the tablet world has so far been well-received. With a nice aluminum back and a great-looking display, the G Pad 8.3 takes cues from their latest smartphone, the G2. At 8.3-inches, it offers a nice compromise between the 7-inch tablets and those larger tablets out there. While still being portable enough to take wherever you want. It’s available at Best Buy right now, for a pretty decent price. With a Snapdragon 600 inside, it might be the headlining “64-bit” performer that the iPad Mini 2 is but, it’s got real performance instead of a gimmick.
- 1.7GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 600 Processor
- 8.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixels / 273 ppi)
- 16GB eMMC
- 2GB LPDDR2
- Rear 5.0MP / Front 1.3MP
- 4,600mAh
- Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
- 216.8 x 126.5 x 8.3mm
- 338g
- Black / White
So, What Should You Get?
Out of the above list, we’re obviously not going to be choosing the iPad Mini but, it is a difficult group to choose from. If you’re looking for a compromise between smaller tablets and full-size ones, which some argue the iPad Mini offers, then it’d have to be the LG G Pad 8.3. With a classy build and decent specs, the G Pad 8.3 is a great option. It’s got a brilliant display for all those cat videos, doesn’t cost too much more than the Nexus 7 and it’s still easily portable. That’s just us though – what about you guys?