Is the iPad Mini really as bad as it seems?

Apple’s second batch of device releases this year was met with even more mixed reviews than the first one got earlier this year. This is mostly because many of them were, as pointed out by the experts and tech reviewers, unneeded. The various devices’ “upgrades” were insubstantial and ultimately not even worth anyone’s attention.

As far as people were concerned, existing Apple devices can already do more or less everything. They can surf the web with lightning speed, perform multiple processes smoothly, and they allow you to communicate using various means, ranging from voip services  to cellular services, and they can be connected to the Internet with networks of similar variety (save for, oddly, LTE connectivity, which the devices do not have for some reason).

Out of all the devices launched in the second batch, it seems that only the iPod Touch’s newest version is worth the upgrade. Apart from that, the releases were not impressive, including Apple’s first foray into the “budget tablet” world – the iPad Mini. It was dismissed by many, mostly because its capabilities were, at best, iPad 2 capabilities, and because it was much too pricey to really be a “budget” tablet.

What makes a budget tablet?

”Budget tablet” is the tech aficionados’ term for the smaller 7-inch versions of heavy duty tablets like the iPad. These tablets are mostly well known in the form of the Amazon Kindle Fire and the newcomer, Google’s Nexus 7. Strangely enough, it seems as though the Nexus 7 is the antithesis of the Apple iPad Mini. Whereas the iPad Mini seems to be the shrunken and not-so-impressive successor of the iPad, the Nexus 7 is seen by many as a budget tablet so capable that it could compete full-size tablets.

But is the iPad Mini really all that bad?

The Mini is not without some good points. It is as ultrathin and sleek as any Apple product, making it very portable; it’s easy to carry and hold, therefore making it easy to use for long periods of time. It is compact and book-like compared to the chunky iPad. Regardless of its small size, it has the same resolution as its big brother, and is fully capable of running iPad apps as well.

As it is an Apple product, it can also take advantage of Apple’s indefatigable iTunes and App Store, which is primarily what attract many people to Apple products; many of the best apps are only available through the App Store and iTunes.

In terms of tablet experience, it truly does sit among the best. The ecosystem it runs is as close to phenomenal as you can get, and it is signature Apple in terms of sleek, smooth, high performance. However, it has to be said that other tablets also have comparable ecosystems due to the progress of Android development.

Bottom Line

Having an iPad Mini is an excellent choice if you want the entire Apple tablet experience in a smaller package. Still, if you are looking for a budget tablet, there are other tablets you can choose for a more modest price.