iPad mini is launched, prices start from £269

The heavily rumoured iPad mini was unveiled at an Apple Special Event in the California Theatre in San Jose, Ca., a couple of hours ago. Up until now the very existence of this iPad has never been confirmed by Apple; even so it’s already featured in six articles here on HEXUS! Let's have a look at what was said about this new 7.9-inch Apple tablet and what is exactly on offer.

Steve Jobs said it would never happen and a 7-inch tablet was a “tweener” device no one needed, but here it is, on stage in Phil Schiller’s hands. It seems like Apple’s competitors have shown there is a desire by consumers for smaller sized 7-inch tablets. Sir Jonathan Ive talked to the crowd via video link and explained this is not just a smaller iPad but a device that has been carefully concentrated. “We designed it to be a concentration, rather than a reduction, of the original”. Also marketing man Phil Schiller says that the extra 0.9-inches of the new iPad mini display make a world of difference. Apple’s website explains “At 7.9 inches, it’s perfectly sized to deliver an experience every bit as big as iPad.” Also playing with words about its size, the iPad mini overview page on the Apple website says it is “every inch an iPad” and the new tablet gives users “The full iPad experience. There’s less of it, but no less to it.” Looking at the full tech specs table it does seem like the new iPad mini is a mashup of specs and parts from both the iPad 2 and the iPad 3 (with Retina display) as was rumoured.

Let’s look at and compare the iPad range specifications:

Fourth generation iPad

The other iPad news from tonight is the new full sized iPad update. It’s the fourth generation iPad which comes just six months after the third generation “The new iPad”. It’s updated with the new A6X processor and the Apple Lightning connector. Some people are a bit miffed that their third generation iPad is already an old one.

The new iPad mini will be available from the 2^nd November. You can also pre order it starting 26^th October (Windows 8 day!). Has Apple got a winner on its hands for Christmas? They have got it available to buyers in good time but I think the price might be a bit on the high side compared to its 7-inch competitors; is it worth the £100 premium over the NEXUS 7 for example? In cutting the size they made the iPad mini “23 per cent thinner, 53 per cent lighter” which is pretty good design and it’s got a nice aluminium unibody build which is an improvement upon textured plastic competitors. When choosing you also have the huge question of the desirability of Android or Apple iOS and their respective apps.