home / Installation and configuration / IPad 5 sizes. IPad (5th generation) - Technical Specifications

IPad 5 sizes. IPad (5th generation) - Technical Specifications

Apple's smallest tablet is finally refreshed. In terms of design, nothing has changed. It's still tiny, neat, and all that kind of iPad mini. But under the hood now there is a feisty iron, as in latest iPhones... The device also made friends with the Apple Pencil. It's time to take a closer look at the tablet in the Apple iPad Mini 5 review.

In today's iPad mini 5 review, we'll figure out whether it's worth buying an updated tablet and for what tasks it will be useful. However, for a full immersion in the topic, it will not be superfluous to slightly plunge into the recent past.

The legend of the lost tablet market

I first met iPad mini in 2013. The action of one of the retailers turned up successfully. For 20 thousand rubles, you could buy the maximum version (64 GB + Cellular) and get an Apple TV of some generation there. The latter was of little interest to me, so the prefix went under the hammer. Thus, I bought a new iPad mini in the top with an official warranty for only 16,500 rubles. It's time for all of us to hug and cry together. In the comments.

The first mini made me madly happy. It was extremely compact, very thin and powerful. Its display was much larger than the smarts that were relevant at that time, and the dimensions made it possible to take the "mini" anywhere. A kind of super advanced Kindle, but not for reading, but for everything.

IPad mini price in 2015

A couple of years passed, iOS 7 was released in a new design and with a bunch of its own goodies. The update simply killed the tablet, freezes, lags, crashes and endless brakes began. Essentially a fast and modern tablet, it turned into a single-task taxi device overnight.

It was 2015, a time when everyone had played enough with tablets for a long time. And the manufacturers of Android devices have completely relaxed. They began to rivet disgusting game with hardware far behind the smartphone market. But not Apple. The company continues to create powerful, ultimatum solutions for the tablet market to this day. Consider the iPad Pro 11, which suddenly turned out to be much more productive. I am generally silent about the screens of both devices. However, Apple completely forgot about the legendary iPad mini. The fourth, now the previous generation, has not been updated since September 2015.

And now, finally, the long-awaited update has happened!

Meet iPad mini 5th Gen. The device received the most modern hardware at the level, but at the same time retained a compact and thinnest body. Of course, this is not all.

the main thing

Let's start our iPad mini 5 review with key changes from its predecessor:

fierce A12 Bionic processor - exactly the same chipset is installed in the iPhone XS
the screen acquired support for True Tone and the 1st generation Apple Pencil
more built-in memory, steeper front camera (was 1.2, now 7 Mp)

Display

Key screen parameters have not changed. This is the same IPS-matrix with a comfortable resolution:

diagonal. 7.9 inch
2048 by 1536 pixels
dots per inch - 326
oleophobic coating

Compared to the previous iPad mini, the brightness has slightly increased (from 450 to 500 nits), and also the anti-reflective coating has improved. Plus, support for the P3 color profile is now announced. Professionals working with photography, graphics and design will appreciate the innovation.

They also brought True Tone technology. Depending on the lighting conditions, the color temperature on the screen adjusts to the most comfortable value for the eyes. If it is simpler, the color rendition always leaves warm, slightly yellowish tones. It is worth trying once and you won't want to return to the usual screens with a predominance of blue.

The second innovation is support for Apple Pencil. Illustrators, designers, mobile artists, I am sure, have already been waiting for such a compact, neat and powerful solution for working on the road.

Yes, of course, you can remember its previous versions. However, this is a bit different. The smartphone is excellent and extremely functional, but its screen is large only by the standards of smartphones. For comfortable drawing and editing, you need a larger display. Ideally, iPad Pro 12.9 or at least. However, these devices may not always be convenient due to their size. IPad mini, on the other hand, is almost perfect. Not for creating work from scratch, but for proofreading almost finished images, layouts or models. On the way home, to work or to the airport.

There is only one caveat. The display flexes slightly during use, with strong pressure from your finger or Apple Pencil. I don't think this will have any effect on the durability of the tablet. It's just that the same iPad Pro did not have such nuances.

Features and kit

Full list of iPad mini 5 specifications, plus comparison with previous generation.

There is nothing interesting in the tablet box: a 10-watt power supply, a USB - Lightning cable, paper and traditional white stickers.

Performance

I am infinitely offended for tablets on Android. Even the most current models lag behind smartphones by 1-2 generations in performance. But tablets are so convenient to play. The grip is more comfortable, the screen is larger, and it is much easier to see the enemy hiding in the grass of the "royal battle".

And only Apple hasn't disappointed for many years now. The Pro versions got an even more powerful chipset than the latest generation iPhone - A12X Bionic. Our hero is not far behind, because the usual A12 Bionic is used here as "brains". How is "normal"? This is just one of the most powerful processors in the world. And so, nothing special.

In any case, he copes perfectly with any, even the most sophisticated title like PUBG Mobile and The Elder Scrolls: Blades. If you notice at least one lag or light freeze, the optimization of a particular game is worth kicking. The same PUBG Mobile runs at maximum graphic settings. The "ultra" item has not been working for a year now, even for. As for me, this is some kind of duck from the developers of the title, they say, look, we will soon make it even cooler (no).

4K video with a frequency of 60 frames, video editing, music mixing - all this is successfully spinning, spinning on a relatively large screen of a miniature tablet. And he himself weighs 308 grams and fits into the inner pocket of a jacket or windbreaker. Not bad.

AR - augmented reality

Today, augmented reality is one of the most complex mobile tasks in terms of computing power. However, iPad mini 5 can handle it once or twice.

Nothing slows down, does not lag in any AR application. By the way, I was recommended to evaluate the work of augmented reality in the JigSpace program. In turn, I will forward the project to you. It has a bunch of pre-installed virtual 3D models that can be placed on a real table for a detailed study of their device.

And very soon Angry Birds AR will be available in the App Store - release date April 30. I had a chance to try the title and it looks like Rovio were able to breathe new life into a long-worn toy. Voluminous birds and pigs right on your table are really exciting. Not only do I know for how long.

What to do with iPad mini 5 in 2019?

Well first, read it. It is one of the most convenient and sophisticated e-readers on the market. No options, but with one caveat. Buying an iPad mini 5 read-only is really weird. And extremely expensive. In addition, the tablet itself will be offended that its fierce power is used only for reading. You understand.

Viewing huge PDF and DjVu files is another highly demanded functionality for this tablet. Older iPads are too big and don't always have room in the workspace. And the little mini will fit anywhere. At the same time, on his screen, the docks open in full growth without the need for scaling.

Drawing, sketches, 3D-modeling, designing - we have already figured out all this. The tablet is perfect for this kind of thing. However, as for me, for more serious, professional work it is better to use. And the "minicom" will be an excellent addition to it on the road, when you need to be completely light.

A-Pencil and iPad mini 5 bundle can be used to edit and organize millions of notes. For example, the GoodNotes app can recognize handwritten text. Moreover, he does it even in Russian and even if you are a doctor. Beginner, on time or after residency, of course.

By the way, the manufacturer of the legendary notebooks Moleskine hurried up and released special applications for tablets: Timepage, Actions and Flow. The first is an advanced custom calendar. Actions is the fiercest organizer. There are so many opportunities that it can blow the roof off. But functional. Flow will be appreciated by lovers of quick sketches. Sketch a diagram, make a caricature, distract yourself and just draw a little - for this here, I mean, in the Flow app. It features a Moleskine tube design so fans of the brand will love it. And of course, get ready to fork out a little. Still Moleskine, all the cases.

Timepage Flow

There is another option. Buying a new and modern iPhone XS or it's expensive. And you always want fresh, productive iron. The solution is simple - buy an iPad mini 5 and keep your old smartphone.

I have a good friend who chats and calls on the iPhone 6, and decides all the other work and not very moments on the iPad mini. Long used to it and she is so comfortable.

Cameras. There are more cameras!

There is one 8MP camera on the back. More, perhaps, and not necessary. Moreover, it shoots very well for a tablet. Below is a visual comparison of the "minicom" and the monster.

Yes, there is a lot of noise and less detail. But in general, the difference is not so enormous as to seal the camera peephole with a plaster once and for all.

The HDR mode very often saves the situation: it returns the azure sky to its rightful place, simultaneously illuminating excessively dark bushes or the ground.

No HDR
HDR

Wi-Fi
- 32GB
- 128GB
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- 32GB
- 128GB

Size and Weight 2

Wi-Fi
- Height: 9.4 inches (240 mm)
- Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm)
- Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
- Weight: 1.03 pounds (469 g)
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Height: 9.4 inches (240 mm)
- Width: 6.6 inches (169.5 mm)
- Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
- Weight: 1.05 pounds (478 g)

Buttons and Connectors

Home / Touch ID sensor
Built-in stereo speakers
Lightning connector
3.5 mm headphone jack
On / Off - Sleep / Wake
Volume up / down
Nano-SIM tray (cellular models)

Connector

Lightning

In the box

Lightning to USB Cable
USB Power Adapter

Display

Retina display
9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 ppi
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Chip

A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
Embedded M9 coprocessor

Camera

8-megapixel camera
Live Photos
Autofocus
Panorama (up to 43 megapixels)
HDR for photos
Exposure control
Burst mode
Tap to focus
Timer mode
ƒ / 2.4 aperture
Five-element lens
Hybrid IR ﬁ lter
Backside illumination
Auto image stabilization
Face detection
Photo geotagging

Video Recording

1080p HD video recording (30 fps)
Slo-mo (120 fps)
Time-lapse video with stabilization
Video image stabilization
Face detection
3x video zoom
Video geotagging

Facetime hd camera

1.2-megapixel photos
Live Photos
ƒ / 2.2 aperture
Retina Flash
720p HD video recording
Backside illumination
HDR for photos and videos
Face detection
Burst mode
Exposure control
Timer mode

Video Calling 3

Wi-Fi
- Facetime video
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Facetime video

Audio Calling 3

Wi-Fi
- Facetime audio
- iPad to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Facetime audio
- iPad to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi or cellular

Cellular and Wireless

Wi-Fi model

Bluetooth 4.2 technology
Wi-Fi + Cellular model
Wi-Fi (802.11a / b / g / n / ac); dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz); HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth 4.2 technology
UMTS / HSPA / HSPA + / DC ‑ HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz)
LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41) 4
Data only 5
Wi-Fi calling 4
Includes Apple SIM
Learn more about Apple SIM

SIM Card

Nano-SIM (supports Apple SIM)

Location

Wi-Fi
- Digital compass
- Wi-Fi
- iBeacon microlocation
Wi-Fi + Cellular model
- Digital compass
- Wi-Fi
- Assisted GPS and GLONASS
- Cellular
- iBeacon microlocation

Sensors

Touch ID
Three-axis gyro
Accelerometer
Barometer
Ambient light sensor

Touch ID

Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button

Apple Pay

Pay with your iPad using Touch ID within apps and on the web
Send and receive money in Messages

Siri 6

Use your voice to send messages, set reminders, and more
Use hands-free
Listen and identify songs

Power and Battery 7

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi + Cellular model
- Built-in 32.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
- Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
- Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Operating System

iOS 11
With new features and capabilities that let you get more done quickly and easily, iOS 11 makes iPad more powerful, personal, and intelligent than ever.
See what’s new in iOS 11

Accessibility

Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new iPad. With built-in support for vision, hearing, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy, you can create and do amazing things. Learn more

Features include:

VoiceOver
Magnifier
Siri and dictation
Switch control
Closed Captions
AssistiveTouch
Speak Screen

Built-in Apps

Camera
Photos
Messages
Facetime
Music
Safari
Calendar
iTunes Store
App Store
Notes
Contacts
iBooks
Reminders
Clock
Photo Booth
Podcasts
Find My iPhone
Find my friends
Files

Free Apps from Apple 8

Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, and iTunes U are preinstalled on iPad.

Pages
Numbers
Keynote
iMovie
GarageBand
iTunes U
Apple Store
Trailers
Remote
Music Memos
Clips
Swift Playgrounds

System Requirements

Apple ID (required for some features)
Internet access 9

Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires:

Mac: OS X 10.9.5 or later
PC: Windows 7 or later
iTunes 12.5 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)

Languages

Language support
English (Australia, UK, US), Chinese (Simplified, Traditional, Traditional Hong Kong), French (Canada, France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Arabic, Catalan, Croatian , Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
QuickType keyboard support
English (Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK, US), Chinese - Simplified (Handwriting, Pinyin, Stroke), Chinese - Traditional (Cangjie, Handwriting, Pinyin, Stroke, Sucheng, Zhuyin), French (Belgium, Canada, France , Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Italian, Japanese (Kana, Romaji), Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Arabic (Modern Standard, Najdi), Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Emoji, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, Flemish, Georgian, Greek, Gujarati, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi (Devanagari, Transliteration), Hinglish, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish , Kannada, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Malayalam, Maori, Marathi, Norwegian, Odia, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic, Latin), Slovak, Slovenian, Swahili , Swedish, Tamil (Script, Transliteration), Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh
QuickType keyboard support with predictive input
English (Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK, US), Chinese (Simplified, Traditional), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish (Latin America, Mexico, Spain), Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Thai, Turkish
Siri languages
English (Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK, US), Spanish (Chile, Mexico, Spain, US), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany , Switzerland), Italian (Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong), Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), Danish (Denmark), Dutch (Belgium , Netherlands), Finnish (Finland), Hebrew (Israel), Malay (Malaysia), Norwegian (Norway), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian (Russia), Swedish (Sweden), Thai (Thailand), Turkish (Turkey)
Dictation languages
English (Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, UK, US), Spanish (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, US), French (Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland), German (Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland), Italian ( Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), Arabic (Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch (Belgium, Netherlands), Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi (India), Hungarian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil, Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Shanghainese (China mainland), Slovakian, Swedish, Thai , Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
De ﬁ nition dictionary support
English, Chinese (Simplified, Traditional), Danish, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
Bilingual dictionary support
Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Spell check
English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Turkish

Audio playback

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC -3), Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX +), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

AirPlay Mirroring, photos, audio, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later)
Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 4K, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.2 with AAC ‑ LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio or Dolby Audio up to 1008 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo or multichannel audio, in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG ‑ 4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC ‑ LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio or Dolby Audio up to 1008 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo or multichannel audio, in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M ‑ JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Mail Attachment Support

Viewable document types
.jpg, .ti ﬀ, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx ( Microsoft Excel); .zip; .ics

Environmental Requirements

Operating ambient temperature: 32 ° to 95 ° F (0 ° to 35 ° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4 ° to 113 ° F (-20 ° to 45 ° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Available space is less and varies due to many factors. A standard configuration uses approximately 8GB to 11GB of space (including iOS and preinstalled apps) depending on the model and settings. Preinstalled apps use about 4GB, and you can delete these apps and restore them.
Size and weight vary by con ﬁ guration and manufacturing process.
FaceTime calling requires a FaceTime-enabled device for the caller and recipient and a Wi-Fi connection. Availability over a cellular network depends on carrier policies; data charges may apply.
Data plan required. LTE and Wi-Fi calling are available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds are based on theoretical throughput and vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier and see www.apple.com/ipad/LTE.
Cellular data plan is sold separately. The model you purchase is con ﬁ gured to work with a particular cellular network technology. Check with your carrier for compatibility and cellular data plan availability.
Siri may not be available in all languages \u200b\u200bor in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access required. Cellular data charges may apply.
Testing conducted by Apple in February 2017 using preproduction iPad (9.7-inch) units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge while performing each of the following tasks: video playback, audio playback, and Internet browsing using Wi-Fi or cellular data network. Video content was a repeated 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Audio content was a playlist of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store. Internet over Wi-Fi and cellular data network tests were conducted using dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Wi-Fi was associated with a network (except for Internet browsing over cellular data network); the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off; Brightness was set to 50%; and WPA2 encryption was enabled. Battery life depends on device settings, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPad units; actual results may vary.
iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are available on the App Store. Downloading apps requires an Apple ID and a device that is compatible with the iOS version required for each app.
Wireless broadband recommended; fees may apply.

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas. ...

The display is a rectangle with rounded corners. The diagonal of this rectangle, excluding roundings, is 12.9 inches (for iPad Pro 12.9 inches) and 11 inches (for iPad Pro 11 inches).
The amount of available space is less than stated and depends on various factors. Standard configuration (including iOS 12 and pre-installed apps) is approximately 10 to 12 GB depending on device model and settings. The pre-installed apps take up about 4 GB; they can be deleted and reloaded. The amount of available space may vary depending on the device and software version.
Size and weight vary depending on device configuration and manufacturing process.
Battery life varies depending on settings and usage. More details on the page.
FaceTime communication requires all users to have FaceTime-enabled devices and a Wi-Fi connection. FaceTime availability over a cellular network is carrier dependent; data transfer charges may apply.
Data plan required. Gigabit Class LTE, 4G LTE Advanced, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi calling are not available in all regions or with all carriers. Speed \u200b\u200bis based on theoretical throughput and is subject to local conditions. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier or page.
Cellular data plan is purchased separately. The model you are purchasing is configured to work with a specific cellular technology. Check with your carrier for information on support for your device and cellular data plan availability.
Not all carriers support Apple SIM and eSIM cards. Check with your carrier for details. Not available in mainland China. ESIM is supported on the 11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad (7th generation), and iPad mini (5th generation). Apple technology SIM is supported on iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad (5th and 6th generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4.

A girl of about nine was sitting at the table opposite. She looked in my direction without blinking. Her gaze was a mixture of admiring helplessness and racial hatred. No, she is unlikely to remember my face. But my hands will surely live in her memory for a long time (5 months). For in them I squeezed what her soul longs for - the newest, coolest iPad with the air name Air. While I was wondering why such a little girl might need the newest and most productive apple device (except for the obvious reason to brag to her classmates), she, continuing to look at it, in a hysterical whisper, told her friend indifferently chewing a hamburger something about a "64-bit processor" , "powerful coprocessor", "thinner bezel like a minicar", "lighter weight" and "retina again". Startled, I decided to take my thoughts back. The young man is well aware of what he wants! And this is worthy of respect. I think that among the potential owners of the new iPad, such knowledgeable users will hardly be a few percent. Truth: if you give a very brief description of the fifth generation of full-size Apple tablets, the words of this girl are quite enough. Little girls are not the same, I thought. And this is great! Apple tablets aren't the same either. And at first glance, this is also wonderful. But you need to take a closer look.

Video review

How it was

For those who do not follow the development of Apple technology as closely as the above-mentioned little girl from the cafe, or have missed this chapter in the history of the development of gadgets, let me remind you of the main milestones of "iped building". The birth of a new device - iPad - took place in 2010. Together with him, the era of Internet tablets began. Contrary to the predictions of many skeptics, this breed has spread quite quickly, partly replacing portable laptops and netbooks. The first iPad was heavy (680 and 730 grams depending on the absence / presence of a 3G module), but they did not know about it yet. Because there was nothing to compare with. This machine immediately received an excellent 9.7-inch screen for those times (yes, perhaps, even today, not every tablet can boast of this) with an IPS-matrix, a 3: 4 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1024x768 pixels.

The following year, 2011, the world was presented with one of the most successful incarnations of Apple tablets - iPad 2. The “second” was much lighter and faster, its design also underwent certain changes. And, by the way, we saw this design not only in the second, but in the third and fourth models without any special changes. This model is still in production today, being considered the budget version of the iPad, while the next two updates have already been discontinued. It weighed 613 grams with 3G and 12 grams less without it. It's not that they scolded him for the screen, which also had a resolution of 1024x768 pixels, but they wanted more. Wanted - got: the long-awaited Retina (2048x1536 pixels) really makes the image incredibly smooth and somehow ... airy. Only now the mass of the third iPad, which at one time was called “The New iPad”, has grown to 652/662 grams. There was more powerful processor, and doubled RAM, and a capacious battery ... It was warming up pretty much, this new iPad, and the next update was not long in coming. The next was the iPad 4, featuring a more energy efficient processor, and more ... Then there was the iPad Mini, which literally exploded the market: the same as the iPad 2, but in a lightweight and compact eight-inch case! With a beautiful thin frame. With stereo speakers ... Well, perhaps Retina is missing. Naturally, the second iPad Mini will correct the situation, but for now - while we have an iPad Air with a design like the iPad Mini ...

IPad Air Specifications

Apple iPad Air
operating system	Apple iOS 7
Display	9.7 inches, IPS, Retina (2048x1536 pixels), 16 million colors, 10 simultaneous touches
CPU	Apple A7, two Apple Cyclon cores (ARMv8 A32 / A64), clocked at 1.4 GHz; coprocessor M7 one core ARM Cortex-M3, video accelerator PowerVR G6430
RAM	1 GB
Flash memory	16, 32, 64 or 128 GB
Camera	5 MP, autofocus, 1080p video recording; front camera for video calls (1.2 MP)
Wireless technology	Wi-Fi a / b / g / n (2.4 / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, 3G (optional)
Battery	non-removable, 8827 mAh
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Interfaces	Apple Lightning, 3.5 mm headphone output
Dimensions and weight	240x170x7.5 mm, 478 grams

Equipment

Traditional white box. From all the information diversity of the world, you can see a photo of the device, its name, and also, in small letters on the back - the version of the device (with or without 4G support, the volume of the built-in storage is from 16 to 128 GB. We are testing a version with 64 GB ). In equally traditional niches - charger, USB-Lightning cable, an envelope with a key for extracting or installing nanoSIM, stickers with apples and an extremely laconic device for use.

Design and construction

A hackneyed comparison with the iPad Mini since the announcement is reasonable. The iPad Air does take over the design from its smaller brother: the same proportions, the same thin bezel, which is especially thin along the long edges of the device. The corners are less rounded, but the rounding from the back to the screen is sharper. There is also a shiny edging around the device.

The device creates the most airy impression: those who are familiar with at least one full-size iPad of any generation will understand what I mean. If earlier there was only a slight decrease in the weight of the device (and sometimes - on the contrary, an increase), now the tablet has become lighter by as much as 183 grams. As a result, we get 478 grams. And this is very small for a 9.7-inch tablet!

Together with iPad 2

Slim at 7.5 millimeters, iPad Air doesn't tire your hands for extended periods of time. Although, of course, someone would prefer a more compact second generation iPad Mini with a similar filling, Retina display and a weight of 341 (331) grams. The difference in weight in the case of the two newest iPads is quite reasonable, it is justified by the screen size.

The device lies well in the hands, it can slide, but not too much. The quality of the materials pleases again and leaves all competitors, even the most famous and serious, far behind.

A thin but durable sheet of anodized aluminum in the case of the 4G version is diluted with a plastic strip, very thin glass is used - in many ways, it was the materials that contributed to the reduction in weight and dimensions.

At the same time, the assembly is again at its best: no creaks, gaps or deflections. All buttons and connectors fit perfectly. When you press the buttons, you feel a clear click with your fingers. The only thing that shows a decrease in the rigidity of the structure is small stains on the screen when you press the matrix hard.

The color of the device is white on the side of the screen (frame) and silver on the back. Now this color is called Silver. Black, matching the iPhone 5s, has become Space Gray or "Wet Asphalt" in our opinion. Noble. I have not heard of the gold version. The case, as usual, is not demountable. The layout of all the elements is the same - whoever you think it is - of course with the iPad Mini. Top left - audio jack, right - power button. At the top of the right side there is a Mute toggle switch for muting the sound, as well as separate buttons for adjusting it, replacing the traditional rocker.

And the best part is that like the Mini, the device is equipped with two speakers. They are located on the bottom, separated only by the Apple Lightning connector.

The iPad Air's Home button is traditional. Alas, there is no such convenient fingerprint scanner like the iPhone 5s.

Display

Key specs suggest that the Air's display has changed little compared to the previous two full-size iPads. IPS with a diagonal of 9.7 inches, a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. And my favorite (at least me) aspect ratio is 4: 3. Nevertheless, there are certain changes.

The screen makes an indelible impression on a user unprepared for such a high quality: the dots are not visible at all, the icons seem to hover above the background - such a 3D effect is observed. Especially when combined with a thin frame. By the way, the protection against false positives along the edges is also excellent. At the same time, the screen sensitivity does not disappoint either. The maximum brightness has increased (360 cd / m2), as has the contrast. The color rendition and the color gamut close to sRGB are pleasing. By the way, the maximum brightness is almost always too much, even on a sunny day 80% was enough for me, and in the dark I reduced this figure to 60%. The only thing that upsets, albeit just a little, is the presence of an air gap between the matrix and the protective glass: there are glare, although in this regard the iPad Air is one of the best. Movies and games look great on it. And this is not because I love Apple, but because objectively it is. For all the time, I have not come across a single tablet with a screen better than this.

System and performance

About operating system iOS 7 I don't have much to add beyond what was already said in the iPhone 5c review. In turn, the hardware is described in detail in the review of the iPhone 5s. The new iPad uses the same dual-core 64-bit A7 processor, M7 coprocessor, and PowerVR G6430 quad-core graphics. Only the A7, inside the iPad Air, has each core running at 1.4 GHz, while the heart of the smartphone beats at 1 GHz. There is only a gigabyte of RAM here, which will cause a contemptuous laugh from fans of flagship Android. Apple apologists will answer them that iOS is much more economical in using resources, so a gigabyte is enough for the device. And they will be right: Air just flies. Both the interface and the loading of games, as well as the games themselves, including heavy 3D, are perfectly processed on the large Retina display (and how nice it is to play with such detail and clarity of the picture!). Not to mention the smoothness of the interface transitions. The only task in which I managed to make the iPad slow down was watching a FullHD movie in a mkv container using the PlayerXtreme player. Most likely, there are optimization or compatibility problems: heavy movies in Mpeg4 and all the others played smoothly. Geekbench 3 scores are the best on the platform. And in comparison with others it is also very, very ... Having habitually run the Ice Storm Extreme cross-platform test, I received the Maxed Out result and the message that this test is children's toys for such a powerful device, go to another level - Ice Storm Unlimited. In it, the tablet also turned out to be among the best, somewhat behind Galaxy Note 10.1 and LG G2. By the way, it's very hard to force yourself to take your eyes off the spaceships drawn in this test ...

In a word, there is a large supply of iron. I think it will be enough for any games from the AppStore for at least two years.

Camera

There are two of them. The first is 5 megapixels with ным / 2.4 aperture. No flash, but with autofocus, back-illuminated sensor and five-element optics. It is not much different from the sensor that we could see in the iPad 4. But from the iPad 2 - striking. For bragging rights - a couple of pictures for comparison.

IPad 2 camera

IPad Air camera

The camera is not outstanding, up to the one that got the last three iPhones (or even four) it is far from. But for a tablet, if for some reason you still want to shoot with a tablet - not bad. But the front camera in the tablet is much more useful. Well, video telephony. Here its resolution is 1.2 megapixels. For Skype - with a head. Below are photographs taken from her. Only with the effects of the wonderful Photo Booth entertainment program.

Sound

Two stereo speakers have significantly improved the sound situation. There was even a feeling of some kind of volume. Although there is still little bass, the mids are well worked out. During sounding, the body is pleasantly in hand. The speakers play cleanly, and loudly at maximum. You can watch movies without headphones or external speakers while in the room. Only their location is somehow ... smartphone. Of course, this is a little better than that of its predecessor, you can hold the tablet in a landscape grip so as not to close them ... Nevertheless, physiologically, a person perceives stereo better if the speakers are spaced on both sides of the ears, here in landscape orientation, and films they usually look like this, they are next to each other and from one side. So while things have gotten better, the headphones are even better, and so are the good portable speakers.

Autonomy and heating

9 hours in active mode - a kind of standard for the iPad, practically unchanged from generation to generation. Here, in spite of the reduced battery capacity compared to the iPad 4 (a 32.4 Wh battery fit into a thin case, and 42.5 Wh in the iPad 4), the tablet should honestly work 10 hours. Affected by the increased energy efficiency of the processor and screen. With almost maximum screen brightness, half volume and disabled wireless interfaces the device played FullHD video for about 7 hours and 45 minutes. In working mode (half brightness, Wi-Fi on, internet, mail, some movies, music) iPad Air is quite capable of holding on for a couple of days without recharging. So talk about ten o'clock is quite true. The device is still charging slowly, but faster than the previous iPad with retina: about 4 hours. During test runs or 3D toys, slight heat is felt in the area of \u200b\u200bthe camera and along the long edge next to which the camera is located. However, much less than the iPad 3 or even iPad 4.

In the dry residue

Testing new iPads is both difficult and easy at the same time. The manufacturer exhibits a certain uniformity, and when seeing one device, it is easy to notice the family traits in all. The likelihood of getting on a buggy sample is also extremely small. And all the announced programs will definitely work. In a word, it's easy. It is difficult in the sense that there are no surprises. And the constant repetition of the phrases "just like ...", "nothing has changed" and so on, very few people please. Nevertheless, I tried to convey my feelings of working with the device, and I must say, I liked them: oddly enough, this is the first full-size iPad that I would like to have at my own disposal. The device is very well built, beautiful, lightweight and powerful. I think two factors can deter users from buying it: financial (you have to give a lot of money) and religious (hatred of Apple). Well, or simply unnecessary. Or .. Or, say, the presence on the market of the iPad Mini 2, a tablet that I would call the main competitor of the iPad Air.

7 reasons to buy Apple iPad Air

It's an iPad;
the best iPad ever;
with an excellent screen;
beautiful design;
lightest (except Mini-models);
the most tenacious;
and the fastest.

3 (+1) reasons not to buy Apple iPad Air

You lean towards the Mini version;
you do not like Apple or think the products of this company are unreasonably expensive;
you like to dig deeper into the OS and customize it for yourself;)
you don't need a tablet at all.

Wi-Fi
- 32 GB
- 128 GB
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- 32 GB
- 128 GB

Dimensions and weight 2

Wi-Fi
- Length: 240mm
- Width: 169.5mm
- Thickness: 7.5mm
- Weight: 469g
Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Length: 240mm
- Width: 169.5mm
- Thickness: 7.5mm
- Weight: 478g