iPad mini tech specs

Now that we know all about the new iPad mini, its features, and its price tag, it’s time to take a look at the technical specifications of the tablet. How is it going to measure up to Apple’s other devices performance-wise?

Phil Schiller breezed over this a bit on stage, saying that the iPad mini was equal to or better than the iPad 2 in almost every way. And to prove it, Apple’s just posted a full list of iPad mini tech specs on its website…

Size

The iPad mini’s tag line is “every inch an iPad,” meaning that while its smaller dimensions are its biggest selling point, it’s still an iPad. That being said, this thing is extremely light, and as expected, almost iPod touch-thin.

  • Height:7.87 inches (200 mm)
  • Width:5.3 inches (134.7 mm)
  • Depth:0.28 inch (7.2 mm)
  • Weight:0.68 pound (308 g)

To be fair, Apple notes that the Wi-Fi + cellular model is .01 pounds heavier, weighing in at 0.69 (or 312 g).

Wireless

Like its full-sized sibling, the iPad mini will come in both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + cellular options. The latter comes in two models, with LTE chips that will work on Long Term Evolutionary 4G networks around the world.

Model A1454

  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

Model A1455

  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)
  • Data only
  • 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Here in the US, the Wi-Fi + cellular model will be offered by AT&T, Verizon and (drumroll please) Sprint!

Display

Unfortunately, the rumors were true. The iPad mini does not sport one of Apple’s crisp new Retina displays. In fact, the panel’s resolution matches that of the nearly two year-old iPad 2 at 1024 x 768.

  • 7.9-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch
    display with IPS technology
  • 1024-by-768 resolution at 163 pixels per inch (ppi)
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

It’s worth pointing out that the pixels per inch count is higher on the iPad mini than it is on the iPad 2. So the display should still be fairly sharp.

Processor

Not much to see here actually. The iPad mini utilizes Apple’s dual-core A5 processor, which is not necessarily a bad thing given how long it’s been making them. It certainly has the formula down pat by now.

Presumably, this is the newer one from the retooled iPad 2 that is smaller and more power efficient.

Cameras

Yes, the iPad mini has both a front and rear-facing camera. And they’re actually both pretty stout. The FaceTime camera has the new HD sensor from the iPhone 5, and the iSight camera is of the 5MP variety.

FaceTime HD camera:

  • 1.2MP photos
  • 720p HD video
  • FaceTime video calling over Wi-Fi or cellular4
  • Face detection
  • Backside illumination
  • Tap to control exposure for video or still images
  • Photo and video geotagging

iSight camera:

  • 5MP photos
  • Autofocus
  • Face detection
  • Backside illumination
  • Five-element lens
  • Hybrid IR filter
  • ƒ/2.4 aperture
  • Tap to focus video or still images
  • Tap to control exposure for video or still images
  • Photo and video geotagging
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • Video stabilization

There doesn’t seem to be an LED flash on the mini. Which is ok, really, because… it’s a tablet.

Battery

The iPad mini features the same 10-hour battery life of its older siblings. Here’s the specs for the Wi-Fi only model:

  • Built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
  • Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
  • Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

And for the + cellular option:

  • Built-in 16.3-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

Admittedly, 10 hour battery life is impressive for an LTE tablet. Especially considering how thin the mini is.

That’s about it for the iPad mini tech specs. There’s a lot of standard stuff we didn’t mention like a 3.5mm audio jack, and built-in compass and accelerometer. And yes, for those wondering, it does have an ambient light sensor. If you’re really interested in the particulars, you can see the full list over on Apple’s website.

To be honest, I didn’t see anything in the spec list that warranted the higher price tag, though I’m fairly certain the size of the tablet had more to do with it. But it’ll be interesting to see if consumers find the tablet’s thinner and lighter casing to be worth the $130 premium over the competition. Or just $70 less than an iPad 2.

What do you think of the iPad mini thus far?