With Apple's dual-core A5 chip, the same found inside the iPad 2, the iPad mini has enough horse power to drive existing apps because pixel count didn't change: the device still features a 1,024-by-768 pixel resolution screen like the iPad 2. As a consequence of the smaller display, the pixels are more densely packed, yielding crisper images and fonts.
Its 7.9-inch display is rated at 163 pixels per inch versus 132ppi for the iPad 2 (264ppi for the iPad 3 and 216ppi for the Nexus 7). Taking it all in, The Verge had a chance to briefly play with the new gizmo after Apple's events, here are their impressions and a nice hands-on video...