By Andrew Zhou ‘15
EE Staff Writer
With Apple’s latest tablet, the iPad Mini, having recently been released, and with the holidays fast approaching, many are wondering just what tablet to buy. Should they buy the iPad, the Mini, or maybe a tablet from Google or Samsung? Well, while the iPad Mini is by no means revolutionary, it does manage to distinguish itself from the iPad in a few ways.
The first thing that one will notice when handling the iPad Mini is how light it is – much lighter than the normal-sized iPad. It is also smaller and much easier to transport than the regular iPad and can easily fit into a backpack or purse, making it much more convenient to use outside of the house. The Mini also compares favorably to the iPad and most other tablets in terms of battery life, as its battery life clocks at over 10 hours, when other tablets only get around 8 hours at the most.
This does come at a price however, as the smaller screen makes typing a bit more difficult, and the lack of retina display may lead some to look for other options. Other differences between the iPad and the Mini are negligible, as Internet, video, and gaming all function at roughly the same speed on both. Data options range from $250 for 8GB, $350 for 16GB, $450 for 32GB, and $550 for 64GB, with an extra $100 if you want cellular data.
Not an Apple person? Well, lucky for you, Apple isn’t the only company releasing new tablets. One of these other options is the Nexus 10, Google and Android’s most recently released tablet. Many people think that the iPad is the best tablet there is, but for those who disagree, look no further than Google’s recently-released Nexus 10, which is also very impressive, with a high-resolution screen (300 pixels per square inch). It also has an exclusive feature called Photo Sphere, which allows for 3D 360-degrees pictures to be taken.
However, these features are offset by the charging time of the Nexus, which is one of its flaws. The Nexus’s charging time is simply too slow for anything except charging it overnight. Users simply cannot keep the battery going if it is being used while charged. Google is planning to release a new and presumably more efficient charger, though, and for those who don’t mind throwing in some extra cash, this charger could solve your problems.
The iPad Mini and the Nexus 10 are two tablets that do not fail to impress. For all the tablet-users out there: you’d best be prepared for an empty feeling in your (parent’s) wallets.