iPad Mini vs Asus Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire HD: Technical Face-off
Cupertino-based Apple, after dominating the larger tablet market it popularized, has turned its attention to the slightly smaller screen. The 7.9-inch iPad Mini has Apple's attention to style and detail behind it, but it certainly isn't the only gadget that size worth looking into, especially with the Mini's stepped-down processor and screen resolution.
To help potential Mini buyers decide, below is a line up the specs and the intangibles to help find out which tablet has the upper hand: iPad Mini, Asus-made Google Nexus 7, or the Amazon Kind Fire HD?
The Specs | iPad Mini | Google Nexus 7 | Kindle Fire HD |
Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, Nano-sim | N/A | N/A |
Body | 200x134.7x7.2mm, 312g | 198.5x120x10.5mm, 340g | 193x137x10.3mm, 395g |
Display | LED backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 768x1024 pixels, 7.9" (162ppi), multitouch | LED backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 800x1280 pixels, 7.0" (216ppi), multitouch | IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 800x1280 pixels, 7.0" (216 ppi), multitouch up to 10 fingers |
Protection | Oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass | None |
Sound | Alert types N/A, loudspeaker, 3.5mm jack | Alert types N/A, loudspeaker, 3.5mm jack | Alert types N/A, stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack, Dolby Digital Plus sound enhancement |
Storage | 16/32/64 GB internal, no expansion | 8/16GB internal, no expansion | 16/32GB internal, no expansion |
Memory | 512MB RAM | 1GB RAM | 1GB RAM |
Connectivity | GPRS, EDGE, DC-HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB 2.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 |
Primary Camera | 5MP 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection | 1.2MP, video calling | 1.3MP, 1280x1024 pixels |
Secondary Camera | Yes, 1.2MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime | No | No |
Video | Yes, 1080p@30fps, video stabilization | Yes, 720p | No |
Operating System | iOS 6 | Android OS 4.1 JellyBean, upgradable to 4.1.2 | Android OS 4.0 (customized) |
Chipset | Apple A5 | Nvidia Tegra 3 | TI OMAP 4460 |
CPU | Dual core 1GHz Cortex A9 | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex A9 | Dual core 1.2GHz Cortex A9 |
GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 | ULP GeForce | PowerVR SGX540 |
Specials | Siri natural language, iCloud service | Google Android Market | Kindle FreeTime |
Price | $329-$659 | $199-$249 | $199-$249 |
Which stands out?
At this stage, it's clearly too early to tell, but keep in mind that the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD already targeted slightly different audiences from the beginning. The Nexus 7 lures gamers, multimedia enthusiasts, and Android fans looking for the pure Jelly Bean experience.
The Fire HD is considered a steal for Amazon Prime members who want to maximize their Amazon membership, while keeping tablet costs low, memory high and the screen mighty.
Apple fans will likely be attracted by the Mini, but there is a question how good the Mini actually is. It is lighter and thinner than the competition, but the screen resolution lacks Apple's crystal clarity and the battery life is on-par with rivals, but won't surpass it.
Apple had also started taking orders for the iMac desktop which also got a makeover. Prices are $599 for the iMac mini, $1,299 for the iMac desktop and $1,699 for the MacBook Pro.
