The iPad mini seems to be a quality addition to the iPad lineup. The smaller size should appease tablet hopefuls who feel the 9.7-inch iPad is too large. It provides a very good, though not top-of-the-line, experience and looks sharp to boot.
John Koetsier, for VentureBeat
Frankly, it feels like an Amazon Kindle I used to have, the third or so generation: essentially so light that your hand has no real sensation of weight, just of presence.
The one problem with Apple's tablet garden, I think, is the price. The whisper number had a starting price at $250, which would have been an aggressive price that would have driven a lot of consumer adoption. Apple will still sell the proverbial boatload at $329 and up … but it's not quite as easy a decision as $250.
Pulling a Google device out at an Apple event is like taking a cat to Crufts, so a direct comparison between the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini wasn't possible in the minutes we had. However, we know it well, and have no doubt that the Mini feels the more premium device. While the iPad Mini's screen is noticeably lower-res – Retina Display fans will baulk at the Mini's visible pixels – it beats the Nexus 7's for brightness and vibrancy, and seems a good deal bigger to boot.
The most surprising aspect is that it isn't just a smaller iPad, the bezel is thinner so the whole device fits nicely in the palm even though it features a screen that's almost 8-inches. That makes reading websites a lot easier because there is more screen real estate. However, it is strange considering that's not what Apple told us was best for the iPhone 5.
Our only other impression from such a short amount of play time (these things are popular, after all) is that it's extremely responsive, and looks quite cool behind its mini Smart Cover. Very handbag friendly.
Joshua Topolsky, for The Verge:
Like most Apple products, the build of the smaller tablet is excellent, easily surpassing the competition on the market. By comparison, the Nexus 7 and Fire HD feel like toys. Other manufacturers are going to have to up their game with this product in town. It's just a striking difference in materials and solidness.
The thinness and sleekness of the casing cannot be overstated. It feels as high-end as the new iPhone, but even sharper in the hand — like a slice of solid aluminum. The chamfered edges present on the iPhone 5 have been continued here, as well as the all-black treatment seen on the latest phone.
Where it excels, predictably, is the overall fit and finish. Just as the bigger iPad, this one feels delightful in the hand. If you've held an iPad, you know where we're coming from. Yes, it's lighter and more nimble, making it feel as if Apple concocted its own version of the 7-inch tablet. And indeed, that's precisely what has happened here. It's still not "small," though.
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