Along with Apple’s iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 3 also hit store shelves during a silent weekday release. If you don’t currently own an iPad mini, it’s probably a better time than ever to pick one up, but I wouldn’t really recommend getting Apple’s latest and greatest. Let me tell you why…
Inside of the iPad mini 3, you’ll find a dual-core Apple A7 chip clocked at 1.3GHz, 1GB of RAM, a quad-core PowerVR G6430 GPU, and a 6,470 mAh battery. The iPad mini’s Retina display is 7.9-inches with a resolution of 1,536 x 2,048 (324 ppi). On the back side you’ll find a 5-megapixel shooter, while the front side is home to the 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera. If any of these specifications sound familiar, it’s because they were also inside of the iPad mini 2.
Apple’s iPad mini 3 is nearly identical to its predecessor. In fact, the only difference between the iPad mini 2 and 3 is the addition of Touch ID and a gold color option. Aside from that, you won’t find any new and exciting hardware. Is this a disappointment? If the iPad lover within you needs to have a gold mini with Touch ID, that’s totally fine, but in my opinion you’re better off purchasing the iPad mini 2 as it’s available for $100 less.
Check out our iPad mini 3 unboxing and first impressions video below:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpXVj8GELCg]
Keep in mind, the base iPad mini models only come in 16GB configurations. If you’re planning on loading it up with apps and other media, you might want to opt for a 64GB mini 3 at $499 or get a 32GB iPad mini 2 for $349. Apple’s iPad mini 2 is now the only place you’ll find a 32GB configuration for the mini lineup and it might be the best deal if you don’t care about Touch ID.
I’m not sure that the iPad mini 3is worth upgrading to over the second generation. Here’s my advice: If you’re in the market for a new Apple tablet, save $100 and buy a 16GB iPad mini 2 for $299 or get the 32GB model for $50 more. What do you think about the iPad mini 3?
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Bought the ipad mini 2 with 32 gigs and loving it.
What about NFC?
No NFC on any ipad. The air 2 has the NFC chip, but not the antenna connected, so it’s basically “there but not there”… So there is a chip, but no way to utilize it… Gotta wait for iPad Air 3 and mini 4 I reckon.
Gotta wait for what? For Apple to add the NFC antenna in those versions? Since there is no practical reason to do so, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Unless Apple were to find another use for NFC besides ApplePay, there is no reason to add NFC antennas to iPad.
It’s Touch ID all the way man, but I agree with what you are saying, it’s all preference.
Another Apple hater…..
Can you copy and paste with the damn thing, because the clip board doesnt work on a damn ios 8 device I have. Always pastes old information. If it pastes what I want I might consider it! Most frustrating damn bug I have even dealt with.
This literally cannot happen unless there is something seriously wrong with your software. Do a restore and it will fix it.
Wrong, Google iOS 8 copy and paste, there are TONS of reports. Restores do not fix. Confirmed in 8.0 8.0.2 and 8.1.
It literally can happen and HAPPENS ALL THE TIME
Funny that not a single iOS device amongst several hundred that I support have this bug…
@Edison Wrzosek, like I said google it and see for yourself. I personally couldnt care less about the iOS devices you “support” its a known bug so whatever
How could the clipboard still have the same stuff on it after a device reboot let alone a full restore?
I don’t believe it.
It’s not like iOS is full of magical fairies or something.
Also, if you “Google it” as requested, you find out that a simple restore actually *does* fix it.
So the whole thing is BS.
First you pop off with
“How could the clipboard still have the same stuff on it after a device reboot let alone a full restore?
I don’t believe it.
It’s not like iOS is full of magical fairies or something.”
Only to google it and see IT DOES!
Secondly, if you did google it like you claimed you would see that restore does not work what so ever, as someone WITH THIS BUG, I can state first hand restores dont work. The problem is that iOS 8 is a RAM eating hog not allowing resources to clean the old clipboard cache and allow for the new to over write it. I am no troll, everything i own is Apple and always will be. The bug is legit.
Well Well Well, what do we have here…someone else in the same thread on this little website where very few people even post comments says they have the same bug with restore unable to fix the bug….yeah I made it all up Mr. Grey knows more about my iOS devices. “IT LITERALLY CANNOT HAPPEN”
I’m having same issue. Hard reboot does empty my cache but a restore did not fix the bug
1GB Ram was the deciding factor. If something comes along that the touch id utilizes (like scrolling) I might pull the trigger. But with it being the same otherwise I am going to hold off.
unboxing videos! LOL! Man what a fking materialistic bunch of nothings we’ve become!
No one in there right minds would even think about getting 16G iPad Mini 3 or original iPad Mini. I have 64G iPad Mini Retina and love it – I would say if you on older iPad 2 or iPad Mini – then it would be fine to Go for iPad Mini 3.
It quite upsetting that Apple didn’t put A8X in iPad Mini 3 – iPad Mini 3 looks short live product – my guess Apple will replace it with A8X next year – or at minimum A8.
Maybe Apple is trying to make the iPad Air distinctively better then iPad Mini’s
Sort of reminds me why iPhone 6 does not Image stabilizer or iPad mode for mail and such. I didn’t want the iPhone 6 plus because of size – but Mini size is good and works good with iPhone 6.
You really should back off the nonsense and critique of other’s decisions based on your own sense of value.
The iPad mini 3 was a good price for the device yesterday, and now it has Touch ID. It is only your own sense that things must get 50% better in every way every year that has you thinking like such a child.
I am not the least bit surprised that the mini got this kind of update. Apple is trying its best to push sales of the iPad Air 2. And they know full well that anyone who just bought a larger iPhone has very little need for an iPad mini vs. an iPad Air.
I’m sure they toyed with the idea of leaving the mini2 unchanged at $399…which is what was expected going in to the event, but would have been worse. Instead they are added Touch ID. AND they did everyone a huge favor and made the iPad mini 2 (still a really great product) only $299. And at $249, the original mini is more affordable. The cheapest “new” iPad ever.
This is a great lineup of features and price points, and is bound to make for a great iPad year and spur a lot of upgrades from older iPads.
I’ll comment on this post since you were liking the “Apple never screws up trolls” comments up above…..look now, another poster has the same bug. (what are the odds) Maybe you stooges will learn iOS 8 is buggy and listen when problems are reported. Everyone knows more about devices not in their own possession though.
I had been waiting months for the iPad mini 3 and when i saw the upgrade I was so bummed out. If it had the A8X chip in it i would have bought it immediately. I still want an iPad mini badly, but it just kills me to spend good money on an iPad i could have bought months ago. I’ll only be buying one now if I can find a really sweet deal
Totally sucks. iPad mini is my main device and I won’t be buying one.
I felt kind of ripped off when I bought the iPad mini 2 as it’s subjectively no different from the original iPad mini unless you are doing something graphically intensive like playing games. I don’t play games I use mine for work, so if you really want to save money, buy the original iPad mini is my advice.
The difference is so slight as to be almost unnoticeable. I literally had to give away my original mini, because I kept picking it up thinking it was the retina mini. They are that identical.
Total bullshit, iPad mini retina is much more faster than the original and the display…
You guys should actually start reading what I write before you respond.
The difference is literally almost impossible to detect as I said “… unless you are doing something graphically intensive like playing games.” (also exactly as I said).
The real problem is people who have poor reading comprehension, little capacity for critical thinking and who can’t tell the difference between hype and reality. Hint: What you experience is a combination of what exists and what you want to *think* exists.
@mister_grey We have plenty find reading comprehension. YOU are blind as a fucking bat and take every opportunity to trash Retina displays as being unimportant, which makes you look like an idiot. Just go away, for the last time.
@PMZanetti – Vulgarity and hatefulness do not convey a sense of enlightenment, but of being simple minded and offensive. If you want any one to give credence to your comments, try being respectful and objective.
Your comment is full of shit sir.
And you are a rude jerk, but because your point of view is likely agreeable to the site admin and mine goes against that common wisdom, I will probably be banned for calling you a jerk, while you will be praised for starting the whole thing with your “full of shit” comment.
This is the way 9to5Mac works of course. Although generally when I say something like *that* they delete the whole comment stream so as to make it seem like they are being fair and thus cover up the whole bias problem they have here and keep the “bro culture” alive.
You’re completly full of shit. Set aside the display , the iPad Mini 2 leaped 3 GENERATIONS AHEAD its predesosor with the A7/M7. Added to that the huge resolution bump.
two generations*
Here’s hoping NO ONE listens to your advice Dom, for $100 more getting the iPad Mini 3 nabs you Touch ID, which enables Pay on the iPad, which will secure your online shopping 10x over traditional methods. That piece of mind and security is more than justifiable to get the 3. The only people that should be getting the older ones now are those who never do any online shopping.
Wrong it doesn’t have NFC. Its like a 5s. Has touch ID, but no NFC. No Apple Pay.
Correction: The TouchID on the new iPads gets you a *crippled* (online only) version of Pay.
Apple, in their great and holy wisdom has decreed that we cannot pay at the till with iPads, even the mini. So you will have to wait for and buy the expensive Watch and tie it to your iPad (assuming Apple allows this) to use Pay at the till.
Reason? None at all really.
Possibly after a few years of people asking for it, they might relent like they have with the “the iPad is a great camera!” comments at the latest event. Then, of course all the acolytes will fall in line and the behaviour will then be acceptable, because Apple says it is.
I’m starting to think that Apple should just publish a rule book each year telling us how to use our devices and what behaviour they think is acceptable or not acceptable. It would be so much clearer, and we wouldn’t upset them by crossing the lines.
“Reason? None at all really.” It amazes me how narrow minded and completely absurd you are that you truly think Apple couldn’t think of an unreasonable reason for pulling out a 10′ slab at an NFC terminal. Oh, wait, does the iPad replace your wallet? NO. You absolute ignorant moron. And if you got this far and couldn’t figure out the “WHY” then don’t bother responding.
The omission of cameras in the first generation iPad was met with wide criticism, because at the time FaceTime was a thing and it made no sense to omit them, this situation draws no relation to that point in time, firstly because only idiots are complaining they can’t use there iPad’s at the supermarket and secondly, because it make god damn sense, since the iPad can’t REPLACE YOUR WALLET.
A rule book….only a moron with an IQ lower then a 1 year old child would come up with that nonsenical statement, because guess what, you buy a product and you use it as you like as long as it is capable of doing so, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER PRODUCT YOU CAN PURCHASE.
I don’t know why you bother.
Finally, Apple did not officially announce all of the specifications in the iPad Air 2, including a 3rd core and 2GB of RAM and if you actually paid any attention to the news, teardown revealed NFC compatible chips in the iPad, which LOGICALLY analysing, means that the future of NFC in iPad’s aren’t payments at the till, but rather some form of replacement terminal itself.
Already ordered the Mini 3. I do have the Mini 2. But I want the Touch ID and also I need more storage.
With iPad sales growth halted and the iPhone 6 Plus now an alternative (with higher margins), I think Apple is not emphasizing the Mini so much. Therefore this is a minimal update.
Huge disappointment Apple is treating iPad mini lovers as second class citizens! I owned all generations of the classic iPad size and turned to the iPad mini once it arrived. Of course I upgraded last year to the iPad mini 2 but rest assured this is the first year in the iPad history I’m not updating! Just because the screen estate is smaller I expect no less spec-power on the inside towards the iPad Air2!