To many consumers it came as a huge shock that the first-generation iPad mini lacked a feature that has made some of Apple’s other devices outstanding, and that’s a Retina display. It will come as no surprise that most of those who purchased the smaller iPad will be wondering if the Retina display will make it onto the second-generation model, but if it did we have to warn that the iPad mini 2 price might determine what features will be included.

Over the years Apple always advances their devices, but not as much as we ever hope, the iPhone is a fine example of this. While it’s easy to assume that Apple will go ahead and include the Retina display in the next iPad mini, you have to remember that there’s more to it than just throwing the technology in there. The reason for this is because the display is that much smaller than its larger sibling and getting the resolution correct is a tough job, and we know that resolving this issue will cost more money in R&D.

Apple have always tried not to increase the price of new versions of their products, and a perfect way for them to do this is to reign in some of the features that you and I would like to see included in new models. While we would like to say that Apple would include a Retina display in the iPad mini 2, we have to accept that it might not happen – although it is highly likely.

How much is the iPad mini 2 likely to cost? The safe bet would be to say the same as the current version, but if Apple were to include a Retina display then a more powerful CPU and graphics chip would need to be used, which we know will come at an expense. Apple has a tough job ahead because getting the price and iPad mini 2 specs right is going to be a fine balancing act, but Apple have been there before, but they don’t get it right all the time. We’re not even sure when the iPad mini 2 release date will be, but there have been rumors to suggest that the iPad 5 could be released as early as March 2013, so could Apple be planning the same thing with the update to the smaller iPad?

This time last year the most popular tablet over the Christmas period was the iPad 2, since then we have had the iPad 3 and now the 4. However, the iPad 4 and the ever-popular Nexus 7 sales lag behind Apple’s mini tablet. This doesn’t come as any surprise really because no matter who we speak to they have nothing but good things to say about the iPad mini, well apart from the Android faithful of course.

According to a recent study it seems as though the iPad mini is being searched for more than rival tablet devices, even its larger sibling. Now while this is not proof of sales, it’s certainly a great indication of how popular Apple’s smaller tablet is. Whether this will result in more iPad mini sales over the Holiday Season is something that we will not find out until early next year, but no matter what, it’s still looking good for Apple.

It’s not just the iPad 4 and the Nexus 7 that seems to be lagging behind the iPad mini, the Kindle Fire HD is also bringing up the rear as well. However, there is a worry for Apple though, as it has been suggested that both the larger iPad’s were searched for far less than the Nexus 7 and the Fire HD. This could mean nothing, but it does make you wonder if things are starting to unravel for Apple? Having said that, we would like to say that if you have a limited budget then we are sure that the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD will be more of an interest to you. Don’t get me wrong these are more than capable devices, although the former does have much more to offer.

So what tablet device will win out over the Holiday Season? As with all statistics we should take them with a grain of salt because they mean nothing until the final sales numbers are in, but we wouldn’t count the Nexus 7 out of the running too soon, as we know that sales over the past few weeks have been very impressive indeed, especially when there has been several stock issues in that time.

Nexus 7 vs. iPad mini debate – Today we wanted to highlight a debate we recently read that involves the Nexus 7 and iPad mini, which saw two MacWorld editors debating what tablet is better? The article can be seen here, and focuses on set areas for each tablet. These include the iPad mini and Nexus 7 screen, weight and measurements, storage, and cameras. You can see each author has a favorite although they also point out some lacking features for both tablets, which includes the lack of rear-facing camera on the Nexus 7. Have a read of the debate, if you haven’t already, and then let us know what you think about the two points of view? Do you feel the Nexus 7 needs a rear-facing camera?

Apple iPad mini vs. Google Nexus 7 drop test – this isn’t a feature that is important to every gadget buyer, but for some of us we love to know if our new tablet or smartphone can handle a drop. We’ve embedded two videos below that perform a drop test of the Nexus 7 and iPad mini, and then compare each to see which handles knocks better. It is amazing how much work some reviewers put into a drop test that is certainly seen in the first video. The test involves drops and water submersion with the iPad 3 as well, which received the most damage in drop tests. The second video drops the Nexus 7 and iPad mini just like you might when walking down the street, so this review involves a lot less preparation but still reveals what happens if you’d drop either device onto concrete.

After reading the above debate and watching the drop tests would you choose iPad Mini or Nexus 7? If you want to watch a visual review of these tablets then see our earlier article here, which features a video review.

If you’re looking for a fun iPad mini case this Christmas for kids then the iGuy from Speck is an option that features an obvious child-friendly design, although it might not be for the more heavy handed children. Today we wanted to publish some hands-on photos of the iPad mini iGuy case, which we took before wrapping this case up for my little boy. We already featured a small article about the iPad mini iGuy case this month and compared it to the ArmorBox Kido case, but after seeing this Speck case we really needed to get hands-on to see if it’s as fun as it looks.

The iGuy case we went hands-on with in this review is for the iPad mini, but it is worth pointing out that you can purchase the same case in a full-sized version for the iPad 4 and previous 10-inch generations. The photo below shows you the back of the iGuy case and clearly shows the handles that most children will hold when using the iPad mini.

Inserting Speck’s iGuy case into the iPad mini hadn’t been one of the simplest fits we’ve experienced, and it takes a certain amount of force to squash the iPad mini into the flexible foam. We’ve also heard from a couple of PR’s readers that explained the 10-inch version had been just as hard to insert, although once in everything seems pretty snug. The foam is pretty thick and the official product page states that the iGuy has been fully drop-tested, so it should take the average force most kids are likely to put out.

The photos below show the ports and button holes for the iPad mini, which while not the neatest we’ve seen certainly leave enough room to inset cables and reach buttons. You will also notice from these hands-on photos that the finish is not the best, and around the edges you’ll notice it’s not perfectly finished. This might change after a little use considering it is a foam construction.

You can see the Apple iPad mini camera in the photo below while the tablet is inserted into the iGuy case, and again this leaves enough room to use the camera as you would without the case on. Most young children will find the iPad mini more fun to hold with the iGuy case on, which could make taking photos easier while using the camera and holding the iGuy’s arms.

The problem with the iGuy arms is that heavy handed kids could break them, and as you can see in our photo below it looks like they could break easy if enough force had been used. It is true that most cases aren’t indestructible, but we also know how rough some children can be or at least when a group of children are playing, so this might be something you need to bare in-mind.

Another issue we had with the iPad mini iGuy case is reaching the home/menu button, which is not designed well and harder to reach when the case is on. You can see what we mean in the photo below. You can still press the button although it should’ve been designed with a space right where the button is situated. We also found the case didn’t stand-up too well and could fall over easy when touching the screen and not supporting it with your hand.

Do you like the iGuy case for iPad mini? In our opinion this is one of the best child-themed cases around, although the finished design leaves a little to be desired. We’ll update this article once our son has had a few weeks with the case, so we can at least give his verdict as well.

Before we get into the whole Nexus 7 vs. iPad mini issue we wanted to focus on one of the things these two 7-8-inch tablets share in common, and that is popularity that results in stock problems. Currently looking on the Apple Store for the US and UK shows difficulties with shipping times, which are currently set at more than 2 weeks for just about every model. The 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions of iPad mini Wi-Fi and also the cellular option are all currently set to more than 2 weeks before the tablet would ship.

You can see in the image below what we mean, and this screenshot had been taken at the time of writing, although considering the busy shopping season has arrived we don’t expect shipping dates and stock to get much better for the Apple iPad mini in any configuration. It is also worth pointing out that you could try one of the US carriers directly, but on Apple Store it shows that Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T are set to 2 weeks before the iPad mini is back in stock.

The situation doesn’t get much better with Google play thanks to a simple “Sold Out” message being display for the WiFi + Mobile data Verizon in 32GB, which some people will hold out for considering the massive iPad mini vs. Nexus 7 price difference, which delivers the Nexus 7 at almost $300 cheaper. It is worth noting that other versions of the Nexus 7 are in stock at Google play, but at the time of writing this doesn’t include the Wi-Fi and mobile data option. What do you think about the price difference between Nexus 7 and iPad mini?

Nexus 7 vs. iPad mini review – we’ve tracked down a couple of video reviews for our readers, which certainly give a different perspective on the Google Nexus 7 vs. Apple iPad mini, so take a look at both of these videos below and let us know the better review. The first video seems more balanced to us, even though it is shorter, while the second looks like they’re leaning towards the iPad mini and Apple more.

Would you rather give money for an iPad mini or Nexus 7? We’d also like to point out we understand the reasons why some people want to pay more for the iPad mini, and after spending time hands-on with the new smaller iPad it makes sense why Apple did what they did, although the price difference still seems a little crazy.

With the current influx of available tablets out there, we thought we would have a look at a few of the differences between the Microsoft Surface vs. Apple iPad mini. With both tablets competing side-by-side for sales in the run up for Christmas there is no doubt some people will be left wondering which would be the tablet for them. Here we highlight and compare a few of the features common to both.

Microsoft Surface RT – This is Microsoft’s first venture into the tablet market and although a little slow off the mark, they have certainly arrived on the scene with a serious contender. The external dimensions of the Surface are similar to a regular iPad and measures 10.81×6.77 with a 10.6-inch widescreen display. The OS used in the Surface is Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 designed to work on Arm Processors. Although it lacks certain features this should not be seen as a bad thing, the system is instinctive, fast and smooth and includes a version of Microsoft Office – Office 2013 Home and Student. It does not however include Windows Media Player.

The Tablet itself is available in only one finish, dark grey titanium and is made from a molten magnesium alloy known as VaporMG. There is an option to add a cover to the tablet, known as the Touch Cover, a rugged cover to protect the screen that also doubles as a touch sensitive keyboard. The touch cover is available in 5 colors, and is purchased separately at additional cost of $119 although there have been reported issues of the magnetic connection being so strong the cover itself is being torn on removal.

The limited apps currently available for the RT are only offered through the Windows store and are sadly lacking with a few obvious choices such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, although these will surely come with time and as more developers embrace the RT platform. The Surface features 2 cameras (forward and rear facing), Bluetooth, USB, and Wi-Fi and is available in 32GB or 64GB, and the battery has up to 8-hours life. While the Surface RT sits nearer to a laptop than a tablet in terms of the additional touch keyboard cover attached, it is certainly small enough to transport under the arm or easily in a satchel or side bag as with all other tablets.

The Surface has a starting price of $499 for the 32GB Tablet or $599 including a Black Touch Cover. The 64GB with cover retails at $699. The first video below this article shows a review of the Surface and asks if this new product is more of a laptop or tablet? The video also offers some comparison to the standard iPad as well as demonstrating the durability of the VaporMg casing. You might want to see how the Microsoft Surface RT and Surface Pro compare in our earlier article here.

iPad Mini – Apple’s smallest offering in the tablet arena is proof that size does not always matter. The new iPad mini is small enough to be held and carried in one hand and will easily fit in many different pockets (suits, lab coats, back pockets etc.) The external dimensions are 7.87×5.3 and features a 7.9 display with 163 pixels per inch, the iPad Mini has the same screen resolution as the iPad 2. However, there is already some speculation that Apple are working on a Mini 2 with retina display and could soon make the current Mini seem outdated as we recently witnessed with the iPad 3.

When comparing the Mini to a standard iPad the actual screen size isn’t that much smaller when you take into account the size of the bezels on the 2 models, which you can see in our review of the iPad mini sized next to the 10-inch iPad and iPhone 5. As with most Apple devices the iPad Mini runs iOS 6 and benefits from the vast array of apps available through the Apple store. The Mini features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 cameras, and includes Apple’s Siri Voice Intelligent Assistant and is available in black/slate and white/silver with a 10-hour battery life.

Apple’s iPad mini is offered in a number of storage options including 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB with their Wi-Fi plus cellular model starting to ship now. A noticeable difference with the new iPad mini is the decrease in weight, making it ideal for long periods of gaming, more comfortable for bedtime reading and one-handed use. As with the Microsoft Surface, Apple do separately supply Smart covers which magnetically aligns with the mini and is available in 6 colors, these are priced at $39.

As with all Apple devices they are always priced in such a way that at first glance causes the eyebrows to be raised, but people still flock to buy. The starting price for a 16GB iPad mini is $329 with the 64GB retailing at $529. See the second video below for a review of the iPad mini with reference to standard iPad and the Apple Smart Cover.

Pros and Cons – as always issues exist with both tablets, the iPad mini is expensive compared to similar sized tablets, but the OS is proven and available apps far out way apps available for the Microsoft Surface. The iPad mini is lacking the highly praised retina display and runs the A5 chip that was featured in the iPad 2 not the new A6 chip, however the mini is extremely light, portable, and particularly striking but then the Surface with the Touch Cover attached admittedly looks very sleek. The built in kickstand is a great touch although on the RT system, full Microsoft Office suit is not available. The Surface is nowhere near as portable as the mini and apps are limited for the time being. Let us know your thoughts on the 2 tablets and what one would you’d opt for?

We managed to get hands-on the day Apple’s iPad mini launched, although this hadn’t been with the 3G/4G model thanks to Wi-Fi versions being first out the door with cellular options following shortly after. Next week will see the launch of the iPad 4 and iPad Mini LTE models, and this version is about to hit its ship date after multiply emails were sent out this week to those of you that pre-ordered the cellular plus Wi-Fi version.

The recent emails explained that the early pre-orders would start shipping within five business days, which considering this had been a few days ago means that the iPad Mini and iPad 4 LTE ship date will be around Monday/Tuesday next week. It is fair to say that some people will be disappointed if they ordered the new LTE 4G iPads a lot later, which is thanks to ship dates slipping within hours of pre-orders going live last month.

Apple iPad Mini 4G LTE shipping with iOS 6.0.1 – we’ve been running the iOS 6.0.1 update on our iPad mini for a number of days now, and while we didn’t notice any problems previously, the good news is there are no issues after installing the latest software on our review model. If you’ve preordered the iPad Mini with 4G/LTE and Wi-Fi, then you should find the latest iOS 6.0.1 update already installed on your device. You can see our iPad mini review here, which shows the size of the iPad 4 and iPhone 5 next to the 7.9-inch Apple tablet.

Have you had an iPad mini Wi-Fi + cellular shipping notice from Apple? Initially it had been expected that the iPad 4 and iPad mini LTE versions would ship 2 weeks after the Wi-Fi only launch, but this started to get confusing after shoppers saw expected shipping dates get even later after they ordered. We always hear scaremongering about Apple meeting the demand for new products, and the same has happened with the 4th generation iPad and mini version.

Bottom-line: If you placed an order soon enough for the iPad mini, or iPad 4, with LTE then you should receive a tracking number from Apple within the next couple of days. It is also true that some people that were a little late to the launch party might see a much longer wait, which is due to normal demand seen with most new Apple products. You might want to see our article from yesterday that looks at the iPad 4 vs. Nexus 10, and also takes Apple’s ecosystem into account as well. Will you be using AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon with your cellular iPad 4 / mini?

We couldn’t understand why Apple would want to create an iPad mini sized at 7.9-inches, and thought something nearer 7-inches would be better considering how close the iPad mini is in size to the 10-inch iPad 4 and iPad 3. This all became clear after spending some time with the iPad mini over the weekend when doing our review, and considering we’ve owned every iPad since the first generation and loved the 3rd generation, it is a big deal to feel like moving to the iPad mini full time.

It is much easier to hold the iPad mini in one hand and if you’ve played games like Real Racing HD, then you know it can hurt your hands after racing for a little while, which isn’t the case with the new iPad mini thanks to it being a lot lighter. We’re looking to replace two of the three 3rd generation iPads in our office with the new iPad mini, and at home my son uses the 2nd generation iPad for at least 5 hours a day and would find the iPad mini a much better option considering the weight difference alone.

The form factor might be a lot smaller on the iPad mini, but after taking the smaller bezel on the iPad mini sides into account you’ll find the screen isn’t that much smaller than the full sized iPad 4 and iPad 3. Today we wanted to compare the iPad mini size to that of the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, which the latter device is identical in size to the iPad 4.

It is important to see how different the iPhone 5 and iPad mini sizes are to show you they make an ideal partnership as your tablet and phone, which Samsung Galaxy Note 2 users lack the bigger display of an iPad mini but is too big as a realistic phone option in our opinion. The Note 2 really shines for users that don’t want both a tablet and phone, but want to find a middle ground thanks to the lack of money to own both or if they hate having more than one gadget.

Let’s take a look at our short iPad mini review that compares the sizes of this device with the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 / 4. The photo below shows a landscape view of the iPad mini vs. the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, which are all side-by-side to deliver a clear indication of size differences.

The on-screen keyboard is pretty much the same on all devices, although it is true that the iPhone 5 keyboard is much smaller and you can type the wrong keys more often than you would on the iPad 3. We found the iPad mini to be the perfect middle ground here, and certainly a breeze to type on with one hand holding the iPad mini and the other typing, which is made easier thanks to how light the device is.

The image above shows the keyboards next to each other and gives you another indication of keyboard size differences, although the picture below takes a closer look at the iPad mini vs. iPad 3 keyboard.

The next image gives you a portrait view of the iPad mini vs. iPad 3 and iPhone 5, which is followed by another photo that gives you a closer look at the thickness of an iPad mini vs. iPad 3, and of course this is the same thickness as an iPad 4.

Next up you can see the iPhone 5, iPad mini, and iPad 3 sized side-by-side. You can also see the three devices on top of each other to give you a good idea of size differences from another perspective.

Here you can see the bottom of an iPad 3 stacked with iPad mini and iPhone 5, which also shows the lighting ports on the iPhone 5/iPad mini that compare to the bigger port found on the iPad 3. This is just about the only external design difference on the iPad 4 vs. iPad 3.

The iPad mini and iPhone 5 are massively different in size and you can see this clearly in the photo below, which is followed by a photo that shows the iPhone 5 and iPad mini are practically the same thickness. Then after these two images you’ll see the iPhone 5 on top of the iPad mini with both lighting ports showing, and this again gives you insight into the difference in thickness between Apple’s smaller tablet and iPhone 5.

You can see a final image below that shows how much easier the new iPad mini fits into one hand, and while it is only 2-inches smaller than the iPad 3 and iPad 4, it makes a massive difference to holding the tablet and also how much lighter it feels. You’ll really like the weight difference after using the iPad mini for longer periods of time.

Do you see room in your life for an iPhone 5, as your phone, and also an iPad mini or 10-inch iPad with Retina display? Would you prefer the iPad mini or larger iPad as your tablet?

Now that we are under 24 hours away from the iPad 4 and mini release date it seems that some people have put off looking where to buy the new iPads until last minute, which means these people are hunting for an iPad mini or iPad 4 midnight launch as the only hope of picking up a device this close to release.

We reported yesterday that Apple has started to send out shipping notifications for the 16GB Black iPad mini and other variations, which are due to be delivered tomorrow. If you didn’t manage to get a pre-order in early enough then you could be facing a shipping date that is delayed by around 2 weeks, so queuing up will be your next move if you want the 4th generation iPad or mini at launch.

One of the most popular stores in the UK that is open 24 hours is Tesco, and they’re expected to have the iPad 4 and iPad mini available at just gone midnight. This type of launch happened earlier this year when they sold the 3rd-gen Apple tablet, which happened at around 250 Tesco stores. We cannot confirm what UK Tesco stores will hold an iPad 4 / iPad mini midnight launch, so if you know that your local Tesco is among the stores then let us know in the comments.

In the United States we know that Walmart will be holding a midnight launch for the iPad mini and iPad 4, which is just what they did earlier in the year with the last generation. This midnight launch is expected to start at 12:01am. We’ve already heard from some of PR’s readers in Florida and California, and these readers confirmed select Walmart stores are offering the iPad mini at a midnight launch.

Is your local store offering the iPad mini or iPad 4 at a midnight launch, and if so what is the store and area? We recommend you turn up at least an hour early if you want to pick up the new iPad, although this wait might have to be a lot longer depending on the demand in your area.

UPDATE: It seems Tesco in the UK has scaled back their launch of the iPad mini/4 when comapred to the last midnight launch, which means this generation will land from 8am in the morning rather than at midnight.

We can now confirm the Apple iPad mini is now shipping in the UK, which is thanks to our pre-order being placed within the first couple of minutes of orders going live. The iPad mini shipping notification arrived within the last couple of hours from Apple, and the delivery date is set for Nov 2 as originally stated at the pre-order.

Our Apple iPad mini review will go live after we’ve had a good amount of hands-on time, which will help offer a lot more insight when compared to the quick hands-on reviews blogs have only been able to offer at this stage. Consumers can expect a more detailed iPad mini review once Apple starts to ship the 7.9-inch iPad, which as mentioned above has now started and the image below confirms this.

The iPad mini shipping notification we received today can be seen below, and obviously we blanked out the order reference number and delivery address. You can see it shows the date we ordered the iPad mini in the UK, 26/10/2012, and that our order “has shipped“. Apple also state we can expect the iPad mini to “be delivered” to our shipping address “on or before 02/11/2012“.

Did you pre-order the Apple iPad mini, and if so have you received the shipping notification? We’ve heard a few rumors earlier today pointing to delays for pre-orders with some people seeing their release date being rescheduled, which we can confirm via our shipping notification that this isn’t the same for everyone and early orders are going ahead as planned. It is worth noting that our order had been for a Black & Slate iPad mini with 16GB/Wi-Fi.