Apple iPad Mini 16GB wi-fi tablet review

But that wouldn’t make for a very good review, would it? So allow me to elaborate ...

Imagine the Apple mobile devices as a family. Up until recently there was only Daddy Bear (the main 9.7-inch iPad) and Baby Bear (the little iPhone). What was missing was a Mummy Bear, a medium sized device which fits between the two to complete the family unit and finish this slightly clumsy Goldilocks & the Three Bears analogy.

Cue the marvellous iPad Mini. Apple’s first foray into the 7-inch tablet market to combat, and presumably crush, the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire threat is a resounding success.

Right from the moment you take the device out of its box and hold it in your hand for the first time, the iPad Mini just feels right. I’m an Apple lover so would be expected to think this, but even Apple haters would have a hard time finding fault with the sleek high-quality design of the Mini – a lightweight (just over 300g) but luxury tablet with a glossy smooth front and stylish brushed metallic back.

Luckily for anyone who’s previously handled an iPad, the Mini will feel instantly familiar. Everything is in the same place, including the home, power and volume control buttons.

Switching on will also bring up a very recognisable sight for iPad users or indeed anyone who has ever had an Apple mobile device. The device runs on Apple's iOS 6 and so the screen is laid in the same style with all the usual apps - Safari web browser, email, iTunes store and the rest.

The screen is where the iPad Mini scores highest and lowest.

On the one hand Apple has gone for a 7.9-inch touch-controlled display, which provides a noticeably bigger space compared to other devices in this marketplace.

The interface works off the same swipe, touch and pinch gestures as other Apple devices, and is as responsive and intuitive as any of them.

On the downside, the display is not as rich, vibrant and sharp as the Nexus 7 which I had the pleasure of reviewing a couple of months back. Anyone using a current-gen Apple iPhone or iPad will immediately notice the absence of the Retina display.

So Apple's first 7-inch tablet has less screen wow than the HD Nexus and also less oomph under the bonnet for anyone interested in the tech spec, sporting a dual-core A5 processor against the Google device's Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

Despite these shortcomings, the iPad Mini still offers a very good multimedia experience, perfectly in line with the aforementioned bigger iPad 2.

As well as visual quality, audio on the iPad Mini is also more than reasonable especially through headphones (you'll need to supply your own as none come with the device).

I tested the full suite of entertainment available, including playing games, web browsing, watching videos and listening to music, and the performance never slipped to below satisfying.

Owners of iPad 3rd and 4th-gen models will notice some differences such as less graphical prowess in high-end games, but really it's fairer to compare the Mini to other 7-inch tablets. In that respect, it holds up well against its higher powered rival, the Nexus 7, and has the advantage in my opinion of having the better stores from which to purchase new apps, shows, songs and books.

I use my Apple devices for pleasure rather than business, and that's what I tested the Mini on, but with a wide range of work apps available I can see how it could be very useful in the office as well as at home or on the commute.

One benefit the 'Mummy' iPad Mini has over the big 'Daddy' iPad is its extra portability. It's easier to transport around, and quicker to whip out to take some photos or film some video using the two cameras. By the way, the cameras are adequate but unspectacular – they’ll take decent images but don’t expect amazing work.

One frustration I have found, in line with my iPhone and big iPad, is that the 16GB storage is far too easy to fill up with entertainment. If you're using it every day to watch movies and TV shows you'll need to regularly take content off before putting new things on.

Battery consumption shouldn't be too much of an obstacle to using your iPad Mini. Unless you’re going to be constantly playing with it, such as a particularly long gaming session, you should be able to go many hours without charging it back up. Battery life per charge seems to be longer than other Apple devices I've had.

For all its desirable features the iPad Mini doesn’t come cheap. It has a starting price of £269, which is around £100 more than its main rivals. This makes the Mini more expensive and less powerful than some other tablets out there, which may be a deal-breaker for some people.

Even though Apple has done what it always does, which is to leave room for improvement for the next generation of its devices, I’m happy to recommend the iPad Mini 1st gen as it’s been a pleasure to use.

As much as I loved the Google Nexus 7 before, I think Apple’s tablet is a just a cooler device to own. Like I said, I also still think Apple’s got the best music and app stores to shop in.

A lot will depend on whether you’re a lover of Apple mobile devices or prefer Android. If you are an Apple fan and are looking for an even more versatile, portable option than the main iPad, and are willing to forego an HD display, you can’t really go wrong with the Mini.

The iPad Mini tested for this review was provided by technology site Misco.co.uk, a supplier of IT hardware, software and services including laptops, desktops, tablets, printers and more. I received excellent service with very fast and safe delivery of the tablet.