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Retina iPad Mini Has 1.3 GHz A7 Processor With 5X the Performance of the Original Mini

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Apple's new Retina iPad mini includes the same 64-bit A7 chip used in the iPad Air and the iPhone 5s, which offers significantly better performance than the A5 chip found in the original iPad mini.

According to new Geekbench 3 benchmarks, the Retina iPad mini is running at 1.3Ghz, much like the iPhone 5s. The iPad Air, however, clocks in at 1.4Ghz, giving it a slight performance edge over both the iPhone 5s and the new mini.

ipad_mini_retina_geekbench
The Retina iPad mini scored a 1390 on the single-core test and a 2512 on the multi-core test, which was similar to the iPhone 5s score of 1399/2523, and lower than the iPad Air at 1466/2856. Compared to the 261/493 score of the original mini, the Retina iPad mini marks an incredible boost in performance speeds.

It is unclear why the mini is clocked at 1.3Ghz instead of 1.4Ghz like the iPad Air, but in terms of real world usage, users are unlikely to notice the small speed differences. It is possible that Apple chose the lower clock speed in the iPad mini to improve overall battery life or to reduce heat within the smaller chassis.

Apple's Retina iPad mini went on sale last night at midnight and is currently still available from the Apple Online Store and in Apple retail locations via Personal Pickup.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Don't Buy)
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Top Rated Comments

gnasher729 Avatar
gnasher729
163 months ago
Agreed. I don't understand why people keep saying one is better than the other. It simply comes down to an individual's needs/preferences.

Half the people want the Mini because it's smaller.
Half the people want the Air because it's bigger.

And they all think the other half is stupid. :mad:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
anomie
163 months ago
Got an Air already ummm
In the end, for me, I think the Air's screen size suits my need more…

I think the mini is great for the girls though!

Nice try to justify what you just bought while you realize you bought the wrong product. ;)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citi Avatar
citi
163 months ago
Air > mini

in more ways than one

Why is this even a competition? At the end of the day they are both fantastic devices.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lincolntran Avatar
lincolntran
163 months ago
It has 1 GB......

Your example only works when the iPad fails to perform. It is performing well at every app that designed for it.

Are you coming from the android or windows camp where stuff are grossly unoptimized and required so much RAM to run?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Ryth
163 months ago
I just went over to the Apple store and compared the Retina to the non-retina....lordy what a difference.

The Mini Retina is going to sell like crazy if they can make enough.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
darkslide29
163 months ago
Hey what's all this Air vs Retina Mini trash talk?? :confused:
What ever happened to bashing Android? :D

There is absolutely no right answer to "Is an Air or Mini better?".

Think about it.. All of the thinking that goes on in making this decision.. Some people own laptops, some own MacBook Airs, while some only own a desktop. Some travel and/or commute a lot, some don't at all. Some like to read a lot, some like to play games instead. Some are used to their iPad 1, or 2. Some are used to their old mini.

There are just so many variables, many more that I haven't even touched on, that it really is such a personal choice.
Not only is there not a right answer, but your opinion doesn't really mean much in something like this because of how personal it is.

To each his own, whichever you choose, it is still an amazing new iPad running iOS 7 :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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