iPad mini A7 2013

The iPad mini 2 series, originally known as "iPad mini with Retina Display" or iPad mini 2nd Gen and officially renamed on October 16, 2014, uses a housing almost identical to the first iPad mini. However, it boasts a much higher resolution "Retina" display, along with a faster processor, quicker Wi-Fi, and broader LTE connectivity on cellular models.

All iPad mini (2nd Gen) devices, including this Wi-Fi and cellular A1490 model, are housed in slim white and silver or black and medium-toned "Space Gray" cases. They feature a 7.9-inch 2048x1536 (326 ppi) LED-backlit IPS touch-sensitive display, a dual-core 1.3 GHz Apple A7 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and were available with 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB of flash storage (the 64 GB and 128 GB options were discontinued on October 16, 2014, and the 16 GB option on September 7, 2016).

Other significant features include dual cameras: a rear 5-megapixel "iSight" camera for stills and 1080p video, and a front 1.2-megapixel "FaceTime HD" camera for stills and 720p video. They also support dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with MIMO, Bluetooth 4.0, dual microphones, and speakers. Connectivity and power are managed through the Lightning port.

The battery life for this iPad mini 2nd Gen model is rated at 10 hours for "surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music," or nine hours when using cellular data.

This Wi-Fi/Cellular iPad mini 2nd Gen (A1490) supports A-GPS, GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, CDMA EV-DO, and most notably, LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, and 26. In the US, a single device is designed to work on the AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks.

The cellular model of the iPad mini with Retina display (A1490) was evaluated as a top-tier compact tablet that delivered a no-compromise experience. Its defining feature was the new 2048x1536 Retina display, which was incredibly sharp and vibrant, correcting the biggest shortcoming of the original model. The jump to the powerful A7 64-bit processor was another massive upgrade, providing a significant boost in performance that made the device feel exceptionally fast and fluid, on par with the full-sized iPad Air. This model's comprehensive cellular support, with a single version covering all major US carriers and numerous LTE bands worldwide, made it an incredibly versatile companion for travelers and professionals who needed constant connectivity. Despite the added power and a much denser screen, it maintained excellent battery life. The design remained slim and premium, though slightly heavier than its predecessor to house the larger battery. While it was more expensive than the first-generation model, reviewers widely agreed that the upgrades were well worth the cost. It was celebrated for successfully shrinking the full power and premium features of the flagship iPad into a perfectly portable form factor.