Top 5 iPad mini 2 Alternatives [December, 2014]

Last year, Apple released its second-generation iPad mini, a device now known as the iPad mini 2. Thanks to an iOS 8 update, solid specs and a price tag that just got more affordable, the iPad mini 2 remains one of the best tablets in town. It’s not the only option in town though and we think you need to weigh some  top iPad mini 2 alternatives before buying. Here are our favorites.

In October of 2013, Apple announced two brand new iPads dubbed iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina. The iPad mini with Retina, now called iPad mini 2, was the first iPad mini to come with a Retina Display on board. The device also featured some top of the line hardware specifications including a solid design, processor, and camera. It also helped Apple usher in its iOS 7 era.

This past October, Apple replaced the iPad mini 2 with a brand new iPad mini 3. Oddly enough, the iPad mini 3 only comes with a few noticeable differences though it now costs $100 more than the iPad mini 2. At $299, the iPad mini 2 is a bargain and it’s a device that many of you will probably encounter during your holiday shopping sprees this December. It’s not the only device you should be taking a look at though.

We are constantly bombarded with questions about iPad mini 2 alternatives to look at. There are a number of different devices that we could recommend but we want to narrow things down a bit and take a look at what we consider the top five iPad mini 2 competitors available right now.

These devices represent the devices that we’d recommend to friends and family. And while our list may differ from yours, these are the devices that Gotta Be Mobile editors have selected for recognition this month. We feel like the devices listed here deliver the best, all-around package for this month and this month alone.

With that in mind, here are the five iPad mini 2 alternatives for December, 2014.

Amazon Fire 7

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We recommend taking a look at Amazon's Fire 7, a 7-inch tablet that comes loaded with features and costs much less than Apple's $299 iPad mini 2. While we do like the Kindle Fire HDX, the Fire 7 is probably going to be more appealing to prospective iPad mini 2 buyers thanks to the extremely cheap price ($180) and the size. This is an extremely portable tablet though it doesn't skimp on the hardware specifications. It's an extremely powerful slate. Amazon's Fire 7 comes with a beautiful 7-inch display, a quad-core processor, the company's Mayday button, and all of Amazon's services. These services provide a wealth of apps, movies, games, music, and more. If we were to recommend a top iPad mini 2 competitor, the Fire 7 would be at the top of the list. Check it out before you buy the iPad mini 2.

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