Top 5 Tablets to Consider Before Buying the iPad mini [August, 2014]

Its been nearly two years since Apple took the stage and announced the iPad mini. The device, which remains on shelves in the Apple Store, serves as a budget alternative to the newer iPad mini with Retina Display. It’s still worthy of consideration but before buying the iPad mini 1, we think there are five other tablets you need to look at this month.

In the fall of 2012, Apple took the stage and delivered its first-generation 7.9-inch iPad. The device, appropriately named iPad mini, arrived with a smaller more compact design, a non-Retina 7.9-inch display, a speedy processor, and iOS 6. It quickly became the larger 9.7-inch iPads top rival and a rival to devices like the Nexus 7 from Google and Kindle Fire from Amazon.

Late last year, the device was replaced by the iPad Air with Retina Display, a device that features a higher resolution Retina Display as its name implies. And while the iPad mini with Retina Display is Apple’s most current iPad mini, the original is still an option thanks to its price tag, occasional deals, and the fact that it will be getting iOS 8 in just a few short weeks.

We are constantly bombarded with questions about which tablets to buy. In particular, we’re constantly asked about the tablets consumers should weigh against the original iPad mini. There are a number of different devices that we could recommend, the smartphone market is full of solid choices, but we want to narrow things down a bit and take a look at what we consider to be the top five.

These slates represent the tablets 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 tablets listed here deliver the best, all-around package for this month and this month alone.

That said, here are the top five tablets to consider before buying the iPad mini 1. (Note: If you’re looking for the iPad mini with Retina Display, head here.)

iPad mini with Retina Display

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The first tablet you should take a look at before buying the $299 iPad mini is the $399 iPad mini with Retina Display. For $100 more, you're going to get a number of big time upgrades including a better processor and the higher-resolution Retina Display. The iPad mini with Retina Display's Retina Display means that you're going to get better looking content. Much better looking content. The 64-bit A7 processor that's on board will help to provide smoother games and mulitasking. These are absolutely huge and could be worth the extra cash to many of you. If anything, take a look at this device if only to rule it out for yourself or a loved one before picking up the cheaper version of the iPad mini. You're not going to regret it.

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