Top 5 iPad mini 3 Alternatives [December, 2014]

In October, Apple took to the stage to announce two brand new iPads including an iPad Air 2 and an iPad mini 3. Apple’s iPad mini 3 is an intriguing proposition for those looking for a smaller, portable tablet though it’s not the only option. There are a number of iPad mini 3 alternatives that we think you need to look at before buying Apple’s current iPad mini.

This fall, after months and months of rumor and speculation, Apple predictably sent out invites for a media event in late October. There, the company showed off its brand new iPad Air 2, its iOS 8.1 update with Apple Pay, and its brand new iPad mini 3. The iPad mini 3 serves as the company’s third-generation iPad mini and it replaces the iPad mini 2 as the company’s flagship model.

The iPad mini 3 isn’t all that much different than the iPad mini 2. It comes with Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor technology that’s embedded into the home button or better security and added convenience. And it also comes with a gold color option. The gold color option is not available with Apple’s second-generation iPad mini. It’s a strange release, given the lack of value, but the iPad mini 3 still serves as a viable option to those that want Touch ID and or an iPad in gold. There are, as you might have guessed, some alternatives that we think you need to look at before buying it.

We are constantly bombarded with questions about iPad mini 3 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 3 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 3 alternatives for December, 2014.

iPad mini 2

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Before you plop the $100 down for a brand new iPad mini 3, consider the iPad mini 2 which doesn't come with Touch ID or a gold color option but is a whole lot cheaper than the iPad mini 3. The iPad mini 2 features just about everything the iPad mini 3 features, minus the Touch ID and gold color. It features the same design, display, camera, even the processor is exactly the same. The biggest difference between the two is the price. The iPad mini 2 starts at $299 for the base model. It's a year older which means it probably won't get the same kind of software support but the iPad mini 2 is only a year into its lifespan and iPads typically get three to four years of software support before they are kicked to the curb. The iPad mini 2 has a long life left ahead of it and you'd be wise to check it out before spending a ton on the iPad mini 3.

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