iPad mini 5, 2019

Along with the iPad Air 3 in March 2019, Apple also decided to reincarnate a line of compact 7.9-inch tablets. iPad mini 5th generation inherits the design, screen and main camera from the previous iPad mini 4, released in 2015, but received the same Apple A12 Bionic processor as the iPad Air 3, support for True Tone technology and the first generation Apple Pencil stylus.

Thus, the iPad mini 5th generation has a Retina-screen with a diagonal of 7.9 inches and a resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels (image density of 326 ppi), the leading Apple A12 Bionic processor for its time and a mediocre, to put it mildly, 8-megapixel camera. By the way, the front camera received a new 7 MP matrix, which came in 2019 to replace the 1.2-megapixel module from the 4th generation iPad.

iPad 2 (2011)

So, even for the level of technology development at the end of 2010, the first apple tablet did not impress with its characteristics, to put it mildly. But already in March 2011, Apple introduced a new version of the iPad, in the description of which you can find many numbers “2”. The iPad 2 processor has become a 2-core, 2 times more RAM (512 MB) was installed, 2 cameras with a resolution of 0.3 and 0.7 megapixels appeared at once. In addition, Cellular models now supported the more popular MicroSIM cards, instead of the bulky standard ones.

In 2012, Apple also released a modified version of the iPad 2 with increased battery life, which was achieved with an improved Apple A5 processor (manufactured using 32nm process technology) and a larger battery.

iPad mini 3 (Late 2014)

iPad mini 3 did not receive three processor cores; in general, its filling and design practically does not differ from the previous model. Of the notable innovations, only the appearance of the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the gold color of the case can be noted.

iPad Pro (11-inch, 2nd generation) 2020

The next spring update of Apple tablets traditionally passed without fanfare, especially given the 2020 coronavirus quarantine, and the main surprise was the absence of the expected Apple A12X processor. Nevertheless, a few pleasant surprises for potential buyers were announced.

So, as mentioned above, instead of the expected Apple A12x, both iPad Pro 2020 models were equipped with chips with a new naming for the company. Apple A12Z. It was not possible to reveal a tangible superiority of this processor over the base Apple A12, the company itself only stated improved performance at peak load. The good news is that the 2020 iPad Pro’s physical keyboard has been updated to include a full-fledged built-in touchpad to match the new features of iPadOS. And of course, one cannot fail to mention the dual camera, which also has a new LiDAR sensor, which accurately determines the distance to the object.

iPad Pro 9.7-inch (2016)

The professional iPad in the usual 9.7-inch form factor is somewhat inferior to its older brother in terms of technical characteristics. It was equipped with a slightly less productive specification of the Apple A9X processor (2.16 GHz versus 2.26 GHz for the 12.9-inch model) and a halved RAM module. two gigabytes versus four. But iPad Pro 9.7 inches was the first among all Apple gadgets to receive True Tone technology, which allows the display to change the color temperature depending on the level of ambient light.

iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017)

Apple engineers managed to fit the 10.5-inch iPad Pro into a body comparable in size to the iPad Pro 9.7, while equipping the device with the top-end 6-core Apple A9X processor, manufactured using a 10-nanometer process technology. In addition, ProMotion technology was introduced into the tablet, which allows you to achieve a display refresh rate of 120 Hz.

iPad 3 (early 2012)

The main innovation of the iPad 3 was the Retina display with a resolution of 2048 × 1536 pixels, which provided twice the picture quality. 264 dots per square inch versus 132 dots in previous models. In addition, instead of the useless 0.7-megapixel main camera, the iPad 3 was equipped with a competitive iSight optical module with a 5-megapixel matrix. The Apple A5X processor had the same two cores and a clock speed of 1 GHz, but the capacity of the RAM module was doubled again, to 1 GB.

iPad mini 4 (late 2015)

At the same time, in September 2015, the public was shown the latest iPad mini 4th generation model. The gadget has pulled up to the iPad Air 2 in terms of technical characteristics, having received an Apple A8 processor, 2 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera. In addition, for the first time, the chassis parameters were changed (for example, it became thinner), which made a difference when buying accessories for iPad mini 4 and earlier models of the line.

Which charger is best for iPhone

Everyone is interested in this question, because buying a charger for your iPhone. this is a perennial problem that is very difficult to solve because cables can break and wireless chargers are quite expensive. Therefore, we decided to explain (using the example of the charge speed test data from MacRumors) which charging is better and whether it is worth spending money on a more powerful device.

Types of tested chargers:
– original iPhone charging with 5W
– 5W standard wireless charger from Choetech
– 7.5W Apple Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad (tested @ 5W & 7.5W)
– 12W Apple standard charger included with iPad
– Choetech 18W USB-C Power Adapter
– Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter
– Anker 30W USB-C Power Adapter
– Apple 87 W USB-C Power Adapter

As we can see, the fastest way to charge an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X is with the USB-C power adapter and the included USB-C to Lightning cable. Charging with USB-C activates the “fast charge” feature, which is designed to charge the iPhone to about 50% in 30 minutes, and they’ve seen this charge level in all of their USB-C tests.

The most inefficient way (which is not strange) is wireless charging at 5V and wired charging similar in power to a standard iPhone adapter. They turned out to be the slowest charger tested. Interestingly, 12W charging was no worse than 18W or more powerful charges, because it charged the iPhone up to 72% in an hour, while the same charging with 30W of power was able to squeeze 77% out of itself in an hour for our device. Although these differences are very noticeable in the price of power.

Branded charger for iPhone

A classic white device that is familiar to all new iPhone owners, because it comes with every one of them. The charging block has a power of 5W and cannot quickly charge your device, as does the new iPhone 11 Pro charger with its 18W. It is clear. After all, it’s all about the numbers and the amount of energy that the device can take and receive. But, by the way, even it provides enough power to recharge your iPhone, since many Android smartphones still receive 2.2A charging in the kit.

Fastest iPhone charger

Charging on iPhone only comes with an 18W or higher adapter and a certified USB-C to Lightning cable. You can purchase it separately or get it along with the brand new iPhone 11 Pro if you decide to upgrade.

Wireless & Accelerated Qi, Medium Power

Magnetically inductively charges iPhone using an Apple-Certified Qi iPhone Charger. Has a USB power adapter up to 10W. Usually the box of the purchased device indicates how much power it can squeeze out of itself.

Standard Qi Charging (Wireless) Low Power

Magnetically inductively charges iPhone up to 5W. And it is a pretty good charger, if only because it does not require connecting a cable that constantly breaks. No, it is not faster than conventional standard charging, you can see this in terms of power, but still it is much more convenient.

Which iPhone models support fast charging

We find out. Which iPhone models support Fast Charging, which chargers are best for you, which ones to add to your shopping list, and more.

All of Apple’s iPhones have changed in terms of charging speed over the past few years, and to be honest, that’s just amazing. After all, now you do not need to sit for two hours and wait until the precious device receives its 100%, because the new iPhone 11 line can easily charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes, if used with an 18W or higher adapter along with a certified charging cable.

For older versions (and for iPhone 11 as well), users need to purchase an additional USB iPhone power adapter and cable to perform fast charging technology on the iPhone.

IPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X devices support fast charging, if you purchase the appropriate accessories in addition.

But not everyone is so lucky, which is why the iPhone 6 only supports 1.6A and comes with a 1A charge. And the 2.2A charger that comes with the iPad won’t charge your phone twice as fast because it doesn’t technically come with fast charging support.

In general, the iPhone 11 Pro smartphone. it is the first Apple phone to come with fast charging. Of course, we’re all offended that the iPhone 11 won’t get this amazing miracle charging, but the biggest disappointment is that iPhones never made the transition to USB-C and are still equipped with a Lightning port. Although this is a small plus, because Apple put a USB-C to Lightning cable to the “firmware”, which means that you can finally quickly charge your phone from a computer by connecting your iPhone to one of the Macs.

Today we will try to understand what types of iPhone chargers are and how quickly and efficiently they perform their function:

Apple Pencil for iPad Pro review, who needs it and why

Contents of delivery

For some reason, many believed that one of the key functions of the iPad Pro was the presence of a stylus, which they called the Apple Pencil, although the company strongly emphasizes that this is not a stylus at all, but something else, for example, a pencil, as the name suggests. The reason for the dislike of the word “stylus” is understandable. Apple founder Steve Jobs argued that all control on the company’s touch devices will be carried out by hands, and the stylus. it is a relic of the past. Steve Jobs is no more, which means that the current leaders of the company can release whatever they want, which is what they do. Nevertheless, you still have to give explanations for your ingenious finds, otherwise the crowd of fans remains perplexed and does not know what to tell others about the next great invention. Jonathan Ive, who in the past few years has not given out anything interesting and worthwhile, in an interview with Wallpaper Magazine told why and how the idea of ​​a pencil came about, here is his direct speech: “We realized that there is a well-defined group of people that can appreciate a tool that will allow them to draw or draw, but not the way they draw with their fingers. And I suspect that this is a large group of people. “.

Almost five years after the release of the first Note, the launch of this line from Samsung and its rise in popularity, Apple suddenly saw that there was a niche in the market for those who love to draw. And we decided to make our own product. There was no need to invent anything, since all kinds of styluses for Apple tablets were produced by many companies, but they all suffered from one drawback, they were poke sticks, while other manufacturers created full-fledged input devices that respond to pressure, pen tilt, and others. “Little things”. In particular, such devices include all stylus from Samsung, as well as a pen to Microsoft Surface, which is part of the standard delivery in the latest versions of tablets. Once again, Apple comes out with its solution to the market, where there are already analogues that have come a long way in several generations. If Apple did not ignore other people’s experience, they could have created their own “pencil” completely different, and it would have been much more useful for iPad users, but everything turned out differently, the story developed as usual.

, what makes this pencil, if not gold, then close to that. On the other hand, professional styluses from Wacom are not cheap, but this is a very different class of products, and their consumers know exactly what they are paying for. This is not a mass toy for bored people who want to portray something on a tablet screen. I doubt that professionals in graphics, design and the like will begin to use Apple Pencil en masse, everything here depends on the force of habit, but most importantly. this is the software that will be available for use with the pen. And so far everything is very sad with the software, but more on that later.

So, take the Pencil out of the box, open the lid on the upper end and see the Lightning connector. The box shows how to insert it into the tablet to recharge.

Which Apple Pencil Works with your iPad?

Forgive me, but this is pornography in the literal and figurative sense. Apple engineers lost all their skills, as they created an ugly, visually, bad and unreliable solution, in such a position it is not difficult to break off the connector. And they sincerely warn about this! The caring, crooked creators of the Apple Pencil, who quickly realized that their solution was not very good, and therefore added an adapter for charging the pencil from the computer or from the mains. This is a small adapter, on the one hand we plug in a regular charger from the iPhone / iPad, on the other hand. the pencil itself. Adapter! For the stylus! Had Steve Jobs been alive, he would have had a very sharp conversation with Jonathan Ive, after which the latter would have rushed to fix and redo everything.

I did not dare to post a photo of how it looks in a state of charging, I was afraid that we would be closed for pornography, so look at this moment in the video, everything is shown there. But I can say one thing, Apple engineers have surpassed my worst guesses, they made a pencil in the worst possible way. The same stylus on the MS Surface does not require charging and works great with the built-in software. But more on that later.

Apple’s pencil is glossy, and if you have wet hands, it starts to slip. No rough surfaces, the creative tool should be smooth and sliding, both on the surface and in the hands of a person. Seriously speaking, it’s not just that most of those who produce stylus do not make them smooth, but prefer a rough body. Let’s guess why. Apparently, they put the ergonomics of the device higher than its appearance, but Apple does exactly the opposite.

In terms of ergonomics, the Apple Pencil has another flaw. it does not have an attachment to the iPad case. It is magnetized from the underside, but the force of gravity is not enough, so it will not work. You will have to carry it somewhere else, but not with the device. This is silly? In my opinion, this is damn stupid and shortsighted, and most importantly, inconvenient. But you can deny quite obvious things and say that this is correct and the only way it is necessary.

Now about the good and the pleasant. Apple Pencil works only with iPad Pro, it will not work to connect it to other tablets. The reason is that the company has slightly changed the screen technology to support such a stylus. Whether it will be supported in other products, I don’t know, but it is justified only on large diagonals, on the same iPad Mini there is little point in a pencil.

We insert the pencil for charging, and then the iPad Pro invites us to synchronize the device via Bluetooth, connect it. We agree. In the notifications, you can find a widget that shows the charge level of Apple Pencil. The company claims that a fully charged pencil will run for about 12 hours, with 15 seconds giving a runtime of 30 minutes. It will take about 45-50 minutes to fully charge Apple Pencil from iPad. In principle, this is a small problem; it will not be difficult to charge this stylus from time to time. When a low battery level is reached, a corresponding warning appears.

There is a downside to the coin that no one thinks about or pays attention to. Using Apple Pencil increases the power consumption of iPad Pro. For half an hour of operation on the screen, the battery loses 7-8 percent of the charge. For comparison, watching a movie at maximum brightness eats up 10% per hour. Feel the Difference and Difference.

Software. familiar all names

The stylus from Apple understands up to 2048 degrees of pressure, as well as deviations from the horizontal. This means that by clicking on it, you can make the line thicker, and by tilting the pencil, you can get shading. And in this it resembles an ordinary pencil, which is very good.

But now is the time to talk about what programs and how support work with the Apple Pencil. With it, you can move around the screen, select icons. And there are no problems, everything works. Another thing is that for creativity you need programs that can work with the Apple Pencil, and there are already more than a dozen such programs. For example, in standard notes, you can write by hand, but your text is not recognized, there is simply no such function in iOS9. This is the first disappointment, no handwriting and typing in this way, this pencil is for creativity, not for boring handwritten notes.

I tried a dozen programs that the App Store recommended for my pencil, most of them already had stylus support, that is, the appearance of the Apple Pencil was not unexpected. For example, Evernote has long been able to enter notes by hand, on the iPad you could draw with your finger, as, indeed, you can do it now. About the same in each of the programs, the Apple Pencil does not give any special precision, you draw exactly the same way as you drew before, with the same programs or similar input devices.

I did a little experiment and asked my colleague who is fond of drawing to try out the device and give his opinion. She enthusiastically began to draw from a photograph taken on one of her trips, but very quickly put the Apple Pencil aside and said the following: “I don’t really need it, here you can draw all this with your hands in the program, some parts are probably more difficult than usual, but not fundamentally more difficult. ” After chatting on this topic, I realized a simple thing: you don‘t need a miracle device to draw, you only need a desire, and the choice of a tool is secondary. The surface of the device cannot replace paper, its quality and other sensations, since not only pencil, brush or paints are important, it is important how they interact with the paper and what result you get. In theory, it would be possible to emulate paper in software, but no one has done this yet.

All the software that I have tried can be used with any stylus, the device from Apple is extremely simple and does not have any special functions. over, there is no integration into the operating system. And it puts an end to the most popular use cases that have opened on the Note line in almost five years of its existence. For example, people often cut something out of pictures and send them by mail, add annotations to such pictures. And on the same Note, this can be done in a matter of seconds, there is an option to “write on the screen”, you instantly get a screenshot, which you decorate to the best of your ability. Or you can cut out a piece of the picture and at the same time recognize the text on it, send both the picture and the text from it, and in any language. But this is already such a high class that I will not even talk about it, since Apple in this case looks like a poor relative. The key advantage of Note. it is a deep integration of the stylus into everything that can be done on the device. It was created not only and not so much for those who draw, but for everyone who wants to get new opportunities, and the device gives these opportunities to the fullest. It is possible that they are not always needed, but sometimes they are necessary and very useful.

What about the integration of the stylus on the MS Surface? Exactly the same story, at Microsoft, oddly enough, they understand that the stylus itself is not important, you need to integrate it into the system, for example, give the ability to launch OneNote in one click, add handwritten text or drawings, recognize all this. If necessary, erase without resorting to additional movements and pressing the button on the stylus. And on the same Surface Pro 4, the stylus is magnetically attached to the body, it can be carried along with the device. It turns out that the engineers at Microsoft are much better than at Apple, where they could not implement the simplest function, although they themselves came up with many chips with magnets during the time of Steve Jobs.

Also a slightly different level of software and stylus binding to the system. Why is this so? Probably, the answer lies in what people think, why and why they do it, to whom it may be important. They work out the use cases. Apple doesn’t do this, but rests on its laurels. In fact, by copying other people’s products, Apple does not contribute anything to them, and the implementation from an engineering point of view is the worst possible. Why is that? Relaxed, there is no owner inside the company who would monitor how everything should work.

It’s interesting how, with the release of the Apple Pencil, many of the world’s leading publishers discovered this topic and started writing about it. It doesn’t matter that dozens of styluses existed before, and the software initially supported them, including on the iPad. It doesn’t matter that the only strength of the Apple Pencil in the small stylus market is the name of the manufacturer, and not something else. The main thing is that the company was able to create a myth that from time to time it releases successful products that are needed by millions. And it doesn’t matter at all that the same watch didn’t take off and Apple doesn’t say anything about it in terms of real numbers. It doesn’t matter what the iPad Pro is. it’s a very niche device with an idea that has been stolen from Samsung and Microsoft, a little bit of each. And it’s not so important that no one thought to collect a hundred dollars for a stylus. On the other hand, you have to pay for stupidity. Apple thinks stupidity is worth a hundred dollars. And that’s the right price.

This accessory, like a drop of water, reflects where the company is going and how its helmsmen relax and rest on their laurels. This is not the best product that Apple has come out with, however, over the past couple of years, I find it difficult to name something that would attract attention. Copying other people’s ideas, their poor implementation, but for now Apple can afford it. Here is just a credit of confidence. rather fragile thing, it may disappear.