iPad Mini 4 review, price & features: will Apple's smallest tablet still be a hit this time?

In 2012, Apple wowed the world with its very first iPad Mini, which featured the same specs as the iPad 2 only smaller. It was the year where almost all of Apple's competitors were releasing 7-inch tablets but as the years go by, the decline in sales have taken its toll, which did not change with the unveiling of the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Mini 3. And, it seemed that the company itself did not give too much attention to its latest iPad Mini 4 as it was not even given a big welcome during the big Apple even last September.

 What to expect from the iPad Mini 4?

 Mashable writes that the features of the iPad Mini 4 is similar to the iPad Aie 2, with the TouchID fingerprint sensor, usual Lightning port, mono speakers, and a gorgeous Retina display. The mute orientation switch is no longer present as iOS now lets users change the orientation in the Control Center. The same 7.9-inch screen with 2048 x 1536 resolution still exists together with 264 pixels, similar to the previous iPad Minis, but weighs 18 percent less.

A surprising extra is the iSight camera, which enables users to take 8MP photos and 1080p full HD clips. Unfortunately, Apple did not upgrade the front camera, which still stands at 1.2MP and takes 720p HD videos. Although not as good as the iPhone 6 or the latest iPhone 6s, the iPad Mini 4 can truly take great photos, comparable to the previous iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s.

While the iPad Mini 4 did not have the Rose Gold option as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, it does run using an A8 second generation chip just like the iPhone 6. It also does multitasking due to the terrific iOS 9, Stuff writes. Battery life allows users to play 14 hours for video playback, a great feature if you're a fan of viral videos on YouTube.

 How much will it costs?

Unfortunately, all these specs and features do not come cheap as the iPad Mini 4 starts at almost $400 for 16GB Wi-Fi capable only. If users want to make the most of the gadget, they need to buy at least 64GB or 128GB, which costs $499 and $599, respectively. So the question remains, will you buy the iPad Mini 4 for that price when the iPad Air costs almost the same or better yet, the availability of a MacBook Air?

 Should you get an iPad Mini 4?

While it remains to be the toughest, smallest tablet to beat with it's iOS 9 capability, display resolution and other specs, the price and its size might be a lot less than users wished for, Alphr reports. The availability of the iPhone 6s Plus can also hinder the sales of the iPad Mini 4 while the impending release of the 2016 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro may also cause buyers and even loyal Apple fans to look the other way.