Why Apple Positioned the iPad Mini with a 7.9 Inch Display
Apple made a strategic decision to position the iPad Mini with a 7.9-inch display for several compelling reasons. This choice aligns with both technical and user experience considerations, ensuring that the device offers a comfortable and user-friendly interface. Let’s break down these factors:
Screen Density and Pixel PPI
The primary driver behind the 7.9-inch display was the pixel density (PPI) evaluation. A display with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels spread over 7.85 inches, which is effectively 7.9 inches, results in a PPI of 163. This PPI is strategically similar to the one used in the original iPhones, namely the iPhone 3G and 3GS, which were manufactured until 2012. This similarity in PPI allows the iPad Mini to maintain a familiar and easily recognizable interface for users who have experience with these early iPhone models.
Comparison with Retina Display
Another factor that influenced Apple's decision was the Retina display technology. The iPad Mini does not incorporate Retina technology, which doubles the pixel density. Instead, it maintains a PPI of 163, aligning with the non-Retina screens of previous devices.
Interface Consistency Across Devices
Apple's Human Interface Guidelines also play a crucial role in the design of the iPad Mini. The guidelines recommend consistent pixel sizes for user interface (UI) elements across different devices. This is particularly important as the iPad Mini features a lower PPI than the iPhone, meaning that UI elements should be larger to maintain usability.
User Experience and Tappable Elements
To ensure a comfortable user experience, Apple provides guidelines suggesting a target area of about 44 x 44 points for tappable elements. This size translates to approximately 0.33 inches on an iPad and 0.27 inches on an iPhone. By giving the same target size to both devices, Apple effectively advises developers to create tap targets that are 23% larger on the iPad than on the iPhone. This sizing recommendation is made possible because the iPad offers more screen real estate, making even slightly larger targets more usable and less cramped.
Conclusion and Popularity
The decision to use a 7.9-inch display for the iPad Mini has proven to be a wise one. The combination of screen density, interface consistency, and user experience elements has ensured that the iPad Mini maintains a look and feel consistent with more familiar devices. This strategy not only aligns with user expectations but also enhances the usability of the device, contributing to its popularity in the market.