iPad Mini arrives in SG, we go hands-on

We arrived today here in Singapore to attend the launching of HTC’s Windows Phone 8 handsets as well as the upgraded HTC One X+. We managed to visit an Apple reseller store at the Changi airport to buy us an iPad Mini.

Unfortunately, all the stocks are out after they started selling the units at 8AM in the morning (we arrived around 12 noon). They even limited the purchase to one unit per customer but there was just a lot of demand for the iPad Mini.

There were two remaining demo units in the shop so we took some time to try it out, takes some photos and videos and pay with it for a while. We bought the 5th-generation iPod Touch a couple of weeks ago and our first impression was very similar to that, just a tad bigger.

The screen resolution is good, not as impressive as the iPad 3/iPad 4 but very similar to the iPad 2. The screen brightness wasn’t also very high.

What is very evident is how thin and light the tablet is — very near the thinness of the iPhone 5. The black chrome paint at the back is also the same one as on the iPod Touch 5G.

Frankly, I find it very difficult to grasp with one hand (the same way it is shown in the ads and in Apple’s website) so I don’t think anyone would be holding it that way.

Here’s a quick video we took of the iPad Mini (people were lining up to get a closer look as well).

While the suggested retail price in Singapore is in the SGD$448 (which is around Php15,700USD 268INR 22,680EUR 255CNY 1,948 when converted), you can’t get it for that price here in Singapore. The average gray market price of the iPad Mini today is $599PHP 35,153INR 50,765EUR 570CNY 4,360 (Php21,000USD 358INR 30,337EUR 341CNY 2,606) and some even go as high as SGD$660 (Php23,000USD 392INR 33,226EUR 373CNY 2,854).

Been doing the rounds of Sm Lim Square this evening and even got into a heated argument with one seller because of the scammy practices around here (will post the detailed story later).

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

16 Comments

Macoy says:

12 years ago

Hi abe,

Where do you usually get /buy your iphones in SG? Thanks
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Ronald says:

12 years ago

Hello Yuga,

Since you’re going to a WP8 event, could you verify if WP8 has adressed the wifi-disconnect issue?? On WP7, the phone disconnects from wifi when locked/put on sleep. Is the same still true for WP8 devices?

Thanks.
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dens says:

12 years ago

hi, hows the screen when compared to the nexus 7? many thanks. i have a nexus 7 and contemplating on getting the mini for my ios fix but not sure how the screen when compared, many thanks :)
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deuts says:

12 years ago

Interested to know what those “scammy practices” are.
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Name: says:

12 years ago

same here na scam dn ako sa sg sa iphone 5 naman
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Solid Hosting says:

12 years ago

we bought one here at JP for 16k only. =)
- Reply
Jovz says:

12 years ago

Mas mura pa pala kay DBGadgets @ Php 20k kung ganun?whew. Will wait for the price to settle down.

Not as portable and useable with one hand, no?
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Jovz says:

12 years ago

@Solid Hosting: JP = Japan?
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meh says:

12 years ago

Why is it released in Singapore and not in the Philippines? Why must the philippines be constantly deprived of technology?
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bob says:

12 years ago

It is only as wide as a Reader’s Digest magazine so it’s really easy to grasp with one hand.
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Ken says:

12 years ago

Yugatech, please make a review of the 13 inch Retina Macbook Pro :)
- Reply
Drey Roque says:

12 years ago

Dear Abe,

Please update us on when will Apple Philippines launch the iPad Mini on our stores. I’m waiting to buy one.

Thanks!
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Gelo says:

12 years ago

Bought one in Courts since most Epicentre shops were sold out. $578 for a 32 GB wifi only. No fanfare experience. :)
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xianne says:

12 years ago

Hi Sir Yuga,

Is the Ipad mini better than the Ipad 3?

Looking forward for your review and recommendation.

Thank you.
- Reply
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12 years ago

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- Reply