Apple & Nokia release new hardware but whats best for business

Apple have released two new tablets, the iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina Display. They also released an iterative update to OS X Mavericks and new MacBook Pro laptops to the world at the event. Nobody is going to call the latter tablet by its full name, so let’s refer to it simply as the iPad Mini. Both tablets offer faster performance, 64-bit computing and continue the premium quality product we expect from the Cupertino giant.

iPad Air

The iPad Air is the iPad 5 we have all been waiting for. This fifth generation tablet is lighter, thinner and faster than before. It’s now only 450g, 7.5mm thick and twice as fast as the iPad 4. If you use an iPad as a POS device or while travelling, all those features are going to be most welcome! The iPad Air uses the same 64-bit Apple A7 chipset and the M7 motion chip of the iPhone 5s. The 9.7 inch screen, featuring a Retina display capable of 2048 x 4536 pixels is as bright and crisp as ever, while retaining that stunning graphical quality it’s so famous for. Higher tier versions of the iPad Air also features 4G LTE, while all have Wi-Fi, 5 megapixel iSight camera, full-HD FaceTime camera and a theoretical 10-hour battery life.

iPad Mini

The iPad Mini with Retina Display, or iPad Mini as everyone but Apple will call it, also benefits from the 64-bit A7 chipset and M7 motion chip of the Air and iPhone 5. It also gains a Retina display, hence the unwieldy name. The iPad Mini is a 7.9 inch tablet with a screen capable of 2048 x 1536 pixels. Like the iPad Air, the iPad Mini also features a 5 megapixel iSight camera, full-HD FaceTime camera and that theoretical 10-hour battery life. Both of these iPad are evolutions of a theme rather than revolution. Yet, that’s fine by us as the evolution is in all the right places. Being thinner and lighter is a primary benefit for a tablet designed to be carried. Being more powerful is essential for productivity and business users and a great selling point for both iPads. The only downside to these new tablets is the price. They are still premium products with a premium price tag. In fact, the iPad Mini is actually more expensive than before. However, with the build quality, design and utility provided by the millions of Apple apps, you really do get what you pay for.

Apple vs. Nokia

So how does the new iPad Air and iPad Mini stack up against the Nokia reveals? There is no denying the speed and ability of these new iPads. Apple products also seem to have a lifestyle value that is difficult to quantify. They charge more for that cache, but business users don’t really benefit from that. The capability of the Nokia Lumia phones and the Lumia 2520 tablet is undeniable. The continued development of both Windows RT and Windows Phone OS, along with the ability to seamlessly sync across networks, we honestly think Nokia offer the better value for the commercial user. The Lumia range is easier to live with, less locked down, just as capable and not overpriced. For us that makes them a better option for business.