Apple has introduced new mobile phones to the Korean market one after another. Starting with the 5G smartphone ‘iPhone 13’ series released in October, tablet PCs such as ‘iPad 9th generation’ and ‘iPad mini 6th generation’ and ‘AirPods 3rd generation’ are the main characters. I rented two types of tablet products and wireless earphones released this month from Apple Korea.
AirPods 3 are Apple’s first wireless earphones in two years. Since there has been a significant gap since the release of the previous generation product, many parts have changed, and the biggest difference is the design. It has become similar to the premium product ‘AirPods Pro’. The stick (stem) that comes out of the ear has been shortened compared to the AirPods 2, and the shape of the case is similar to that of the AirPods Pro. However, the AirPods 3 differ from the AirPods Pro, which are canal-type products that fit perfectly into the ears, in that they are open-type products. It also has IPX4 water resistance that resists sweat and daily level moisture.
The AirPods 3 had great acoustics. This is because it supports spatial acoustics and adaptive EQ functions that are only available on AirPods Pro. Spatial sound is a sound that surrounds the user and disperses the sound in a circle. Adaptive EQ is a function that delivers optimized sound to the human ear, allowing anyone to enjoy sound sources with uniform quality.
In addition to this, various convenient functions are installed. First of all, the sensor that determines the wearing state of the earphones has been changed to a skin detection type. In the past, there was a time when the product was turned on by recognizing that the earphones in the pocket were worn as they were equipped with an optical sensor. The large battery capacity is also a plus. According to Apple, AirPods 3 can be used for up to 30 hours with the charging case. Fast charging, which can be used for 1 hour on a 5 minute charge, was also convenient. Call quality was also acceptable. I was worried about the call quality due to the shortened stem, but when I actually used it, it was possible to make a call without any problems even in a busy space.
The disappointing thing is that it is an open-type product and does not have Active Noise Canceling (ANC). There is no separate function to reduce external noise, as well as ANC to block out background noise and ambient noise. I usually wear ANC products with wireless earphones, so it was quite inconvenient to hear external noise coming through the earphones. The wearing comfort is also relatively unstable compared to the canal type product. Due to the structure of the product, it feels like it is worn over the ear, and if you shake your head very hard, the product may fall out.
The iPad mini 6th generation and iPad 9th generation are products that have certain purchasing points for each product. I think the iPad mini 6th generation is a product suitable for consumers who want a high-performance tablet with excellent portability or need a second tablet. The screen size is 8.3 inches. This is the opposite of the recent trend of large-screen products being released one after another. The product is smaller than when an adult male spreads his palm. It also weighs 293g (Wi-Fi model), so it is very portable. It is also a point that the design has been significantly changed from its predecessor. If the previous product felt like a small version of the iPad, the iPad mini 6th generation feels like a small version of the iPad Pro.
Performance is unquestionable. This is because it is equipped with the same chipset ‘A15 Bionic’ as the iPhone 13. Performance has been improved by up to 80% compared to its predecessor. Here’s a Liquid Retina display with excellent picture quality. You can enjoy various OTT (online video service) as well as various high-end games with ease. You can also enjoy realistic sound with 4 speakers mounted on the top and bottom. However, I think it is too expensive to be used only as a ‘Netflix machine’. This is because if you purchase up to the second generation of the Apple Pencil, which is an Apple-only pen, it will cost close to 1 million won (based on the cellular model).
iPad mini 6th generation supports various functions. 3D tools, sketches, video editing, and more are all possible on the iPad Pro. The camera is also an advantage, and the iPad mini 6th generation front and rear cameras are 12 megapixels, which is an improvement over the previous 7 megapixels front camera and 8 megapixels rear camera. It also has a ‘center stage’ function that automatically captures the subject according to the user’s movement. One of the notable changes is that it has a USB-C port instead of a Lightning-type port, which is an Apple-specific cable.
The 9th generation iPad is classified as a basic model among Apple tablet products. As it is a basic product, a fairly large bezel (border) and Lightning port are still there. Apple Pencil only supports 1st generation. The screen size is 10.2 inches and the weight is about 490 grams. The biggest difference is the AP change. It has been replaced with the A13 Bionic chip, released in 2019, which allows you to enjoy multiplayer at a fairly high speed. That’s about a 20% improvement in performance compared to its predecessor. The price is 44,900 won, and I think it is a product suitable for beginners to tablet PCs.
Reporter Bae Seong-soo baebae@hankyung.com
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