Apple knows how to make a cracking tablet, and we loved the iPad mini 2 when it launched last year. It offered all the power of the Air in a smaller form factor, and while it wasn't cheap, it was awesome. But seeing it reproduced almost identically 12 months on doesn't pack the same punch.

Sleek design; Good app access; Touch ID for security

Too similar to mini 2; Pricey compared to last year; Not as powerful as Air 2

The iPad mini 2 is Apple's best mini yet, but it's too similar to last year's model and substantially worse than the iPad Air 2 .

Stylish design; Touch ID; Good screen

Underpowered; Very similar to mini 2; Expensive

What can I say about the iPad mini 3 that hasn't already been said No, seriously, what can I say Apple's latest mini is essentially the same product as the first iPad Mini With Retina display with exactly four upgrades, only three of which are significant.

This is a fantastic iPad Mini, but it's a terrible deal. We recommend you buy a cheaper 32GB iPad Mini 2 and wait a year to get a fingerprint sensor.

Touch ID sensor; High-quality retina screen; Great size for reading; As good as any

Limited upgrade over iPad Mini 2; Last year's specs offer little incentive to upgrade; Entry-level model's 16GB of storage doesn't cut it

The Mini 3 is futureproof thanks to fingerprint scanning but makes the iPad Mini 2 too much of a bargain to ignore

The best small tablet experience; Touch ID for unlock and iTunes; Gorgeous build; stunning Retina screen; All-day battery life

The Mini 2 is now much better value; No spec bumps like the iPad Air 2; Non expandable; no 32GB; Slightly inferior colours next to Air 2

It makes little sense to run down everything in Apple's iPad mini 3 ($399-$729) that's the same as what you'll find in last year's iPad mini with Retina display - a model that thankfully was renamed

We review the Apple iPad Mini 3, the gold-tinted tiny tab rocking TouchID. Apple's iPad Mini 3 reveal felt a little half-arsed at best, taking up around 27 seconds of the launch event where we also saw the Air 2 drop.

Still great; now with more storage options and Touch ID

Apple's iPad mini 3 is one of two new tablets launched last week at a special event in Cupertino, and it is definitely the one that got the least attention from Apple's product development team over the past year.

Small size is still more portable; Touch ID adds convenience

$100 more than new price for iPad mini 2; Touch ID lone change

It's not often that Apple drops the ball on a product – but this is definitely a dropped ball. The iPad mini 3 isn't a bad tablet by any standards; it's just almost identical to last year's iPad mini 2 , which is still on sale. For less money. So what are the differences?

Good hi-res screen; Solid design

Essentially the same tablet as the iPad mini 2 but a lot more expensive

Apple unveiled the new iPad mini 3 at a special event on 16 October, alongside the bigger iPad Air 2. We've spent some time with Apple's 7.9in tablet to bring you our iPad mini 3 review, which we'll update regularly over the next year as we spend more time with the tablet.

Gorgeous design; Touch ID fingerprint sensor; new gold colour option; more affordable 64GB model

Almost identical to the now £80 cheaper iPad mini 2; misses out on iPad Air 2's great processor & specs