Mini update is really the correct term here: Except for the fingerprint reader and a new color for the case, the third generation of the iPad Mini does not offer any new features or components .

High-resolution display; Excellent build quality; Good camera under daylight; Precise touchscreen; Free office suite; Very good GPS; Fast processor; Fast graphics unit; Low temperature development; Decent speakers; Apple once again delivers a premium tablet; but it also has a premium price tag

Hardly any new features, Sometimes very small controls, Depending on the configuration very high price, No 802.11ac WLAN, WLAN connection sometimes with signal issues, Proprietary connector, Only LTE Cat. 3, The new version does not introduce any real innovations; it is more of a very small facelift

For those who are dying to use Apple Pay for online purchases and don't want to bother with passwords, the iPad mini 3 is a solid pick, but the iPad Air 2's faster A8X chip, richer anti-reflective display and better 8-MP camera make that the best tablet in Apple's lineup.

When the iPad mini with Retina display launched alongside the iPad Air in 2013 the biggest choice you had to worry about was whether or not you wanted a 7.9-inch or a 9.7-inch screen. The message from Apple was clear: you get the same power either way.

Great size; good screen; TouchID integrated

Same as last year; iPad mini 2 offers far better value for money

With the Apple iPad Mini 3 , Apple once again splits the specs between the larger iPad and its smaller sibling. How does the Mini 3 compare to the rest of the small tablet offerings on the market? Let's see how the reviews look!

Touch ID support; Great battery life; Peppy performance; Apple SIM

Little difference from iPad Mini 2; No NFC; Price

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

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

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

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

As we said at the start, this review is one that's largely positive, but with the price overshadowing the tablet. This is largely because Apple has left the iPad Mini 2 on sale, which is identical, bar TouchID, the Apple SIM, Gold colour and storage sizes.

How does Apple's latest mini tablet fair? We take a look in our video review.....