The iPad mini doesn't arrive in stores until November 2, but our US colleagues got to spend some time with one after Apple's media event at the California Theater in San Jose. Their conclusion: Yes, it's a small iPad-but there's more (and less) to it than that. Here are their hands-on impressions.

The iPad mini goes on sale 2 November, and while specs and features won't come as a surprise to many, I've been enjoying an early test run over the last week, using it in place of a  3 rd generation iPad – the one with the Retina display – to see how it fits into my daily life.

The 7.9-inch touchscreen device bridges the gadget gap between Apple's 4-inch iPod Touch, and the 9.7-inch

I got the 16GB wifi-only model for my wife and within a very short time she had ditched the eReader she had been using for the past year. It's a testament to its user friendliness that she made the transition effortlessly, which was in stark contrast with the drama she has when changing mobile...

A hands-on look at Apple's new iPad mini 7.9 inch tablet.

Love it or hate it, Apple's 9.7-inch iPad is the archetypal ‘tablet'.

Apple has never been the sort that takes out products in the low budget range as can be seen from some of the previous big guns that they have rolled out – iPhone, Mac and iPad. Well there's a first to everything and Apple has tried to prove the same with the launch of the economical iPad Mini, the...

The Ipad Mini is what the ipad should always have been. Its feather light and is so easy to carry with you that you may not notice the weight at all. Perfect to read books, surf web, photos, skype among other.

by Brandon Miniman At long last, our wishes of a smaller and lighter iPad have come to fruition. The iPad 3 and 4 are great products, but they're heavy and thick, and because of this, exhausting to use for a long period of time. Apple has done a lot right to be the leader in tablets.

+ Incredible build quality; + Remarkably thin and light; + Access to a plethora of quality apps; + Outstanding battery life; + Great display; despite low-resolution; + Snappy performance; + Plenty of cellular data options

- Low resolution screen can be bothersome from close viewing distances; - Pricey; - iOS is boring

The iPad Mini is a 4th generation device with a 2nd-generation hardware. For first time iPad users, the sleek form factor and app ecosystem in a more affordable price point (compared to all other iPad models) makes it an enticing offer.