Turns out the Mini is just a little bit less in width than a standard DVD case. So, if you want to get a feel for how it will fit in your hand, grab one. The mini is just a bit longer than a DVD case, but half as thick.
I imagine that a lot of the weight might be taken by the battery, so other tablets might be lighter but maybe not have such good battery life. I find the weight of my mini2 acceptable.