Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
iPad mini (5th generation) vs iPad mini 4
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
The Ultimate iPad Comparison Chart (2023)
2022 was a big year as it signaled using its M-series of processors in more products than just the iPad Pro. So that means, while the 12.9″ and 11″ iPad Pro are now almost identical, they will be listed as different generations.
iPad Mini
The first-generation iPad Mini was announced on October 23, 2012, and was released on November 2, 2012, in nearly all of Apple’s markets. [2][3][4][5] It featured similar internal specifications to the iPad 2, including its display resolution. The iPad Mini 2, with a A7 processor and a Retina Display, was announced on October 22, 2013, and released on November 12, 2013. The iPad Mini 3 was announced on October 16, 2014 and was released on October 22, 2014, alongside the iPad Air 2; it features the same external hardware as the Mini 2 and the addition of a Touch ID fingerprint sensor compatible with Apple Pay.
Matching the new design language of the current Pro and Air iPads, features included a larger 8.3-inch full-screen display, USB-C port (instead of Lightning), top button with Touch ID (with home button removed), and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. [7][8] The company did not give the subject of the event, but it was widely expected to be the iPad Mini.
[9] At the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced a new version of MacBook family and new generations of the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and the iMac, then unveiled the fourth-generation iPad and the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini comes with several pre-installed applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.
[11] Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes and to Apple’s iCloud online service.
Although the tablet is not designed to make telephone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype.
The device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. The iPad Mini is available with 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB[a][22]) of internal flash memory, with no expansion option.
Apple sells a “camera connection kit” with an SD card reader, but it can be used only to transfer photos and videos. They can act as a hotspot, sharing the Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. Apple offers other accessories, including a Bluetooth keyboard, several types of earbuds or headphones and many adapters for the Lightning connector.
Reviews of the first generation iPad Mini have been positive,[37][38][39][40][41][42] with reviewers praising the device’s size, design, and availability of applications, while criticizing its use of a proprietary power connector and its lack of expandable storage and Retina Display for the first-generation iPad Mini.
[43][45] Joshua Topolsky of The Verge praised the industrial design of the iPad Mini, however panned its lack of Retina Display and price. [42] The iPad Mini 2 was well received, praising the Retina Display and Apple A7 chip performance, with criticisms on the price increase and the quality of the camera.
iPad mini 6 vs iPad mini 5: which should you buy?
That makes it a brilliant option for those looking for a highly portable device for working, sketching and taking notes on the go – even while riding on a bus or train. But the newer iPad has a couple of advantages that will make it worth the extra expense for some people. The iPad mini 5 is compatible with Apple Pencil 1 (Image credit: Future) The iPad mini 6 is compatible with the improved Apple Pencil 2 (Image credit: Future)
When Apple removed the Home button and reduced the bezels in the iPad mini 6, it was able to increase the space devoted to the device’s display. Other than that, the displays are very similar – both support the P3 colour gamut and Apple’s True Tone technology, with the main difference being the resolution. Battery life on the iPad mini 5 (above) is similar to that of the newer model (Image credit: Future) On the iPad mini 6, the battery capacity gets bumped up slightly to 19.3-watt-hours, but it lasts for the same 10 or nine hours (depending on the model) due to the extra energy used by the larger display.
More intense use cases, like working with demanding creative apps, will likely drain the batteries of both devices faster.
If you want to take photos – or regularly do video calls – the iPad mini 6 is the clear winner here. The iPad mini 5 still performs excellently for general browsing (Image credit: Future) The iPad mini 5 is worth considering if you find a discount (Image credit: Apple)
Apple no longer sells the iPad mini 5 itself, but at the time of writing, you could get a 64GB model for around $340 (£315) on websites such as Amazon. It has a more modern design, larger display, a stronger processor, a better camera system, and more up-to-speed features.
How long does Apple support iPads?
If you have an iPad already or are thinking of picking up an older one, maybe a refurbished model that would save you some money, it’s a good idea to find out how long it will still be able to use apps and services. Here’s a quick guide to how long you should expect an iPad to remain usable. The crucial thing is whether Apple will update the operating system software that runs on your iPad if it discovers a security flaw. While Apple only issues updates with new features for the current version of the iPadOS, it does issue security updates to older versions of iPadOS, in order to keep older iPads secure.
While full iPadOS updates often require system resources that can be too much for older devices, security updates work under the hood and can usually keep an older model going for years after the point where it can receive a new version of iPadOS. This means that the real defining element of how long an iPad can last is security updates. Currently iPads that run the following versions of iPadOS are supported with security updates: It’s interesting to note that iOS 12, which runs on some iPads, was last updated in January 2023, but we don’t expect those devices to have coverage in the future.
Despite this iOS 12 coverage, it is best to assume that anything prior to iPadOS 15 is no longer supported with security updates. The key is to know which version of iPadOS your iPad can run, that way you can identify whether Apple is still committed to updating it with security-related fixes. If Apple drops support for iPadOS 15, then we can add the following to the list of unsupported iPads: As an example of a model that’s still supported by Apple, the iPad Air 2 made its debut in 2014, but received the iPadOS 15.7.9 update in September 2023, meaning that it’s still going almost nine years after its initial release.
Another senior model that received that update was the iPad mini (4th Generation) which came out in 2015. This means that in January 2023 Apple was supporting ten-year-old iPads with security updates, while in September 2023 the company issued a security update that was compatible with the then nine-year-old iPad Air 2. While security updates are important because they protect the user from those with malicious intent, if your iPad goes wrong you will want to know whether it will be possible to fix it. Between five and seven years after Apple stops selling products it moves them into the Vintage list.
Then around seven years after Apple stops selling products they are moved into the Obsolete list. Therefore if it has been five years since Apple stopped selling an iPad you are unlikely to be able to get replacement parts if something goes wrong. So it’s not surprising that when iPadOS 17 launches the following iPads will fall off the supported list since they are already vintage: Say your battery life falls off a cliff, you’ll need to still be within your one-year warranty period to have it repaired for free.
Apple does have a battery replacement service though, usually costing $99/£99 for a replacement and fitting, so this could prolong the hardware side of things for a good while (essentially up until it was moved to the vintage list five years after Apple stopped selling it). Apple offers hardware servicing and parts for a range of older iPads, all at a cost of course.
Naturally, a ten-year old iPad is an impressive feat of durability, but they won’t be as fun or powerful as a new one.
Apple iPad Mini (2021) vs. iPad Mini (2019): what’s the difference?
With the announcement and impending release of the new iPad Mini and its revamped design, it might be all too easy to stan the new model and completely write off its predecessor. While the new model has a lot to offer — namely a larger screen, faster processor, refined design akin to the 2020 iPad Air, and a USB-C port — it also has a quality that is not so desirable: a higher introductory price.
The iPad Mini line has been notoriously discount-immune over the years, possibly because of its specialized position in the market and lack of competition. So let’s go over what makes the new iPad Mini different, and if it merits the $200 price premium over its two-year-old predecessor. The new iPad Mini for 2021 packs more screen and modern design in a diminutive size. 5G connection on cellular models for potentially faster speeds than LTE, though lacking mmWave 5G radio bands
It may not sound like a massive difference compared to the 7.9-inch display on the 2019 model, but the new tablet is actually a touch shorter while squeezing in a larger screen. More screen real estate and smaller bezels in nearly the same footprint is generally a good thing that makes everyone happy. There’s talk of it not being clocked quite as fast as the A15 processor of the iPhone 13, but that remains to be confirmed and the improvements over the previous iPad Mini are likely noticeable. As for the rear camera, there are similar resolution and recording gains with a 12MP sensor and brighter f/1.8 aperture, replacing the prior 8MP @ f/2.4. The new iPad Mini comes in four colorways: space gray, purple, pink, and starlight. This offers more versatility for charging and connecting devices, such as full-size cameras or game controllers.
You also get the faster 20-watt USB-C charger in the box, while even a $1,600 iPhone 13 Pro Max does not come with a charging brick at all. The iPad Mini line became compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil in 2019, awkward charging method and all. As I mentioned earlier, the screen is the standout of the new model, but you should keep in mind that the pixel density is the same on both. The new iPad Mini will ship with iPadOS 15, and the 2019 model will be eligible to upgrade on September 20th.
The 2019 iPad Mini also has the classic physical home button on its front, complete with Touch ID. The gesture controls of newer Apple products may not be for everyone, and there are still many who love the clicky home button.
iPad Mini
The first-generation iPad Mini was announced on October 23, 2012, and was released on November 2, 2012, in nearly all of Apple’s markets. [2][3][4][5] It featured similar internal specifications to the iPad 2, including its display resolution. The iPad Mini 2, with a A7 processor and a Retina Display, was announced on October 22, 2013, and released on November 12, 2013. The iPad Mini 3 was announced on October 16, 2014 and was released on October 22, 2014, alongside the iPad Air 2; it features the same external hardware as the Mini 2 and the addition of a Touch ID fingerprint sensor compatible with Apple Pay. Matching the new design language of the current Pro and Air iPads, features included a larger 8.3-inch full-screen display, USB-C port (instead of Lightning), top button with Touch ID (with home button removed), and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. [7][8] The company did not give the subject of the event, but it was widely expected to be the iPad Mini.
[9] At the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced a new version of MacBook family and new generations of the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and the iMac, then unveiled the fourth-generation iPad and the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini comes with several pre-installed applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts.
[11] Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes and to Apple’s iCloud online service. Although the tablet is not designed to make telephone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype.
The device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. The iPad Mini is available with 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB[a][22]) of internal flash memory, with no expansion option.
Apple sells a “camera connection kit” with an SD card reader, but it can be used only to transfer photos and videos. They can act as a hotspot, sharing the Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. Apple offers other accessories, including a Bluetooth keyboard, several types of earbuds or headphones and many adapters for the Lightning connector. Reviews of the first generation iPad Mini have been positive,[37][38][39][40][41][42] with reviewers praising the device’s size, design, and availability of applications, while criticizing its use of a proprietary power connector and its lack of expandable storage and Retina Display for the first-generation iPad Mini.
[43][45] Joshua Topolsky of The Verge praised the industrial design of the iPad Mini, however panned its lack of Retina Display and price. [42] The iPad Mini 2 was well received, praising the Retina Display and Apple A7 chip performance, with criticisms on the price increase and the quality of the camera.
New iPad mini vs iPad mini 5: detailed comparison
After a two and a half year wait since the last update, a totally redesigned iPad mini has officially arrived alongside the iPhone 13. In an exciting move, Apple brought the iPad mini into the future with its 6th gen version taking on most of the great improvements we’ve seen arrive in the modern iPad Pro and Air devices. The 6-core CPU delivers a 40 percent jump in performance, and the 5-core GPU delivers an 80 percent leap in graphics performance compared to the previous generation of iPad mini. But otherwise, you’re getting an impressive Liquid Retina display that’s the largest ever on the iPad mini.
Another big update is the move from Lightning to USB-C. That opens up the ability to use the range of USB-C hubs and accessories out there, external drives, and more. Other I/O improvements include Wi-Fi 6, Apple Pencil gen 2 support, 5G, and Touch ID now residing in the top button.
Interesting colors this time around with starlight replacing silver and pink and purple joining space gray. Even though you’ve got a more expensive starting price at $499, you’re really getting a lot for the money here with the all-new display and design, USB-C, A15 chip, 5G option, upgraded cameras including Center Stage auto-tracking, and much more.
Orders are open now with the first devices arriving to customers from the week of September 20.
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