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
Apple iPad vs iPad Mini – Which is Best?
They share practically all other specifications, including the dedicated Apple M2 chip, which currently is exclusive to the Pro in the iPad range (though it is also found in certain MacBook models). Like the Air, the Pro series is compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard ($299), a smart extra with USB-C and cantilever design which makes finding the right viewing angle straightforward.
How to choose between the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro
Whether you’re shopping for your first iPad or upgrading from a previous generation, figuring out which Apple-made tablet is best for you can be confusing. The right size, the right price (and not paying more or less than you should), the right amount of power and functionality, and lastly, the right port so it has compatibility with the accessories you want or already own. So, we’ve laid it all out, drilling down and explaining each tablet’s biggest selling points and drawbacks, starting with the most affordable option. This iPad has first-generation Apple Pencil support, though you can also use the Logitech Crayon to draw or write on the tablet if you don’t want to spend as much.
Apple did apparently add an extra gigabyte of RAM in the newer model, totaling 3GB. Even though the processor is getting a little long in the tooth and Apple’s Smart Keyboard is too pricey, it remains impressive that you can get a computer this good for this price.
This model has a 7.9-inch display, and although that’s not a pocketable size for most, it splits the difference between an iPhone and a larger tablet. If you like to read, watch movies, or play games, and want something bigger than your phone but smaller than a laptop, this is a good option. Apple’s 2019 refresh injected some much-needed life into the tablet, which hadn’t received an update since 2015. Nilay Patel reviewed the new iPad mini and explains why this is the small tablet to beat: If you are the sort of person who wants a powerful small tablet, the new iPad mini is the best choice, full stop. It also cribs the Pro’s True Tone display (but not the ProMotion high refresh rate), which automatically adjusts its color temperature to the ambient lighting in your work space.
The Smart Connector found its way to the Air as well, which makes it easy to connect one of Apple’s keyboard accessories (if you buy one, that is). Like the cheaper iPad options, the Air is still limited to the first-generation Apple Pencil that charges via its Lightning port. If that’s bothersome, you should consider checking out Apple’s slightly older 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which has four speakers and a ProMotion display that has a faster refresh rate. So, as long as you’re alright with an older processor, you’ll save a good amount of money. Best Buy currently offers it for $499, and Apple sells refurbished iPad Pro tablets starting at $419. Here’s a nice breakdown of what the new iPad Air brings to the tablet, straight from Dieter Bohn’s review: It has a dual-lens camera array and a LIDAR sensor for augmented reality, an improved processor, more microphones, and the base storage is now 128GB instead of 64GB. Both the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch models have a True Tone display that adapts the screen’s color temperature to the light in your environment, as well as the ProMotion feature that makes scrolling and other animations appear smoother.
The tablet has four speakers, and it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil that magnetically attaches to its side to charge.
And with recent iPadOS software updates combined with the Magic Keyboard that features a trackpad, it works even more like a laptop than previous models.
While the power and those improvements will seal the deal for some, my colleague Dieter Bohn who reviewed this model is skeptical that LIDAR — this tablet’s breakout feature — is worth the added cost.
iPad Mini review: An excellent 2021 upgrade, but still a niche tablet
8.6 iPad Mini 6th gen (2021) $469 at Amazon $500 at Best Buy $399 at B&H Photo-Video Like Fast A15 processor The company’s smallest tablet got the makeover I thought it needed years ago: Now it has the iPad Air’s better display, a USB-C port instead of Lightning, a much better processor and better cameras too.
iPad 9th gen 2021 iPad Mini 2021 Screen size 10.2 inches 8.3 inches CPU A13 Bionic A15 Starting storage 64GB 64GB Rear camera 8MP Wide camera 12MP Wide camera Connector Lightening USB-C Broadband option 4G LTE 5G Apple Pencil support 1st gen 2nd gen Weight 1.07 pounds 0.65 pound Starting price $329 $499 And the Mini can’t do the one thing larger iPads do very well: connect with keyboard cases easily to become sort-of laptops.
But if you think you’ll want an iPad that can be an e-reader and gaming device and casual TV screen and sketch pad and notebook and smart home screen, with some email and social media stuff thrown in, this is a pretty lovely choice. And while that small size could be appealing to some people as a bigger-than-a-phone-smaller-than-most-iPads thing, it also makes using it as a laptop replacement really hard.
It’s still significantly bigger than an iPhone 12 Pro (more than twice the size), and I have to admit, I’m carrying it around for reading and games a lot more than I was expecting. I stood it up (using the sold-separately smart cover) on my back porch table while putting together a Weber charcoal grill, and called up the instruction manual.
The flat edges, the sharper screen, the better stereo speakers, a USB-C port, a side magnetic charge strip where second-gen Pencils can snap onto and a side Touch ID home button… this is the total makeover I wanted in the 2019 iPad Mini.
The repositioned volume buttons on the top edge of the iPad feel weird, though maybe they make more sense when watching videos in landscape mode. A new aspect ratio means larger videos, but some apps don’t benefit It also has slightly rounded corners like the rest of the iPad Pro and Air line.
Also, apps that haven’t been updated for this new screen size will be pillar boxed with subtle black bars, making the bezels seem bigger and the display seem effectively the same (or even slightly smaller) than the 2019 Mini’s. Since this is a prerelease of the Mini, Apple Arcade games currently have black bars, for instance. Some apps will autoadjust, and others will need developers to adapt them (as for previous iPads with different screen sizes). PDFs, graphic books and digital magazines, which often have 4:3 document layouts, also don’t take advantage of the larger screen area. But the multicore score is 4,548, which is close to what Apple’s pre-M1 iPad Pros could handle with the more graphics-boosted A12Z chip. Like pretty much every current-gen Apple device, the 2021 iPad Mini is fast enough that you won’t have to worry about taxing the system, at least with currently available apps.
I wanted to hate how small the Mini is, but I’m starting to find multitasking on an 8-inch screen kind of addictive. iPadOS 15 makes swapping apps in and out of multitasking mode a bit easier, but the tiny triple-dot icon on the top of the screen is also easy to accidentally press in some apps, since it’s near a lot of top menu bars and icons.
A rear flash and 4K video recording will make it good enough for documentation or on-the-spot videos and photos, though it doesn’t have multiple rear cameras, and doesn’t have lidar scanning like the iPad Pro models do.
The front camera has a wider-angle mode that taps into Apple’s digital-zooming Center Stage tech, which debuted on the iPad Pro in the spring. It’s helpful for face-following while on video chats using FaceTime, Zoom and other supported apps, and is a feature that all Apple devices should add. The size of this Mini sets it up as a gaming tablet, or a Kindle alternative, or a very nice superportable sketchpad.
There’s also a business audience for a revamped and faster mini tablet for point-of-sale or field work. The Mini feels like the sort of device that folding phone makers are aiming toward. About that 5G: The Mini’s flavor of 5G doesn’t support the limited-availability but sometimes very fast millimeter-wave frequency like the iPhone 12 and 13 and the spring iPad Pro do. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, 5G signals come in several types, and mmWave (where available) is like a very fast local hotspot.
This means, effectively, that this Mini’s 5G won’t reach superhigh speeds. In suburban Montclair, New Jersey, my Verizon 5G test SIM speeds ranged from 270Mbps to 170Mbps, which is basically similar to LTE. The $150 cellular modem add-on plus monthly fee isn’t worth it to me (but maybe your business will foot the bill?) The Mini is a great total revision, but I wouldn’t say it’s a must-have… and it’s far too expensive (and limited) for kids. For your family, maybe, it might be worth the upgrade if you’re in love with the design and don’t mind the mini size.
Apple iPad Pro vs iPad 10.2
The iPad Pro, on the other hand, gives you a lot more power and a bigger screen, which will come in handy for actual work, but it’s a bit expensive for the average buyer.
Apple iPad vs. iPad Air vs. iPad mini vs. iPad Pro: Which Tablet Should You Buy?
A few years ago, Apple formally split the iPad’s operating system off from iOS, which powers iPhones, into iPadOS. The tablet-specific operating system is very similar to iOS, but focuses on streamlining and expanding multitasking to improve the usefulness of iPads as workplace devices, with pinnable widgets and cross-app workflow features like split screen and rapidly sliding between screens. The only significant change to the latest model’s screen is the addition of Apple’s True Tone feature, which adjusts color balance based on surrounding light. The selfie camera is 12MP, with a 122-degree field of view and support for Apple’s Center Stage tracking feature.
It’s nearly double the resolution of the 2020 iPad’s selfie camera, making FaceTime calls much nicer. If you want a versatile entertainment device for watching videos, reading books and comics, browsing the web, communicating with your friends, and even doing light text-crunching and presentations, it’s an excellent choice.
The iPad mini weighs 0.66 pounds and measures less than a quarter of an inch thick, small enough to easily fit in a bag or even a large jacket pocket. It doesn’t have the ProMotion technology of the iPad Pro’s screen, but it features the same P3 Wide Color and True Tone modes, in a fully laminated panel with anti-reflective coating. The selfie camera is the same as the standard iPad, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor that supports Center Stage in FaceTime to automatically frame your face.
The 2022 iPad Air tilts that balance heavily toward the Pro end, with extensive upgrades that put it within striking distance of the pricey, professional tablet.
It’s a huge step up from the A14 Bionic mobile processor in the previous model, and starting at $599, it’s by far the least expensive M1 device available. That distinction is important, because it needs to justify the much higher $799 and $1,099 baseline price tags the Pro models command over the other versions.
It’s still an utter beast that can handle pretty much any processing tasks you can throw its way, and beats out the iPad Air with its smoother ProMotion screen and multiple rear cameras, along with the choice between 11- and 12.9-inch models. The 11-inch iPad Pro has a Liquid Retina display with a 2,388-by-1,668 resolution and Apple’s ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate and True Tone technologies, as well as Wide Color support. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has all of those technologies and a higher 2,732-by-2,048-pixel resolution (for the same 264 pixels per inch as the smaller model), but adds a mini-LED backlight system that can both get much brighter and more precisely control the light output of the screen for better contrast.
The front-facing TrueDepth camera is also 12MP, with support for Face ID, 1080p60 recording, cinematic video stabilization, and Smart HDR 3.
No matter which model you choose, make sure you learn how to master iPadOS with our top tricks and tips.
iPad Pro vs. iPad Mini: Which Is Your Best Fit For Your Business?
Apple requires no introduction in the field of tech devices. Apple is known to be inventing the tech equipment we could only imagine. Apple’s iPad pro brings faster chips and high tech resolution display and the iPad mini has the best-LED retina screens.
Due to iPad mini’s A8 processor, it is a lot slower than the other tablets in line.
Apple pencil enjoys robust app support too. The new smart connector feature in the iPad models is incredible.
You will never to bother pairing the smart keyboard in the settings of Bluetooth. This iPad is a heaven for people to draw and paint with Apple pencil.
And this Tablet is a good option for the ones who love to edit large photos and videos.
How to choose between the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro
Whether you’re shopping for your first iPad or upgrading from a previous generation, figuring out which Apple-made tablet is best for you can be confusing. The right size, the right price (and not paying more or less than you should), the right amount of power and functionality, and lastly, the right port so it has compatibility with the accessories you want or already own.
So, we’ve laid it all out, drilling down and explaining each tablet’s biggest selling points and drawbacks, starting with the most affordable option.
This iPad has first-generation Apple Pencil support, though you can also use the Logitech Crayon to draw or write on the tablet if you don’t want to spend as much.
Apple did apparently add an extra gigabyte of RAM in the newer model, totaling 3GB. Even though the processor is getting a little long in the tooth and Apple’s Smart Keyboard is too pricey, it remains impressive that you can get a computer this good for this price. This model has a 7.9-inch display, and although that’s not a pocketable size for most, it splits the difference between an iPhone and a larger tablet. If you like to read, watch movies, or play games, and want something bigger than your phone but smaller than a laptop, this is a good option.
Apple’s 2019 refresh injected some much-needed life into the tablet, which hadn’t received an update since 2015. Nilay Patel reviewed the new iPad mini and explains why this is the small tablet to beat: If you are the sort of person who wants a powerful small tablet, the new iPad mini is the best choice, full stop. It also cribs the Pro’s True Tone display (but not the ProMotion high refresh rate), which automatically adjusts its color temperature to the ambient lighting in your work space.
The Smart Connector found its way to the Air as well, which makes it easy to connect one of Apple’s keyboard accessories (if you buy one, that is). Like the cheaper iPad options, the Air is still limited to the first-generation Apple Pencil that charges via its Lightning port. If that’s bothersome, you should consider checking out Apple’s slightly older 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which has four speakers and a ProMotion display that has a faster refresh rate.
So, as long as you’re alright with an older processor, you’ll save a good amount of money. Best Buy currently offers it for $499, and Apple sells refurbished iPad Pro tablets starting at $419. Here’s a nice breakdown of what the new iPad Air brings to the tablet, straight from Dieter Bohn’s review:
It has a dual-lens camera array and a LIDAR sensor for augmented reality, an improved processor, more microphones, and the base storage is now 128GB instead of 64GB. Both the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch models have a True Tone display that adapts the screen’s color temperature to the light in your environment, as well as the ProMotion feature that makes scrolling and other animations appear smoother.
The tablet has four speakers, and it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil that magnetically attaches to its side to charge.
And with recent iPadOS software updates combined with the Magic Keyboard that features a trackpad, it works even more like a laptop than previous models. While the power and those improvements will seal the deal for some, my colleague Dieter Bohn who reviewed this model is skeptical that LIDAR — this tablet’s breakout feature — is worth the added cost.
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