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.
Apple iPad vs iPad mini: What’s the difference?
The iPad is generally regarded as Apple’s entry-level tablet, and its specs and build generally reflect this, offering a great – but not premium – tablet experience for those keen to get into the world of the iPad. More specifically, the vast majority of the iPad mini collection sporting a 7.9-inch display, although the most recent iPad mini 6 measures in at an expanded 8.3 inches despite boasting similar overall dimensions to its predecessor. The smaller display also means it’s not quite as helpful as a big-screen tablet, especially with tasks like split-screen multitasking.
Even the larger 8.3-inch panel isn’t the best for that kind of thing, making the regular iPad the better option for productivity.
The entry-level iPad range tends to sport the same chipset as the flagship iPhone from two years before release. This propelled the processing power of the iPad mini range, making it a better option for work-related applications – as long as you can deal with the smaller display, that is. That is taken up a notch with the most recent iPad 10, with accessories like the second-gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard both available for the tablet. The iPad mini, on the other hand, doesn’t quite offer the same breadth of accessory support.
iPad vs iPad mini: which is right for you?
Out of the two September 2021 releases, the iPad mini offered the most notable upgrade from its predecessor. The entry-level iPad is the cheapest of the bunch, starting at just £319/$329 for 64GB of storage, going up to £579/$609 for the 256GB version with cellular data.
The iPad mini 6 has been given a price bump over the 5th generation model, starting at £479/$499 for 64GB and going all the way up to £759/$799 for 256GB with cellular. While the price jump might put some users off, it’s arguably worth it for the significant design and feature upgrades (more on these below).
The 9th gen iPad sports a now very familiar design, complete with curved edges, chunky bezels and a home button. The 10.2-inch display is non-laminated, which means you’ll see some warping when pressing hard with a finger or Apple Pencil.
The 10.2-inch features a Lightning port for charging, as well something that’s hard to come by with Apple products these days – a headphone jack. Over the years, bezels have shrunk and edges have flattened, but this is an unapologetically round-edged and chunky-chinned iPad.
Not only does it stick awkwardly into that Lightning port at the bottom, but it also features an easily losable cap, which needs removing in order to charge. This means enhanced multitasking and homescreen widgets, drag and drop between apps, the incredible new Live Text feature, mouse, trackpad, and keyboard support and so much more. Not only does the iPad mini offer unrivalled portability thanks to its tiny form factor, but it also has the added benefit of a contemporary iPad Pro-inspired design, and if you’re a digital artist, that Apple Pencil 2 support is essential. But with such a low price comes compromises, such as Apple Pencil 1 support and a frankly dated design.
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.
Apple iPad vs iPad mini: What’s the difference?
The iPad is generally regarded as Apple’s entry-level tablet, and its specs and build generally reflect this, offering a great – but not premium – tablet experience for those keen to get into the world of the iPad. More specifically, the vast majority of the iPad mini collection sporting a 7.9-inch display, although the most recent iPad mini 6 measures in at an expanded 8.3 inches despite boasting similar overall dimensions to its predecessor. The smaller display also means it’s not quite as helpful as a big-screen tablet, especially with tasks like split-screen multitasking. Even the larger 8.3-inch panel isn’t the best for that kind of thing, making the regular iPad the better option for productivity. The entry-level iPad range tends to sport the same chipset as the flagship iPhone from two years before release. This propelled the processing power of the iPad mini range, making it a better option for work-related applications – as long as you can deal with the smaller display, that is.
That is taken up a notch with the most recent iPad 10, with accessories like the second-gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard both available for the tablet. The iPad mini, on the other hand, doesn’t quite offer the same breadth of accessory support.
iPad mini vs iPad (10th gen and 9th gen)
At a Glance Our Verdict The 2022 iPad (10th gen) gains a new design, with no Home button and USB-C instead of Lightning, but other than that there’s not much more on offer compared to the 9th gen iPad, which represented a giant leap up from its predecessor, especially in terms of the FaceTime camera – and in this day and age that’s probably one of the most important features of all. The mini is our recommendation – as long as you don’t mind a smaller screen. The 2022 iPad (10th gen) gained a new colorful design with no Home button, USB-C instead of Lightening, a better camera, and a larger screen (10.9-inches up from 10.2-inches), but the price is higher than the previous generation, which remains on sale. This increase in price for the standard iPad closes the gap between it and the iPad mini, which costs just $50/£70 more and offers a better processor and a slightly better display, and comes in a smaller package (which will either be a advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your preference). There are various factors likely to impact on your decision, including value for money, cameras, and how well the iPad in question will do the tasks you need it to do. There are also some pretty obvious differences: size, weight, and design – specifically the lack of a Home button on two of the three models we are considering here. So, if you choose the iPad introduced in 2021 or in 2022, you will be paying more for it if you live outside the U.S. Read: Is Apple ripping off the rest of the world with inflated prices? There are a few things worth keeping in mind when it comes to price.
Be sure to look through our deals round ups so you don’t miss out on the best prices.
You should also consider whether you want to pay for more storage, because that can really close the gap between the different iPads. Perhaps the biggest question though is whether it is worth spending more to get a more powerful iPad. Retina display (2160-by-1620 resolution, at 264 ppi), 500 nits max, sRGB.
We wonder why Apple hasn’t done this with the iPhone as a secondary way to unlock the device. Despite the screen size increase, Apple has managed to keep the dimensions of the devices pretty much the same as the older models, so there is no real trade off. The non-laminated display just doesn’t give the same impression of quality. We were disappointed that Apple didn’t upgrade to a fully laminated display on the 10th gen iPad.
And the picture is even worse for video recording with the 9th gen model lacking 4K video recording and extended dynamic range, both of which are offered by the 10th gen iPad and iPad mini. There is a more level playing field when it comes to the camera on the front that is used for FaceTime calls or selfies increases. All three iPads offer an Ultra Wide 12MP front camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom, and support for Centre Stage (an AI feature that keep you in the frame even if you move around.) However, for some the compact dimensions of the iPad mini are the main benefit. Our advice is that, if you have the money, buy the iPad mini, but if you don’t need the additional features that model brings, and you want to save $170/£200 the 9th gen iPad is still a great option (and if there are any deals on that model you’ll see them below).
iPad mini: Buyer’s Guide, Should You Buy?
As the iPad mini is now 18 months old and work on a new model is underway, those who want the latest hardware should wait for a refresh to buy. The iPad Air features a Smart Connector on its rear to connect to keyboard cases and its larger, 10.9-inch display is better for productivity tasks and media consumption.
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. 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.
Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display features a resolution of 2,266 by 1,488 pixels, for a sharp 326 pictures per inch. 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.
Be First to Comment