Apple recently introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini, featuring a complete redesign, a larger display, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. The iPad mini and iPad Air share a large number of key features, such as design, a rear 12MP Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Even so, there are a large number of meaningful differences between the iPad mini and iPad Air that are worth highlighting, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more. 12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, and extended dynamic range
The compact form factor and low weight of the iPad mini make it much more portable than the iPad Air, being far easier to fit in a small bag or even a large pocket and use on the go. Though the iPad Air is still thin and light to carry around, it simply is not as convenient to use on the go as the iPad mini, which is a device that pushes iPad portability to the extreme.
Users may feel more comfortable walking around with the iPad mini and using it discreetly in public spaces than the iPad Air, and it is also a great size for kids. iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. The iPad Air’s larger, 10.9-inch display is much more suited to productivity, multitasking, and watching videos, with considerably more screen space to fit app windows, UI elements, and more. The iPad mini’s rear camera is slightly more capable than that of the iPad Air, the True Tone flash may make it more suitable for scanning documents, and its form factor may make capturing videos and images more comfortable, but broadly the rear cameras on the two are very similar. The iPad mini’s Ultra Wide front-facing camera enables its support for Center Stage, which automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls.
When other people join in on the call, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view and make sure they are part of the conversation. This means that for video calls and selfies, the iPad mini is a much more capable device that should deliver a markedly better experience and image quality. The iPad mini’s form factor may make it a great match for note-making with the Apple Pencil, while the larger display of the iPad Air may be better for illustration and graphic design. The iPad mini is still workable with Bluetooth peripherals for occasional emails or word processing, but its size is simply not practical for use as a complete laptop replacement.
If the iPad Air is out of your price range but you would still like an iPad with a bigger screen, there is the ninth-generation iPad, which starts at $329 and serves as an entry-level model in the iPad lineup. This undercuts the price of the $499 iPad mini and $599 iPad Air, but still offers important features like an Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage, first-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, a Smart Connector for use with an Apple Smart Keyboard, the A13 chip, and more.
Overall, the iPad Air is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the iPad Air over the iPad mini is more than justified for the benefits that come with a larger display, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement. Those who buy the iPad mini will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into a large pocket to use while working. The iPad mini is undoubtedly more futureproof with its newer A15 chip, 5G connectivity, improved front-facing camera, and Center Stage. Using a cellular connection or holding video calls is also a better experience on the iPad mini, but again, the main reason to choose the iPad mini will be its novel size. If you want more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the iPad Air will be the better option for you.
iPad Air 5 vs. iPad Mini 6 Buyer’s Guide
Apple recently introduced the fifth-generation iPad Air, featuring the M1 chip, 5G connectivity, and an upgraded front-facing camera system. The iPad mini and iPad Air share a large number of key features, such as design, a rear 12MP Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Even so, there are meaningful differences between the iPad mini and iPad Air that are worth highlighting, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more.
The compact form factor and low weight of the iPad mini make it much more portable than the iPad Air, being far easier to fit in a small bag or even a large pocket and use on the go. Though the iPad Air is still thin and light to carry around, it simply is not as convenient to use on the go as the iPad mini, which is a device that pushes iPad portability to the extreme. Users may feel more comfortable walking around with the iPad mini and using it discreetly in public spaces than the iPad Air, and it is also a great size for kids. The iPad mini and iPad Air are both available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight, and the iPad Air is also available in an additional Blue color option. This means that the iPad mini’s display is 2.6-inches smaller diagonally, which translates to an almost 45 percent reduction in total screen area.
The iPad Air’s larger, 10.9-inch display is much more suited to productivity, multitasking, and watching videos, with considerably more screen space to fit app windows, UI elements, and more. The iPad Air will clearly be more capable than the iPad mini, especially in multi-core tasks and activities that are reliant on more memory, but both chips are very proficient so it is unlikely to have a strong bearing on which device most people should buy. Both devices feature an identical front-facing camera setup, with a 12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, Retina Flash, Smart HDR 3, cinematic video stabilization, and 1080p video recording. The iPad mini’s form factor may make it a great match for note-making with the Apple Pencil, while the larger display of the iPad Air may be better for illustration and graphic design.
The iPad mini is still workable with Bluetooth peripherals for occasional emails or word processing, but its size is simply not practical for use as a complete laptop replacement. If the iPad Air is out of your price range but you would still like an iPad with a bigger screen, there is the ninth-generation iPad, which starts at $329 and serves as an entry-level model in the iPad lineup. This undercuts the price of the $499 iPad mini and $599 iPad Air, but still offers important features like an Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage, first-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, a Smart Connector for use with an Apple Smart Keyboard, the A13 chip, and more.
Overall, the iPad Air is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the iPad Air over the iPad mini is more than justified for the benefits that come with a larger display, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement. The iPad mini is ideal for comfortably reading books, playing handheld games, and unobtrusive storage.
Those who buy the iPad mini will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into a large pocket to use while working. If you want more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the iPad Air will be the better option for you.
iPad – Compare Models
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 vs iPad Air vs iPad mini: Which non-Pro tablet is best for your budget?
During its “Peek Performance” event, Apple gave its mid-range tablet the update it should have gotten six months ago. Now the iPad Air is up to date with the rest of Apple’s lineup, with a new processor, camera, and connectivity.
Like the iPhone SE, it has a home button, giant bezels, and a tapered design in the classic iPad colors, silver and space gray. Due to the giant bezels, it’s as big as the iPad Air despite having a smaller screen and is also the heaviest of the three models here, clocking in at 1.07 pounds.
They have an all-screen design like the iPhone, with slim, uniform bezels, rounded display corners, and flat edges. They both use Apple’s Liquid Retina technology with rounded corners and fully laminated construction, with a wide color gamut and True Tone support. The performance difference is roughly 30 percent in benchmarks, but you likely won’t notice the faster speeds in real-world use. Similarly, the iPad has a Lightning port like the iPhone, while the Air and mini have USB-C.
All three iPads have the same front camera and it’s a good one: 12MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage, which uses machine learning to keep you in the frame during FaceTime and other video calls. On the back, the ninth-gen iPad has an aging 8MP Wide camera while the Air and mini have 12MP wide cameras with Smart HDR 3 You can record 4K video on the Air and mini and HD video on the ninth-gen iPad. The entry-level iPad supports the first-generation model, which charges via Lightning. All three models also support Universal Control so you can use your Mac’s keyboard and mouse to work on apps or transfer files when in Bluetooth range.
It’s not a bad tablet—especially when compared to any Android tablet—but it has a two-generation-old processor, outdated design, and subpar display.
iPad Air vs iPad mini: More than meets the eye
After years of a home button, the iPad mini finally got the modern tablet treatment, with an “all-screen” design and a slew of internal upgrades that make it a huge upgrade over the previous model. True Tone LCD Processor A15 Bionic A14 Bionic Front Camera 12MP Ultra Wide 7MP FaceTime HD Rear camera 12MP Wide camera 12MP Wide camera Storage 64GB, 256GB 64GB, 256GB Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 5G (sub-6GHz) Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, LTE Colors Space gray, pink, purple, Starlight Space gray, silver, rose gold, green, blue Accessories Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil 2 Smart Cover/Folio, Apple Pencil 2 Around the back, they look quite similar as well, with a single camera lens in the top left corner, but they come in an array of different colors: iPad mini: Space gray, pink, purple, Starlight iPad Air: Space gray, silver, rose gold, green, blue We like them all, but that new Starlight color that changes from warm silver to pale gold depending on the light.
We won’t know exactly how much faster the A15 is than the A14 until we test it, but we do know it has an extra graphics core for a total of five, so it should be better at handling games and other graphics-intensive apps. 5G on the iPad mini is missing the superior mmWave support, so speeds will be only slightly faster than LTE in most cases.
They both have Touch ID sensors built into the power button, include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and have a battery rated for 10 hours of use. iPad Air (2020) Read our review Best Prices Today:
Apple’s new tiny tablet gets the same 12MP ultra-wide camera that’s in the iPad Pro, including Center Stage to help keep you and anyone else with you in the frame when making video calls. The iPad Air, with an underwhelming 7MP camera, will likely get the same hardware and features with its next refresh, but we don’t know when that will be.
For $499, it’s a tremendous tablet with the latest chip, camera tech, and connectivity, and you’re not going to find anything better this side of an iPad Pro. If you really need a bigger display, you’ll be plenty happy with the Air, but our pick is the iPad mini and its A15 processor, Center Stage camera and 5G modem.
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.
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. It’s faster but shorter range than mid-band 5G, and gives the Pro a slight edge on the wireless front.
No matter which model you choose, make sure you learn how to master iPadOS with our top tricks and tips.
Apple iPad mini (2021)
4 GB RAM Apple A15 Bionic We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
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