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 Air 5 vs iPad Mini 6: Which One You Should Buy?
The iPad Mini has a smaller 8.3-inch display with a slightly lower resolution of 2266 x 1640 but a much higher pixel density of 326. And personally, I would have liked to have seen 120 hertz on the iPad Air 5, given that other manufacturers offer this feature in tablets of comparable price.
The slightly higher resolution on the iPad Air 5 didn’t really make a major practical difference in how I was able to use it, but the actual size of the display did.
And it was also much more convenient when I wanted to read in bed while laying on my side because it’s much more comfortable to hold. However, the port on the iPad Air 5 can transfer data at a rate of up to 10 gigabits per second. Most users won’t notice this, but if you frequently transfer files from a fast SSD, you’ll appreciate the newer port’s improved performance.
Both iPads have a 12-megapixel camera on the back with a 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3 for photos. Second Generation Apple Pencil is supported on both iPads and it can be plugged in and stored on the side of each tablet.
Also compatible with Apple’s smaller Magic Keyboard, as well as Logitech and ESR, there are a lot of great options available. With the exception of rendering video or other resource-intensive tasks, your everyday use of both devices will be nearly identical, with the M1 chip on iPad Air 5 providing an additional headroom in terms of performance over the iPad Air 4. Choosing the iPad Air 5 with the M1 chip is the best option if you’re looking for a more powerful tablet. I played “PUBG,” “Asphalt,” “Genshin Impact,” and several other less-demanding games, and all of them ran great.
Now keep in mind that just like with processing power, having more RAM is never gonna be a bad thing as time goes on. Processor power on the A15 Bionic chip is more than adequate for the vast majority of smartphone users. While it retains its dual-core processor and its ability to multitask, it gains a flash and is backwards compatible with Apple’s second-generation Pencil. In terms of screen size, the iPad Air 5 is larger than its predecessor.
There are a number of great keyboard cases and the 2nd Generation Apple Pencil that are compatible with this device.
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
Apple iPad Air (2022) vs. Apple iPad Mini (2021)
These include the powerful M1 chip, a gorgeous Liquid Retina display, and the new Center Stage feature, which keeps you in the middle of the frame when using the front-facing selfie camera. iPad Mini (2021) iPad Air (2022) Size 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 inches) 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches) Weight Wi-FI: 293 grams (10.47 ounces) LTE: 297 grams (10.47 ounces) Wi-Fi: 461 grams (16.26 ounces) LTE: 462 grams (16.29 ounces) Screen size 8.3 inches 10.9 inches Screen resolution 2266 x 1488 pixels (327 pixels per inch) 2360 x 1640 pixels (264 pixels per inch) Operating system iPadOS 15 iPadOS 15 Storage space 64GB, 256GB 64GB, 256GB MicroSD card slot No No Tap-to-pay services No No Processor Apple A15 Bionic Apple M1 RAM 4GB 8GB Camera Rear 12MP, front 12MP ultrawide Rear 12MP, front 12MP ultrawide Video 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Ports Lightning Lightning Fingerprint sensor Yes, side-mounted Yes, side-mounted Water resistance No No Battery 5,178 mAh TBC App marketplace Apple App Store Apple App Store Network support All major carriers (cellular version only) All major carriers (cellular version only) Colors Space Gray, pink, purple, Starlight Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue Price $499 $599 Review score 4 stars out of 5 4.5 stars out of 5
Like the iPad Mini, it uses an LCD-based Liquid Retina display, with a similar level of brightness (typically 500 nits). It also has a similar resolution, but the iPad Mini’s smaller display means it packs more pixels per inch and therefore looks sharper.
Neither tablet has an official IP rating, which is something of a disappointment, although we’ve never heard of anyone wanting to take their iPad for a swim. This is the same processor you’ll find in the iPhone 13 series, and when combined with the Mini’s 4GB of RAM, it will do a great job of handling everyday tasks and the latest apps.
When you combine that with a generous 8GB of RAM, you’ll find that the iPad Air excels as a work device, something which can’t quite be said for the Mini. 64GB is pretty parsimonious in this day and age, so you could argue that both tablets are more expensive than they seem, assuming you intend to do lots of different things with them.
Apple has made a habit of not divulging battery capacity in terms of mAh, so a quantitative comparison isn’t really possible. That said, our review of the iPad Mini showed that its battery life was surprisingly decent, giving about a day and a half if you’re a lighter user. This makes the iPad Air a little bit more usable in terms of just picking it up to quickly take photos, without worrying about having to perfectly frame everything. Both 12MP ultrawide lenses are also compatible with Apple’s new Center Stage feature, keeping you in the middle of the shot when streaming with the front lens, even if you get up and move around.
This is the latest version of the iPad operating system, providing such useful new features as refined multitasking, floating windows, and a neat Quick Notes function. The bigger screen is more impressive, it benefits from a dizzyingly fast processor, has a slightly better camera, and is compatible with the Magic Keyboard. Nevertheless, if you don’t plan to use your tablet for professional purposes and prefer something more compact, the iPad Mini is certainly a great choice.
iPad Air 5 vs. mini 6: Which should you buy?
Additions like Center Stage and 5G connectivity bring it up to today’s standards, while it maintains the mid-range 10.9-inch form factor and the same accessory support. Don’t let its size deceive you — Apple’s smallest iPad packs quite a punch. You can do a lot with this diminutive device thanks to its A15 Bionic chip, USB-C port, and 5G connectivity (in the cellular configurations), then throw it in your bag or jacket pocket.
Most people who buy it are unlikely to push it to its limits but it’s good to have a higher ceiling and know you have a device that is future-proofed. iPad Air 5’s balance of size, power, and price makes it a top pick. It’s clear that Apple hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the iPad Air 5 but it has made it considerably more powerful without cranking up the price.
Ipad Mini 6 Review Hero (Image credit: Adam Oram / iMore) The iPad mini 6 is a huge upgrade over the model it replaced in 2021 meaning that Apple’s smallest tablet is actually pretty darn powerful.
Granted, it’s now outpaced by the iPad Air 5 with M1 chip, but the A15 Bionic inside the mini is no slouch. If you don’t need the added power of M1, the only real downside is the smaller canvas though this may actually be a boon to those that need to prioritize portability. iPad mini 6 is also ideally suited to keen readers with its pixel-dense display. That being said, the iPad Air is faster, offers a speedier USB-C port, and also has extra versatility thanks to the Smart Connector.
These are certainly factors worth considering if you plan to use an iPad as your main computing device, hooked up to various accessories. Given its mid-range 10.9-inch size and speedy M1 processor, the iPad Air is the best tablet for most people to pick up.
iPad Air 5 vs iPad Mini 6: Is smaller always better?
The iPad Air 5 has finally launched at the Apple Peak Performance event, packing in the M1 chipset alongside 5G connectivity. This means it’s not as reactive as Pro level iPads which have 120Hz refresh rates (a key metric that facilitates smoother scrolling and more responsive gaming performance). The resolution sits at 2266×1488 and the screen has HDR support, which is perfectly serviceable, though our review noted that the colours didn’t punch as hard and the blacks veered on being grey, which is more of an issue if you’re using the tablet to watch media. The iPad Mini 6 comes in four colours, including Space Grey, Pink, Purple and Starlight.
During testing we found the tablet is small enough to slip into any bag with ease and is light enough to grip comfortably in one hand, with our consensus being that it is a great iPad to take out on the go. Looking at the iPad Air 5, it comes in five colours, including Space Grey, Pink, Purple, Blue and Starlight.
The iPad Mini 6 comes with the same A15 Bionic chipset as the iPhone 13 series of phones, which makes for a speedy performance. In short, if Apple’s marketing rings true when we test it, it’ll be far better for gaming and demanding creative work like video editing and vector artwork.
Please help me choose between an iPad Air 5 or the iPad mini 6 : ipad
The iPad mini is something I’ve been thinking about because I also want to get a laptop, but it also has a small screen, which will make it more difficult for me to read PDFs and take notes.
Be First to Comment