If you are looking for a new iPad , or even a first iPad , you might be lure by the iPad Pro or iPad Air , with their Mac - standard chips and impressive graphics offering , but if your budget does n’t stretch beyond $ 500/£500 there are alternative that are n’t that far below the iPad Pro and iPad Air . The iPad mini and the standard iPad are more than enough iPad for most mass and represent a economy of up to $ 250 on the price of the cheapest iPad Air .
Having resolve to hold open money and buy one of the cheaper iPad models the next aspect of the determination is whether to give sizing for might and prefer the iPad mini , or forfeit mightiness for size of it and prefer the iPad .
That ’s the crux of the matter of this clause . Here we will weigh up the pros and yardbird of the iPads at the cheaper end of Apple ’s price scale : currently the eleventh - gen iPad model , have it away officially asiPad ( A16 ) , and theiPad mini ( A17 Pro ) .
Subtle, muted shades for the iPad mini.
These are amazingly different equipment . On one side we have the iPad miniskirt with it ’s 8.3 - inch screen and a newer and more powerful , Apple Intelligence - capable , silicon chip , and on the other we have the bigger , iPad with its 11 - inch screen , but less potent A16 micro chip . Should you choose the scoop rocket iPad miniskirt ( A17 Pro ) or the standard size iPad ( A16 ) ? Here ’s everything you need to sleep together when making this decision .
Apple iPad (A16)
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Size: How big is the iPad, how big is iPad mini?
As one of the basal distinctions between these two models is their proportion , it makes sense to take off there . Here ’s how the two compare :
property :
system of weights :
As you’re able to see , the standard iPad is quite a bit tall , wider and heavy than its more diminutive sib . Whether this is a unspoilt or risky thing depend on your viewpoint .
The larger variant houses a more sizeable display which might be preferable for watch movies , editing image and television , write emails and anything you might have done on a laptop .
Conversely , the iPad mini is a very summary and portable twist which work really well as a digital notepad , Es - reviewer , portable gaming gimmick , and universal companion that you may put in a small udder or magnanimous pocket . It ’s diminutive dimensions may also be better suited to children .
Subtle, muted shades for the iPad mini.
It all comes down to whether you need your iPad to be bigger or more portable .
iPad mini vs iPad: Design and Colors
Although they may be quite different in size , the design approaching to both the iPad and the iPad mini is very similar . Both sport an atomic number 13 chassis , a front instrument panel surrounded by slim bezel that houses the FaceTime camera , landscape painting stereo speakers , Touch ID in the tycoon button . You ’ll also find the same 12Mp wide photographic camera on the prat , and USB - C charging ports at the bottom .
The colouration - schemes for these iPads are a little dissimilar , with the mini put up in Space Grey , Blue , Purple , and Starlight .
elusive , muted shades for the iPad mini .
orchard apple tree
The iPad ( A16 , 11th Gen ) sports more playful hues , with the racy , Pink , Yellow , and Silver liveries being more vibrant and fun .
shiny and bold color alternative for the iPad .
metalworks
Another less noticeable remainder is that the larger iPad features the landscape painting positioning of the FaceTime tv camera , while the forward - facing iPad mini still has its camera in the portrait place .
The landscape orientation of the camera make it a safe alternative for video calls , which are normally made with the iPad in landscape mode , although both iPads extend Center Stage , which keeps you in the middle of the inning during a FaceTime call .
Subtle, muted shades for the iPad mini.
iPad mini vs iPad: Screen
The bigger size of it of the iPad means that you also get a larger screen , with the 11 - inch Liquid Retina Display offering more optic real estate of the realm than the thick 8.3 - in jury on the miniskirt . Actually , it ’s not in reality 11 - inches : the so called 11 - inch iPad display is 10.86 - inches , but that ’s near enough to 11 - in for Apple ( the 11 - in iPad Air is also 10.86 - in ) .
Both screens offer a maximum brightness of 500 nit and feature Apple ’s True Tone technology that automatically adapt the color and loudness of the presentation to make it the most well-situated to read in your current environment .
However , if the timbre of the display is what weigh to you , the iPad mini video display is higher-ranking . The iPad mini display is a sharper , with a 2,266 x 1,488 resolution that exploit out to 326ppi ( pixels - per - inch ) , whereas the received iPad has a 2,360 x 1,640 panel with a lower ppi of 264 . The mini also boasts Wide colouring ( P3 ) which means it can exhibit a wider range of colors than sRGB on the standard iPad .
The other advantage of the showing on the iPad mini is that it is amply laminate ( meaning there is n’t the zephyr - gap between the deoxyephedrine and the digital panel that you ’ll find oneself on the received iPad ) , plus it comes with an anti - reflective coating to make it a little gentle to utilise in brighter environment .
iPad mini vs iPad: Apple Pencil compatibility
If you ’re believe of using an Apple Pencil with your iPad , then there are some important differences .
The iPad ( A16 , 11th Gen ) display stand the original Apple Pencil ( 1st Gen ) and the newerApple Pencil ( USB - C ) . So it will be great for doodling , distinction - taking , and using the Pencil to navigate the organization . The first multiplication Apple Pencil does support force per unit area sensitivity which the USB - C Pencil does n’t , which is one welfare .
The iPad mini also operate with the Apple Pencil ( USB - C ) but is also compatible with theApple Pencil Pro , which has come along feature article like Apple Pencil Hover that make it better for more in advance exploiter that intend to work with graphic design software and nontextual matter packages . Apple Pencil Pro also supports press sensibility , unlike the USB - C Pencil .
determine outwhich Apple pencil works with your iPad .
iPad miniskirt kit and boodle with Apple Pencil Pro
There are also keyboard cases project to run with the standard iPad that wo n’t be compatible with the iPad miniskirt . However , there is nothing to stop you from using a received Bluetooth keyboard with an iPad miniskirt .
iPad mini works with Apple Pencil Pro
iPad mini vs iPad: Specs
In terms of specs there are more differences than similarity .
The most notable difference is that the iPad miniskirt is power by a young Apple CPU . The A17 Pro inside the iPad miniskirt issue forth fit out with a 6 - core central processing unit ( 2x performance , 4x efficiency ) , a 5 - heart and soul GPU and the 16 - core Neural Engine . This allows the mini to propose Apple Intelligence , the unexampled AI - tool that Apple is using as a primary merchandising item for its recent gimmick .
The iPad on the other hand features an honest-to-god A16 chip with 5 - core CPU ( 2x execution , 3x efficiency ) , 4 - meat GPU , and 16 - core Neural Engine . Crucially the A16 is not up to of supporting Apple Intelligence . It is a baffling decision on the part of Apple that the 2025 iPad does n’t support Apple ’s new technology . take aboutApple Intelligence and what it offer up .
Another benefit of the iPad mini is that it offers Wi - Fi 6E while the iPad offers Wi - Fi 6 , 6E has a ‘ fast lane ’ and pop the question libertine speeds and lower latency .
Both iPads offer 5 G ( in the cellular example ) and the identical store options of 128 GB , 256 GB or 512 GB .
Here ’s a breakdown of the main specification for the iPad and iPad mini :
iPad mini vs iPad: Battery life
Battery life is listed as the same on both devices , with Apple foretell up to 10 hours of browse the entanglement or watching telecasting content .
When we reviewed the iPad mini ( A17 Pro ) we run a video that was saved to the iPad mini ’s SSD on a grommet , with the showing set to 200 nit , and the battery eventually ran out after 9 hour and 57 minutes , matching Apple ’s claim . We ’ll be given the same test on the iPad ( A17 ) and expect like solution .
iPad mini vs iPad: Price
The iPad ( A16 , 11th Gen ) is currently the cheapest iPad in the Apple catalog , available at the watch over prices :
iPad ( A16 , 11th Gen ) Wi - Fi :
iPad ( A16 , 11th Gen ) Wi - Fi & Cellular :
See ourround up of the best iPad ( A16 ) deals .
The iPad miniskirt ( A17 Pro ) is more expensive and is available in the stick with tiers :
iPad mini ( A17 Pro ) Wi - Fi :
iPad mini ( A17 Pro ) Wi - Fi & Cellular :
See ourround up of the near iPad mini ( A17 Pro ) deals .
Which iPad is best? iPad vs iPad mini
When it fall to specification there are some surprising differences between to the two devices . There are a few higher - grade components in the iPad mini – a showing that ’s sharper and more colorful , a ranking processor , Apple Intelligence , and support for Apple Pencil Pro . But in terms of everyday performance both will get the job done .
So , the size of display does become an important element . If you ’re older and witness that your eye are n’t quite as stabbing as they once were , then the larger format might be more comfortable to expend . Also , if you want to apply the iPad as an ersatz laptop , then again the flesh factor of the standard iPad could be better accommodate to work on document and spreadsheets . It ’s deserving noting that the received iPad is compatible with Apple’sMagic Folio Keyboard , while the miniskirt will make - do with any Bluetooth keyboard , so if peripheral gadget are significant then there ’s that to think .
small children might find the mini is good suited to their tiny hands , although it is a more expensive gadget to put in their hands , so again there ’s a balance to be struck . If you ’re after a extremely portable gaming weapons platform , then the mini has more powerfulness under that hood , which is always a estimable thing . So long as you ’re not playing games with lots of selective information of the CRT screen that needs to be take quickly , then the smaller size might be an advantage as you ’ll be able to support it for longer without your hands wear out . Remember the mini is almost half the weight of the standard iPad .
With all this in mind , it ’s surd to give categoric advice on which one will be the right alternative for anyone in peculiar . They ’re both outstanding , have different strengths and cede the classic iPad experience . In the terminal , you ’ll need to decide what it is you ’ll pass the majority of your time doing with the machine . Once you ’ve got that nailed down , then choosing the iPad that matches it best will be a luck gentle .
