We compare the iPad Air and the iPad mini, two brothers very similar and very different at the same time.
After the update of the iPad mini in late 2021, the small tablet has become a more manageable version of the iPad Air. Both devices are really similar in terms of specifications and design, so we are going to compare iPad Air to iPad mini to see which one is the perfect iPad for you.
iPad Air vs iPad mini: similarities and differences
The iPad Air and mini have as many similarities as differences, and for an average user the decision is not easy at all. We are going to buy them so you can choose.
Comparison chart
iPad Air 2020 | iPad mini 2021 | |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61 cm | 19.54 x 13.48 x 0.63 cm |
Weight | 458 g | 293 g |
Colors | Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green and Sky Blue | Space Gray, Pink, Purple and Star White |
Screen | 10.9 “Liquid Retina | 8.3 “Liquid Retina |
Display technologies | True tone | True tone |
Maximum brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
Resolution | 2,360 x 1,640 at 264 p / p | 2,266 x 1,488 at 326 p / p |
Processor | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
OS | iPadOS 15 | iPadOS 15 |
Storage | 64 and 256 GB | 64 and 256 GB |
Rear camera | 12 MP | 12 MP with flash |
Front camera | 7 MP | 12 MP |
Audio | 2 speakers | 2 speakers |
Battery | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
Main sensors | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Apple Pencil | Yes, 2nd generation | Yes, 2nd generation |
Smart Connector | Yes | No |
price from | 649 euros | 559 euros |
Design, size and weight
It is probably the biggest difference that we find between the iPad Air and the iPad mini, and also one of the reasons that can lead you to one or the other model. The design of both devices is identical, using aluminum in most of the body, but the dimensions are very different.
- IPad Air dimensions: 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61 cm.
- IPad mini dimensions: 19.54 x 13.48 x 0.63 cm.
The difference in weight is also significant, with the iPad mini being closer to an iPhone than a tablet. The iPad Air weighs 458 grams and iPad mini only 293 grams. All of this makes the iPad mini much more portable and easy to carry around.
Screen
Another big difference that determines the design of the device. The iPad Air and iPad mini screens use the same IPS Liquid Retina technology with TrueTone, but with a size difference of plus two inches. The iPad Air has a 10.9-inch panel and the iPad mini 8.3, a difference of 2.6 inches that conditions each device.
Another important aspect to take into account, for what it represents, is in the screen resolution, which is practically the same despite the difference in size. This makes the iPad mini have a higher density of pixels per inch.
- IPad Air screen resolution: 2,360 x 1,640 at 264 p / p.
- IPad Air screen resolution: 2,266 x 1,488 at 326 p / p.
Power: A14 vs A15
It is a difference between the two devices, although perhaps not something to pay much attention to. The iPad mini comes with the latest Apple processor, the A15 Bionic that also incorporates the iPhone 13. For its part, the iPad Air remains with the A14 Bionic launched last year.
Although there are differences between the two processors, the A15 Bionic chip in the iPad mini is known to be slightly less powerful than the one in the iPhone 13, so we will not find big differences in terms of power. On Geekbench we only found a slight difference in the multi-core score.
- Geekbench iPad Air: a core – 1584; two cores – 4195.
- Geekbench iPad mini: a core – 1597; two cores – 4539.
Cameras
The main sensor of both devices is the same, we have a 12 Mpx wide angle and ƒ / 1.8 aperture that offers a digital zoom up to 5x. The main difference is in the video recording, having the iPad mini expanded dynamic range, and in the TrueTone flash with four small LEDs of the two iPads.
As for the front camera, here we do have important changes. At iPad Air we have a 7 MP wide-angle sensor, and in the iPad mini we have the new 12 MP ultra wide-angle sensor that the iPad Pro has and that allows us to zoom out x2.
This makes functionality possible Framing Centered, very useful in video calls. Being ultra wide angle, the front camera of the iPad mini keeps us always centered even if we move, being able to enlarge the plane if there are more people.
Accessories
And here we have the last big difference between both iPad models. Both the iPad Air and iPad mini are Compatible with the second generation Apple Pencil and feature a USB-C port to which we can connect any type of accessory: hard drives, keyboards, mice and whatever comes to mind. However, only the iPad Air supports the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard Folio.
The iPad mini does not have a Smart Connector, so it is only compatible with wireless keyboards. This is because it is not a device designed to work in a more classical way, that is not its strong point due to the size of its screen.
Why buy the iPad Air?
The iPad Air is almost an iPad ProIn fact, it is capable of doing everything an iPad Pro is capable of at the software level. By having a larger screen and being compatible with Apple keyboards, it is an iPad more designed to work with as well as to entertain yourself.
The bigger screen allows us to edit files better, be it a word document or a drawing that we are doing. The iPad Air can be considered as a substitute for a basic laptop.
Why buy the iPad mini?
The iPad mini is designed for other types of users who do not want to work with a keyboard as much as they do with the Apple Pencil. It is an iPad that can perfectly replace a notepad thanks to its small size and weight.
In addition, it has a screen large enough to enjoy series and movies and playing any of the great games on the App Store, even because of its size and weight, it can be a perfect portable console.
The iPad Air and iPad mini are practically identical in all other specifications. Have Touch ID as an identification system, same RAM and storage capacities, and same battery life. If it is true that the iPad mini has an option with 5G connectivity and the iPad Air is 4G, but it is not a very relevant difference.
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