If you’re searching for a brand new iPad, or perhaps a first iPad, you is likely to be enticed by the iPad Professional or iPad Air, with their Mac-standard chips and spectacular graphics choices, but when your funds doesn’t stretch past $500/£500 there are alternatives that aren’t that far beneath the iPad Professional and iPad Air. The iPad mini and the usual iPad are greater than sufficient iPad for most individuals and characterize a saving of as much as $250 on the value of the most cost effective iPad Air.
Having determined to save cash and purchase one of many cheaper iPad fashions the subsequent facet of the choice is whether or not to sacrifice dimension for energy and select the iPad mini, or sacrifice energy for dimension and select the iPad.
That’s the crux of this text. Right here we are going to weigh up the professionals and cons of the iPads on the cheaper finish of Apple’s value scale: at present the Eleventh-gen iPad mannequin, recognized formally as iPad (A16), and the iPad mini (A17 Professional).
These are surprisingly completely different units. On one facet we have now the iPad mini with it’s 8.3-inch display and a more recent and extra highly effective, Apple Intelligence-capable, chip, and on the opposite we have now the larger, iPad with its 11-inch display, however much less highly effective A16 chip. Do you have to select the pocket rocket iPad mini (A17 Professional) or the usual dimension iPad (A16)? Right here’s every thing that you must know when making this choice.
Measurement: How large is the iPad, how large is iPad mini?
As one of many major distinctions between these two fashions is their dimensions, it is smart to begin there. Right here’s how the 2 evaluate:
Dimensions:
- iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen): 9.79-inches (248.6mm) x 7.07-inches (179.5mm) x 0.28-inches (7mm)
- iPad mini (A17 Professional): 7.69-inches (195.4mm) x 5.3-inches (134.8mm) x 0.25mm (6.3mm)
Weight:
- iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen): Wi-Fi – 1.05lbs (477g), Wi-Fi & Mobile – 1.06lbs (481g)
- iPad mini (A17 Professional): Wi-Fi – 0.65 (293g), Wi-Fi & Mobile – 0.66lbs (297g)
As you’ll be able to see, the usual iPad is kind of a bit taller, wider and heavier than its extra diminutive sibling. Whether or not this can be a good or dangerous factor will depend on your viewpoint.
The bigger variant homes a extra sizeable show which is likely to be preferable for watching motion pictures, enhancing pictures and video, writing emails and something you may need performed on a laptop computer.
Conversely, the iPad mini is a really compact and moveable gadget which works rather well as a digital notepad, e-reader, moveable gaming gadget, and common companion you can put in a small bag or massive pocket. It’s diminutive dimensions can also be higher suited to youngsters.
All of it comes down as to whether you need your iPad to be greater or extra moveable.
iPad mini vs iPad: Design and Colours
Though they could be fairly completely different in dimension, the design strategy to each the iPad and the iPad mini may be very related. Each sport an aluminum chassis, a entrance panel surrounded by slim bezels that homes the FaceTime digicam, panorama stereo audio system, Contact ID within the energy button. You’ll additionally discover the identical 12Mp extensive digicam on the rear, and USB-C charging ports on the backside.
The colour-schemes for these iPads are somewhat completely different, with the mini provided in Area Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight.
Delicate, muted shades for the iPad mini.
Apple
The iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen) sports activities extra playful hues, with the Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver liveries being extra vibrant and enjoyable.
Shiny and daring coloration selections for the iPad.
Foundry
One other much less noticeable distinction is that the bigger iPad options the panorama positioning of the FaceTime digicam, whereas the forward-facing iPad mini nonetheless has its digicam within the portrait place.
The panorama orientation of the digicam makes it a greater choice for video calls, that are often made with the iPad in panorama mode, though each iPads supply Middle Stage, which retains you in the midst of the body throughout a FaceTime name.
Apple
iPad mini vs iPad: Display screen
The larger dimension of the iPad implies that you additionally get a bigger display, with the 11-inch Liquid Retina Show providing extra visible actual property than the compact 8.3-inch panel on the mini. Really, it’s not really 11-inches: the so known as 11-inch iPad show is 10.86-inches, however that’s close to sufficient to 11-inches for Apple (the 11-inch iPad Air can be 10.86-inches).
Each screens supply a most brightness of 500 nits and have Apple’s True Tone expertise that mechanically adjusts the colour and depth of the show to make it essentially the most comfy to learn in your present setting.
Nonetheless, if the standard of the show is what issues to you, the iPad mini show is superior. The iPad mini show is a sharper, with a 2,266 x 1,488 decision that works out to 326ppi (pixels-per-inch), whereas the usual iPad has a 2,360 x 1,640 panel with a decrease ppi of 264. The mini additionally boasts Extensive coloration (P3) which suggests it might show a wider vary of colours than sRGB on the usual iPad.
The opposite benefit of the show on the iPad mini is that it’s absolutely laminated (that means there isn’t the air-gap between the glass and the digital panel that you simply’ll discover on the usual iPad), plus it comes with an anti-reflective coating to make it somewhat simpler to make use of in brighter environments.
iPad mini vs iPad: Apple Pencil compatibility
In the event you’re considering of utilizing an Apple Pencil together with your iPad, then there are some essential variations.
The iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen) show helps the unique Apple Pencil (1st Gen) and the newer Apple Pencil (USB-C). So it will likely be nice for doodling, note-taking, and utilizing the Pencil to navigate the system. The first technology Apple Pencil does assist strain sensitivity which the USB-C Pencil doesn’t, which is one profit.
The iPad mini additionally works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) however can be appropriate with the Apple Pencil Professional, which has superior options like Apple Pencil Hover that make it higher for extra superior customers that intend to work with graphical design software program and artwork packages. Apple Pencil Professional additionally helps strain sensitivity, not like the USB-C Pencil.
Discover out which Apple pencil works together with your iPad.
iPad mini works with Apple Pencil Professional
Apple
There are additionally keyboards circumstances designed to work with the usual iPad that gained’t be appropriate with the iPad mini. Nonetheless, there’s nothing to cease you from utilizing a regular Bluetooth keyboard with an iPad mini.
iPad mini vs iPad: Specs
When it comes to specs there are extra variations than similarities.
Probably the most notable distinction is that the iPad mini is powered by a more recent Apple processor. The A17 Professional contained in the iPad mini comes geared up with a 6-core CPU (2x efficiency, 4x effectivity), a 5-core GPU and the 16-core Neural Engine. This permits the mini to supply Apple Intelligence, the brand new AI-tools that Apple is utilizing as a primary promoting level for its newest units.
The iPad then again options an older A16 chip with 5-core CPU (2x efficiency, 3x effectivity), 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. Crucially the A16 just isn’t able to supporting Apple Intelligence. It’s a baffling choice on the a part of Apple that the 2025 iPad doesn’t assist Apple’s latest expertise. Examine Apple Intelligence and what it provides.
One other good thing about the iPad mini is that it provides Wi-Fi 6E whereas the iPad provides Wi-Fi 6, 6E has a ‘quick lane’ and provides quicker speeds and decrease latency.
Each iPads supply 5G (within the mobile fashions) and the similar storage choices of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB.
Apple
Right here’s a breakdown of the principle specs for the iPad and iPad mini:
| iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024) | iPad (A16, Eleventh gen) | |
| Colours | Blue, Purple, Area Grey, Starlight | Blue, Pink, Silver, Yellow |
| Display screen dimension | 8.3 inches | 11 inches |
| Show | Liquid Retina show (2266‑by‑1488 decision, at 326 ppi), 500 nits max, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, absolutely laminated show, antireflective coating, extensive coloration (P3) | Liquid Retina show (2360‑by‑1640 decision, at 264 ppi), 500 nits max, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, sRGB |
| Safety | Contact ID on prime button (no Residence button) | Contact ID on prime button (no Residence button) |
| Dimensions & weight | 7.69 x 5.3 x .25 inches, .65 kilos | 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches, 1.05 kilos |
| 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.2mm, 293g | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g | |
| Processor | A17 Professional | A16 |
| Storage choices | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear digicam | 12MP extensive, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, True Tone flash, Sensible HDR 4 | 12MP extensive, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, Sensible HDR 4 |
| Entrance digicam | 12MP Extremely Extensive, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Middle Stage, Sensible HDR 4 | 12MP Panorama Extremely Extensive, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Middle Stage, panorama orientation, Sensible HDR 4 |
| Video | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; prolonged dynamic vary for video as much as 30 fps; slo-mo video assist for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; prolonged dynamic vary for video as much as 30 fps; slo-mo video assist for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Apple accent assist | Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil Professional | Magic Keyboard Folio, Apple Pencil 1, Apple Pencil (1st Gen) |
| Battery life | As much as 10 hours | As much as 10 hours |
| Bluetooth/Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO | Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6 |
| Mobile assist | 5G | 5G |
iPad mini vs iPad: Battery life
Battery life is listed as the identical on each units, with Apple promising as much as 10 hours of browsing the net or watching video content material.
Once we reviewed the iPad mini (A17 Professional) we ran a video that was saved to the iPad mini’s SSD on a loop, with the show set to 200 nits, and the battery ultimately ran out after 9 hours and 57 minutes, matching Apple’s declare. We’ll run the identical assessments on the iPad (A17) and anticipate related outcomes.
iPad mini vs iPad: Value
The iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen) is at present the most cost effective iPad within the Apple catalog, accessible on the following costs:
iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen) Wi-Fi:
- 128GB – $349/£349
- 256GB – $449/£449
- 512GB – $649/£649
iPad (A16, Eleventh Gen) Wi-Fi & Mobile:
- 128GB – $499/£499
- 256GB – $599/£599
- 512GB – $649/£649
$328.86
$328.86
$329
$349
$349
$349.99
See our spherical up of the perfect iPad (A16) offers.
The iPad mini (A17 Professional) is costlier and is out there within the following tiers:
iPad mini (A17 Professional) Wi-Fi:
- 128GB – $499/£499
- 256GB – $599/£599
- 512GB – $799/£799
iPad mini (A17 Professional) Wi-Fi & Mobile:
- 128GB: $649/£649
- 256GB: $749/£749
- 512GB: $949/£949
$399
$399
$479
$499
$499
$499.99
See our spherical up of the perfect iPad mini (A17 Professional) offers.
Which iPad is greatest? iPad vs iPad mini
On the subject of specs there are some shocking variations between to the 2 units. There are just a few higher-grade elements within the iPad mini – a show that’s sharper and extra colourful, a superior processor, Apple Intelligence, and assist for Apple Pencil Professional. However by way of on a regular basis efficiency each will get the job performed.
So, the dimensions of show does develop into an essential issue. In the event you’re older and discover that your eyes aren’t fairly as eager as they as soon as have been, then the bigger format is likely to be extra comfy to make use of. Additionally, if you wish to use the iPad as an ersatz laptop computer, then once more the shape issue of the usual iPad could possibly be higher suited to engaged on paperwork and spreadsheets. It’s price noting that the usual iPad is appropriate with Apple’s Magic Folio Keyboard, whereas the mini will make-do with any Bluetooth keyboard, so if peripherals are essential then there’s that to contemplate.
Smaller youngsters may discover the mini is best suited to their tiny fingers, though it’s a costlier gadget to place of their fingers, so once more there’s a stability to be struck. In the event you’re after a extremely moveable gaming platform, then the mini has extra energy below that hood, which is all the time an excellent factor. As long as you’re not taking part in video games with plenty of info of the display that must be learn rapidly, then the smaller dimension is likely to be a bonus as you’ll have the ability to maintain it for longer with out your fingers fatiguing. Bear in mind the mini is nearly half the burden of the usual iPad.
With all this in thoughts, it’s exhausting to offer categoric recommendation on which one would be the proper selection for anybody specifically. They’re each nice, have completely different strengths and ship the traditional iPad expertise. In the long run, you’ll must determine what it’s you’ll spend the vast majority of your time doing with the gadget. When you’ve received that nailed down, then selecting the iPad that matches it greatest will likely be rather a lot simpler.
