iPad Air versus iPad mini

iPad Air versus iPad mini: More than meets the eye

Which mid-range tablet should you buy? Michael Simon reports

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. The 2021 iPad mini now looks like a smaller version of the iPad Air, but the differences between the two are more than an inch and a half worth of pixels. Here’s how the two models stack up.

SPECIFICATIONS

iPad mini

See opposite.

iPad Air

• 10.9in (2,360x1,640; 264ppi) Liquid

Retina IPS LCD • iOS 14 • Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) processor • Hexa-core (2x 3GHz Firestorm, 4x 1.8GHz Icestorm) CPU • Apple GPU (4-core graphics) • 4GB RAM • 64GB/256GB storage • Rear-facing camera: 12Mp, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3in, 1.22μm, dual pixel

PDAF • Selfie camera: 7Mp, f/2.0, 31mm (standard) • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dualband, hotspot • Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, EDR • GPS A-GPS, GLONASS (LTE model only) • NFC • USB Type-C; magnetic connector • Fingerprint scanner (front mounted) • Non-removable 28.93Wh lithium-ion battery • 247.6x178.5x6.1mm • 459g

If you look at the iPad Air next to the iPad mini on a table, they’re going to look like smaller and larger versions of each other. If you zoom in a little, you’ll notice that the volume buttons are on the top edge of the mini across from the power button and on the right edge of the Air. Otherwise, they’re basically identical.

Except for the display, that is. Both have LED-backlit displays with widecolour support, True Tone, and 500 nits of brightness, but the iPad Air is obviously larger, with a 10.9in display versus 8.3in on the mini. That means the mini weighs significantly less than the Air (293g vs 458g) and the dimensions are obviously quite different:

The iPad Air looks very much like the iPad Pro.

iPad mini: 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm iPad Air: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm

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 colours:

iPad mini: Space Grey, pink, purple, Starlight iPad Air: Space Grey, silver, rose gold, green, blue

We like them all, but that new Starlight colour that changes from warm silver to pale gold depending on the light.

PROCESSOR AND SPECS

The iPad Air and iPad mini are similar on the inside as well, with one main exception, the processor. While the iPad Air has last year’s A14 processor, the mini is packing a newer A15 processor. 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 graphicsintensive apps.

Another difference between the two tablets is their cellular capabilities. While the iPad Air has LTE, the iPad mini brings 5G support but it might not be as fast as the iPad Pro. 5G on the iPad mini is missing the superior mmWave support, so speeds will be only slightly faster than LTE in most cases.

Otherwise, the two tablets are very similar. 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. Both models also have just two storage options, 64GB and 256GB.

CAMERAS

Aside from the screen, the biggest difference between the two models is the cameras. The rear cameras are the same now, with Apple upgrading the mini’s meagre 8Mp, f/2.4 camera with the Air’s 12Mp, f/1.8 lens. It also added a quad-LED true-tone flash that the Air doesn’t have. You’re a bit more likely to take pictures with the iPad mini than the iPad Air due to its smaller size, so that’s something to consider.

Around the front, the mini has a significant edge. Apple’s new tiny tablet gets the same 12MP ultrawide camera that’s in the iPad Pro, including Centre Stage to help keep you and anyone else with you in the

The iPad mini’s rear camera is the same as the iPad Air’s. 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.

ACCESSORIES

Both tablets support the magnetically charging Apple Pencil 2.

With the latest update to the iPad mini, all of Apple’s tablets support the Apple Pencil 2 except the entrylevel iPad. So the mini and the Air each support the same stylus now. The main difference between the two Pencils is with the charging – the Apple Pencil 2 attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad mini and iPad Air and charges wirelessly, while the original Apple Pencil has a Lightning port where an eraser would be. It’s a different story with the keyboard. Like the iPad Pro, the Air has a Smart Connector on the back and a larger 10.9in display so it’s compatible with the 11in Magic Keyboard. That means you get a full keyboard and a trackpad just like a MacBook.

The mini has its own Smart Cover

and Smart Folio cases available in a variety of colours, but you’ll need to supply your own Bluetooth keyboard if you want to type on something other than the screen. You can buy Apple’s Magic Keyboard or any third-party one with Bluetooth, but it won’t tuck away neatly under the screen like the iPad Air’s Magic Keyboard does.

PRICE

The iPad Air and iPad mini both have the same configuration options, starting at 64GB of storage and offering Wi-Fi and cellular versions. The pricing breaks down like this:

iPad mini

Wi-Fi

64GB: £479 256GB: £619

Wi-Fi + Cellular

64GB: £619 256GB: £759

iPad Air

Wi-Fi

64GB: £579 256GB: £729

Wi-Fi + Cellular

64GB: £709 256GB: £859

VERDICT

For an extra £100 for the Wi-Fi models and £80 for the cellular models, the Air is a tempting choice. After all, you’re getting a much bigger screen. But the mini has a lot more going for it than just a lower price. It’s more portable, more powerful, more capable, and a more photogenic tablet. For £479, 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, Centre Stage camera and 5G modem. And that Starlight colour ain’t too bad either.