Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): Which iPad to buy?

After a three-year wait, Apple has yet breathed immoderate caller life into its smaller iPad mini. While fans of nan caller 8.3-inch tablet whitethorn beryllium disappointed by nan deficiency of changes connected nan outside, it’s what’s nether nan hood that counts, and nan 2024 iPad mini packs plentifulness of powerfulness into a mini frame.

It’s an update that leapfrogs Apple’s entry-level full-sized iPad (2022) successful each measurement isolated from for its value tag. This portion raises nan astir important question: Is nan two-year-old iPad a worthwhile acquisition for its larger screen, aliases is it worthy paying $150 much to activity connected a smaller canvas? Let’s dive successful and spot if nan trade-offs are worthy it.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): specs

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): design

Apple

This year’s iPad mini remains virtually unchanged from its 2021 predecessor. That exemplary collapsed caller crushed for Apple’s smallest tablet by embracing USB-C and adopting nan edge-to-edge surface creation and side-button Touch ID sensor that debuted connected nan anterior year’s iPad Air. You’ll person a reliable clip telling nan 2 isolated astatine a glimpse unless you cognize what to look for — different than a caller colour option, nan superior ocular quality is Apple’s determination to marque nan backmost of this year’s exemplary pinch “iPad mini” alternatively than conscionable “iPad.”

The iPad (2022) was nan first of Apple’s modular iPads to get nan caller full-screen treatment, bringing nan full iPad family into a unified creation language. As a result, it looks each spot for illustration a large relative to nan iPad mini, pinch nan astir important differences being nan front-facing camera and measurement buttons located connected nan agelong separator for usage successful scenery view.

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That scenery camera placement subsequently came to nan iPad Air and iPad Pro, but it’s 1 area wherever nan iPad mini remains chopped from nan remainder of nan family. The logic for this inconsistency isn’t wholly clear, but we’re assuming it’s because Apple doesn’t spot nan iPad mini arsenic a instrumentality that will typically beryllium utilized successful scenery orientation; you tin brace it pinch immoderate Bluetooth keyboard, but dissimilar nan full-sized iPads, Apple doesn’t nutrient immoderate keyboard accessories for nan iPad mini.

By contrast, nan iPad (2022) supports Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio, on pinch a wide assortment of other keyboard cases designed for nan full-sized tablet. Apple’s keyboard links up utilizing nan Smart Connector connected nan rear of nan iPad alternatively than Bluetooth, which intends you ne'er person to complaint it, but it besides doesn’t travel cheap.

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Since Apple doesn’t make a keyboard for nan iPad mini, nan smaller tablet lacks nan Smart Connector. You’ll find a fewer keyboards among the champion iPad mini cases (all of which should fresh nan caller iPad mini), but nan smaller size makes for an awkward typing experience, truthful they’re not peculiarly common.

The iPad mini besides supports nan Apple Pencil Pro, which was introduced alongside nan caller iPad Air and iPad Pro models, and has a spot to dock it. The iPad (2022) debuted pinch a peculiar Apple Pencil business that only improved a twelvemonth later when Apple released a caller USB-C Apple Pencil. The caller stylus will magnetically connect to nan broadside of nan iPad (2022), but you’ll still request to plug it into nan USB-C larboard utilizing a cablegram to complaint it backmost up.

There’s different mini alteration successful this year’s cellular iPad mini that could matter to immoderate people: As pinch its latest U.S. iPhone models, Apple has dropped nan beingness SIM paper slot to spell eSIM-only. That shouldn’t beryllium an obstacle pinch astir North American carriers, but location are different places wherever eSIM isn’t arsenic wide available. Of course, that’s only applicable if you want to opt for nan Wi-Fi + Cellular version, but it’s worthy keeping successful mind. The iPad (2022) still has a beingness nano-SIM paper slot, but we wouldn’t beryllium amazed if that goes distant successful nan adjacent model.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): display

Apple

Like nan iPhone, Apple reserves its champion displays for its iPad Pro models. Even though it’s technically a mid-tier model, nan iPad mini (2024) has a show that remains unchanged from its predecessor and is remarkably akin to nan 1 connected nan iPad (2022).

Both devices characteristic Apple’s Liquid Retina LCD panels pinch very akin specs. The iPad mini (2024) has a 2266 x 1488 pixel resolution, while nan iPad (2022) comes successful astatine 2360 x 1640, and some support up to 500 nits of SDR brightness. The smaller 8.3-inch surface gives nan iPad mini an separator here, arsenic you extremity up pinch a noticeably higher pixel density for crisper matter — 326 pixels per inch (ppi) connected nan iPad mini versus 264 ppi connected nan 10.9-inch show of nan iPad (2022).

The iPad mini show is laminated pinch an anti-reflective coating, making it easier to spot successful challenging lighting conditions and much earthy to usage pinch an Apple Pencil. This year’s exemplary besides supports Apple Pencil hover, which adds a preview of wherever your stylus will onshore earlier it touches nan screen.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): performance

Apple

The iPad mini punches good supra its size people successful performance. The three-year-old exemplary already packs a faster A15 Bionic spot than nan iPad (2022), which only received nan A14 Bionic from nan iPhone 12 era. This year’s iPad mini leaps moreover further ahead, moving up to nan A17 Pro from nan iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max.

This intends nan capacity spread betwixt nan iPad (2022) and nan iPad mini (2024) is connected par pinch that of nan corresponding iPhone models. The iPhone 12 was nary slouch, truthful nan iPad (2022) will beryllium arsenic satisfactory for mundane tasks. However, nan caller iPad mini becomes a gaming powerhouse tin of handling nan AAA console games that appeared erstwhile nan iPhone 15 Pro debuted past year.

The iPad mini (2024) mightiness beryllium a mini notch down nan iPhone 15 Pro since it has 1 little GPU core. It appears to beryllium a binned type of that original A17 Pro, but we’ll person to hold and spot really overmuch of a quality that makes successful real-world use. We fishy it will beryllium negligible extracurricular of high-end gaming.

Apple

However, Apple’s main logic for choosing nan A17 Pro is to support its Apple Intelligence suite of AI features, which will statesman to look erstwhile iPadOS 18.1 arrives astatine nan extremity of October. While Apple doesn’t talk RAM, it’s a safe stake that nan iPad mini (2024) has nan aforesaid 8 GB of RAM arsenic its latest AI-capable iPhone models and should grip each of nan Apple Intelligence features conscionable arsenic good arsenic an iPhone 15 Pro can.

The iPad mini (2024) besides gains Wi-Fi 6E support, Bluetooth 5.3, and a faster USB-C larboard that supports USB 3 transportation speeds of up to 10Gbps. The iPad (2022) has only Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB-C larboard constricted to 480Mbps USB 2.0. Neither of nan cellular models is equipped for mmWave 5G — only sub-6GHz 5G frequencies.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): package and features

Apple

The Apple Intelligence features will people nan astir important break betwixt nan iPad (2022) successful this year’s iPad mini. While some models tin tally iPadOS 18 now and are apt to upgrade to iPadOS 19 and beyond, only nan iPad mini will beryllium capable to return advantage of nan caller Apple Intelligence capabilities.

Still, it will beryllium a fewer weeks aliases moreover months earlier these features scope a constituent wherever they group nan 2 devices apart. The first merchandise of Apple Intelligence successful iPadOS 18.1 adds chiefly text-based features, specified arsenic penning tools, summarization of notifications, emails, and audio transcripts, positive immoderate comparatively insignificant Siri improvements and a caller Clean Up instrumentality successful Photos that’s fundamentally Apple’s return connected Google’s Magic Eraser. More precocious features for illustration AI image generation, ChatGPT integration, and a importantly smarter Siri aren’t coming until early iOS 18 constituent releases.

If you’re looking guardant to Apple Intelligence, nan iPad mini (2024) will person you fresh for it, but if AI isn’t your cup of tea, you won’t find excessively galore things nan iPad mini tin do that nan iPad (2022) can’t. Everything other successful iPadOS 18 is disposable to some models isolated from for features related to nan Apple Pencil; nan iPad mini (2024) supports everything nan caller Apple Pencil Pro offers, including hover and much precocious gestures pinch haptic feedback.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): cameras

Apple

For astir tablet users, getting a top-notch camera isn’t a immense priority, and Apple’s iPad lineup continues to bespeak this. Not only is nan rear camera connected nan iPad mini (2024) virtually unchanged from its predecessor, but it’s nan aforesaid arsenic what Apple offers connected nan remainder of nan iPad lineup — even nan flagship M4 iPad Pro.

Specifically, nan iPad mini (2024) and iPad (2022) athletics nan aforesaid azygous rear camera pinch a 12-megapixel sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and a 5x integer zoom. The caller iPad mini has a flimsy advantage pinch a True Tone flash that nan larger iPad lacks and an upgrade to its Smart HDR 4 computational photography algorithm compared to Smart HDR 3 successful nan iPad (2022). The assemblage is retired connected whether that’s a bully thing, but we don’t deliberation it matters overmuch connected a tablet either way.

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The video signaling specs are besides identical, providing 4K video signaling astatine up to 60 frames per 2nd (fps), extended move scope astatine up to 30 fps, and 1080p slo-mo video astatine up to 240 fps.

Things are somewhat different astir nan front, but that’s chiefly owed to camera placement since nan specs betwixt nan 2 iPads are identical. The scenery placement connected nan iPad (2022) provides a much earthy acquisition for videoconferencing, while nan iPad mini is amended utilized successful image predisposition for casual video calls.

If you want to usage your tablet for accepted photography, nan iPad mini has nan evident separator of being smaller and easier to hold. It’s still beautiful unwieldy compared to an iPhone aliases different smartphone, but it’s overmuch amended than taking photos pinch a full-sized iPad, particularly successful a crowd.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): artillery life and charging

Apple

While you whitethorn deliberation a bigger iPad should person room for a larger artillery and, therefore, connection longer artillery life, it turns retired this isn’t nan lawsuit for these 2 models — astatine slightest not according to Apple’s published specs.

Apple claims nan caller iPad mini offers nan aforesaid artillery life arsenic nan iPad (2022) contempt nan second having a smaller compartment inside. This is apt owed to a operation of nan much power-efficient A17 Pro and a smaller surface that consumes little energy.

We recovered nan artillery connected nan larger iPad impressive. It easy sewage america done 2 days of coagulated usage successful our reappraisal pinch room to spare. We’ll person to hold until we get our hands connected nan caller iPad mini to spot really it holds up nether nan aforesaid conditions, but we’re optimistic arsenic Apple’s promises successful this area are typically beautiful realistic.

Charging capacity for some models should besides beryllium astir connected par, arsenic some person a USB-C larboard and see nan aforesaid 20W powerfulness adapter and braided one-meter USB-C charging cable.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): value and availability

The iPad mini (2024) is now disposable for preorder and will get successful stores connected October 23. The guidelines exemplary comes pinch 128GB of retention and starts astatine $499 for Wi-Fi only aliases $649 for nan 5G version. Higher-capacity 256GB and 512GB models are disposable starting astatine $599 and $799 for Wi-Fi aliases $749 and $949 for Wi-Fi + Cellular models. All versions are disposable successful Space Gray, Starlight, blue, and purple.

The iPad (2022) tin beryllium purchased from Apple and astir different awesome retailers. It starts astatine $349 for 64GB pinch Wi-Fi and $499 for 5G connectivity, pinch nan 256GB versions trading for $499 and $649, respectively. It’s disposable successful blue, pink, yellow, and silver.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad (2022): verdict

Apple

The iPad mini (2024) sits successful an absorbing spot successful Apple’s tablet lineup. It features mostly nan aforesaid specs arsenic nan full-sized iPad Air pinch a somewhat little powerful chip, a smaller shape factor, and a $100 little value tag. On nan different hand, nan 2021 iPad mini was already a measurement up erstwhile nan iPad (2022) debuted. The 2024 exemplary widens that capacity spread significantly.

However, nan prime present apt won’t beryllium based chiefly connected performance. Ultimately, nan determination for astir folks will beryllium whether to spell for a full-sized iPad pinch a 10.9-inch surface aliases a smaller and much portable 8.3-inch model. If a smaller iPad is your apical priority, nan iPad mini is nan only crippled successful town. However, nan iPad mini (2024) besides delivers nan champion price-to-performance worth for those consenting to unrecorded pinch a smaller surface You’ll request to move up to nan pricier iPad Air to get nan champion of some worlds, and while that besides gets a capacity boost from nan M2 chip, that’s not thing that astir emblematic iPad users will notice.

Nevertheless, if you want nan largest imaginable iPad without spending a bundle, it’s nan iPad (2022). While location person been rumors of a caller exemplary being correct astir nan corner, Apple precocious made immoderate important packaging changes to nan iPad (2022) successful Europe — a move that seems to propose that a refresh isn’t arsenic imminent arsenic galore believed. We apt won’t spot a caller modular iPad until astatine slightest adjacent spring, and location are immoderate reports it whitethorn beryllium slated for a autumn release. So, if you’re looking for nan astir affordable iPad disposable today, nan iPad (2022) remains a coagulated pick, particularly since it’s not difficult to find it connected waste for an moreover little price.