Apple iPad mini vs. iPad Air: Which Is Better?

Key Points

• The Apple iPad mini is the smallest iPad you can buy, while the iPad Air is larger and more versatile, resembling a laptop computer.
• The iPad mini has a smaller battery and uses the A15 chip, while the iPad Air has a larger battery and uses the M1 chip, resulting in faster processing and better graphics.
• The iPad Air supports pass-through charging and has a media engine for better graphics, making it ideal for gamers and editors.
• The choice between the iPad mini and iPad Air depends on intended uses, with the mini being better for reading and web surfing, and the Air being better for gaming, editing, and composing.

When comparing the Apple iPad mini vs. iPad Air, there are lots of options to sift through, and finding a clear-cut winner can be hard. Apple’s line of iPad tablets is large and varied, with six models altogether. Additionally, each model is available with at least two different amounts of memory and two connectivity options, Wi-Fi only, or both Wi-Fi and cellular.  To keep things simple, let’s take a look at the latest iPad mini and iPad Air to see what the similarities and differences are. 

When trying to decide between Apple’s iPad mini vs. iPad Air, it’s tempting to reduce the considerations to portability versus editing ease.  If you have to travel with it, the smaller size seems to take precedence, while if you expect to do careful screen editing, the larger size seems to make more sense.  While those are valid considerations, there is more to both, as can be seen.

Apple iPad mini vs. iPad Air: Side by Side Comparison

The Best iPad Mini

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$399.99

• 8.3-inch Retina Display (2266 x 1488 pixels)
• Apple A15 Bionic chip
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11/27/2023 08:11 am GMT

iPad mini vs. iPad Air:  What’s the Difference?

The Apple iPad mini is just that, the smallest iPad you can buy. In the head-to-head competition between the Apple iPad mini vs. iPad Air, this is a big factor to consider. The mini debuted in 2012 and has remained the smallest iPad ever since. When it came out, the screen was a 7.9″ diagonal. The current model is the sixth generation of the mini; It has gotten larger, though it’s still only 8.3″ diagonal, too big for a phone, but too small for a laptop. Size, at least in Apple land, is not an analogue for determining the number of features. The smaller size doesn’t mean anything has been left off to make up for the smaller package. All the features are micro-sized, so what’s under the screen is dominated by a smaller battery and more energy-efficient circuitry.

The Apple iPad Air is a bit newer than the mini. It was released to the world in 2013. The name probably had to do with the fact that it was thinner than other iPads, at 7.5mm thick, which also resulted in a lighter package. Apple now is up to the fifth generation of Air. the current Air has a 10.9″ diagonal screen, making it 31% larger than the mini. It’s also 57% heavier, but at a shade over one pound, it’s still pretty light. The larger size makes this more of an extremely versatile laptop computer rather than an oversized phone.

The Bytes of Chips

There are differences between the two iPads beyond size when ranking the Apple iPad mini vs iPad Air.  Possibly the most notable is that each machine utilizes a different chip to run the processing.  The mini has Apple’s A15 chip, which is something Apple typically deploys in their iPhones.  The A15 is smaller, uses less energy.  The Air runs on Apple’s M1 chip, which is usually found in Mac computers.  Yes, while it’s bigger and uses more energy, the energy means faster processing and results in things like better-looking graphics when gaming and faster editing.

The difference in chips might also go some way to explaining why Apple specifies that both machines have the same battery life even though the Air is bigger.  The larger screen, along with the faster processing speed means that the larger battery pack is there just to keep the battery life at about 10 hours when starting on a full charge.

Powering Up

If using energy-heavy apps and devices is part of a person’s tablet experience, the Air offers another feature not found on the mini, pass-through charging.  This is the ability for a charge to both power the iPad as well as other devices connected to it. 

Shooting Differences

The size and chip differences also might have something to do with the differences in the main camera.  The mini has both their Quad-LED True Tone Flash and Advanced Red-Eye Correction, which have been on iPhones since the X.  This might be a reason to tilt toward the mini if shooting images is a priority. 

The Air, on the other hand, has a media engine for good-looking graphics and images.  Which is why gamers and editors might prefer it.

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11/27/2023 07:02 pm GMT

Casting Type

The Air also supports Apple’s Magic Keyboard, a wireless rechargeable keyboard that easily pairs with Apple devices.  Even better is it quickly pairs with Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio, a keyboard-and-cover set that provides support and protection for Apple tablets. 

iPad mini vs. iPad Air: 12 Must-Know Facts

• Apple is up to the sixth iteration of the mini; it debuted in 2021. 
• Apple is now on to the fifth iteration of the Air; it debuted in 2022.
• The first gen mini came in 2012.
• The first gen Air came in 2013.
• The current mini is the largest mini yet. It had been a 7.9” screen until now. 
• The current Air is the largest Air yet, it had a 9.7” screen until 2019.
• The mini has Apple’s A15 chip, which is typically for phones, and tuned for longer battery life.
• The Air has Apple’s M1 chip, which is typically for Macs, and tuned for greater speed.
• Battery life is basically the same.
• The mini’s camera has extra features.
• The Air supports Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.
• Both work with the second-generation Apple pencil.

iPad mini vs. iPad Air: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?

When it comes to choosing between the Air and the mini, there isn’t one that is hands-down better than the other in all circumstances. You need to decide what’s best for your intended uses.  It seems that if you want to travel with an iPad and lean more toward reading and viewing and web surfing, the Mini is probably a bit better.  If you’re gaming, editing, composing, typing, the Air is probably a bit better.    

All the same, tablets are supposed to be extremely portable. There are laptop and desktop computers for editing and gaming, and phones for calling, so the tablet occupies a space where it’s easier to view and use than a phone and more portable than a laptop. For that reason, the mini is the better choice. It’s not a stripped-down model, it’s full featured; the processor is marginally slower, but the battery life is long and the screen is excellent.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Jes2u.photo/Shutterstock.com.