intro
The iPad mini has been revamped by Apple in a very quiet way. Out of nowhere, I received a press release and a pre-order page. So…Happy new iPad mini day?
The processor has obvious upgrades, so it will be able to run Apple Intelligence features once they are released. But outwardly, it’s still just a smaller version of the iPad Air.
The latter has grown quite a bit, both figuratively and literally. iPad Air is now an “iPad almost Pro”, powered by an M-class chip, and available in two different sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch screen options.
So how does it compare to the new Mini?
Explaining the differences between iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad Air (M2):
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad Air (M2) |
|---|---|
| The small 8.3-inch tablet can be held in one hand while drawing with the other. | Regular 11-inch size and extra-large 13-inch option |
| Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C | Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C |
| No official keyboard accessories | Magic Keyboard 1st generation (no function keys) |
| landscape stereo | landscape stereo |
| 128GB/8GB 256GB/8GB 512GB/8GB |
128GB/8GB 256GB/8GB 512GB/8GB 1TB/8GB |
| A17 Pro chip (3nm) | M2(5nm) |
| USB Type-C with USB 3 speeds | USB Type-C with USB 3 speeds |
table of contents:
Also read:
Design and display quality
small air
Starting with the fifth generation, the iPad mini looked exactly like a smaller version of the iPad Air. From the full screen front to the power button with Touch ID fingerprint scanning. This is no different here.
It looks the same from any side, right down to the quad speaker grille that actually holds two speakers for landscape stereo.
The Air’s selfie camera location has been moved to the side bezel for horizontal FaceTime use, but it remains at the top on the iPad mini 7th generation.
The screen is of the same quality. Laminated glass makes the layers thinner, making the display image appear to “pop” more. Features anti-glare coating and P3 wide color spectrum.
At 8.3 inches in size, the iPad mini (A17 Pro) is perfect for those who want portability above all else. It’s very convenient to put in your handbag, bag, or backpack, and has enough power and enough display to do any graphic work. This is where Apple Pencil Pro support comes in handy. But if you’re working long hours or just for fun, a small screen can feel limiting.
iPad Air (M2) comes in two flavors. We found the 11-inch display to be perfect for most everyday needs. It’s not too big to carry around and not too small to binge-watch YouTube or play games. However, if you want to work more intensively, the extra-large 13-inch model is the best choice.
Both the mini and Air have LCD panels that are limited to 60Hz, which is a bummer. It’s not a cheap tablet either, so many people will make fun of it. Unfortunately, 120Hz remains a Pro-only feature from Apple.
iPad Air (M2) supports the first generation Magic Keyboard, which lacks function keys and a small trackpad. But it’s still better than the mini, which doesn’t have its own keyboard. You can also connect an external Bluetooth keyboard to one of these.
Performance and software
A17, M2, and all other letter and number combinations
Hardware accelerated ray tracing, NPU cores, 3nm process. Because of the space it provides, you’ll probably have fewer heat issues than the iPad mini. iPhone15 pro At the launch.
The plain truth is that M2 in iPad Air is faster and more powerful. Whether iPadOS will harness that power is another topic. Air is definitely better suited for professional work as it has more display area. We think of the iPad mini as a companion device that’s easy to take on the go…well, more so than the 11-inch iPad Air.
However, you can get the full current Apple experience on these tablets, including console-grade games released on the App Store (Assassin’s Creed, Resident Evil, Death Stranding).
But if you connect your iPad mini (A17 Pro) to an external monitor, will it also run Stage Manager? The wording on Apple’s website is vague, and the answer appears to be no. This positions it as a portable half-work, half-entertainment machine, unlike the iPad Air. It docks and transforms into a kind of desktop workstation.
camera
Follow me, center stage
Tablet cameras are not very popular. Well… no one wants to install a high-end camera on an already expensive iPad, right? They fall into the “good enough” category.
Here, the front-facing snapper gets more attention due to its importance in video calls. Both mini and Air have 12 MP cameras with ultra-wide-angle lenses, and iPadOS runs Center Stage on both. This means that the camera will zoom in or out depending on how many faces are in the shot, and will follow you as you move. It sounds like a pointless prank, but in this age of video communication, it really “frees” you from sitting in a certain spot during a Zoom call.
In our experience, the rear camera is also 12 MP, which is more than enough for taking photos of documents or easily snapping what’s going on in the background while you work.
Battery life and charging
Depends on size
Apple’s site states that the iPad mini (A17 Pro) lasts up to 10 hours of web browsing and video viewing. It’s not video streaming, mind you.
The iPad Air (M2) promises the same whether it’s 11-inch or 13-inch. Benchmarks for the iPad Air (M2) 13-inch show it lasted 14 hours and 40 minutes on the web, 7 hours and 50 minutes on YouTube streaming, and 7 hours on gaming.
The bigger the tablet, the bigger the battery. Having to use the larger screen will drain the battery faster, but I’m sure the difference in battery life between the mini iPad and the 13-inch iPad is more than noticeable. But wait until you test the mini!
Spec comparison
| specification | iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad 10th generation |
|---|---|---|
| size | 195.4×134.8×6.3mm | 247×178.5×6.1mm |
| weight | 297g | 462g |
| screen | 8.3 inch LCD 60Hz Wide color P3 |
11 inch lcd or 13 inch LCD 60Hz Wide color P3 |
| processor | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) | Apple M2 (5nm) |
| RAM, storage, price | 8GB/128GB – $499 8GB/256GB – $599 8GB/512GB – $799 |
8GB / 128GB – $599 8GB / 256GB – $699 8GB / 512GB – $899 8GB/1TB – $1,099 |
| camera | 12MP F1.8 12MP front, ultrawide, f/2.4 |
12MP F1.8 12MP front, ultrawide, f/2.4 |
| battery size | 5,078mAh | 7,606mAh or 9,705mAh |
| charging speed | 20W wired USB-C |
20W wired USB-C |
Which one should I buy?
If you’re looking to buy a tablet for your primary daily use, the iPad Air (M2) 11-inch is the perfect choice. It’s portable, but the screen is big enough to watch movies, YouTube, play games, and more. some work.
The iPad Air (M2) 13-inch and iPad mini (A17 Pro) are two polar opposites that serve two different needs. The 13-inch screen provides even more space for pro apps with a variety of tools, bars, and timelines. So there is no question that it will be more convenient. But at that point it’s about the size of a laptop.
The mini, on the other hand, makes it super easy to carry basically anything. From wide pockets in clothing to compartments in small bags and backpacks. It has enough power to open professional apps and play games. But even if that makes sense, the screen is too small for mainstream casual use. In fact, I’m a little surprised that the mini still gets attention from Apple, but apparently there are enough users who enjoy that particular use case to buy it. It’s not the same iPhone mini that is sorely missed by the dozens of people who loved it.
