iPad Air 5 vs. iPad Mini 6 Buyer's Guide

The fifth-generation iPad Air features an upgraded front-facing camera system and is powered by the M1 chip. Last year, Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini, with a larger display, A15 chip, and more.

The iPad mini and iPad Air both have the same features such as an all-screen design with no Home button, Touch ID in the top power button, and stereo speakers. The iPad Air and iPad mini are now broadly up to spec with Center Stage and 5G. The chips that set the devices apart are still some of the most important differences.

Should you buy the larger iPad Air or the smaller iPad mini? The guide tells you how to decide which iPad is best for you.

Comparing the iPad mini and iPad Air

The iPad mini and iPad Air have a lot of the same features.

Similarities

• All-screen industrial design with flat edges
• ‌Touch ID‌ scanner built into the top button
• Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, fingerprint resistant coating, 500 nits max brightness, full lamination, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone
• 12MP ƒ/1.8 Wide rear camera with 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3
• 4K video recording at up to 60fps with 3x video zoom, 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p slo-mo video at 120fps or 240fps, and time-lapse with stablilization
• 12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, Retina Flash, Smart HDR 3, cinematic video stabilization, and 1080p video recording
• Second-generation Apple Pencil compatibility
• Up to 10 hours of battery life
• USB-C port
• Two speaker audio landscape mode
• Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
• Sub-6GHz 5G connectivity
• Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models
• 64GB and 256GB storage options
• Available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight

The two iPads share many of their most important features, according to Apple. There are significant differences between the iPad mini and the iPad Air, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more.

Differences

There is an iPad mini.

• 8.3-inch display with 2266‑by‑1488 resolution at 326 ppi
• Smaller, compact design for maximum portability
• A15 Bionic chip with 4GB of memory
• Rear Quad-LED True Tone flash
• Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards only
• Weight of up to 0.66 pound (297 grams)

There is an iPad Air.

• 10.9-inch display with 2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi
• Larger design that is better for productivity
• ‌M1‌ chip with 8GB of memory
• Smart Connector for external keyboards including Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
• Weight of up to 1.01 pounds (462 grams)
• Available with additional Blue color option

The iPad Air is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The ability to use the larger display of the iPad Air over the iPad mini is more than justified because of the additional $100 needed to buy it.

Most customers buying the iPad mini will be buying it because of its screen size, not because of it. The iPad mini is ideal for playing games and reading books.

Those who buy the iPad mini will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into.

If you don't see the iPad mini's smaller display, easy one-handed grip, light weight, and portable form factor, you will probably prefer the larger display. If you want an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the iPad Air is the better option for you.