Apple’s Tenth-generation iPad was launched in October 2022. It gained a brand new colourful design with no House button, USB-C as a substitute of Lightning, a greater digicam, and a bigger display screen (10.9 inches up from 10.2 inches).
The iPad mini was up to date in October 2024. It prices $150/£150 extra and presents a greater processor and a barely higher show, and is available in a smaller bundle (which can both be a bonus or a drawback, relying in your choice).
On this information, we’ll assess whether or not it’s best to spend additional to get the iPad mini or spend much less to purchase the Tenth gen iPad. In case you are available on the market for a brand new iPad and are questioning which one can be finest for you learn on to learn the way the most affordable iPad choices evaluate.
There are numerous components prone to impression your choice, together with worth for cash, cameras, and the way nicely the iPad in query will do the duties you want it to do. There are additionally some fairly apparent variations: dimension, weight, and design–particularly the dearth of a House button on two of the three fashions we’re contemplating right here.
We’ll begin by inspecting what you get in your cash.
We additionally evaluate the Tenth gen iPad and iPad Air and for much more assist learn our iPad Shopping for information.
iPad mini vs iPad: Which is the perfect worth for cash?
When Apple launched the Tenth gen iPad in October 2022 it stored the ninth gen iPad (launched in September 2021) on sale. However in Might 2024, Apple discontinued the ninth gen iPad and lowered the value of the Tenth gen iPad to $349/£349, making it the most affordable choice.
Listed here are the iPad costs: (You’ll be able to purchase from Apple right here.)
| iPad | Wi-Fi | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| iPad (Tenth gen, 2022, 64GB) | $349/£349 | $499/£499 |
| iPad (Tenth gen, 2022, 256GB) | $499/£499 | $649/£649 |
| iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024, 128GB) | $499/£499 | $649/£649 |
| iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024, 256GB) | $599/£599 | $749/£749 |
| iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024, 512GB) | $799/£799 | $849/£849 |
There are some things value holding in thoughts on the subject of value. The value Apple quotes might not be the value it’s good to pay: resellers often low cost all iPads, so be sure you look by way of our offers round-ups so that you don’t miss out on the perfect costs. See: Finest iPad offers (Tenth gen) and Finest iPad mini offers.
You must also think about whether or not you wish to pay for extra storage. For instance, Apple presents solely two choices for the Tenth gen iPad, and it’s a substantial $150/£150 to improve to 256GB. For the iPad mini, the soar from 128GB to 256GB is $100/£100. Not a trivial enhance.
iPad mini vs iPad: How the specs evaluate
From the chart beneath you’ll be able to see there are a variety of options that the iPad mini has that the iPad lacks.
| iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024) | iPad (Tenth gen, 2022) | |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | Blue, Purple, House Grey, Starlight | Blue, Pink, Silver, Yellow |
| Display screen dimension | 8.3 inches | 10.9 inches |
| Show | Liquid Retina show (2266‑by‑1488 decision, at 326 ppi), 500 nits max, absolutely laminated show, antireflective coating, large coloration (P3) | Liquid Retina show (2360‑by‑1640 decision, at 264 ppi), 500 nits max, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, sRGB |
| Safety | Contact ID on prime button (no House button) | Contact ID on prime button (no House button) |
| Dimensions & weight | 7.69 x 5.3 x .25 inches, .65 kilos 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.2mm, 293g |
9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches, 1.05 kilos 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g |
| Processor | A17 Professional | A14 |
| Storage choices | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB |
| Rear digicam | 12MP large, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, True Tone flash, Sensible HDR 4 | 12MP large, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, True Tone flash, Sensible HDR 3 |
| Entrance digicam | 12MP Extremely Large, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Heart Stage, Sensible HDR 4 | 12MP Panorama Extremely Large, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Heart Stage, panorama orientation, Sensible HDR 3 |
| Video | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; prolonged dynamic vary for video as much as 30 fps; slo-mo video help for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps; prolonged dynamic vary for video as much as 30 fps; slo-mo video help for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Apple accent help | Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil Professional | Magic Keyboard Folio, Apple Pencil 1 |
| Battery life | As much as 10 hours | As much as 10 hours |
| Bluetooth/Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.3, Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO | Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6 |
| Mobile help | 5G | 5G |
Shade selections
The iPad and iPad mini are each accessible in “enjoyable” colours–if that’s not your type, the iPad is accessible in Silver and the iPad mini is accessible in House Grey. The iPad and iPad mini are thought-about consumer-level merchandise and Apple presents these merchandise with colourful selections.
House button
There isn’t a House button on the iPad mini or the Tenth-gen iPad. They nonetheless use Contact ID (not Face ID) and it’s nonetheless the only strategy to unlock the system, however now you faucet your finger on the on/off change on the prime of the system. We predict this can be a very good resolution, permitting Apple to provide the iPad a bigger show with out rising the dimensions of the iPad. Relocating Contact ID from the House button to the Energy button will even be thought-about a bonus by those that want Contact ID over Face ID due to the simplicity and pace of utilizing it.
Nonetheless, for some individuals the House button is a well-recognized and easy strategy to navigate the iPad, and whereas it’s potential to create a software program model of the House button in accessibility settings, some individuals gained’t be ready to wave goodbye to the House button but. Should you aren’t prepared to provide it up then the ninth gen iPad is the one iPad with a House button now. It’s discontinued, however you would possibly be capable of discover it at third-party retailers or on Apple’s Licensed Refurbished Retailer.
Show
The elimination of the House button does imply that each the iPad mini and the Tenth gen iPad now have larger shows than they did earlier than. The iPad mini elevated from 7.9 inches to eight.3 inches, whereas in 2022 the iPad display screen grew from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches. Regardless of the display screen dimension enhance, Apple has managed to maintain the scale of the gadgets just about the identical because the older fashions, so there isn’t any actual trade-off. You get a bigger display screen, however the system itself is virtually the identical dimension and weight. We’ll focus on the scale in additional element beneath.
Clearly, the display screen of the iPad mini continues to be smaller than that of the ten.9-inch iPad, however as we stated above, some individuals can be on the lookout for a smaller display screen on a lighter system for quite a lot of causes. If the factor that issues to you is display screen dimension then the selection can be comparatively easy, however if you’re involved about display screen high quality then there are variations to be thought-about.
The iPad mini display screen is superior to the Tenth technology iPad. For one factor, the iPad mini advantages from a totally laminated show and anti-reflective coating, one thing shared with the iPad Air and iPad Professional. The usual iPad is the one iPad that lacks these options and it’s at a drawback due to it. The non-laminated show simply doesn’t give the identical impression of high quality.
The iPad mini display screen additionally trumps each iPads with denser pixels (326 ppi in comparison with 264 ppi) and it additionally boasts wide-color P3 gamut help whereas each iPads are simply sRGB.
However each iPads are restricted to 500 nits max. Solely the iPad Professional manages greater than that.
Cameras
Each the iPad and iPad mini have a 12MP digicam with ƒ/1.8 aperture. Nonetheless, the iPad mini helps Sensible HDR 4, which is Apple expertise that mixes a number of photographs at totally different exposures to create a perfect picture. The iPad makes use of Sensible HDR 3, which is an older model of the expertise.
Each the iPad and iPad mini have a entrance digicam for FaceTime calls or selfies. Each provide an Extremely Large 12MP entrance digicam with ƒ/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom, and help for Heart Stage (a characteristic that retains you within the body even when you transfer round.). The iPad has relocated the entrance digicam on the panorama facet–significantly better suited to how individuals use their iPads throughout FaceTime calls. The iPad mini nonetheless has the digicam on the portrait facet.
Apple
Dimensions
Regardless of each little bit of expertise within the iPad mini, if the display screen is just too small for you then it’s possible you’ll want the iPad. Nonetheless, for some the compact dimensions of the iPad mini are the primary profit. Recapping on these dimensions:
iPad mini
7.69 x 5.3 x .25 inches, .65 kilos
195.4 x 134.8 x 6.2mm, 293g
Tenth gen iPad
9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches, 1.05 kilos
248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g
Ports and connectivity
One remaining distinction to say: the iPad mini and the Tenth gen iPad have a USB-C port, just like the iPad Professional and Air fashions. The Lightning port is gone. In case you are something like us you most likely have a home filled with Lightning connectors and only a few USB-C plugs, however there are advantages to USB-C, akin to having the ability to connect an exterior show.
The iPad mini and iPad additionally presents higher connectivity choices together with Bluetooth, WiFi, and an choice for 5G mobile.
The very last thing to say is that the iPad mini works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Professional. The iPad is just appropriate with the Apple Pencil 1.
Verdict
Our recommendation is that, when you have the cash, purchase the iPad mini, however when you don’t want the extra options that mannequin brings, and also you wish to get monetary savings, the Tenth gen iPad continues to be a fantastic choice (and if there are any offers on that mannequin you’ll see them beneath).