Which is better for taking notes in class?

The iPad mini is easier to hold and write on standing up, but the Air's larger screen fits more of a page and its M4 chip keeps big PDFs smooth. For long lectures with heavy annotation, the Air is the stronger choice.

Which lasts longer before feeling slow?

The iPad Air. Its M4 chip and 12GB of memory leave far more headroom for future apps and iPadOS updates than the mini's A15 and 4GB.

Is the Air worth stepping up to from the mini?

Yes if you multitask, draw or edit video. The bigger screen, more memory and Pencil Pro support are real gains. If you mainly read, browse and watch video on the go, the mini is enough.

Does the mini fit in a pocket?

Many jacket and cargo pockets, yes. At roughly 0.65 lb and 5.3 inches wide, it is the one iPad you can genuinely carry without a bag.

Do both work with the same keyboard cases?

No. Accessories are sized per model, so a mini keyboard case will not fit the Air and vice versa. The Air also supports the Magic Keyboard and Pencil Pro, which the mini does not.

Which has the better camera for video calls?

Both use 12MP front cameras. The mini adds Center Stage, which keeps you framed as you move, while the Air places its front camera on the landscape edge for better framing in video calls.

Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) vs Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular

The iPad Air is the better pick for most people: its M4 chip, 12GB of memory and larger 11-inch screen make it far quicker for multitasking, drawing and video work, and it supports the newer Apple Pencil Pro. The iPad mini wins on portability and one-handed use, and owners consistently praise its light, pocketable build. Choose the mini only if size and weight matter more to you than raw performance.

Choose the iPad mini if you want a small, light tablet you can hold in one hand and carry everywhere.
Choose the iPad Air if you want desktop-class speed, a bigger canvas and room to run several apps at once.

Prices

Apple iPad Mini (6th gen): $508.84 at Amazon (last seen Nov 9)
Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $629.98 at eBay (last seen Nov 9)
Difference: the Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) is $121.14 cheaper than the Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular at the latest prices (Nov 9)

Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB)

What separates them

	Apple iPad Mini (6th gen)	Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular
Chip	A15 Bionic, 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU	M4, 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU
Memory	4GB	12GB unified memory
Screen size	8.3-inch Liquid Retina	11-inch Liquid Retina
Portability	About 0.65 lb, fits in a jacket pocket	About 1 lb, needs a bag
Stylus support	Apple Pencil (2nd generation)	Apple Pencil Pro and USB-C Pencil
Storage options	64GB and 256GB	128GB up to 1TB
Cameras	12MP rear and 12MP Ultra Wide front with Center Stage	12MP rear and 12MP landscape front camera
Refresh rate	60Hz	60Hz

Specs compared

Spec	Apple iPad Mini (6th gen)	Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular
Chip	Apple A15 Bionic Chip \| 6-Core CPU	Apple M4 chip
GPU	5-Core GPU	9-core GPU
Rear Camera	12MP Wide Camera	12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture
Brightness	500 nits	500 nits brightness
Depth (")	0.25	6.1 mm (0.24 inch)
Height (")	7.69	247.6 mm (9.74 inches)
Width (")	5.3	178.5 mm (7.02 inches)
Display Resolution	2266 x 1488	2360-by-1640-pixel resolution at 264 ppi
color	Gray	—
size	0.2" x 7.7" x 5.3"	—
Screen Size	8.3"	—
Screen Resolution	2266 x 1488 (326 ppi)	—

Show all 40 specs

Spec	Apple iPad Mini (6th gen)	Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular
Storage	256GB	—
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)	—
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	—
Front Camera	12MP Ultra-Wide Camera	—
USB Connectivity	5 Gb/s USB Type-C Connectivity	—
Stylus Support	Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)	—
Connections	USB-C	—
Active Digitizer (Stylus pen)	Yes	—
Camera Resolution (front) (MP)	12.0	—

Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) vs Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular

Prices

Apple iPad Mini (6th gen) vs Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular

Prices

Apple iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular

What separates them

Price history

Prices at every store