Apple iPad (2022) vs. iPad mini (2021): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad (2022) offers a larger screen and slightly better overall performance thanks to its A14 Bionic chip. However, the iPad mini (2021) shines with its portability, vibrant display, and A15 Bionic chip. For most users, the iPad (2022) provides better value, but portability is key, the mini wins.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad (2022) | Apple iPad mini (2021) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A2757 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2757 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2757, A2777 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2777 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 18 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 26 | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm (9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in) | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (LTE) (1.05 lb) | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) |
| Stylus support (1st gen only) | Stylus support (2nd gen only) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.0 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) | Hexa-core (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| OS | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort; magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Po 7606 mAh (28.6 Wh) | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight |
| Models | A3162, A2757, A2777, A2696, iPad13,18, iPad13,19 | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | - | -29.7 LUFS (Average) |
Apple iPad (2022)
- Larger display
- Slightly better overall performance
- Good value for money
- Excellent for media consumption
- Less portable than the iPad mini
- Camera performance is average
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Highly portable and compact
- Vibrant and bright display
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent front-facing camera with Center Stage
- Smaller screen
- Can be more expensive
- Slightly shorter battery life than iPad (2022)
Display Comparison
The iPad (2022) boasts a 10.2-inch Liquid Retina display, offering a good viewing experience. The iPad mini (2021) features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 1325:1 contrast ratio and 518 nits max brightness, making it noticeably brighter and more vibrant, especially in outdoor conditions. The mini's smaller size also makes it more comfortable to hold for extended periods.
Camera Comparison
Both tablets feature a 12MP Wide rear camera. Image quality is decent for casual snapshots, but neither tablet excels in photography. The iPad mini (2021) has a front-facing 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, which is a significant advantage for video calls and content creation.
Performance
While the iPad (2022) uses the A14 Bionic chip, the iPad mini (2021) packs the more powerful A15 Bionic. In real-world usage, both tablets are incredibly responsive, but the A15 offers a slight edge in demanding tasks like video editing and graphically intensive games. However, the A14 is still plenty powerful for most users.
Battery Life
The iPad (2022) offers a larger battery capacity, providing slightly longer battery life for general use. Both tablets offer all-day battery life under moderate usage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad (2022)? Users who prioritize a larger screen for media consumption, productivity, and gaming, and want a balance of performance and value. Who should buy the Apple iPad mini (2021)? Those who value portability above all else, need a tablet for travel or one-handed use, and appreciate a premium, compact design.