Apple iPad mini (2021) vs iPad Air (2022): The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Air (2022) is the clear winner for performance and overall power thanks to the M1 chip. However, the iPad mini (2021) excels in portability and ease of one-handed use, making it ideal for those prioritizing a compact form factor and on-the-go convenience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad mini (2021) | Apple iPad Air (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | 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, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 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 - A2589 |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| 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 - A2591 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2022, March 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2022, March 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) | 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb) |
| Stylus support (2nd gen only) | Stylus support (2nd gen) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple M1 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 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@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) | Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue |
| Models | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) | - |
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Ultra-portable
- Excellent one-handed use
- Refreshed design
- Good performance for everyday tasks
- Center Stage front camera
- Less powerful than iPad Air
- Smaller screen
- Higher price for its size
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- Powerful M1 chip
- Larger display
- Excellent performance for demanding tasks
- Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
- Good value for its performance
- Less portable than iPad mini
- Can be more expensive depending on configuration
Display Comparison
The iPad mini (2021) boasts a vibrant Liquid Retina display with a 1325:1 contrast ratio and 518 nits brightness, offering excellent color accuracy and clarity. The iPad Air (2022) features a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, also with excellent color reproduction, but its brightness is comparable. The mini's smaller size makes it more comfortable for one-handed use.
Camera Comparison
Both iPads feature decent front and rear cameras. The iPad mini (2021) has a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP ultrawide front camera with Center Stage. The iPad Air (2022) has a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP ultrawide front camera with Center Stage. Image quality is comparable, though the iPad Air's larger sensor might offer slightly better low-light performance.
Performance
Here's where the iPad Air (2022) truly shines. The M1 chip provides a massive performance leap over the A15 Bionic in the iPad mini (2021). Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior performance in demanding games and creative apps. The A15 is still powerful, but the M1 is in a different league.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer all-day battery life under typical usage. The iPad mini (2021) provides around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. The iPad Air (2022) also delivers approximately 10 hours, despite its larger screen and more powerful chip, thanks to efficient power management.
Buying Guide
The iPad mini (2021) is perfect for students, travelers, and anyone who values a compact, easy-to-carry tablet for reading, browsing, and light tasks. The iPad Air (2022) is better suited for creative professionals, gamers, and users who need a powerful tablet for demanding applications and multitasking.