Apple iPad mini (2021) vs iPad Pro 11 (2021): The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 11 (2021) is the clear winner for power users needing top-tier performance and advanced features. However, the iPad mini (2021) offers exceptional portability and value for those prioritizing a smaller size and more affordable price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad mini (2021) | Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021) |
| 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 - A2301, A2459, A2460 |
| 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, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2301 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2459, A2460 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2021, April 20 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2021, May 21 |
| 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 5.9 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) | 466 g (Wi-Fi), 470 g (5G) (1.03 lb) |
| Stylus support (2nd gen only) | Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) | 1668 x 2388 pixels (~265 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 11.0 inches, 366.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 600 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 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 10 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| 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 | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| 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 (4 speakers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), 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 | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) | Li-Po 7538 mAh (28.65 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight | Silver, Space Gray |
| Models | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 | A2301, A2459, A2460, iPad13,4, iPad13,5, iPad13,6, iPad13,7 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 870 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) | - |
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Ultra-portable design
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent display
- Affordable price
- Less powerful than iPad Pro
- No ProMotion display
- Single camera system
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
- Blazing-fast M1 chip
- ProMotion display (120Hz)
- Advanced camera system with LiDAR
- Excellent speakers
- Higher price
- Larger size (less portable)
- Can be overkill for basic users
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 11 (2021) boasts a Liquid Retina display with ProMotion (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) for incredibly smooth scrolling and responsiveness. While the iPad mini (2021) has a great display with a 1325:1 contrast ratio and 518 nits brightness, it lacks ProMotion. Both offer excellent color accuracy and sharpness.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 11 (2021) has a more advanced camera system, including a 12MP Wide camera, a 10MP Ultra Wide camera, and a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences. The iPad mini (2021) has a single 12MP Wide camera. Both offer decent front-facing cameras for video calls.
Performance
Here's where the iPad Pro 11 (2021) truly shines. The M1 chip provides significantly more processing power than the A15 Bionic in the iPad mini (2021). Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming. The A15 is still very capable, but the M1 is in a different league.
Battery Life
Both iPads offer excellent battery life, typically lasting around 10 hours of mixed usage. The iPad Pro 11 (2021) has a slightly larger battery capacity, but the difference in real-world usage is minimal.
Buying Guide
The iPad mini (2021) is ideal for students, travelers, and anyone who wants a highly portable tablet for reading, browsing, and light productivity. The iPad Pro 11 (2021) is best suited for creative professionals, demanding gamers, and anyone who needs the absolute best performance and features Apple has to offer.