Apple iPad mini (2021) vs iPad Pro 11 (2022): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) is the clear winner for power users needing top-tier performance and features like ProMotion. However, the iPad mini (2021) remains a fantastic choice for those prioritizing portability, affordability, and a more compact form factor, especially for media consumption and casual gaming.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad mini (2021) | Apple iPad Pro 11 (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 - A2435, A2761 |
| 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2435 |
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2761, A2762 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2022, October 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2022, October 26 |
| 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 (cellular model only) |
| 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 (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple M2 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 16.1, 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, ProRes |
| 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, HDR |
| 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3), 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/6e, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, 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 | A2435, A2761, A2762, A2759, iPad8,9, iPad8,10, iPad14,3, iPad14,4 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 1050 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) | - |
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Ultra-portable design
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent value for money
- Great for media consumption
- Lacks ProMotion display
- Less powerful than iPad Pro
- Camera system not as advanced
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022)
- Blazing-fast M2 chip
- ProMotion 120Hz display
- Advanced camera system with LiDAR
- Excellent for creative professionals
- Higher price point
- Larger size compared to iPad mini
- May be overkill for casual users
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) features a Liquid Retina display with ProMotion (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) for incredibly smooth scrolling and responsiveness. While the iPad mini (2021) has a respectable 518 nits brightness and 1325:1 contrast ratio, it lacks ProMotion, resulting in a less fluid visual experience. Both offer excellent color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) has a more advanced camera system, including a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences and better low-light performance. Both tablets offer decent front-facing cameras for video calls, but the Pro's rear cameras are significantly better.
Performance
The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 11 (2022) delivers a significant performance leap over the A15 Bionic in the iPad mini (2021). Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior performance in demanding creative applications. The M2's octa-core design provides a substantial advantage.
Battery Life
Both iPads offer all-day battery life under typical usage. The iPad Pro 11 (2022) has a slightly larger battery capacity, but the difference in real-world usage is minimal. Expect around 10 hours of mixed usage on both devices.
Buying Guide
The Apple iPad mini (2021) is ideal for students, travelers, and anyone who wants a highly portable tablet for reading, browsing, and light gaming. The Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022) is best suited for creative professionals, designers, and anyone who demands the absolute best performance and features for demanding tasks like video editing and graphic design.