Apple iPad mini (2021) vs. iPhone 13: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 13 wins for overall versatility thanks to its phone functionality, camera system, and charging speed. However, the iPad mini (2021) excels in portability and offers a larger screen for media consumption and productivity tasks. It depends on your priorities!
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad mini (2021) | Apple iPhone 13 |
| 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, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2633, A2634, A2635 |
| 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 Sub6/mmWave - A2633 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2634, A2635 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Stylus support (2nd gen only) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) | Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| 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, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| 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, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update |
| Type | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) | Li-Ion 3240 mAh (12.41 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight | Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green |
| Models | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 | A2633, A2482, A2631, A2634, A2635, iphone14,5 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 304.00 / $ 249.97 / £ 248.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 89h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 775519 (v9) GeekBench: 4645 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Ultra-portable
- Larger screen for media
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent for reading
- Limited camera capabilities
- Slower charging
- Less versatile than a phone
Apple iPhone 13
- Versatile smartphone functionality
- Excellent camera system
- Fast charging (PD2.0, MagSafe)
- Reliable connectivity
- Smaller screen than iPad mini
- Less ideal for extended reading
- Can be more expensive
Display Comparison
The iPad mini (2021) boasts a 1325:1 contrast ratio and 518 nits brightness, delivering vibrant visuals. The iPhone 13, however, shines with a higher 802 nits max brightness and an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), making it easier to see in direct sunlight. The iPad mini's larger screen (8.3 inches) is ideal for reading and video, while the iPhone 13's 6.1-inch display is more pocketable.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 13 takes a clear lead in the camera department. It features a dual-camera system with advanced features like Cinematic mode and Photographic Styles. The iPad mini (2021) has a single rear camera and a front-facing camera, suitable for basic photography and video calls, but lacks the iPhone's capabilities.
Performance
Both devices share the powerful A15 Bionic chip, ensuring blazing-fast performance. While both have hexa-core CPUs, the iPhone 13's Avalanche and Blizzard cores have slightly higher clock speeds (2.93 GHz vs 3.23 GHz and 1.82 GHz respectively), potentially offering a marginal edge in demanding tasks. Real-world performance will be excellent on both.
Battery Life
Both devices offer impressive battery life, with an endurance rating of 89 hours. The iPhone 13's faster charging capabilities (PD2.0, MagSafe, Qi2) provide a significant advantage for quickly topping up the battery.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad mini (2021)? Users prioritizing portability, media consumption on a larger screen, and occasional productivity tasks. Who should buy the Apple iPhone 13? Users needing a versatile smartphone with a great camera, reliable connectivity, and standard phone features.