iPad mini 2021 vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: The Ultimate Showdown
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 13 Pro Max wins overall due to its superior camera system, larger display, and cellular connectivity. However, the iPad mini 2021 excels in portability and offers a more tablet-centric experience, making it ideal for reading, note-taking, and on-the-go entertainment.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad mini (2021) | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max |
| 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 - A2643, A2644, A2645 |
| 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, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644 |
| 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, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641 | |
| 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, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 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) | 240 g (8.47 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) | 1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 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 (5-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 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| 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, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 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 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight | Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green |
| Models | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 | A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 121h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) | -24.0 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Ultra-portable
- Excellent performance with A15 Bionic
- Great for reading and note-taking
- Improved display over previous generations
- Single camera system
- Limited cellular connectivity options (Wi-Fi only models)
- Smaller screen size
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Exceptional camera system
- Bright and vibrant display
- Long-lasting battery life
- Cellular connectivity
- Larger screen for media consumption
- Large size can be unwieldy
- More expensive than the iPad mini
- Less ideal for pure tablet tasks like drawing
Display Comparison
The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display (1050 nits vs 518 nits) and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, offering a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. While the iPad mini 2021's 1325:1 contrast ratio is excellent, it can't match the Pro Max's sheer brightness and dynamic range. The iPhone's larger screen size (6.7 inches vs 8.3 inches) also provides more real estate for content.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 13 Pro Max's camera system is a clear winner. It features a triple-lens setup with advanced features like Cinematic mode and ProRes video recording, far surpassing the iPad mini's single front-facing camera. The iPhone excels in both photo and video quality, offering greater versatility and professional-grade capabilities.
Performance
Both devices share the same A15 Bionic chip, ensuring blazing-fast performance. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max's CPU clock speeds (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) are slightly higher than the iPad mini's (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz), potentially offering a marginal performance edge in demanding tasks. Real-world usage will likely feel very similar on both.
Battery Life
The iPhone 13 Pro Max's endurance rating of 121h is exceptional, indicating outstanding battery life. While the iPad mini 2021 offers good battery performance, it doesn't quite reach the Pro Max's longevity. The iPhone's charging capabilities (PD2.0, MagSafe, Qi2) also provide faster and more convenient charging options.
Buying Guide
The iPad mini 2021 is perfect for users prioritizing portability, reading, note-taking, and casual gaming. It's a great travel companion. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is ideal for those needing a powerful phone with a top-tier camera, larger screen for media consumption, and cellular connectivity for staying connected anywhere.