Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022) vs iPad mini (2021): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) is the clear winner for performance and display, ideal for demanding tasks. However, the iPad mini (2021) offers unmatched portability and a more affordable price, making it perfect for on-the-go entertainment and light productivity. It depends on your priorities!
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022) | Apple iPad mini (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, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2435, A2761 | 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 |
| 5G bands | 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 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| 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 | 2022, October 18 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 26 | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in) | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 466 g (Wi-Fi), 470 g (5G) (1.03 lb) | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) |
| Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | Stylus support (2nd gen only) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1668 x 2388 pixels (~265 ppi density) | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 366.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 600 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) | Hexa-core (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| OS | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB 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 | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, ProRes | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Face detection, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, EDR | 5.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (cellular model only) | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Po 7538 mAh (28.65 Wh) | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight |
| Models | A2435, A2761, A2762, A2759, iPad8,9, iPad8,10, iPad14,3, iPad14,4 | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 |
| Price | About 1050 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | - | -29.7 LUFS (Average) |
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2022)
- Blazing-fast M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina display with ProMotion
- Excellent camera system with LiDAR
- Powerful speakers
- Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
- Higher price point
- Larger size can be less portable
- Can be overkill for basic tasks
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Highly portable and compact design
- Affordable price
- Capable A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent display quality
- Supports Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Less powerful than the iPad Pro
- Smaller display
- Limited storage options compared to Pro
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) features an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) and excellent color accuracy. The iPad mini (2021) has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 1325:1 contrast ratio and 518 nits brightness. While the mini's display is vibrant, the Pro's larger size, ProMotion, and slightly better color accuracy give it an edge.
Camera Comparison
Both iPads have capable cameras, but the iPad Pro 11 (2022) generally offers better image quality, especially in video recording. The Pro also has a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences. The mini's cameras are perfectly adequate for casual use.
Performance
The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 11 (2022) is a significant leap over the A15 Bionic in the iPad mini (2021). Expect noticeably faster performance in demanding apps, multitasking, and graphics-intensive games. The A15 is still capable, but the M2 offers a substantial advantage.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable between the two, offering around 10 hours of mixed usage. However, the iPad Pro 11 (2022)'s larger battery capacity gives it a slight edge in real-world usage, especially when pushing the M2 chip to its limits.
Buying Guide
The iPad Pro 11 (2022) is for creative professionals, students needing powerful processing, and anyone who values a large, vibrant display. The iPad mini (2021) is for those prioritizing portability, reading, gaming on the go, and those on a tighter budget.