Huawei MediaPad M6 8.4 vs. Apple iPad mini (2021): The Ultimate Tablet Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad mini (2021) takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster A15 Bionic chip, brighter display, and access to the expansive iOS ecosystem. While the MediaPad M6 offers a competitive price and decent performance, the iPad mini's overall polish and power make it the superior pick.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei MediaPad M6 8.4 | Apple iPad mini (2021) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/75 Mbps - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, June. Released 2019, July | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, September 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 206.4 x 125.2 x 7.4 mm (8.13 x 4.93 x 0.29 in) | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 320 g (11.29 oz) | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) |
| - | Stylus support (2nd gen only) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~359 ppi density) | 1488 x 2266 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~327 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.4 inches, 204.6 cm2 (~79.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.3 inches, 203.9 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x2.93 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Kirin 980 (7 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP10 | Apple GPU (5-core) |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 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 |
| Tuned by Harman Kardon | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Po 6100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5078 mAh (19.3 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Champagne Gold | Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight |
| Models | - | A2568, iPad14,1, iPad14,2 |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker | - | -29.7 LUFS (Average) |
Huawei MediaPad M6 8.4
- Competitive price
- Large 8.4-inch display
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Expandable storage (via microSD)
- Slower processor compared to iPad mini
- Less vibrant display
- Limited app ecosystem compared to iOS
- Huawei's software (EMUI) can be divisive
Apple iPad mini (2021)
- Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip
- Bright and vibrant display
- Access to the vast iOS app ecosystem
- Premium build quality
- Excellent performance for gaming and creative tasks
- Higher price
- Limited storage options on base model
- Lightning port instead of USB-C (on older models)
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The iPad mini (2021) boasts a significantly brighter display (518 nits vs. MediaPad M6's estimated 400 nits) and a higher contrast ratio (1325:1), resulting in more vibrant colors and better visibility in bright conditions. Both offer excellent resolution for their size, but the iPad mini's edge is noticeable.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is generally not a primary concern for tablets, but the iPad mini (2021) offers a slightly better camera system overall. Both feature decent front-facing cameras for video calls. Expect slightly better image processing and low-light performance from the iPad mini.
Performance
Here's where the iPad mini truly shines. The A15 Bionic chip utterly dominates the Kirin 980. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance on the iPad mini. The MediaPad M6 is capable, but it can't keep up with the iPad mini's raw power.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable between the two devices, both offering around 8-10 hours of mixed usage. The iPad mini's more efficient chip might give it a slight edge in certain scenarios, but it's a close contest.
Buying Guide
The Huawei MediaPad M6 8.4 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize a large screen for media consumption and light productivity tasks. The Apple iPad mini (2021) is perfect for those seeking a powerful, portable tablet for gaming, creative work, and seamless integration with other Apple devices.