Apple officially launched the 6th generation of the iPad Mini and it is definitely the most attractive compact tablet out there. Despite it being one of the smallest and most affordable tablets by Apple, it comes with some flagship-class specifications that a lot of people would never expect, as well as a top-notch design. Is this powerful advanced enough to compete with the latest Apple iPad Air? Through this comparison, we will try to answer by highlighting the main differences between the Apple iPad Air 2020 and the 6th generation of the iPad Mini released in 2021. If you do not know the iPad Mini 6, we believe you will be surprised after reading this comparison.

Apple iPad Air vs Apple iPad Mini 6th gen

Apple iPad Air Apple iPad Mini 6th gen
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm, 458 grams 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm, 293 g
DISPLAY  10.9 inches, 1640 x 2360p (Full HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD 8.3 inches, 1488 x 2266p (Quad HD+), Liquid Retina IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core 3 GHz Apple A15 Bionic, hexa-core 2.93GHz
MEMORY 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB  RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE  iPadOS 14 iPadOS 15
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA Single 12 MP f/1.8
7 MP f/2.0 front camera		 Single 12 MP f/1.8
12 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY 7606 mAh 19.3 Wh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Optional LTE, pen support, eSIM Pen support, Optional LTE, optional 5G, eSIM

Design

The Apple iPad Air 2020 and the iPad Mini 6th gen have similar aesthetics. They come with a full metal unibody design and a display with very narrow bezels, as well as a very thin profile and a lightweight body. The iPad Air 2020 has bigger dimensions and it weighs more but it is thinner, while the iPad Mini 6 is more compact and thicker, but it has a lower weight. If you do not mind about the dimensions, then iPad Air 2020 is more attractive because it has a higher screen to body ratio and the bezels around the display are narrower. You can attach a Magic Keyboard to the iPad Air 2020 but not to the iPad Mini 6th gen.

 

Display

The displays of the iPad Air 2020 and the iPad Mini 6th are more or less at the same level. They feature similar resolutions, the same brightness, and the same advanced technology to improve visibility and image quality. The real difference between these two displays is the size: the Apple iPad Air 2020 has a wide diagonal of 10.9 inches, while the iPad Mini 6th gen has just 8.3 inches and it is one of the most compact tablets in the market. If you want to bring your tablet everywhere easily, then you should go for the iPad Mini 6th gen. But if you want a more comfortable device for productivity and advanced usage scenarios, then it is better to go for the iPad Air 2020.

 

Specs & Software

The iPad Mini 6th gen is equipped with a more advanced hardware department. It has a stronger chipset: an Apple A15 Bionic, the same chipset as the iPhone 13 lineup but downclocked. The max frequency is 2.93 GHz, but it is still more powerful than the Apple A14 Bionic found on the Apple iPad Air 2020. Both the tablets come with 4 GB of RAM and either 64 GB or 256 GB of internal storage depending on the chosen configuration. The iPad Mini 6th gen ships with iOS 15 out of the box, while the iPad Air 2020 is based on iPadOS 14: this means that the Mini will most likely get one more year of updates.

 

Camera

With the Apple iPad Air 2020, you can get better photo quality thanks to a better rear camera. Its 12 MP sensor has a brighter f/1.8 focal aperture allowing it to capture more detail with less digital noise in low light conditions. The iPad Mini 6th gen has a 12 MP rear camera as well, but with an f/2.4 focal aperture. On the other hand, the iPad Mini 6th gen features a better 12 MP front camera, so it is a better device for video calls and conferences.

 

Battery

The Apple iPad Air 2020 has bigger dimensions and it houses a bigger battery with a capacity of 7606 mAh. That is the reason why it lasts more on a single charge in a lot of scenarios, but the iPad Mini 6th gen has a lower energy consumption due to more efficient components, so it reaches similar results.

 

Price

You can find the iPad Air for about €600 or $550, while the iPad Mini 6th gen is priced at $500 or €550. Note that we listed the European and American prices, but they vary depending on the specific region. The iPad Mini 6th gen offers a better hardware setup and a better front camera, while iPad Air has a better rear camera, a bigger battery, and a bigger display. Which one would you pick?

 

 

Apple iPad Air vs Apple iPad Mini 6th gen: PRO and CONS

Apple iPad Air

PRO

  • Better prices
  • Bigger display
  • Keyboard support
  • Bigger battery

CONS

  • Inferior hardware

 

Apple iPad Mini 6th gen

PRO

  • iOS 15 out of the box
  • More compact
  • Best chipset
  • Better front camera

CONS

  • Smaller display

 

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