In a surprise announcement, Apple unveiled its latest iteration of the iPad Mini, but how does it compare to the iPad Air?
Although we’re yet to review the iPad Mini, we’ve compared its specs to the latest iPad Air (M4) and noted the most noteworthy differences between the two. We also offer our two cents on which tablet is a better fit for you, depending on your needs.
Once you’re finished here, make sure you visit our round-up of the best tablets and our comparison on the new iPad Mini 8 vs iPad Mini 7 too.
Price and Availability
At the time of writing, the iPad Mini 8 will be available to pre-order from tomorrow (Wednesday, October 28th) ahead of its official launch of November 6th. Available in two colours, Midnight or Starlight, the iPad Mini 8 has a starting price of £699/$699.
The iPad Air M5 is readily available to buy now, and has a starting RRP of £749/$749 for the smaller, 11-inch model. Not only does it also come as a 13-inch model, which starts at £949/$949, but it also benefits from four colour choices too: Purple, Blue, Starlight and Space Grey.
A20 Pro vs M4 chips
Powering the new iPad Mini is Apple’s latest mobile processor, the A20 Pro, which is also found within the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo. Although we’re yet to specifically review A20 Pro within the iPad Mini, we have found the processor to perform brilliantly within the iPhone 18 Pro series, with everything from social media and productivity apps to even intensive gaming titles running without a hitch.
With this in mind, plus Apple’s promise that A20 Pro will deliver a “giant leap in performance”, we expect the iPad Mini to be a speedy and powerful tablet.
Instead, the iPad Air runs on Apple’s desktop-level M4 chip. Although it has since been preceded by M5 and, more recently, M6, Apple’s M4 processor remains a powerful option for those who need a bit more oomph from their device. During our time with the iPad Air M4, we concluded the tablet was able to handle intensive tasks like on-device AI, photo editing and gaming with ease.
However, just keep in mind that although it has a desktop-level chip, the iPad Air doesn’t run macOS and runs iPadOS instead – like the iPad Mini. iPadOS has more in common with iOS, Apple’s iPhone operating system, and isn’t able to run macOS apps.
Otherwise, both the A20 Pro and M4 enable the running of Apple Intelligence. Frankly, Apple Intelligence isn’t a reason to upgrade to either iPad, though it does future-proof both devices and includes tools like Siri AI, photo editing and Notify Me within Safari.
Although both share a similar style, there are a few differences with the design of the iPad Mini and iPad Air. Most obviously, and as its name gives away, the iPad Mini is smaller than even the smallest iPad Air, measuring in at just 8.5-inches. In comparison, the iPad Air comes as either an 11- or 13-inch model.
Despite its smaller footprint, the iPad Mini’s display is fitted with lots of premium features. Firstly, unlike the iPad Air, the iPad Mini has an OLED display which promises deeper blacks and more vibrant colours. Not only that, but the iPad Mini also benefits from a nano-texture display, though only on the 256GB and 512GB models. Also found on the pricier iPad Pro, the nano-texture display helps to reduce glare in bright environments.
Annoyingly, both the iPad Mini and iPad Air share one display spec in common: there’s no ProMotion. That means regardless of which model you choose, you’ll have to make do with just a 60Hz refresh rate.
Following on from the above, the iPad Mini is fitted with an Acoustic Display. Essentially, this means that there are specially designed woofers inside the iPad Mini’s display that promise to result in punchier bass and “more volume”. In addition, there are tweeters hidden between the glass and aluminium enclosure that promise “clearer highs” too.
Not only should the iPad Mini’s Acoustic Display help to enhance audio, but the lack of speaker holes means the tablet can achieve an IP67 rating too. That means it’s both dust-tight and can withstand water splashes and even an accidental dunk in water too.
Apple has never been praised for its speedy charging abilities, though the iPad Mini is fast-charge capable. This means the tablet will see up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes, with a 35W adapter. In comparison, the iPad Air supports 20W
Either way, neither tablet comes with a power adapter in the box, so you’ll have to purchase this separately.
Otherwise, both the iPad Air and iPad Mini promise the same 10 hours of battery life when surfing the web over Wi-Fi. Although we haven’t reviewed the iPad Mini yet, we found the iPad Air ended work days with around 22% left in the tank.
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If you’re looking for a makeshift laptop, then the iPad Air might suit you better as it has a dedicated Magic Keyboard that magnetically attaches to the tablet. While it doesn’t have its own keyboard, you can choose to pair the iPad Mini with a Bluetooth keyboard instead.
Finally, both the iPad Air and Mini support the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C, for easier handwriting and sketches.
Early Verdict
With a smaller design, OLED screen and Apple’s flagship mobile chip at its helm, the iPad Mini is a great choice for those who want a portable yet powerful tablet. However, the iPad Air is a better option for anyone who needs more screen space to play with, wants dedicated accessories and the power of a desktop-level chip.
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