iPad Mini vs iPad Air: What's the Difference?

The iPad Air and iPad mini occupy the thin, light, and affordable section of the iPad lineup, but they're not identical. From differences in screen size and processor power, storage, and price, this article pits the iPad mini vs. iPad Air to examine their similarities and differences to help you understand which is best for you.

Overall Findings

The major way that the iPad mini differs from the iPad Air is size. The two models share many of the same features and specs—including camera, screen, and battery—but the iPad mini is the smallest and lightest iPad that Apple offers (it's also the second-cheapest; only the iPad costs less). That's its biggest draw: If you want a light, small iPad—and are willing to trade off a bit of processing power to get it—the mini is for you.

The iPad Air is plenty thin and light, too, but it offers a few more advanced features, a more powerful processor, and a bigger screen.

As we'll see, the specs of the two models are more similar than they are different.

Screens: Same Technology, Different Size

Both the iPad mini and Air have high-quality, high-resolution Liquid Retina Display screens that boast Apple's True Tone color technology to deliver brilliant, life-like images. The biggest difference between the models is that the mini has an 8.3-inch screen, while the Air offers 11- and 13-inch options. The Air also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, while the mini only supports the classic Pencil.

Speed and Memory: The Air Is Ahead

Processor speed and storage options is the other area in which the iPad mini and iPad Air differ the most.

The current iPad Air line up is built around Apple's M2 chip, the same processor in the 2022 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro and the 2023 Mac mini. It's not Apple's most powerful chip (that's the M4), but it was brawny enough for recent top-of-the-line Macs, so it's great for an iPad. It delivers speedy performance, great graphics, and dedicated subsystems for AI, machine learning, and media.

The iPad mini uses Apple's A15 Bionic processor, the same chip as 2021's iPhone 13 series. That's a powerful processor, but a bit older and with less performance than the M2. It also lacks the M2's dedicated media subsystem.

When it comes to storage, the Air has more options: the high-end storage tiers have no equivalent in the mini.

Price: Mini Costs

Given the differences in screen size, storage, and processor, the two models have different price ranges.

Both the mini and the Air come in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 5G models. The latter delivers optional cellular connectivity, which requires an additional monthly data plan.

The lowest-cost mini costs $100 less than the lowest-cost Air.

The most expensive Air costs close to double the most expensive mini.

Cameras: Nearly Identical

The camera systems on the mini and Air are close to identical. Both have two cameras—user- and back-facing—both taking photos and video at the same resolutions. Both have the same kinds of lenses, the same levels of zoom, and effects like slo-mo.

The two models do have some differences, however. The mini has flash that the Air lacks, and the Air supports the HDR 4 format to the mini's HDR 3. But only real photo nerds will care much about those features. For the average person, the differences won't be noticeable.

Size and Weight: mini Earns Its Name

Given that the primary way the two models differ is size, it's no surprise that the mini is physically smaller and lighter than the Air.

The mini weighs just over half a pound and is small enough to fit into a large purse or small bag. The two options for the Air aren't heavy compared to other devices—the 13-inch version only weighs 1.36 pounds—but they weigh more than the mini.

As the name suggests, the mini is tiny: at just 7.69 inches, it's only a little taller than the smallest Air is wide.

Other Features: The Same in Most Ways

In other areas, the mini and Air are very similar. They both have similar battery life, Touch ID authentication, support for the Apple services ecosystem (iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, Apple Pay, etc.), and USB-C ports.

The few areas of difference include that the Air supports Apple's Magic Keyboard case, which integrates a keyboard and mouse to make the Air more like a laptop; the mini only supports external keyboards. They also have different color options, though both offer four color choices. The difference is that the mini comes in pink, while the Air is available in blue.

Final Verdict: Size Makes the Difference

While both iPads are fairly similar, the major reason to buy a mini is if you want the smallest, lightest iPad available. If that's the primary driver of your purchase, you can't do better.

But if you want to balance size and weight with performance and longevity, the Air is likely a better choice. The Air delivers faster performance and, because it's built using newer technologies, it will serve you well for longer.