Home / Budget Tablet / Comparison
Apple iPad (A16) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
Apple iPad (A16) ($449) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation) ($270) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right budget tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad (A16) | Apple iPad mini (6th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449 | $270 |
| Weight | 477g | 293g |
| Chip | A16 | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 8.3" Liquid Retina |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | — |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) | 293g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | USB-C |
| Pencil | — | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Camera | — | 12MP Ultra Wide front + rear |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad (A16)
- $449 entry into a mature ecosystem
- A16 is plenty for media and notes
- Same 11-inch screen size as the Air
- Years of software support at this price
- No Pencil Pro — USB-C Pencil only
- Heavier than the 11-inch Air it undercuts
- Unlaminated display feels less premium
Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
- Lightest and most pocketable iPad on this whole list
- A15 chip still comfortably handles current iPadOS
- 2nd-gen Apple Pencil support with magnetic attach and charge
- USB-C port, no adapters needed
- 8.3-inch display is cramped for split-screen multitasking
- No ProMotion, 60Hz only
- Jelly scrolling complaints on some units, a known 6th-gen quirk
- Costs more used than the base iPad despite less screen
Apple iPad mini (6th generation) is the better value at $270. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
More Budget Tablet comparisons
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad (A16)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)