Apple iPad (A16) vs Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro)
Apple iPad (A16) ($449) vs Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) ($699) — 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 (A20 Pro) |
| Price | $449 | $699 |
| Weight | 477g | 255g |
| Chip | A16 | A20 Pro |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 8.5" OLED Super Retina XDR, 2316 x 1512 |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) | 255 g Wi-Fi, 263 g Cellular (Apple published) |
| Brightness | — | 600 nits, 1200 nits peak (HDR) |
| Connectivity | — | Wi-Fi 7, USB-C 10Gb/s |
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 (A20 Pro)
- OLED in a 255 g tablet
- Apple Pencil Pro support with hover
- Wi-Fi 7 and 10Gb/s USB-C
- Nano-texture glass option for glare
- Starts at $699 for 128GB
- Nano-texture glass costs $100 and starts at 256GB
- Cellular adds $150
- 8.5 inches is cramped for split-screen work
Apple iPad (A16) is the better value at $449. If weight matters most, Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) carries lighter at 255g. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.