Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) ($749) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation) ($270) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) | Apple iPad mini (6th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749 | $270 |
| Weight | 464g | 293g |
| Chip | M4 | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 8.3" Liquid Retina |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 464 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 Air 11-inch (M4)
- The best balance of price, weight, and power
- M4 outruns what iPadOS asks of it
- Touch ID beats Face ID for flat-on-desk use
- $450 less than the equivalent Pro
- 60Hz LCD, no ProMotion or OLED
- Keyboard and Pencil push it past $1,000
- No Face ID
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 tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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