Apple iPad Air (5th generation) vs Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro)
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) ($237) vs Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) ($699) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air (5th generation) | Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $237 | $699 |
| Weight | 461g | 255g |
| Chip | M1 | A20 Pro |
| Display | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 8.5" OLED Super Retina XDR, 2316 x 1512 |
| Ports | USB-C | — |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) | — |
| Audio | Landscape stereo speakers | — |
| Weight | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 255 g Wi-Fi, 263 g Cellular (Apple published) |
| Brightness | — | 600 nits, 1200 nits peak (HDR) |
| Accessories | — | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Connectivity | — | Wi-Fi 7, USB-C 10Gb/s |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
- M1 for around two hundred dollars
- 461g and a laminated display
- USB-C
- Still fully supported by iPadOS
- 60Hz
- Only 64GB on the base model, which is tight
- Second-generation Pencil, not Pencil Pro
- Single rear camera
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 Air (5th generation) is the better value at $237. If weight matters most, Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) carries lighter at 255g. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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