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Apple iPad mini (6th generation) vs Apple iPad Air (4th generation)
Apple iPad mini (6th generation) ($270) vs Apple iPad Air (4th generation) ($206) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right compact tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad mini (6th generation) | Apple iPad Air (4th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $270 | $206 |
| Weight | 293g | 458g |
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A14 Bionic |
| Display | 8.3" Liquid Retina | 10.9" Liquid Retina |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide front + rear | — |
| Weight | 293g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 458g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| TouchID | — | Top button |
Pros & Cons
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 Air (4th generation)
- First iPad Air with the edge-to-edge design later iPads copied
- 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, magnetic attach and wireless charge
- USB-C port for a design that finally caught up
- A14 chip still handles current iPadOS comfortably
- No ProMotion, 60Hz display like the base iPad
- Single rear camera, no Ultra Wide
- 458g, heavier than the mini for a similarly-aged chip
- Costs close to the newer base iPad used, worth comparing both
Apple iPad Air (4th generation) is the better value at $206. If weight matters most, Apple iPad mini (6th generation) carries lighter at 293g. Both are part of our curated compact tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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