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Apple iPad mini (6th generation) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad mini (6th generation) ($270) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) ($500) — 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 Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $270 | $500 |
| Weight | 293g | 682g |
| Chip | A15 Bionic | Apple M1 |
| Display | 8.3" Liquid Retina | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Port | USB-C | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide front + rear | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Weight | 293g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
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 Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
- Mini-LED XDR display, still one of the best screens ever put in a tablet
- M1 chip handles anything current iPadOS asks of it
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 for external displays and fast storage
- LiDAR and the full Pro camera system
- 682g plus a keyboard case is a genuine laptop-weight bag addition
- Mini-LED can show blooming around bright text on dark backgrounds
- Costs noticeably more used than the 11-inch M1 Pro for the display upgrade alone
- Several generations behind current M-series Pro silicon now
Apple iPad mini (6th generation) is the better value at $270. Both are part of our curated compact tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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