Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) ($599) vs Apple iPad mini (6th generation) ($270) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right compact tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) | Apple iPad mini (6th generation) |
| Price | $599 | $270 |
| Weight | 293g | 293g |
| Chip | A17 Pro | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 8.3" Liquid Retina | 8.3" Liquid Retina |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro | — |
| Weight | 293 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 mini (A17 Pro)
- 293 g — the only pocketable iPad
- Apple Pencil Pro support in a pocket device
- Apple Intelligence capable via A17 Pro
- One-handed use for genuinely long stretches
- $599 for the smallest screen in the line
- Too cramped for side-by-side work
- 60Hz display
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. If weight matters most, Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) carries lighter at 293g. Both are part of our curated compact tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.