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Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) ($599) 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 (A17 Pro) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $500 |
| Weight | 293g | 682g |
| Chip | A17 Pro | Apple M1 |
| Display | 8.3" Liquid Retina | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro | — |
| Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Camera | — | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Pencil | — | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
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 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 Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) is the better value at $500. 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.
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