Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Products

iPad Mini with Retina vs. iPad Mini: Spec Showdown

AJ Dellinger
By
ipad mini retina vs ipadminibanner
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When Apple announced the iPad Mini, it didn’t feel like all that major of a launch. At the time, the Mini was a generation behind the iPad in terms of internal specs and display. It lacked the Retina display and a decent processor. It just didn’t feel all that ground breaking, even though it was Apple’s first entry into the territory of smaller tablets. It was more of a placeholder. Today, Apple unveiled the second iPad Mini and it feels much more capable of competing in the increasingly competitive tablet market. How does it compare to its processor? Let’s take a look.

 

iPad Mini

iPadMini

iPad Mini 2 

iPadAir
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 (in) 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 (in)
Weight 11 oz 11 oz
Screen 7.9-inch LCD 7.9-inch LCD 
Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels 2048 x 1536 pixels
OS iOS 6 iOS 7
Storage 16GB 16GB
SD Card Slot No No
Processor Dual-core A5 Dual-core A7 (64-bit)
RAM 512MB  
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 4G LTE
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery 4,440mAh (10 hours of use) 10 hours of use
Charger Lightning connector Lightning connector
Marketplace Apple App Store Apple App Store
Price $300+ $400+
Availability Verizon, AT&T, Sprint November 2013
Recommended Videos

Display

The biggest complaint about the iPad Mini was its lack of the crisp clarity of the Retina display despite being announced in the midst of Apple installing its Retina display on every device it could. That problem has been solved with the new iPad Mini. It has the sharp screen Apple users have grown so accustom to adoring. Apple doubled the resolution from 1024 x 768 to 2048 x 1536 pixels, the same as is present on the full-size iPad. This gives the iPad Mini a dense pixel count that’s sure to impress.

Related

Processor and Chipset

The other big change present in the iPad Mini is the chipset. It’s not something that will show up as clearly as the display will, but the addition of the A7 processing chip moves the iPad Mini to 64-bit architecture. This is the same jump Apple made with the iPhone 5S and the latest version of the iPad. Moving all of its mobile devices up to 64-bit processors is a big development for Apple, almost more so than for consumers at the moment. But you’ll likely appreciate the fact that your new iPad Mini runs smoother and more efficiently than ever before. Plus, you’ll have a device that is ready for the future. It’s more of a long-term investment, but the immediate benefit of improved performance – 4 times faster from the CPU and 8 times faster graphical processing – is already welcome.

The original iPad Mini didn’t give us a whole lot of incentive to buy other than its size. It was a smaller version of an older iPad. With the A7 chipset and the Retina display, it is now equipped with all of the Apple trademarks that users expect out of the products. It starts at $400, not exactly a cheap price point but one that is in line with how Apple has been marking its tablets. It’s the same price as the iPad 2, and there’s no reason not to choose the new Mini over the iPad 2, even with a couple fewer inches of real estate. If you can’t afford the $400 investment, then go try out the cheaper iPad Mini. Or try your luck with an Android tablet.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger
Contributor
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
Two popular iPad models just got pretty steep price cuts — from $250
A YouTube video playing on the iPad (2022).

The current and previous model of the entry-level Apple iPad have both received significant price cuts from Best Buy, so if you're on the hunt for cheap iPad deals, these are the offers that you wouldn't want to miss. The Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the ninth-generation Apple iPad is down to $250 from $330 for savings of $80, while the Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the 10th-generation Apple iPad is on sale for $349 following a $100 discount on its original price of $449. We're not sure how long stocks will last for these tablets, so if you're interested in taking advantage of either of these offers, you need to hurry with your purchase. If you don't act fast, you may miss out on the savings.
Apple iPad 9th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) -- $250, was $330

The ninth-generation Apple iPad was released in 2021, but it maintains a spot in our list of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget. It's still a very reliable and solid choice if you want an Apple tablet, with a 10.2-inch Retina display that's bright and beautiful, and smooth performance despite the relatively old A13 Bionic chip that was introduced in the iPhone 11 because it can be upgraded to the latest iPadOS 17. The device also features an 8MP Wide back camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage technology, the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system for security, and battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Read more
Hurry! This iPad just crashed back to its Black Friday price
The iPad on a tablet displaying web content.

If you've always wanted to buy an iPad but the latest releases are beyond your budget, you may want to consider going for a previous-generation model like the 2021 Apple iPad. The tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, which is already relatively affordable at $330, is currently even cheaper from Best Buy, as an $80 discount pulls its price down to $250. That's what the device was going for during the iPad deals of Black Friday 2023, so if you missed the chance to take advantage of that bargain, proceed with your purchase immediately to make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad
The ninth-generation Apple iPad, which was released in 2021, will be three years old in several months. However, it's still listed in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget, as it still offers great performance by today's standards with Apple's A13 Bionic chip that also powered the iPhone 11 series. The tablet also features a 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 resolution, for sharp details and vivid colors when you're browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and playing mobile games.

Read more
Apple’s new iPad Pro and iPad Air just got delayed
Someone holding an iPad Air against a wooden floor.

It seems like the countdown to the next iPad reveal has been stretched out a bit more, though not by an earth-shattering amount of time. So far, we’ve heard rumors of a late March or early April reveal, but that likely won’t happen, according to a new report from Apple insider Mark Gurman.

In his latest Bloomberg report, Gurman says the next Apple tablets should arrive in early May, and he cited the speeding up of production at Apple’s suppliers. Interestingly, production-related challenges apparently pushed back the launch of the new slates across the Pro and Air lineups.

Read more