Apple iPad mini vs iPad vs iPad Air vs iPad Pro – our guide to the differences between old and new iPads to help you decide which is the best for you.
There may not be as much choice as smartphones when it comes to tablets, but there are still a number of decisions to be made. If you are reading this, it is likely you have already decided on the iOS platform, and you are now trying to figure out what size iPad is the right one for you and which one fits into how much you want to spend.
Apple offers a number of iPad options ranging from 7.9-inch displays to 12.9-inches in size. There are also a few older models, which although discontinued by Apple, are still available elsewhere, sometimes at good prices.
We have therefore included a couple of them in this round up so you can see the differences between all models available, old and new, to find the most suitable iPad for you. Quick summary
iPad Air is one of the newest iPads available. It opts for Touch ID over Face ID, but it’s cheaper than the Pro models, more powerful than the iPad 9.7 and it is compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil.
iPad mini 5 is the second of the newest iPads. It has the same design as the iPad mini 4 but it offers a number of upgrades when it comes to hardware, including processor and front camera.
iPad Pro 11 is one of the most powerful iPads available. It comes with a refreshed design offering super slim bezels, Face ID and excellent specs. It offers support for the second-gen Apple Pencil and it offers all the latest features in a more compact format than the 12.9 model.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2018) is the most expensive iPad available, as well as the most powerful alongside the 11-inch model. It is for those that want to treat their tablet more like a computer. It offers the same hardware as the 11-inch model but in a larger size and with a higher price tag.
iPad Pro 10.5 has an older design than the iPad Pro 11, with Touch ID still intact like the iPad Air. It’s cheaper than the latest Pro models, more powerful than the iPad 9.7 and it is compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil.
iPad Pro 9.7 is worth buying if you can find it a lot cheaper than its successor – the iPad Pro 10.5. It supports the first generation Apple Pencil.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2017) has been replaced by a newer design but it will be cheaper than the new model if you can find it. It’s a powerful device with support for the first-generation Apple Pencil and Touch ID.
iPad 9.7 offers much the same design as the old iPad 9.7 but with slightly updated specs and support for Apple Pencil. It is significantly cheaper than the iPad Pro models, as well as cheaper than the iPad Air.
iPad mini 4 offers a small Apple tablet that’s cheaper than the iPad mini 5 if you’re happy to sacrifice the latest specs and features.AppleApple iPad AirDimensions: 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1mm, 456gDisplay: 10.5-inches, 2224 x 1668 (264ppi), True ToneStorage: 64GB, 256GB (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi & Cellular)Battery: Up to 10 hoursColours: Silver, Space Grey, Gold
The Apple iPad Air sits in between the iPad Pro 11 and the cheaper iPad 9.7 – both further down this list. It features a similar design to the iPad 9.7, offering Touch ID rather than Face ID so you get larger bezels around the display than you do with the iPad Pro 11.
There’s an A12 Bionic chip under the hood, which is a slight step down from the iPad Pro models but a power boost over the iPad 9.7 and the iPad Air comes with both Apple Pencil (first gen) and Apple Smart Keyboard support too.
The iPad Air’s display also sees improvements over the iPad 9.7, with an anti-reflective coating, True Tone technology and a wider colour gamut, as well as a larger display in a slimmer and lighter build. It has the same cameras as the iPad 9.7 though, which means a slight downgrade from the iPro Pro 11’s rear camera.
There are two speakers rather than four like the iPad Pro models and the iPad Air has Lightning for charging, rather than USB Type-C like the iPad Pro 11. Apple iPad Air vs iPad 9.7: Which should you buy?AppleApple iPad mini 5Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1mm, 300gDisplay: 7.9-inches, 2048 x 1536 (326ppi), True ToneStorage: 64GB, 256GB (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi & Cellular)Battery: Up to 10 hoursColours: Silver, Space Grey, Gold
The Apple iPad mini 5 features the same design as the older iPad mini 4 – further down this list – opting for Touch ID like the iPad Air, rather than Face ID like the newer iPad Pro models.
There are numerous hardware upgrades over the iPad mini 4 though, with the iPad mini 5 said to be three times faster than its predecessor thanks to the A12 Bionic chip. This is the same processor as the larger iPad Air, but a small step down from the iPad Pro 11.
Like the iPad Air, the iPad mini 5 brings a range of display improvements, including the addition of True Tone technology and it also adds Apple Pencil compatibility (first gen). It also has the sharpest display of all the iPads available with a 326ppi pixel density.
Compared to the older iPad mini 4, the iPad mini 5 has an upgraded front camera, moving from 1.
