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Intro
Apple's iPad mini did not get any limelight during the September Glowtime event. Instead, Apple quietly launched it with a press release and a pre-order page update in October. Probably because there isn't much changed with it aside from a hardware bump. The 7th-generation iPad mini has the same small footprint and ratios but now packs the powerful A17 Pro chip.
This refresh ensures the iPad mini is ready to support Apple’s new Intelligence features. Those were on a slow rollout in the last quarter of 2024, but are now most out with iPadOS 18.2. You can still update to the latest iPadOS if you have the iPad 10, but you won't have access to AI.
The iPad 10 last saw an update earlier this year, but it wasn’t a hardware refresh; its price was simply reduced. Starting at $349, it remains the most budget-friendly tablet in Apple’s lineup. The hardware, however, is unchanged from its 2022 launch, including the aging A14 Bionic chip originally introduced with the iPhone 12 back in 2020.
So, the much smaller iPad mini, with its A17 Pro chip, is a much more powerful device. But that will also cost you extra, as it starts from $499. So, if you’re looking for the cheapest Apple tablet, the iPad 10th gen is still the go-to. If you specifically want a compact tablet, the iPad mini is your pick, but due to its price and lack of accessories, make sure you really, really want a tiny tablet. And if you’re after an affordable tablet with up-to-date power and features — like Apple Intelligence — then the iPad mini wins again.
Still undecided? You’re in luck! Let’s dive deeper.
iPad mini (A17 Pro) vs iPad 10th gen differences explained:
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
iPad 10th gen
Small tablet, 8.3", can be held in one palm while drawing with the other
A "regular" 10.9-inch tablet for most use cases
Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
Supports base Apple Pencil (1st gen, and USB-C variant)
For what'll likely be a limited time, Amazon lets you save a tempting $100 on the iPad mini A17 Pro. This is the 128GB model in Blue, but you can find all other colorways with the same awesome discount.
Do you need more onboard storage? In that case, you might want to check out the iPad mini A17 Pro with 512GB of storage. This one comes at a rather steep ~$800 original price, but Amazon lets you save $100 right now.
Right now, you can save $100 on the 64GB Apple iPad 10th Gen. This puppy is available in several select colors and comes with Wi-Fi-only connectivity. Take advantage of Amazon's incredible deal while you can.
If you want to have 5G on your iPad, opt for this deal, as it lets you snag the cellular model at a $100 cheaper price tag. Keep in mind only select colors are available at discounted prices. This is the model with 64GB of internal storage.
Tiny versus pretty regular (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Apple has slowly but surely made all iPads look the same. The all-screen front is present on all of them, albeit the cheaper models have a slightly thicker frame than the Pros. The selfie camera of the iPad mini is still on the top bezel, unlike all other iPads who have it moved to the side frame for horizontal orientation (a.k.a. 99% of the situations you are FaceTiming).
So, it's no surprise that the iPad mini looks like a smaller version of the iPad 10th gen. But it's actually the higher quality product. Yes, it's more expensive because of the hardware inside, but the screen is also laminated. It's a process where the digitizer and the actual display panel are fused into one layer, making the glass appear like it's thinner (well, it is in a way). And the coating on top is anti-reflective.
The screen of the base iPad 10th gen doesn't look bad per se, but it definitely appears more "sunken into" the body of the tablet. Also, the base iPad has no anti-reflective coating, so it definitely gives you a less-than-premium experience when using. Also, the iPad 10th gen has an sRGB color profile, the iPad mini 7 has a wide color P3 one, which matters more for pro graphic work.
In other words, people that are looking for a portable device to sketch on, or do quick graphic designs, may lean towards the iPad mini a bit more. Though, if that's the case, we do think the iPad Air M2 11", for $599 will offer a bigger canvas and more flexibility. Yes, that's the Apple pricing at work here, always pushing you to spend that $100 extra.
But you can still skirt around it if you don't insist on P3 and can do without the laminated screen. The bigger 10.9" screen of the iPad 10th gen lends itself much more for a wide selection of everyday tasks. From doing homework, to reading books, to binging Netflix and gaming. The iPad mini can definitely do these things, but its screen will feel constricting for more prolonged or focused sessions. It's definitely a tablet that puts portability first.
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance(balance between red,green and blue)across different levels of grey(from dark to bright).The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones,the better.
If consumer viewing comfort is the only priority here, both of these screens have the toggleable True Tone auto-tuning to match your ambient light, and Night Shift to filter out blues in the evenings.
Does the iPad mini 7 still have the jello effect when scrolling up and down rapidly? Yes. It may be a bit less prominend than on the iPad mini 6th gen, but it's visible. Especially when scrolling long pieces of text — like this review, for example. It's a bit distracting, though people have gotten used to it and take it as a necessary evil when dealing with such a small tablet that also supports such an exceptional stylus like the Apple Pencil.
Also, there's no official keyboard cover for the iPad mini, though Apple proudly states that it supports Bluetooth keyboards — imagine if it didn't. The iPad 10th gen does have a proprietary Magic Keyboard Folio for it, which is pretty nice, but also a bit expensive at $250. That's... almost the price of the iPad itself.ƒ
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Both tablets unlock via a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button — we've had that since the iPad Air 4th gen and it works quite quickly and reliably.
Performance and Software
M1 capabilities in an A17 chip
Up until October of 2024, Apple claimed that the new Apple Intelligence features are coming to iPads equipped with an M1 chip or above. Well, add a tiny correction to that. The new iPad mini 7th gen has an A17 Pro chip inside. The same silicon that was in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. So it has now been added to the official FAQs that AI is comming to iPads with M1 and above or A17 Pro.
In other words, yes, the iPad mini (A17 Pro) also supports Apple's AI. It will also run pro apps faster than the iPad 10th gen, which has an old Apple A14 Bionic inside (the SoC that was in the iPhone 12).
Now that iPadOS 18.2 is out, the iPad mini 7 has most of the AI features promised. From notification summaries to Sketch to Image. Here's a quick list to get you up to speed and let you know what iPad 10 owners are "missing out on":
Messages, Mail, and Notes writing tools
Safari improves: page summaries and removal of unwanted ads
Enhanced Photos app with smarter search and an object removal tool
So, while the mini is smaller, it's also faster. And, for the gamers out there — it will run Assassin's Creed, Resident Evil, Death Stranding, and the other AAA games that should be popping up in the App Store in the future.
The question on everyone's mind is — will the iPad mini (A17 Pro) also be able to run Stage Manager when you hook it up to an external monitor? Well, the processor is powerful enough, but we regret to inform you that no, you won't be able to carry it around and do desktop work wherever you find a hub to connect to. Stage Manager remains a feature exclusive to the iPad Air and up.
Camera
Same thing
Big Brother (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Few out there use a huge tablet as their main everyday camera, and manufacturers aren't putting a whole lot of weight into the cameras of their tablets, of course. You need a good enough selfie camera for video calls, and a good enough rear camera for document scans or just quick, impromptu pictures of random things and fleeting moments.
Both the iPad 10th gen and iPad mini 7th have a 12 MP main camera and 12 MP front camera — that's it. They perform very much the same, which in our experience with previous iPads is in the realm of "Quite OK".
The front cameras have the ultra-wide lenses on them to allow iPadOS to use the Center Stage feature. That's the one where the camera automatically zooms in on your face and follows you around, so you are not tied down to one particular spot while on a video call.
Battery Life and Charging
"All day"
USB-C for everybody! (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Apple says both of these will allow for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video binging. So, their battery performance should be around the same, but that doesn't sound right, does it? Well, we ran them through our eaborate battery tests to see what's up:
Well, the iPad mini does, indeed, hold its own. In fact, its battery performs quite evenly across the board, no matter what you are doing. Whereas, that bigger screen on the iPad 10th gen does draw more power when binging YouTube and gaming. Though, we also assume that the A14 Bionic chip is just less efficient.
These two tablets serve distinctly different purposes. The iPad mini stands out as a niche device — more powerful than most tablets but limited by its smaller screen. It’s perfect for those who prioritize portability and need robust performance, particularly for tasks like sketching with the Apple Pencil on the move.
Meanwhile, the iPad 10th generation is more versatile with what you get to do on it. It’s affordable (by iPad standards), it lets you experiment with an Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard Folio of its own. It also delivers the essential iPadOS experience, making it a solid choice for general use.
So, who should get what? For the majority of people, the iPad 10th gen will be the go-to option—unless they’re ready to invest in higher-end models like the iPad Air M2 or iPad Pro M4. That said, keep an eye out—Apple might quietly release an iPad 11th gen soon, bringing Apple Intelligence features to its most affordable lineup.
As for those who prioritize portability, power, and a pro-like experience? They’ve probably already added the iPad mini to their shopping cart.
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Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
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