Adam Kos Although it was expected before Apple's event in September that the new iPad (9th generation) would be shown, the same could not be said about the new iPad mini. At first glance, the iPad Air seems to have fallen out of favor, but since it is a newer device, it also includes newer hardware. But there are more differences than it might seem at first glance. It goes without saying that you might want to compare generations of the iPad mini with each other, but the Air is directly offered here. The new iPad mini is based on it. He was inspired not only by its frameless design, but also by Touch ID in the top button. But its advantages are also in a better front camera, 5G or a lower price. At least one issue is missing, and that is a smaller (albeit better) display.
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Better cameras
As for the main thing, not much has changed here. Both models thus jointly offer a 12 MPx camera with an aperture of ƒ/1,8 and up to five times digital zoom, while also offering Smart HDR 3 for photos. As for video, both can record 4K video at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, 1080p slow-motion video at 120 fps or 240 fps, or time-lapse video with stabilization. But the novelty offers an extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps and, above all, a four-diode True Tone flash.
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The changes took place mainly from the front. The iPad Air only has a 7MPx FaceTime HD camera with an aperture of ƒ/2,2. In contrast, the iPad mini is already equipped with a 12 MPx ultra-wide-angle camera with an aperture of ƒ/2,4, which allows you to zoom out twice as much and, above all, has the function of centering the shot. In addition, it offers an extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps. It can record 1080p HD video at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps. Both models have Retina flash, Smart HDR 3 for photos or cinematographic video stabilization.
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Amaya Toman Improved processor
Another big hardware difference is the integrated processor. The iPad mini has an all-new 5-nanometer A15 Bionic chip, which is also part of the iPhone 13, while the iPad Air continues to use last year's A14 chip. Even if there are rumors that the A15 is only a slight improvement over the A14 chip that you don't necessarily feel in daily use, in the long run it may benefit from a year's worth of software updates. If you were interested in RAM memory, both models have 4 GB.
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In addition, it cannot be assumed that the new generation of iPad Air will arrive this year. Apple has already premiered new tablets for this year, when it presented the Pro models in the spring, and now the 9th generation and the mini model. He simply wouldn't have anyone to assign Air to, and it would be illogical not to show it now if he already had it ready.
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Vratislav Holub 5G compatibility
The so-called Cellular models of the iPad mini have 5G compatibility, unlike the iPad Air, which remains LTE-only. Apple has also added compatibility for two additional gigabit LTE bands. While 5G may not yet make a significant difference to many of us, it will gain weight over time as coverage expands. However, this is still more of an advantage that we will only feel in the future.
Display and dimensions
While the key difference between the iPad mini and iPad Air is the size of their displays, their quality also differs. That's because the iPad mini has a Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2266 x 1488, so it has a density of 326 pixels per inch. The iPad Air's display is 2360 x 1640 and has a density of only 264 pixels per inch. It means that the image on the mini model is clearly better, even though it is larger on the Air model. Other display functions remain the same. Like the Air, the Mini has True Tone, a wide P3 color range, oleophobic treatment against fingerprints, a fully laminated display, an anti-reflective layer and a maximum brightness of 500 nits.
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Let's also add that the iPad Air offers a 10,9" diagonal, while the iPad mini is 8,3". The dimensions and weight of the tablet also depend on this. It is worth mentioning the thickness, which is 6,1 mm for the Air and 6,3 mm for the mini model. The weight of the first mentioned is less than half a kilo, i.e. 458 g, while the mini weighs only 293 g. You can also choose according to the color variants. Both models offer the same space gray, the other colors are already different. For the Air, you will find silver, rose gold, green and azure blue, for the mini model, pink, purple and starry white.
Price
Bigger means more expensive. You can get an iPad Air from CZK 16 for 990GB of storage, Apple prices the iPad mini at CZK 64 for the same size of storage. Versions with mobile data and 14GB memory are also available. But does bigger mean better? It depends on your preferences. The changes here are, but if they are important to you, you have to answer for yourself. Expect the Air to give you a wider spread for your fingers or Apple Pencil. Even though the mini also supports its second generation, it displays either less or the same content, but on a smaller screen. Air thus seems to be a more universal solution, on the other hand, it is not for nothing that they say: "small is beautiful."
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Complete comparison... where RAM is missing.
Apple doesn't specify RAM, but it's 4GB for both models. We have added information to the article.