M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini: Which is best for students?

Best tablet for students
M1 iPad Air and iPad Mini: Complete comparison (Image via YouTube/SaranByte)

The M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini debate is highly captivating for consumers, especially students. Both devices offer unique benefits tailored to cater to specific users’ needs. Despite being small, the iPad mini effectively shares some features of its bigger counterpart, such as all-screen design, stereo speakers, and more. Nevertheless, there are also significant distinctions, such as processor capabilities and screen size, that differentiate them markedly.

As a student, it could be challenging to pick one device over another as both are now available at a similar price. This article analyzes both devices’ performance and features to aid you in selecting the one that suits you the best.


M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini: What they bring to the table

Hardware configuration comparison of two impressive tablets (Image via Apple)
Hardware configuration comparison of two impressive tablets (Image via Apple)

As the name suggests, the biggest difference lies in the screen size. The iPad Air (M1) has a 10.9-inch screen as compared to the 8.3-inch of its counterpart. While doing the research, I found out that besides screen size, there is no other difference in their display.

Both utilize a similar Liquid Retina display with LED backlit and IPS technology, have 500 nits max brightness level, anti-reflective coating, and other features, to name a few.

Before we delve deeper into our comparison, let’s check the core specifications of both machines.

Specifications

M1 iPad Air

iPad Mini

Screen size

10.9-inch

8.3-inch

Display type

Liquid Retina

Liquid Retina

Processor

M1

A15 Bionic

Rear camera

12MP

12MP

Front camera

12MP

12MP

Touch ID

Yes

Yes

Connectivity

5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

Accessories support

Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio

Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), Bluetooth Keyboard

Memory

Up to 256GB

Up to 256GB

RAM

8GB

NA

Size

247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm

195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm

Weight

462g

297g

Battery

Up to 10 hours of web browsing or watching video

Up to 10 hours of web browsing or watching video

Price

Available at $499

Available at $499

Besides the screen size, the most significant difference between both tablets is their processors.The iPad Air is powered by the desktop-level M-series chip. Meanwhile, you get A15 bionic in the iPad Mini. The M1 processor has two extra CPU cores and three extra GPU cores compared to its A-series counterpart.

In general, people don’t use tablets as their primary camera devices. However, if you are planning to use the device for video calls or online classes, you can pick anyone as they both have similar camera setups and features. The only change is that you get True Tone flash on the back of the iPad Mini.

Although I can’t find the actual battery capacity on Apple’s website, the tech giant has mentioned up to 10 hours of web browsing or watching video for both machines. That means both machines can last a full day at school on a single charge

Another thing Apple hasn’t mentioned is the RAM of the iPad Mini, though various reputable sources state 4GB of RAM. It is half of what you get in its Air alternative. However, you won’t feel such a difference. Thanks to Apple’s efficient memory management.

That said, there are possibilities that you will not find the iPad Air M1 on the official website. Fret not. It is still available on various third-party websites.


M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini: Which delivers optimal performance?

There is a huge performance gap between both tabs (Image via Apple)
There is a huge performance gap between both tabs (Image via Apple)

You might have gotten a rough idea about the prowess of both machines. However, you can’t tell how they will perform exactly, just based on the paper specs.

To get a clearer picture of the M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini comparison, I have collected some benchmark test numbers of these devices from the Nano Review website.

Tests

M1 iPad Air

iPad Mini

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

2361 (+10%)

2148

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

8704 (+57%)

5541

AnTuTu Benchmark 10

1709070 (+32%)

1299059

3DMark Wild Life Performance

10021 (+7%)

9334

As evident from these synthetic test scores, the iPad Air performs better in almost every category. So, it is safe to assume that the Air model is more powerful than the Mini.


M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini: Supported accessories

Using iPad with accessories (Image via Apple)
Using iPad with accessories (Image via Apple)

As a student, you might need some accessories to get the most out of your device. The good part is that both tablets support Apple Pencil (USB-C) and 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. However, the Mini model lacks Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio support.


M1 iPad Air vs iPad Mini: Final verdict

Overall, the iPad Air M1 is an all-around option for most people. It has a large display, a powerful processor, and additional support for accessories. If you prioritize raw power to handle some resource-intensive apps, I would recommend you go with it.

The iPad Mini is ideal just for a specific reason — extra portability. If you want a decently powerful device that you can carry around easily, you should pick it over the Air model.


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Edited by Ritoban "Veloxi" Paul
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