This is one of those cases where a newer Apple iPad Mini makes sense because it brings tangible improvements. When compared, the iPad Mini 5 and the iPad Mini 6 are two rather different devices. I’ll explain how and why in detail in this iPad Mini 5 vs iPad Mini 6 comparison. Spoiler alert: it’s worth upgrading from a 5th-gen to a 6th-gen iPad Mini.
Introducing the iPad Mini 5 vs the iPad Mini 6
iPad Mini 5
The iPad Mini 5 is entering its fourth year of service (released in 2019) soon. When Apple released it, It offered more power than a regular iPad packed into a convenient size. The Mini 5 was the last Mini to feature a Home button below the screen. Generally speaking, the iPad Mini series closely follows the Pro series in popularity, and the iPad Mini 5 is no exception.
Pros:
- Compact
- Cheaper
- Supports keyboards
- 3.5mm jack
Cons:
- Discontinued (second-hand only)
- Smaller display
iPad Mini 6
Apple released the iPad Mini 6 in 2021, replacing the Mini 5 in the current offering. It offered much better performance, better cameras, a larger display, and a sleeker design. There is no doubt it is the better device overall.
Pros:
- Better performance
- Larger display
- Smaller body
- Currently available
Cons:
- More expensive
- No keyboard support
| iPad Mini 5 | Specs | iPad Mini 6 |
|---|---|---|
| 7.9″ IPS LCD | Display | 8.3″ Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| 1,536 x 2,048 (~324 ppi density) 4:3 | Resolution | 1,488 x 2,266 (~327 ppi density) 3:2 |
| iPadOS 12.2 | OS (upon release) | iPadOS 15.0 |
| Latest (16.2) | OS (currently supported) | Latest (16.2) |
| Apple A12 Bionic | Chip | Apple A15 Bionic |
| 6-core CPU (2+4) 4-core GPU 8-core Neural Engine | Core Configuration | 6-core CPU (2+4) 5-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine |
| 3GB + 64GB 3GB + 256GB | Memory Configuration (RAM + Storage) | 4GB + 64GB 4GB + 256GB |
| Supports Apple Pencil (1st-gen) | Stylus | Supports Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) |
| 8MP Wide | Rear Camera | 12MP Wide |
| 7MP FaceTime HD | Front Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide |
| Wi-Fi + Cellular (4G) + Bluetooth 5.0 | Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Cellular (5G) + Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Nano-SIM & eSIM | Cellular | Nano-SIM & eSIM |
| Li-Po 5,124 mAh (19.1 Wh) | Battery | Li-Po 5,124 mAh (19.3 Wh) |
| Lightning (USB 2.0), 3.5mm | Port | USB Type-C 3.1 (DisplayPort) |
| 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm (8.0 x 5.31 x 0.24 inches) | Dimensions | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm (7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 inches) |
| 300.5 g (Wi-Fi) / 308.2 g (3G/LTE) (10.86 oz) | Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) / 297 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular) (10.34 oz) |
Features Face to Face
Design
Apple cut down slightly on size and weight from the iPad Mini 5 to the iPad Mini 6. It also removed the classic front button, which doubled as a fingerprint scanner, replacing it with the new top button. This allowed for a larger display even though the iPad Mini 6 is smaller by almost 8mm (height). The Mini 5 had one aspect I always consider a plus removed in the 6th-gen Mini — the 3.5mm jack.
The iPad Mini 5 was offered in three colors; Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. The iPad Mini 6 comes in four; Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight. Frankly, the Mini 6 looks cooler because it features less of a frame area around the display.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Display
Yes, the iPad Mini 6 has a larger display, but it also has a better one. The iPad Mini 5 was based around a 7.9″ IPS LCD, while the iPad Mini 6 offers an 8.3″ Liquid Retina (LRD) IPS LCD. The 8.3″ screen also has a higher pixel density, a hallmark of Apple’s LRD. The iPad Mini 5 has a 1,536 x 2,048 resolution at a 4:3 aspect ratio. The iPad Mini 6 has a resolution of 1,488 x 2,266, and an aspect ratio of 3:2.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Looking for a small tablet? Read our 8-inch tablet guide.
Audio
The iPad Mini 5 offers two stereo speakers positioned at the button end of the tablet, and its two microphones are positioned near each camera. The iPad Mini 6 has dual microphones located at the camera end, and it offers four speakers, two on each side. I guess Apple thinks two additional speakers compensate for a missing 3.5mm jack. Nevertheless, the iPad Mini 6 offers noticeably better sound.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
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Hardware
Chipset
The iPad Mini 5’s hardware was great when it came out, and it can still hold its own today. The Apple A12 Bionic chipset has a 6-core CPU consisting of two performance (2×2.5 GHz) and four efficiency cores. It features a 4-core GPU and an 8-core Neural Engine.
The iPad Mini 6 features the Apple A15 Bionic chipset, with a more powerful 6-core CPU (2+4) delivering 2 x 2.93 GHz, a 5-Core GPU, and doubled 16-core Neural Engine (Apple’s norm now). There’s no doubt which one wins here.
Memory
Both the iPad Mini 5 and the Mini 6 come in two memory configurations — 64 GB and 256 GB. That’s storage, but what about RAM? Both versions of the iPad Mini 5 are paired with 3 GB RAM. The iPad Mini 6 has the upper hand here as well, with a 4 GB RAM configuration. Overall, this, coupled with the more-advanced display, proves the iPad Mini 6 has better hardware.
Connectivity
Every iPad has a Wi-Fi and a Wi-Fi + Cellular version. The iPad Mini 5 uses 4G cellular networks and supports speeds of up to 866 Mbps via Wi-Fi. The iPad Mini 6 uses 5G cellular networks and supports up to 1.2 Gbps via Wi-Fi. The iPad Mini 6 also features a Magnetic Connector for the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Performance
A read of the previous section implies the iPad Mini 6 offers better performance, and it does so by quite a margin. The built-in Geekbench test results reveal that the 6th-gen Mini’s single-core performance is better by 43%, while its multi-core performance is better by 73%. That’s a 58% average performance advantage for the iPad Mini 6.
Another benchmark test all but confirms this, revealing a 59% advantage for the 6th-gen CPU. Its GPU follows closely behind with a 56% advantage. The 6th-gen Mini also has better memory performance (16%) and a better UX score (19%). We have a clear winner here.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Need a gaming tablet? Read Our Best Gaming Tablets Guide.
Software
Even though the iPad Mini 5 is the older device, it supports pretty much the same software available for the Mini 6 because Apple devices receive OS updates regularly. Apple’s App Store offers a ton of cool apps to help you manage your time (or waste it), express your creativity, or collaborate with others.
Winner: Draw
Camera
Apple updated both the front and back cameras in the iPad Mini 6. The Mini 5 has an 8MP Wide camera and a 7MP FaceTime front camera. The iPad Mini 6 offers the new standard for Apple — a 12MP Wide front camera and a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera (with Center Stage).
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Accessories & Peripherals
The iPad Mini 5 has an advantage here compared to its competition, it supports Bluetooth keyboards. The iPad Mini 6 does not, rendering it a tablet-only device. The Mini 5’s keyboard support offers more flexibility in my mind because you can convert it to a temporary workstation that offers power comparable to most laptops in their price range.
The iPad Mini 6 has one advantage over the Mini 5 – it supports the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. The Mini 5 supports the 1st-gen Apple Pencil. The Mini 5 offers the possibility of connecting almost any sound system via the 3.5mm jack. The Mini 6’s USB-C port doubles as a DisplayPort, but what need for an additional display would I have without a keyboard, except for watching movies? I have a TV for that.
Winner: Draw
Also Read: Our Best Tablet and iPad Accessories Guide
User Interface (UI)
iPadOS offers the same interface across all of Apple’s tablets. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and, if you’re a long-time Apple user, something you’re used to. Apple has prided itself on its user interface since the first Macintosh computers in the 80s and has always emphasized the visual experience it offers. Between the two, I like the additional display real estate of the iPad Mini 6 and how that benefits its UI.
Winner: iPad Mini 6
Battery
Both the iPad Mini 5 and the Mini 6 have the same lithium-polymer 5,124 mAh battery. The latter offers a slightly higher Wh estimate, most likely due to the LRD display that is known to use less power than older LCD screens, such as the one used in the Mini 5. Nevertheless, Apple says both devices offer up to 10 hours of multimedia use (drops when using a cellular connection).
Winner: Draw
iPad Mini 5 vs iPad Mini 6 – Quality and Reliability
Warranty & Customer Support
Apple iPads come with a 1-year hardware warranty and 90 days of complimentary tech support. My experience tells me that this isn’t enough. If I had a nickel for every time a device failed the day after my warranty ran out, well, I’d have a lot of nickels. So, the smart thing to do with any iPad is to sign up for AppleCare+. This effectively extends your warranty for as long as your subscription lasts.
Some form of Apple Customer Support is available in every country Apple operates in, and you can reach them via phone in many places.
Price
When released, the iPad Mini 5 was priced at $399 (64GB version) + $130 for a cellular version. The 256GB iPad Mini 5 was priced at $549. Again, add $130 for the cellular version. Renewed versions are priced close to that original price, which makes no sense at all to me. Especially because you can get a renewed iPad Mini 6 for roughly 25% more.
The iPad Mini 6 was released with a $499 price tag for the 64GB Wi-Fi version. The 256GB version was priced at $649. If you wanted a cellular configuration, you’d have to add $150 to those base prices. That means the iPad Mini 5’s prices are roughly 25% lower on average when comparing a new and renewed device, and the Mini 6’s prices are lower by 17.5% for a renewed device. Not much of a second-hand deal if you ask me.
Conclusion
Concluding this iPad Mini 5 vs iPad Mini 6 comparison, I have to point out that the iPad Mini 6 is a much better device than the iPad Mini 5. It has a better display, better cameras, a more powerful chip, and much more. And since the Mini 5 has been discontinued, you’re looking at second-hand devices exclusively, at prices that don’t jive with me.
Similarly, I can say that purchasing a renewed iPad Mini 6 is also quite pointless because you won’t save a significant amount of money and nothing compares to a new device. So, if you’re looking to migrate to an iPad Mini, I’d have to recommend it be a new iPad Mini 6, just to be on the safe side.
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