Apple iPad (4th generation) vs Apple iPad mini (1st generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPad (4th generation) compared with iPad mini (1st generation)

	AppleiPad (4th generation)	AppleiPad mini (1st generation)
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	November 2012
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	7.9″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536 (better)	1024 × 768
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch (better)	162 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	163 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating; Multi-Touch	Oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A6X	A5
Memory
Memory	1 GB (better)	512 MB
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (better)	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB
CPU
CPU	Dual-core A6X; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	Dual-core A5; 512 MB RAM confirmed by iFixit
GPU
GPU	Quad-core graphics	–
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	5 MP
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	1.2 MP	1.2 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; face detection; backside illumination	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; face detection; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with stabilisation; front 720p; geotagging; exposure control	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation; front 720p
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	42.5 Wh (better)	16.3 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Not supported
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	No	No
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours browsing over cellular	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	Power adapter or USB computer connection	USB Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional Digital AV and VGA adapters; Apple support lists external video output up to 720p	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; Apple lists adapter mirroring up to 720p and video playback up to 1080p
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n; 802.11n at 2.4 and 5 GHz	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile network
Mobile network	GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA; LTE bands 1/3/5/13/25 on A1460 or 4/17 on A1459; micro-SIM; 662 g	LTE, UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; A1455 also supports CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 312 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	No Apple Pencil support
Keyboards
Keyboards	Bluetooth keyboards supported; no dedicated Apple keyboard connector	No Smart Connector
Design
Weight
Weight	652 g	308 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	9.4 mm	7.2 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	241.2 × 185.7 mm	200 × 134.7 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iOS
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Stereo speakers confirmed by Notebookcheck; Apple lists a built-in speaker without specifying channels
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Built-in microphone
Sensors
Sensors	Accelerometer; ambient light; three-axis gyroscope; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model	Gyroscope; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	Aluminium enclosure
Colours
Colours	Black or White front	Black and Slate; White and Silver
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 6; 128 GB version introduced with iOS 6.1 on 5 February 2013	iOS 6
In the box
In the box	iPad; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad mini; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter