Apple iPad Air (1st generation) vs Apple iPad mini 2

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

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iPad Air (1st generation) compared with iPad mini 2

	AppleiPad Air (1st generation)	AppleiPad mini 2
Overview
Released
Released	November 2013	November 2013
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	7.9″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536	2048 × 1536
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch	324 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	326 ppi
Display features
Display features	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating	Oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A7	A7
Memory
Memory	1 GB	1 GB
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
CPU
CPU	64-bit A7; M7 motion coprocessor; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A7 with M7 motion coprocessor; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
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; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; face detection	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; face detection; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; panorama
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; backside illumination; face detection	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation, face detection and 3x video zoom; front 720p	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation, 3x zoom and time-lapse; 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	32.4 Wh (better)	23.8 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 cellular browsing	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	Power adapter or USB computer charging	USB Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile network
Mobile network	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 478 g	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 341 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	No Apple Pencil support
Keyboards
Keyboards	No Smart Connector	No Smart Connector
Design
Weight
Weight	469 g	331 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm	7.5 mm
Height × width
Height × width	240 × 169.5 mm	200 × 134.7 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	No Touch ID	–
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model (Notebookcheck)	Gyroscope; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure (Notebookcheck)	Aluminium enclosure
Colours
Colours	Silver, Space Grey	Silver, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 7	iOS 7
In the box
In the box	iPad Air; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter	iPad mini; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter