Apple iPad mini (1st generation) vs Apple iPad mini 3

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

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iPad mini (1st generation) compared with iPad mini 3

	AppleiPad mini (1st generation)	AppleiPad mini 3
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	October 2014
Display
Screen size
Screen size	7.9″	7.9″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	2048 × 1536 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	162 pixels per inch	324 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	LED-backlit IPS LCD	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	163 ppi	326 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating	Oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5	A7
Memory
Memory	512 MB	1 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	16 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core A5; 512 MB 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; face detection; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; face detection; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; panorama; timer
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination; panorama; timer
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation; front 720p	Rear 1080p at 30 fps with 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	16.3 Wh	23.8 Wh (better)
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	USB Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported	Power adapter or USB computer charging
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; Apple lists adapter mirroring up to 720p and video playback up to 1080p	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile network
Mobile network	LTE, UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; A1455 also supports CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 312 g	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; Apple SIM supplied in UK and US; 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	308 g (better)	331 g
Thickness
Thickness	7.2 mm (better)	7.5 mm
Height × width
Height × width	200 × 134.7 mm	200 × 134.7 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID fingerprint sensor in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers confirmed by Notebookcheck; Apple lists a built-in speaker without specifying channels	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Gyroscope; accelerometer; ambient light; 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 (Notebookcheck)
Colours
Colours	Black and Slate; White and Silver	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 6	iOS 8.1; orders opened 17 October 2014 with availability the following week
In the box
In the box	iPad mini; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad mini; USB power adapter; Lightning to USB cable (Notebookcheck)