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

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

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

	AppleiPad mini (1st generation)	AppleiPad mini 4
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	September 2015
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 (IPS confirmed by Notebookcheck)
Pixel density
Pixel density	163 ppi	326 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating	Fully laminated; anti-reflective coating; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5	A8
Memory
Memory	512 MB	2 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core A5; 512 MB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A8; M8 motion coprocessor; 2 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	8 MP (better)
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	f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; auto HDR; panorama up to 43 MP; burst; timer; auto image stabilisation; face detection
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; backside illumination; auto HDR; burst; timer; face detection
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation; front 720p	Rear 1080p at 30 fps; slow-motion at 120 fps; stabilised time-lapse; video stabilisation; 3x video zoom; 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	19.1 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	USB 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
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.2
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; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support; Wi-Fi calling; cellular model weighs 304 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	298.8 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	7.2 mm	6.1 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	200 × 134.7 mm	203.2 × 134.8 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers confirmed by Notebookcheck; Apple lists a built-in speaker without specifying channels	Built-in stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Gyroscope; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	Aluminium enclosure (Apple environmental report)
Colours
Colours	Black and Slate; White and Silver	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 6	iOS 9; September 2015 on-sale month corroborated by Macworld; maker environmental report records introduction on 9 September
In the box
In the box	iPad mini; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad mini 4; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter