Apple iPad mini (1st generation) vs Apple iPad mini (5th generation)

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

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iPad mini (1st generation) compared with iPad mini (5th generation)

	AppleiPad mini (1st generation)	AppleiPad mini (5th generation)
Overview
Released
Released	November 2012	March 2019
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
Brightness
Brightness	–	500 nits
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	P3 wide colour; True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5	A12 Bionic
Memory
Memory	512 MB	3 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	64 GB, 256 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core A5; 512 MB RAM confirmed by iFixit	A12 Bionic; 3 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
AI engine
AI engine	–	Neural Engine
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	7 MP (better)
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; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; wide colour and Live Photos; HDR; panorama up to 43 MP; burst; timer; auto image stabilisation
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; face detection; backside illumination	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; Retina Flash; wide colour capture; backside illumination; auto HDR; burst; timer
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation; front 720p	Rear 1080p; slow-motion at 240 fps; stabilised time-lapse; 3x video zoom; video stabilisation; front 1080p at 30 fps
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	Supported, sold separately
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 5.0
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	Gigabit-class LTE; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support and eSIM; cellular model weighs 308.2 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately
Keyboards
Keyboards	No Smart Connector	No Smart Connector
Design
Weight
Weight	308 g	300.5 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	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; GPS and GNSS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure	–
Colours
Colours	Black and Slate; White and Silver	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 6	iOS 12; orders opened 18 March 2019, with shops receiving it the following week
In the box
In the box	iPad mini; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad mini; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter