iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 4 comparison

I’m thinking of getting an iPad mini, but Apple has two for sale: the iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 4, what is the difference and which one should I get? Also, what happened to the iPad mini 3?

The iPad mini is a great tablet to buy. It offers all the power and functionality of the larger iPad in a smaller form factor and, crucially, at a much lower price. Indeed, it was demand for a cheaper iPad that led Apple to create the iPad mini.

Ever since the original iPad mini, Apple has created and released updated versions. The new iPad mini versions introduce features usually seen first in the iPad Air or iPhone (faster components, Retina Display, Touch ID and so on) while keeping the price low.

So let’s start by looking at the models currently available to buy from Apple and their prices.

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iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 4: models and pricing

Apple has two models of iPad mini 2 available and three models of iPad mini 4. Each is available in a selection of colours, but the real difference is the amount of storage space available. Here are the prices and models:

iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi

• 16 GB – £219
• 32 GB – £259

iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi

• 16 GB – £319
• 64 GB – £399
• 128 GB – £479

iPad mini Wi-Fi and Cellular

It is possible to upgrade both models of iPad from a Wi-Fi only model to a Wi-Fi and Cellular version. This enables you to place a SIM card in the iPad and connect to a mobile data network, but will also cost you £100 more than the price of the corresponding WiFi-only model.

iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 4: colours and finish

The colours and finish available are different for the different models of the iPad. Here are the three colours available on the iPad 4:

• Silver
• Gold
• Space Grey

The iPad mini 2 isn’t available in gold. We don’t think this should be a major concern, but it is a point of difference and is used by Apple to mark that the iPad mini 4 is a newer device, and available in the newer colours.

Read next:  iPad mini 3 vs iPad mini 4

iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 4: technical specifications

The real difference between the two devices is the tech specs. The iPad mini 2 was released way back in 2013, and the iPad mini 4 came out in September 2015. So one is right up to date, and the other is a bit old. Here are the tech specs:

iPad mini 2 tech specs

• Dimensions: 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm
• Weight: 331 g (Wi-Fi), 341 g (Wi-Fi & Cellular)
• Display: 7.9 inches
• Resolution: 1536 x 2048 pixels (Retina Display: 324 ppi pixel density)
• Chipset: Apple A7: Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)
• GPU: PowerVR G6430 (quad-core graphics)
• iSight Camera: 5 MP, (2592 x 1944 pixels)
• FaceTime Camera:1.2 MP, 720p@30fps
• Battery: Up to 10 hours
• Touch ID: No

iPad mini 4 tech specs

• Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm
• Weight: 299 g (Wi-Fi) / 304 g (Wi-Fi & Cellular)
• Display: 7.9 inches
• Resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels (Retina Display: 324 ppi pixel density)
• Chipset: Apple A8 (Dual-core 1.5 GHz Typhoon)
• GPU: PowerVR GX6450 (quad-core graphics)
• iSight Camera: 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels
• FaceTime Camera: 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps
• Battery: Up to 10 hours
• Touch ID: Yes

iPad mini 2 vs iPad mini 4 analysis

Looking at the price and specifications, it’s pretty clear what’s happened. Apple is keeping the older iPad mini 2 around for a low price, but with clearly older specifications.

The big difference between the two devices is the upgrade from an A7 CPU to A8. This takes you from a 1.3 to a 1.5 CPU (both dual-core). There is a slightly newer GPU as well, but both are quad core.

Interestingly, the new iPad mini 4 doesn’t have the A8X chipset from the newer iPad Air 2 (itself a year old). And Apple has already moved on to an A9 processor for the new iPhone 6s (which comes complete with a six-core GPU).

But nonetheless, you’ll find that the iPad mini 4 is much speedier than the iPad mini 2, which is getting a bit sluggish in its old age but should still handle most tasks you throw at it.

The other key difference between the two models is the presence of Touch ID on the newer iPad mini 4. Touch ID is a great way to unlock your iPad, although it is slightly more compelling on the iPhone, where you are more likely to carry it in public, and use Touch ID to make purchases with Apple Pay.

The camera is also much better on the iPad mini 4, although they both have the same 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera (we would have liked to have seen the 5-megapixel camera from the new iPhone on the iPad mini 4).

Last but not least is the overall thickness of the device, which has been reduced from 7.5mm to an impressive 61.mm to match the iPad Air 2, also reducing the weight to under 300g.

A key thing to note is that both devices have the same Retina Display and offer 10 hours of battery life. They also both run iOS 9, the latest operating system. So, speed aside, you get the same experience from both devices. That said, the ipad mini 4 does offer some extra multitasking functionality in iOS 9 that the iPad mini 2 can’t handle. Find out more about iOS 9 on the iPad here.

Why isn’t there an iPad 3

Apple has removed the iPad mini 3 from sale. The iPad mini 3 seemed a bit of a hybrid between the two devices here. It had the slower A7 processor, but featured the Touch ID chip. In many ways the Touch ID sensor is the big surface difference between the two iPads.