Macworld

Ever since the 10th-gen iPad’s 2022 redesign to match the rest of the lineup, the iPad lineup has been pretty clear. There’s the iPad Pro, which has the latest features and the best performance, the iPad Air in the middle, the smaller iPad mini, and the entry-level model with an older A-series chip and display. As such, we’ve always recommended the iPad Air for most people looking for an iPad with a smart combination of price and specs. However, after the recent hikes added $150 to the price, the Air is a lot less attractive than it was for $599, especially since it hasn’t gotten a meaningful upgrade in years.

The upcoming iPad mini—expected to launch as part of Apple’s “Pro and Tell” event next week—is shaping up to become the new balanced mid-ranger. While it won’t offer an M-series processor or a screen as larger as even the smaller iPad Air, the overall package is rumored to be significantly more advanced and feature-rich than the Air offers. In fact, once the new iPad mini launches, I see little reason why the Air even needs to exist.

Au revoir, LED

Disregarding the size, the iPad Air and iPad mini offer comparable Liquid Retina (LED) screens. With both models, you get the same maximum brightness, wide color P3 gamut, True Tone support, Apple Pencil compatibility, antireflective coating, etc. The iPad mini does come with a slightly higher pixel density of 326 ppi (compared to the Air’s 264 ppi) due to its smaller size, but that’s about it.

The M4 iPad Pro was the first Apple tablet to adopt an OLED panel, unlocking true blacks and crisper colors. After two years of exclusivity, OLED is finally rumored to expand to another iPad. Based on Apple’s pattern, one would assume that would be the iPad Air, but somewhat surprisingly, it’s reportedly coming to the mini first.

The iPad mini will reportedly be Apple’s first non-Pro tablet to switch to OLED. Having actively used both an LED iPad Air and an OLED iPad Pro, let me tell you that it’s not just an iterative bump on a spec sheet. The difference in image quality is night and day. Colors are richer, blacks are deeper, and HDR content shines.

To be fair, the iPad mini reportedly won’t be receiving the same tandem OLED technology found in the iPad Pro, but the upgrade will undoubtedly enhance consumed digital content. Even with a smaller display the iPad mini will essentially leapfrog the Air for movies and photo editing.

The iPad Pro might not be Apple’s only tablet with an OLED display.

Britta O’Boyle

Putting the IP in iPad

iPads have never had an water-resistance rating, making them susceptible to liquid damage and more worrisome when traveling to a beach or using one to relax while taking a bath. The next iPad mini will be the first model with an official water resistance certification, widely expanding its use case possibilities.

On rainy days, for example, you won’t hesitate to take it out with you. You’ll similarly feel more comfortable using it in the kitchen while cooking, on the beach, or in the bathtub. This will make it infinitely more practical for on-the-go reading sessions, viewing recipes, and consuming media while soaking—and set it apart from even the iPad Pro. Add in its inherent portability, and it’s a more intriguing option than the Air.

Pro power

Given that the iPad Air is powered by the Mac’s M-branded chipsets, one would assume it’ll always outperform the iPad mini and its A-series processors. While this may have been the case in the past, the next iPad mini is expected to get a serious upgrade with the iPhone 18 Pro’s A20 Pro SoC.

With the same 12GB of RAM as the M4, Apple’s A20 Pro actually outperforms the Air’s chipset in several relevant benchmark tests. As such, demanding iPadOS apps should run fluidly and reliably on the mini variant. And given the shift to a 2nm manufacturing process, the iPad mini could become even more power efficient, extending its battery life beyond the reported 10-hour limit on the current mini and Air models.

Size matters

It goes without saying that the iPad mini is significantly lighter—0.65 pound (293 grams) vs 1.02 pounds (464 grams)—and more portable than the Air, making it more practical to store and carry around. It’s also relatively intuitive for one-handed use, letting you utilize tablet features without the added bulk.

The iPad mini is significantly small than other iPads, but that also makes it lighter and more portable.

Petter Ahrnstedt

The flashy kind

Another iPad Pro feature that mini users get is the True Tone flash. While you likely won’t be taking professional-grade photos with your iPad, the flashlight’s utility extends beyond the Camera app. For example, you could turn it on when using the built-in document scanner to produce clearer results. It can also come in handy during sudden power outages when your iPhone isn’t within reach.

The issue of price

After the recent price hikes, the 8.3-inch iPad mini starts today at $599, while the 11-inch iPad Air goes for $749. Taking all of the above into consideration as well as the Apple’s recent pricing strategy, we can conclude that the mini will get another price hike, perhaps even pushing it as high as $799.

Is $799 too much for iPad mini? Not if the rumored features all come to pass.

Foundry

Let’s say that happens. Yes, that means the mini would cost $50 more than the Air, assuming Apple does’t raise prices again. However, other than a smaller screen, the upcoming iPad mini will offer a superior experience in every way, with a better display, stronger durability, higher performance, and greater portability. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would choose the 11-inch Air instead even with a slightly lower price.

Want the best performance? The iPad Pro is the one you want. Need an 11-inch display? Go for the A16 iPad. Need to get work done? The $699 MacBook Neo is much smarter option than an 11-inch iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard for $1,018 or $1,268 for the 13-inch model. Heck, at that point, you might as well add $30 and get an M5 MacBook Air instead.

So, once the new iPad mini arrives, there’s really no scenario where it would make sense to buy an iPad Air. And I can’t help but wonder if its days in the iPad lineup are numbered.