All iPads Upgrade from Mini 5: Pro 2020, Pro 2021 or Mini 6?

[gdourado]

Hello, how are you?
I am looking to upgrade my mini 5.
I like it a lot and find the formfactor very convenient and easy to thumb type.
When apple announced the Mini 6 I was just on the take my money mindset…
But after I cooled the enthusiasm, I don’t know.
Besides the SOC and redesign, it will almost be the same as my mini 5.

After having my 13 Pro Max, I am kind of spoiled by the pro motion screen. Going back to the mini 5 really feels like it is not smooth.

The pro, besides pro motion, also has FaceID, 4 speakers and more RAM.

So I am on the fence.
First is Mini 6 or Pro?

And if I go Pro, is it worth the extra for the M1 version?
The Pro 2020 has the a12z, that is the same architecture as the mini 5 A12 Bionic.
Is the a12z much more performant than the A12?

Thanks.
Cheers!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Besides the SOC and redesign, it will almost be the same as my mini 5.

This is eminently true.
If you aren't taxing your Mini 5 already, the processor upgrade is basically meaningless and not noticeable.

The Mini6 screen is ever so slightly bigger and with a slightly wider aspect ratio -- quality wise it's totally identical.

The cameras are better on the Mini 6 - full stop.
Whether that is of enough importance to you is the part you'll have to figure out.

Also - Pencil 2 support if that's something you are looking for?

 

[sracer]

Besides the SOC and redesign, it will almost be the same as my mini 5.

Except for the things that make the Mini 6 different, it is almost the same as the Mini 5.

The iPad Pro is not a proper replacement for the Mini 5. They're two separate beasts. The only thing they have in common is that they run iPadOS. In average, typical daily use, the difference in processor speeds will most likely be negligible. It really depends upon what you use the device for.

It comes down to which is more important to you? The size of the Mini or ProMotion, FaceID, and quad-speakers of the Pro. Only you can answer that question.

 

[minik]

I went with the iPad mini 6 from the 5th gen. It's even shorter than the out-going model, a great lightweight device in between my iPhone 13 Pro and iPad Pro 12.9" yet runs iPad apps.