What are all the differences between the iPad 2, iPad 4th Gen, and the original iPad mini (1st Gen)? Would one of these models meet my needs or should I buy a newer iPad?

Please note that the iPad 2, iPad 4th Gen, and original iPad mini all have been discontinued. This Q&A has been updated with the latest on iOS support and more and can be quite useful for anyone on a tight budget who is considering one of these older iPad models, whether new or used.

You may also be interested in the differences between the Original iPad mini and iPad mini 2, the iPad 4 and Original iPad Air, or the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 models.

There are numerous differences between the iPad 2 -- the iPad 2 (Wi-Fi), (Wi-Fi/GSM/A-GPS), and (Wi-Fi/CDMA/A-GPS) -- the iPad 4th Gen models -- the iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi Only), (Wi-Fi/AT&T/GPS), and (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint/GPS) -- and the original iPad mini models -- the iPad mini (Wi-Fi Only), (Wi-Fi/AT&T/GPS), and (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint/GPS).

As the iPad mini models are physically smaller -- just 7.87 inches tall and 5.3 inches wide -- they are easy to differentiate from the larger iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen models.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad mini)

As the iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen models essentially are the same dimensions -- 9.5 inches tall and 7.31 inches wide -- with similar thickness and weight, it definitely is easy to not notice the differences unless you have a keen eye and pay close attention, particularly if the devices are turned off.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad 4th Gen)

However, there are important differences between the similar looking iPad 4th Gen and the older iPad 2 as well as the iPad mini. Specifically, there are differences in the displays, connectivity, identification, performance, cameras, software support, and cellular capabilities as well as dimensions, weight, and price.

External Differences

The iPad 2, iPad 4th Gen, and original iPad mini models are available with either a black or white glass front and an aluminum back (with a plastic area for configurations with cellular data connectivity) and all have multitouch, glossy IPS LED-backlit displays, but the quality and resolution varies considerably.

The iPad 4th Gen models have a 9.7-inch 2048x1536 (264 ppi) "Retina" Display that is much higher resolution and better quality than the "non-Retina" displays in the other two devices. By contrast, the iPad 2 has a 9.7-inch 1024x768 (132 ppi) display and the original iPad mini has a 7.9-inch 1024x768 (163 ppi) display.

All have a built-in microphone, support system-wide video mirroring and up to 1080p video out, and support a version of the magnetic "Smart Cover" (the iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen are the same, but naturally the iPad mini uses a smaller one). The iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen have a mono speaker, but interestingly, the iPad mini has a better quality stereo speaker setup. The iPad mini models were the first in the iPad line to have stereo speakers.

Wired connectivity -- for power as well as computer connectivity, if desired -- also is a major point of differentiation. The iPad 2 uses the "traditional" 30-pin "Dock Connector" port whereas the iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini models have a smaller, rectangular "Lightning" port that is faster and easier to use but not compatible with the earlier standard.

Camera Differences

All of these devices have both front and rear mounted cameras, but the quality is different.

The iPad 2 has a VGA quality "FaceTime" front mounted camera and a 0.7 megapixel rear camera that shoots stills and is capable of recording 720p video. The iPad 4th Gen and original iPad mini both have a front-mounted "FaceTime HD" camera capable of shooting 1.2 megapixel stills and 720p video and a rear-mounted 5 megapixel "iSight" camera capable of shooting both stills and 1080p video.

Identification Differences

When side-by-side the iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen models can be identified easily by the Dock Connector and Lightning ports, respectively, on the bottom of each. However, it is easy to confuse the original iPad mini and iPad 2 with other models, and it is not possible to visually differentiate between the cellular capable models in each line, either.

Consequently, Model Numbers typically are one of the best methods of external identification. Model numbers are provided in very small type on the back of each device toward the bottom.

Specifically, the iPad 2, iPad 4th Gen, and original iPad mini model numbers are as follows:

iPad Model	Model No.
iPad 2 (Wi-Fi Only)	A1395
iPad 2 (Wi-Fi/GSM/GPS)	A1396
iPad 2 (Wi-Fi/CDMA/GPS)	A1397
iPad 2 (Wi-Fi Only, iPad2,4)	A1395
iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1458
iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi/AT&T)	A1459
iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint)	A1460
iPad mini 1st Gen (Wi-Fi Only)	A1432
iPad mini 1st Gen (Wi-Fi/AT&T)	A1454
iPad mini 1st Gen (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint)	A1455

All iPad models can be differentiated by other identifiers as well, such as the Order Number, which can be located by selecting the Settings app and pressing General > About and scrolling down to what is specified as "Model" within the iOS. For example, the original iPad mini with 16 GB of storage in white for Verizon is MD543LL/A.

Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can identify exact iPad models by the "Model" as well as other identifiers including its Serial Number.

iOS Support Differences

The iPad 2 originally shipped with iOS 4.3 whereas the iPad 4th Gen and original iPad mini were introduced with iOS 6. The iPad 2 is capable of running iOS 6, but it does not support Siri with iOS 6 or otherwise.

All three devices also support iOS 7 to some degree. Each supports the basic iOS 7 features -- Control Center, Notification Center, and Multitasking, as well as Safari and iTunes Radio -- but the iPad 2 supports no other features.

By contrast, the iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini are both fully supported by iOS 7, with the exception of the "Panorama" and "Filters in Camera" photographic features. In addition to the basic iOS 7 features, the iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini also support AirDrop, Filters in Photos, and more advanced photo functionality that Apple calls "square and video formats and swipe to capture." The iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini continue to support Siri, too.

The iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen, and original iPad mini support iOS 8, as well, but support is minimal with no advanced features for the iPad 2. It also is worth noting that iOS 8 is slower on the iPad 2 than iOS 7, so those most interested in performance may prefer to stick with iOS 7 for this model. By contrast, the iPad 4th Gen and original iPad mini are fully supported by iOS 8 with the exception of the "Health" and "Apple Pay" features.

All three support iOS 9, also. For the iPad 2, support remains minimal and iOS 9 is no faster than iOS 8, so upgrading only makes sense if app compatibility is more important to you than speed. The iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini support the majority of functionality -- including Spotlight and Siri improvements -- but Transit and the advanced multitasking features -- Slide Over, Picture-in-Picture, and Split View -- are not supported.

Finally, the iPad 4th Gen supports iOS 10, with the exception of Raise to Wake, Rich Notifcations, and Ride-Booking functionality, but the iPad 2 and original iPad mini do not support the operating system at all. The iPad 4th Gen does not support iOS 11 or later, either.

None of these models support the current version of the iOS.

Internal Differences

As originally shipped, all three lines have 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of storage (and the iPad 4th Gen had a 128 GB configuration added later), but Apple currently only ships 16 GB configurations of the original iPad mini. All three lines also have an accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, an ambient light sensor, and a digital compass.

As confirmed by the third-party Geekbench benchmark, the iPad 2 and iPad mini are powered by dual core 1 GHz Apple A5 processors with a single core graphics processor and have 512 MB of RAM, whereas the iPad 4th Gen is powered by the much faster dual core 1.4 GHz Apple A6X processor with quad core graphics and 1 GB of RAM.

Wireless and cellular connectivity is substantially different. The iPad 2 supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11a/b/g/n wi-fi, but the iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini models support the more advanced Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with dual band/dual stream 802.11n on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.

Also, the cellular capable iPad 2 models -- the iPad 2 (Wi-Fi/GSM/GPS) and iPad 2 (Wi-Fi/CDMA/GPS) -- support 3G connectivity, whereas the cellular capable iPad 4th Gen and iPad mini models support much more global 4G/LTE coverage -- the iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi/AT&T/GPS) and iPad mini (Wi-Fi/AT&T/GPS) on bands 4 and 17 and the iPad 4th Gen (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint/GPS) and iPad mini (Wi-Fi/Verizon & Sprint/GPS) on bands 1, 3, 5, 13, and 25. Across all lines, only the cellular capable models support GPS (and GLONASS for the iPad 4th Gen and original iPad mini models).

Cellular capable iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen models both use Micro SIM cards whereas the iPad mini uses the smaller Nano SIM standard.

Battery life is estimated as the same for all of these devices. The iPad 4th Gen, iPad 2, and iPad mini lines each provide an estimated ten hours of battery life "surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music" and 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data on capable models.

Original Pricing Differences

Original pricing for each line was differentiated by capacity and data connectivity alone. The iPad 2 and iPad 4th Gen models were introduced at the same price, too:

iPad 2:	16 GB	32 GB	64 GB
Wi-Fi:	US$499	US$599	US$699
Wi-Fi, Cellular Data & A-GPS:	US$629	US$729	US$829
iPad 4th Gen:	16 GB	32 GB	64 GB
Wi-Fi Only:	US$499	US$599	US$699
Wi-Fi, 4G (AT&T) & A-GPS/GLONASS:	US$629	US$729	US$829
Wi-Fi, 4G (VZ/Sprint) & A-GPS/GLONASS:	US$629	US$729	US$829
Original iPad mini:	16 GB	32 GB	64 GB
Wi-Fi Only:	US$329	US$429	US$529
Wi-Fi, 4G (AT&T) & A-GPS/GLONASS:	US$459	US$559	US$659
Wi-Fi, 4G (VZ/Sprint) & A-GPS/GLONASS:	US$459	US$559	US$659

For original pricing details in dozens of other countries, please refer to the iPad specs page for the device of interest as well as EveryiPad.com's Global Original Prices section.

Comparison Chart

The primary differences between the iPad 2, iPad 4th Gen, and iPad mini are summarized below:

	iPad 2	iPad mini	iPad 4th Gen
Display Size:	9.7" (1024x768)	7.9" (1024x768)	9.7" (2048x1536)
Display PPI:	132 ppi	163 ppi	264 ppi
Processor Speed:	1.0 GHz	1.0 GHz	1.4 GHz
Processor Type:	Apple A5	Apple A5	Apple A6X
Processor Cores:	2	2	2
RAM:	512 MB	512 MB	1 GB
Data Networks:	3G & Wi-Fi	4G/LTE & Wi-Fi	4G/LTE & Wi-Fi
Dual Stream Wi-Fi:	No	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth:	2.1+EDR	4.0	4.0
Storage Size:	16 GB	16, 32, 64 GB	16, 32, 64 GB
Speaker:	Mono	Stereo	Mono
Front Camera:	VGA	1.2 Megapixel	1.2 Megapixel
Rear Camera:	0.7 Megapixels	5.0 Megapixels	5.0 Megapixels
Filming:	720p	1080p	1080p
Connector:	30-pin Dock	Lightning	Lightning
SIM:	Micro SIM	Nano SIM	Micro SIM
Original iOS:	4.3	6.0	6.0
Maximum iOS:	9 (Minimal)	9 (Partial*)	10 (Partial*)
Siri:	No	Yes	Yes
Dimensions (In):	9.50 x 7.31 x 0.34	7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28	9.50 x 7.31 x 0.37
Weight:	1.33, 1.35, 1.34 lbs.	0.68, 0.69 lbs.	1.44, 1.46 lbs.
Model No:	A1395/A1396/A1397	A1432/A1454/A1455	A1458/A1459/A1460
Original Price:	US$499-US$829	US$329-US$659	US$499-US$829

* The original iPad mini and iPad 4th Gen models completely support iOS 7 with the exception of the minor "Panorama" and "Filters in Camera" photographic features and iOS 8 with the exception of the "Health" and "Apple Pay" features. Running iOS 9, the iPad 4th Gen supports most features, but supports neither Slide Over or Split View, whereas the original iPad mini supports Slide Over.

So, would one of these models meet my needs or should I buy a newer iPad?

Compared only to one another, the iPad 4th Gen is the most capable because it is faster, has a better quality display, and supports a more recent version of the iOS, although none of these models support the current version of the iOS. The iPad 4th Gen remains usable for someone with modest needs, although current app support will be limited. It would be a challenge to still use the iPad 2 or original iPad mini these days.

Most users would be best off purchasing a newer iPad because subsequent models are much faster and have more advanced connectivity than any of these models.

iPad Purchase Options

There are many vendors that sell new and used iPads. However, purchasing from a quality company with extensive Apple knowledge -- and after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City may have used iPad models in stock, as well. All Macs and devices are available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad (new or old alike).

Also see:

• What are all the differences between the iPad 4th Gen and the original iPad Air (iPad 5)?
• What are all the differences between the original iPad mini and the iPad mini 2?
• What are all the differences between the iPad 2 models?
• What are all the differences between the iPad 4th Gen models?
• What are all the differences between the original iPad mini models?