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iPad mini Q&A
Update Published October 25, 2024
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What are all the differences between the iPad mini 6 and the iPad mini 5 replaced?
Please note that the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 models all have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated with the latest on iOS support and more and is quite useful for anyone buying or selling one of these devices on the used market.
There are substantial differences between the iPad mini 5 models introduced in 2019 -- the iPad mini 5 (Wi-Fi Only), iPad mini 5 (Wi-Fi+Cellular US/CA/AU/NZ), iPad mini 5 (Wi-Fi+Cellular Global), and iPad mini 5 (Wi-Fi+Cellular China) -- and the iPad mini 6 models that replaced them in 2021 -- the iPad mini 6 (Wi-Fi Only), iPad mini 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell US/Global), and iPad mini 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell China).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc (iPad mini 5)
Some differences between the iPad mini 5 (above) and its replacement, the iPad mini 6 (below), are obvious, whereas others are less so, but important nevertheless.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad mini 6)
External Differences
With even a quick glance at the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6, it is clear that there are major external differences between them.
The iPad mini 5 has rounded sides and the choice of a white front and silver-colored back, a white front and gold-colored back, or a black front and a "Space Gray" back whereas the iPad mini 6 has flat sides, a black front with smaller and more uniform bezels around the edges and back color options include dark "Space Gray," warm gray "Starlight," Pink, and Purple.
The iPad mini 5 models use a 7.9" IPS LED-backlit 2048x1536 (326 ppi) "Retina" display whereas the newer iPad mini 6 use a 8.3" LED-backlit 2266x1488 "Liquid Retina" display (326 ppi, 500 nits brightness). Although the iPad mini 6 has a larger screen, because it does not have so much empty space at the top and bottom of the display (and eliminates the "Home" button), it actually is a smaller tablet overall. However, both displays support "wide color" (P3) and True Tone technology, which automatically makes adjustments based on ambient lighting.
The iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 both have dual cameras, but both cameras are better on the iPad mini 6. Specifically, the iPad mini 5 has a 7 megapixel 1080p front camera and a 8 megapixel 1080p "Wide" rear camera, whereas the iPad mini 6 has a 12 megapixel 1080p "Ultra Wide" front camera and a 12 megapixel "Wide" 4K rear camera.
Connectivity also is substantially different. The iPad mini 5 has a "Touch ID" fingerprint sensor built into the "Home" button, a Lightning port, and support for the original Apple Pencil that charges awkwardly using the Lightning port. The iPad mini 6, on the other hand, has a "Touch ID" fingerprint sensor embedded in the top button, a USB-C port and a magnetic connector on the side. This magnetic connector supports both the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen and Apple Pencil (USB-C), but only the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen is capable of magnetic charging.
Internal Differences
Internally, the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 also have many differences. They both are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and 64 GB or 256 GB of storage, but that is about everything they have in common.
The iPad mini 5 models have a 2.49 GHz Apple A12 "Bionic" processor and M12 coprocessor with six CPU cores and four GPU cores, an 8-core Neural Engine, 3 GB of RAM, and support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Cellular models support 4G LTE.
The iPad mini 6 models, by contrast, pack a much faster 2.9 GHz Apple A15 "Bionic" processor with six CPU cores and five GPU cores, a 16-core Neural Engine, 4 GB of RAM, and support for 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). Cellular models support 4G LTE and 5G.
Identification Differences
It is easy to visually differentiate the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 from one another, but it is easy to mix up the iPad mini 5 with earlier models and the iPad mini 6 with later ones, so visual identification is not a good option.
Instead, one of the best methods for external identification is via Model Number. Model numbers are provided in tiny type toward the bottom of the back of each iPad mini:
iPad |
Model Number |
The iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 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 iPad mini 6 (Wi-Fi Only) in Pink with 64 GB of storage is MLWL3LL/A.
To pinpoint one of these iPad mini models by a variety of other identifiers please refer to the Ultimate iLookup feature.
Connectivity & Battery Life Differences
Battery life is the same for the Wi-Fi only and Cellular equipped models from both lines. Using Wi-Fi, the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 models each provide ten hours of runtime whereas the cellular capable devices provide nine hours of runtime using a cellular connection.
However, the iPad mini 6 models provide more advanced connectivity. The iPad mini 5 models support 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) whereas the iPad mini 6 models support faster 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).
The iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 models with cellular connectivity all support A-GPS, but the iPad mini 5 only support 4G LTE whereas the iPad mini 6 support 4G LTE and much faster 5G connectivity.
Specific cellular data connectivity for these models includes:
| iPad mini | Model |
5G & 4G LTE Bands |
| 5 (Wi-Fi Only) | A2133 | None |
| 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA) | A2126 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 |
| 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global) | A2124 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell China) | A2125 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 |
| 6 (Wi-Fi Only) | A2567 | None |
| 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell US/Global) | A2568 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 6 (Wi-Fi/Cell China) | A2569 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
All cellular-capable iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 models shipped unlocked. In the United States, the applicable devices work with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, but some carriers may still require activation or configuration before it will work properly -- or at all -- on their network.
The iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 models sold everywhere except for mainland China support both a physical Nano SIM and an eSIM whereas the China-specific models only support Nano SIM.
iPadOS Support Differences
The iPad mini 5 models first shipped with iOS 12.2 and later shipped with iOS 13 (iPadOS). They fully support the final version of iPadOS 14, with the exception of the ARKit Depth AP and fully support iPadOS 15.
The iPad mini 5 models also support iPadOS 16, but do not support the advanced Stage Manager, Reference Mode, Accessibility Detection, and Virtual Memory Swap features as well as Apple Music Sing (Karaoke); and support iPadOS 17, but lack support for the React with Your Hands; Screen Distance; More Accurate Autocorrect in English, French, and Spanish; Inline Predictions (English); and External Camera for FaceTime features.
The iPad mini 6 models, on the other hand, first shipped with iPadOS 15. They support iPadOS 16 with the exception of the advanced Stage Manager, Reference Mode, Accessibility Detection, and Virtual Memory Swap features; and they support iPadOS 17, but lack support for the minor Screen Distance and External Camera for FaceTime features.
Finally, both the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 support the current version of the iPadOS -- iPadOS 18 -- but the iPad mini 5 lacks support for the Apple Intelligence (AI), Handwriting with Smart Script, and Eye Tracking features whereas the iPad mini 6 only lacks support for Apple Intelligence (AI).
Pricing Differences
When first introduced, the iPad mini 6 was significantly more expensive than the iPad mini 5 it replaced. Pricing within lines is differentiated by capacity and connectivity:
 |
||
| iPad mini 5 (US Original Prices, 2019): | 64 GB | 256 GB |
| Wi-Fi Only: | US$399 | US$529 |
| Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$549 | US$679 |
 |
||
| iPad mini 6 (US Original Prices, 2021): | 64 GB | 256 GB |
| Wi-Fi Only: | US$499 | US$649 |
| Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$649 | US$799 |
For original pricing details in dozens of other countries, please refer to the iPad specs page for the tablet of interest as well as EveryiPad.com's Global Original Prices section.
Comparison Chart
The major differences between the iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 are summarized accordingly:
iPad mini 5 |
iPad mini 6 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Introduced: | Mar 2019 | Sep 2021 |
| Discontinued: | Sep 2021 | Oct 2024 |
| Display Size: | 7.9" | 8.3" |
| Resolution: | 2048x1536 | 2266x1488 |
| Processor: | 2.49 GHz Apple A12 | 2.9 GHz Apple A15 |
| CPU Cores: | 6 Cores | 6 Cores |
| GPU Cores: | 4 Cores | 5 Cores |
| Neural Engine: | 8 Cores | 16 Cores |
| RAM: | 3 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage: | 64 GB, 256 GB | 64 GB, 256 GB |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11ac | 802.11ax |
| Bluetooth: | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4G LTE: | Yes | Yes |
| 5G: | No | Yes |
| Nano SIM: | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM: | Yes | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 7 Megapixel (1080p) | 12 Megapixel (1080p) |
| Rear Camera: | 8 Megapixel (1080p) | 12 Megapixel (4K) |
| Home Button: | Yes | No |
| Touch ID: | Yes | Yes |
| Original iOS: | iOS 12.2 | iPadOS 15 |
| Maximum iOS: | iPadOS 18 | iPadOS 18 |
| Port Type: | Lightning | USB-C |
| Apple Pencil: | 1st Gen | 2nd Gen/USB-C |
| Model Numbers: | A2133/A2126 A2124/A2125 |
A2567 A2568/A2569 |
| Dimensions: | 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24 in. | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 in. |
| Weight: | 0.66-0.68 lbs. | 0.65-0.66 lbs. |
| Original Price (US): | US$399-US$679 | US$499-US$799 |
So, should I buy an iPad mini 5 or an iPad mini 6?
Ignoring subsequent models, and just comparing these two options, the iPad mini 6 is vastly better in basically every way than the iPad mini 5, which was an aging design at the time it was released, and even more so now. However, the iPad mini 6 was released at a significantly more expensive price point, though.
Nevertheless, most users should buy an iPad mini 6, especially given now lower prices on the used market. The iPad mini 6 provides (1) a much more modern and elegant design, (2) a larger, better display in a smaller case, (3) faster performance, (4) more RAM (which tends to mean longer current OS support in addition to more speed), (5) better and more modern connectivity, (6) and better cameras.
With that said, the iPad mini 5 still is quite usable and still supports the current version of the iPadOS for a little bit longer, as well. For someone with modest usage requirements and a tight budget, the iPad mini 5 is well worth considering.
iPad mini Purchase & Sale Options
There are many places to purchase a new or used iPad mini. However, buying from a quality business 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 mini models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad mini 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.
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).
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