Hosted by site sponsor WebMate.
iPad mini Q&A
Published October 26, 2024
All Apple Q&As >> iPad mini Q&A (Home) | Also see: All iPad Specs
To be notified of new Q&As, sign up for EveryMac.com's bimonthly email list.
What are all the differences between the iPad mini A17 Pro and the iPad mini 6 replaced?
The differences between the iPad mini 6 models first introduced 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) -- and the iPad mini A17 Pro models that replaced them in 2024 -- the iPad mini A17 Pro (Wi-Fi Only), iPad mini A17 Pro (Wi-Fi/Cell), and iPad mini A17 Pro (Wi-Fi/Cell China) -- are relatively modest.
In fact, with even a fairly detailed inspection, it could be difficult to tell these models apart. However, because the differences are not obvious, it makes an in-depth evaluation especially worthwhile.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad mini 6)
If it were not for the color differences between the iPad mini 6 (above) and its replacement, the iPad mini A17 Pro (below), the models essentially would be indistinguishable.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad mini A17 Pro)
External Differences
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro models share an identical case design with a black glass front and a buttonless bezel around the edges, curved corners, and flat sides. The aluminum back panels are the same, and both lines even have essentially identical dark "Space Gray" and warm gray "Starlight" color options.
However, the iPad mini 6 also has Pink and Purple colors to choose from whereas the iPad mini A17 Pro has Blue and Purple. The iPad mini A17 Pro purple color is much more pastel and subdued than the purple provided by its predecessor, though.
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro both use the same 8.3" LED-backlit 2266x1488 "Liquid Retina" display (326 ppi, 500 nits brightness) with support for "wide color" (P3) and True Tone, which automatically makes adjustments based on ambient lighting.
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro models both use essentially the same dual cameras, as well -- a 12 megapixel 1080p "Ultra Wide" front camera and a 12 megapixel "Wide" 4K rear camera -- but the newer line reportedly has improved HDR software (Smart HDR 4).
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro both additionally have a "Touch ID" fingerprint sensor embedded in the top button in addition to a USB-C port and a magnetic connector on the side. However, the newer iPad mini A17 Pro USB-C port is faster (10Gb/s compared to 5Gb/s for its predecessor).
The iPad mini 6 also supports the Apple Pencil 2nd Gen whereas the iPad mini A17 Pro supports the modestly more advanced Apple Pencil Pro. Both models also support the Apple Pencil (USB-C); this cheaper option can attach to the magnetic connection, but it cannot charge magnetically. It only can charge awkwardly via the USB-C port.
Internal Differences
The internal differences between the iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro are more significant than the external ones. Cellular models from both lines support 4G LTE and 5G -- with some minor band differences -- but they otherwise differ quite a bit.
The iPad mini 6 models use a 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) and Bluetooth 5.0. Storage options are 64 GB and 256 GB.
The iPad mini A17 Pro models, on the other hand, use a significantly faster 3.78 GHz Apple A17 Pro processor -- also with six CPU cores, five GPU cores, and a 16-core "Neural Engine" -- but with 8 GB of RAM, and support for faster 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E) and Bluetooth 5.3. Storage options are higher capacity -- 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.
In third-party benchmark tests, the iPad mini A17 Pro models are around 30% faster than their predecessors released three years earlier.
Identification Differences
It is practically impossible to visually differentiate the iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro models, especially if they are the same color, 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 small type toward the bottom of the back of each iPad mini:
iPad mini |
Model Number |
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro 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 A17 Pro (Wi-Fi Only) in "Space Gray" with 256 GB of storage is MXNA3LL/A.
To pinpoint one of these iPad mini models by a number 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 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro each provide ten hours of runtime whereas the cellular capable devices provide nine hours of runtime using a cellular connection.
However, the iPad mini A17 Pro models provide more advanced connectivity. The iPad mini 6 models support 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) and Bluetooth 5.0 and the iPad mini A17 Pro models support faster 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E) and Bluetooth 5.3.
The iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro models with cellular connectivity all support A-GPS, 4G LTE, and 5G, but the iPad mini A17 Pro provides some additional 5G bands (none of these models support mmWave).
Specific cellular data connectivity for these models includes:
| iPad mini | Model |
5G & 4G LTE Bands |
| 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 |
| A17 Pro (Wi-Fi Only) | A2993 | None |
| A17 Pro (Wi-Fi/Cell) | A2995 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, 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, 48, 66, 71 |
| A17 Pro (Wi-Fi/Cell China) | A2996 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, 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, 48, 66, 71 |
All cellular-capable iPad mini 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro models shipped, or ship, unlocked. In the United States, the applicable devices work with all major carriers, but some carriers may still require activation or configuration before it will work properly -- or at all -- on their network.
The 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. The iPad mini A17 Pro models, on the other hand, only support eSIM regardless of the location sold and do not support a physical Nano SIM at all.
iPadOS Support Differences
The iPad mini 6 models 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.
The iPad mini A17 Pro models first shipped with iPadOS 18, the current version of the operating system. The iPad mini 6 also supports iPadOS 18, but unlike its successor, it does not support the Apple Intelligence (AI) feature.
Pricing Differences
Pricing within each line is differentiated by capacity and connectivity. The iPad mini A17 Pro models were introduced at a lower price relative to the amount of standard storage provided:
 |
||||
| mini 6 (Orig. Prices, 2021): | 64 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Wi-Fi Only: | US$499 | -- | US$649 | -- |
| Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$649 | -- | US$799 | -- |
 |
||||
| mini A17 Pro (Orig. Prices, 2024): | 64 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Wi-Fi Only: | -- | US$499 | US$599 | US$799 |
| Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | -- | US$649 | US$749 | US$949 |
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 6 and iPad mini A17 Pro are summarized accordingly:
iPad mini 6 |
iPad mini A17 Pro |
|
|---|---|---|
| Introduced: | Sep 2021 | Oct 2024 |
| Discontinued: | Oct 2024 | Current |
| Display Size: | 8.3" | 8.3" |
| Resolution: | 2266x1488 | 2266x1488 |
| Processor: | 2.9 GHz Apple A15 | 3.78 GHz Apple A17 Pro |
| RAM: | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage: | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128, 256, 512 GB |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11ax (6) | 802.11ax (6E) |
| Bluetooth: | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| 4G LTE: | Yes | Yes |
| 5G: | Yes | Yes |
| Nano SIM: | Yes | No |
| eSIM: | Yes | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 12 Megapixel (1080p) | 12 Megapixel (1080p) |
| Rear Camera: | 12 Megapixel (4K) | 12 Megapixel (4K) |
| Smart HDR: | HDR 3 | HDR 4 |
| Touch ID: | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C: | 5 Gb/s | 10 Gb/s |
| Apple Pencil: | 2nd Gen/USB-C | Pro/USB-C |
| Apple Intelligence: | No | Yes |
| Original iOS: | iPadOS 15 | iPadOS 18 |
| Maximum iOS: | iPadOS 18 | iPadOS 18 |
| Model Numbers: | A2567/A2568/A2569 |
A2993/A2995/A2996 |
| Original Price (US): | US$499-US$799 | US$499-US$949 |
So, should I buy an iPad mini 6 or an iPad mini A17 Pro?
Ignoring other iPad options, and just comparing these two, the iPad mini A17 Pro is better across the board, but most of the improvements are fairly modest.
Nevertheless, the iPad mini A17 Pro is (1) a not insignificant 30% or so faster, (2) has twice the RAM, (3) offers more storage capacity, and (4) supports the Apple Intelligence software feature. Other improvements like (5) a faster USB-C port, (6) faster Wi-Fi, and (7) Apple Pencil Pro support are nice to have, too. Given the effective storage capacity upgrade at the same introductory price point, the iPad mini A17 Pro represents a good value.
Given discount prices on the used market, though, the iPad mini 6 definitely remains well worth consideration. It has the same sleek design, quality display, and cameras; it has plenty of life left for sure.
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).
Permalink | Report an Error/Typo | Sign Up for Site Update Notices
<< iPad mini Q&A (Main) | All Apple Q&As
Established in 1996, EveryMac.com has been created by experts with decades of experience with Apple hardware. EveryMac.com includes, and always has included, original research incorporating detailed, hands-on inspection of packaging, computers, and devices as well as extensive real-world use. All information is provided in good faith, but no website or person is perfect. Accordingly, EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever. EveryMac.com, and the authors thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright information please read and understand the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy before using EveryMac.com. Copying, scraping, or use of any content without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.