What are the main differences between the cameras on each iPad mini? How many megapixels is each?

All iPad mini models have a front camera intended mostly for video conferencing and a rear camera intended for shooting still photos and video.

The iPad mini cameras have become better with each revision of the line, but the current iPad mini 5 models provide a significant jump in quality compared to their predecessors, particularly for the front-facing camera:

iPad	Front Camera	Rear Camera
iPad mini	1.2 MP (720p)	5 MP (1080p)
iPad mini 2	1.2 MP (720p)	5 MP (1080p)
iPad mini 3	1.2 MP (720p)	5 MP (1080p)
iPad mini 4	1.2 MP (720p)	8 MP (1080p)
iPad mini 5	7 MP (1080p)	8 MP (1080p)

If you are not certain which iPad mini model you have, the easiest way to identify each is by its Model Number located toward the bottom on the back of each device.

What are the differences between the displays on each iPad mini? Which is best?

All iPad mini models have a 7.9" display. The current iPad mini 5 has the best display, although the iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 4 also are good quality. The display on the original iPad mini is substantially lower resolution than subsequent models.

The iPad mini display differences can be summarized accordingly:

iPad	Resolution	PPI
iPad mini	1024x768	163 ppi
iPad mini 2	2048x1536	326 ppi
iPad mini 3	2048x1536	326 ppi
iPad mini 4*	2048x1536	326 ppi
iPad mini 5*†	2048x1536	326 ppi

* The iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 5 displays both are "fully laminated," which means there is no gap between the touch sensitive digitizer portion and the the underlying LCD. This results in superior picture quality but makes repairs more expensive.

† The iPad mini 5 display is "wide color" (DCI-P3) and also supports Apple's "True Tone" feature that evaluates the color temperature and ambient brightness of your surroundings and dynamically adjusts the display's white balance to match.

If you do not know which iPad mini model you have, the easiest way to identify each is by its Model Number located toward the bottom on the back of each device.

How do you connect an iPad mini to a television or projector to display photos or video? What formats and resolutions does it support? What are the video out differences between iPad mini models?

You can connect all iPad mini models to a television or projector to display photos or videos using the Lightning to VGA Adapter or the Lightning to Digital AV Adapter.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Lightning to VGA & Lightning to Digital AV Adapters)

For a projector or television with a vintage VGA port, you will need to use the Lightning to VGA Adapter. For one with a more modern HDMI port, you will need to use the Lightning to Digital AV Adapter.

All iPad mini models support a maximum video out resolution of 1080p. More specifically, the iPad mini models support these video standards:

• H.264 video up to 720p [1080p for the iPad mini 3rd Gen and 4th Gen, 4K for the 5th Gen], 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 [High Profile 4.1 for the iPad 3rd Gen and later] with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio [or Dolby up to 1008 Kbps for the iPad mini 5th Gen] in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.
• MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio [or Dolby up to 1008 Kbps for the iPad mini 5th Gen] in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format.

The iPad mini models also support photos and image files in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats.

Which iPad mini models support Sidecar?

Only the current iPad mini 5 models support Apple's Sidecar software feature. In conjunction with a Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15), Sidecar allows an iOS 13-powered iPad to be used as a second display for the Mac.

Of course, if you have an older iPad mini model (and/or an older Mac), you instead can use one of the third-party apps that provide this external display capability before Apple copied their functionality and integrated it with their operating systems.

Who designed the iPad mini?

Apple's industrial design for many years has been performed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group, led by Jonathan Ive.

Where is the iPad mini available for purchase? Can it be purchased from Apple Authorized Resellers?

Originally, the iPad only was available for purchase direct from Apple and "select resellers," but now the iPad mini is available new from Apple, all Apple Authorized Resellers, and various mobile service providers.

In the United States, you always can buy an iPad mini directly from Apple, but you often can get a better deal by purchasing your new iPad mini from an Apple Authorized Reseller like site sponsor Adorama. Adorama commonly has deep discounts on recently discontinued models, too. Other World Computing and JemJem sell used and refurb iPad models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well.

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 mini models in stock, as well. All Macs and devices are available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.