Home Tablet comparison Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021) - Which is better?

Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) vs Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)

71 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
VS
67 out 100
Apple iPad mini 8.3
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) Manufactured in November, 2018, with display 12.9 with chipsetApple A12X Bionic, vs Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021), Manufactured in September, 2021with chipsetApple A15 Bionic. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
  • Larger display: 12.9in
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Higher battery capacity: 9720mAh vs 5177mAh
Reasons to choose Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
  • Higher pixel density: 327ppi
  • Lighter design: 293g vs 631g
  • Supports DisplayPort
  • Fingerprint scanner

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 4/64 GB
- 4/256 GB
- 4/512 GB
- 6/1024 GB		 - 4/64 GB
- 4/256 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Tablets:
iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
vs
iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD IPS LCD
Size 12.9 in 8.3 in
Resolution 2048x2732 pixels 1488x2266 pixels
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Pixel density 265 ppi 327 ppi
Refresh rate 120 Hz 60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate Yes (24-120 Hz) No
Max brightness 600 nits 500 nits
HDR support Yes HDR10 No
Screen-to-body ratio 85.5 % 77.8 %
Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
601 nits
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
439 nits
sRGB gamut99.7 %99.6 %
PWM (Flicker)n/a178600 Hz
Response time36 ms32 ms
Contrast1975:11133:1
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)], [Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 280.6 mm (11.05 in) 195.4 mm (7.69 in)
Width 214.9 mm (8.46 in) 134.8 mm (5.31 in)
Thickness 5.9 mm (0.23 in) 6.3 mm (0.25 in)
Weight 631 g (22.26 oz) 293 g (10.34 oz)
Area 603 cm² (93.47 in²) 263 cm² (40.77 in²)
Water resistance No No
Back panel Metal Metal
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Silver
- Gray		 - Gray
- Pink
- Purple
- Yellow
Fingerprint sensor No Yes In-Button
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
85.5 %
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
77.8 %

Performance

Testing Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018) and Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021) In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple A12X Bionic Apple A15 Bionic
Max Frequency 2500 MHz 2930 MHz
CPU Cores n/a 6 (2 + 4)
Architecture n/a - 4/2.02 (Blizzard)
- 2/3.23 (Avalanche)
Process n/a TSMC
Transistor Size n/a 5 nm
Neural Processor n/a Apple Neural Engine
Graphics n/a Apple A15 GPU
GPU Cores n/a 640
GPU Frequency n/a 1338 MHz
FLOPS n/a 1712.6 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
1358
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
2148
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
4736
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
5541
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)13582148
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)47365541
Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)], [Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)]
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
677981
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
1299059
CPU210201309910
GPU207538432105
Memory122462243964
UX137780313105
NanoReview Score6779811299059
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
11793
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
9334
Max Surface Temp.41.2 °C40.3 °C
Stability76 %88 %
Graphics Test70 fps55 fps
Graphics Score117939334
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)], [Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)]

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 4 GB 4 GB
Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR4X
Memory Frequency 2133 MHz 2133 MHz
Channels 2 2
Storage
Storage Capacity64 GB64 GB
Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS iPadOS 12 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.1) iPadOS 15 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.3)

Battery

Volume 9720 mAh 5177 mAh
Max Charging Power 30 W 20 W
Battery Type Li-Po Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes (50% in 60 min) Yes (50% in 40 min)
Full Charge Time 2:45 h 1:30 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
31:49
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
23:42
Web Browsing11:25 h08:29 h
Video Playback16:28 h12:30 h
Games07:17 h04:57 h
Standby Mode179 h134 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Flash Quad LED Quad LED
Stabilization Digital Digital
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion 120 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP Standard: 12 MP
Features Bokeh effect Bokeh effect
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Focal length29 mmn/a
Sensor size1/3.0"n/a
Pixel size1.4 μmn/a
AutofocusPhase autofocusPhase autofocus
StabilizationDigitalDigital

Front camera

Matrix 7 MP 12 MP
Matrix 3472x2063 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Aperture f/2.2 f/2.4
Focal length 32 mm n/a
Sensor n/a CMOS
Autofocus No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 30 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5 5
Bluetooth features LE LE
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 3.1 3.1
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort No Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS		 - GPS
- GLONASS
NFC* No No
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*11
SIM TypeNanoNano
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G BandsGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHzn/a
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHzUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B29/B30/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B46/B66/B71)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66/B71)
5G SupportNoYes

Sound

Speakers 4.0 Stereo
3.5 mm Jack No No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen, 2018)
82.9 dB
Apple iPad mini 8.3" (6th Gen, 2021)
74.7 dB

Other

Class Flagship Mid-range
Announced October, 2018 yr September, 2021 yr
Release Date November, 2018 yr September, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) 999 499
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor		 - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor
Charger Included Yes 18 W Yes 20 W
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

Survey

Which tablet would you pick?
2 (28.57%)
5 (71.43%)
Total Votes: 7

User comments

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