iPad Air vs. iPad Mini 2: Which is best?

Verdict

The iPad Mini 2 and the iPad Air are pretty evenly matched in key areas such as their OS, software, hardware, connectivity and reparability.

The larger iPad Air has a higher brightness and contrast ratio with its display, and we also measured a longer battery life. The iPad Mini 2, on the other hand, is the smaller and cheaper option.

The Mini is still a wide device, however, and so isn't as adapt to fitting into jacket pockets as easily as something like the Nexus 7.

It's a tough choice but, based on the brightness and contrast ratio and slightly longer battery life, we'd have to go with the iPad Air.

This article was first published on 12/03/14 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 21/07/14) to reflect new information that has become available since its original publication.

Keumars Afifi-Sabet
Contributor

Keumars Afifi-Sabet is a writer and editor that specialises in public sector, cyber security, and cloud computing. He first joined ITPro as a staff writer in April 2018 and eventually became its Features Editor. Although a regular contributor to other tech sites in the past, these days you will find Keumars on LiveScience, where he runs its Technology section.