7 improvements of the iPad mini 2021

Do you doubt between the new iPad mini and the model from 2019? Then this article is made for you. This is the big iPad mini 2021 vs iPad mini 2019 comparison.

iPad mini 2021 vs iPad mini 2019: these are the biggest differences

The latest iPad mini was announced at the same time as the iPhone 13. To be honest, we only expected it at a later time, but are happy that the tablet is already here. The iPad mini of 2021 has been significantly improved compared to its predecessor.

From a bigger screen, much more powerful hardware to better cameras, there’s a lot to get excited about! In this iPad mini 2021 vs iPad mini 2019 comparison, we list the main differences between the new and old generation.

1. Bigger screen

The literally biggest improvement is obvious: the display. The new iPad mini has a larger screen and is therefore less mini than its predecessor, right?

Not quite: although the new model has a larger display (8.3 inches compared to 7.9 inches), it is still more compact thanks to the fresh design. The bezels (screen edges) have become much smaller, so that you have relatively more screen at your disposal.

As a result, the new iPad mini is even slightly smaller than its predecessor. Because the screen edges are a lot narrower, the physical Touch ID scanner has been given a different place.

This is now incorporated in the on/off button, just like with the iPad Air from 2020. So you unlock the new iPad mini by briefly placing your finger on the button on the side. If the match is positive, the tablet will be ‘locked’.

2. More powerful hardware

Also absolutely worth mentioning: the powerful hardware of the iPad mini 2021. The new compact tablet has the same A15 processor as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. That is striking, because its predecessors all lagged behind the iPhones in terms of chips.

That is not the case this round. According to Apple, the 2021 iPad mini is about 40 percent faster than its predecessor. The new tablet is also much better suited for gaming and photo editing, because the graphics processor is said to be up to 80 percent better than the A12 chip of the iPad mini from 2019.

3. Stay in the picture with Center Stage

Speaking of the old model: it has a 7-megapixel selfie camera. The latest model goes well beyond this with its resolution of 12 megapixels.

However, the real improvement in the camera field is not in the hardware, but in the software. Apple is adding Center Stage with the iPad mini 2021. This feature is ideal for video calling. Center Stage keeps you in view, even when you walk through the kitchen, for example.

The rear camera is also improving. It now has a resolution of 12 megapixels instead of 7 megapixels. The aperture has also been adjusted, so that the camera lens receives more light in the dark. In any case, the new iPad mini does better in low-light situations, because the tablet now has a flash.

The necessary steps have also been taken in the field of video. The 2021 iPad mini can record images in 4K resolution (at 60 frames per second).

4. Hello usb-c

The future of charging is USB-C. With the iPad mini 2021, Apple is abandoning its own Lightning charging standard and switching to the much more widely worn USB-C.

That’s good news, because it increases the chance that you can connect the latest iPad mini directly to your computer, hard drive, camera or other peripherals, for example. Strangely enough, Apple is transferring more and more products to USB-C, with the iPhone being the big exception.

It is also useful to know that the iPad mini from 2021 no longer has a headphone jack. So if you want to listen to music with a wired headset, you need an adapter (adapter).

5. Apple Pencil Sticks

Do you have a second-generation Apple Pencil at home? Then we have good news for you: the new iPad mini fully supports it. You can click the Apple Pencil 2 on the side of the tablet, after which it starts charging.

6. Fast internet everywhere

With its compact size, the iPad mini 2021 is ideal for use on the road, such as on the train. It is therefore nice that Apple has given the new tablet 5G support. This way you can use the successor of 4G on the go. 5G will become increasingly important in the coming years (in the Netherlands), so it is nice that the new small iPad responds to this.

We can also say the same about the improved Wi-Fi support. The latest iPad mini can handle WiFi 6. In short, this gives you faster internet indoors, even if you have a lot of wireless devices connected to the home network. Check beforehand whether your router can handle WiFi 6, because that is by no means a certainty.

7. New colors for iPad mini

The eye wants something too. That’s why the iPad mini 2021 is available in all kinds of new, fresh colors, including purple and pink. If you prefer a more traditional version, go for space gray or Starlight (white).

What has stayed the same?

If you compare the iPad mini of 2021 and 2019, you will therefore encounter the necessary differences. That said, the two also share similarities.

For example, they have almost the same weight, they start with 64GB storage capacity and the screen resolution is approximately identical. This also applies to the maximum screen brightness (of 500 nits), current software version (iPadOS 15) and battery life (which according to Apple is identical).

Buy iPad mini 2021

Do you want to buy the iPad mini 2021? The new tablet starts at 559 euros. That is 100 euros more than the iPad mini 2019 cost at the time. If you want to use the internet on the go, you have to purchase the iPad mini 2021 with 5G support. That Cellular variant starts at 729 euros.

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