Apple
iPad Air 11 M4 vs iPad mini A17 Pro
Device summary
Apple
iPad mini A17 Pro
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2024 |
| Starting price | $599 | $499 |
| Display size | 11-inch | 8.3-inch |
| Dimensions | 178.5 mm × 247.6 mm × 6.1 mm | 134.8 mm × 195.4 mm × 6.3 mm |
| Weight | 464 g | 293 g |
| Front material | — | — |
| Back material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Liquid Retina IPS | Liquid Retina IPS |
| Resolution | 2360 × 1640 | 2266 × 1488 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Apple A17 Pro |
| CPU | 9-core CPU | 6-core CPU |
| GPU | 10-core GPU | 5-core GPU |
| RAM | 8 GB, 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8 | Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8 |
| Front cameras | Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 | Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 |
| Video recording | 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps | 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Video playback (Manufacturer claim) | — | 10 h |
| Battery type | — | Built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G) | Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G) |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| USB | USB-C | USB-C |
| NFC | No | No |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | None published | None published |
Basic information
Release year
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 2026
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 2024
Starting price
- iPad Air 11 M4
- $599
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- $499
Display size
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 11-inch
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 8.3-inch
Dimensions
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 178.5 mm × 247.6 mm × 6.1 mm
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 134.8 mm × 195.4 mm × 6.3 mm
Weight
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 464 g
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 293 g
Front material
- iPad Air 11 M4
- —
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- —
Back material
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Aluminum
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Aluminum
Display
Display technology
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Liquid Retina IPS
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Liquid Retina IPS
Resolution
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 2360 × 1640
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 2266 × 1488
Refresh rate
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 60 Hz
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 60 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 500 nits
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 500 nits
Protection
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chipset
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Apple M4
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Apple A17 Pro
CPU
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 9-core CPU
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 6-core CPU
GPU
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 10-core GPU
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 5-core GPU
RAM
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 8 GB, 16 GB
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 8 GB
Storage
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Expandable storage
- iPad Air 11 M4
- No
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8
Front cameras
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4
Video recording
- iPad Air 11 M4
- 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
Battery & charging
Video playback (Manufacturer claim)
- iPad Air 11 M4
- —
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- 10 h
Battery type
- iPad Air 11 M4
- —
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)
Wi‑Fi
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Bluetooth 5.3
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Bluetooth 5.3
USB
- iPad Air 11 M4
- USB-C
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- USB-C
NFC
- iPad Air 11 M4
- No
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- No
eSIM
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Yes
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Yes
Build & durability
Frame
- iPad Air 11 M4
- Aluminum
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- Aluminum
Ingress protection
- iPad Air 11 M4
- None published
- iPad mini A17 Pro
- None published
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Height
iPad Air 11 M4
52.2 mm taller
Width
iPad Air 11 M4
43.7 mm wider
Weight
iPad mini A17 Pro
171 g lighter
Thickness
iPad Air 11 M4
0.2 mm thinner · minor difference
User Experience Summary
iPad Air 11 M4
Strengths
- Portable 11-inch size with excellent handheld comfort
- Reliable all-day battery for typical study and media use
- M4 silicon and 12GB RAM for multi-year software confidence
Compromises
- Chip-bump update over M3 with same 60Hz display and accessories
- Benchmark gains rarely felt in everyday iPadOS use
- 60Hz LCD unchanged since 2020 — common criticism versus Pro tablets
iPad mini A17 Pro
Strengths
- Unmatched compact iPad for reading and travel
- A17 Pro performance with Apple Pencil Pro support
- Light weight ideal for couch and bedside use
Compromises
- 60 Hz display and thick bezels feel dated
- Not viable as a laptop replacement for most buyers
- Small screen limits multitasking and creative scale