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Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
Apple

iPad mini (6th generation)

The 2021 iPad mini 6 is small, quick and Pencil-friendly; the A17 Pro model has replaced it at Apple.

Tablets
8.5/10What the pros sayExcellentExpert consensus · Verified Oct 8, 2026See score breakdown ↓
Storage
Buying call

Buy the iPad mini 6 used if you want a pocketable iPad for reading, travel or notes for far less than a new iPad mini (A17 Pro). It lasted 10 h 29 min in a web-browsing battery test, has USB-C, Touch ID in the top button and works with the second-gen Apple Pencil. Skip it if you want Apple Intelligence, which needs the A17 Pro model. There's no headphone jack, no keyboard connector, and the 60Hz screen shows some jelly scrolling.

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Editor testedHands-on testing and real-world use
Real-world useBased on everyday testing, not a spec sheet
Unbiased reviewIndependent and objective, sources shown
iPad mini (6th generation)Check priceSee price
Key specs
Screen size
8.3"
Battery
19.3 Wh
Display type
Liquid Retina display
Rear camera
12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture - Digital zoom up to 5x - Five-element lens - Quad-LED True Tone flash - Autofocus with Focus Pixels - Panorama (up to
Highlights

Specs that matter

Display
Brightness
500 nits
Performance
Processor
A15 Bionic
GPU
5-core GPU
Storage
64GB, 256GB
Body
Dimensions
height: 7.69 inches (195.4 mm); width: 5.3 inches (134.8 mm); depth: 0.25 inch (6.3 mm)
At a glance

Product highlights

Verified attributes, grouped for quick scanning.

ChipsetA15 Bionic5-core GPU
RAM / storage64GB, 256GB
25 attributes · See all specifications
Price & availability

Where to buy

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Available in 64GB, 256GB.
Buying decision

Should you buy it?

Buy the iPad mini 6 used if you want a pocketable iPad for reading, travel or notes for far less than a new iPad mini (A17 Pro). It lasted 10 h 29 min in a web-browsing battery test, has USB-C, Touch ID in the top button and works with the second-gen Apple Pencil. Skip it if you want Apple Intelligence, which needs the A17 Pro model. There's no headphone jack, no keyboard connector, and the 60Hz screen shows some jelly scrolling.

Best for

Readers and travelers who want a small, cheap used iPad with Apple Pencil support.

Not for

Anyone who wants Apple Intelligence, a keyboard case or a headphone jack.

Main strengthLight, compact design with an 8.3-inch screen
Main weaknessApple no longer sells it new (Oct 8, 2026)
Reasons to buy
Light, compact design with an 8.3-inch screen
Lasted 10 h 29 min in a web-browsing battery test
A15 Bionic is still quick
USB-C and second-gen Apple Pencil support
Reasons to avoid
Apple no longer sells it new (Oct 8, 2026)
No Apple Intelligence support
60Hz screen, no headphone jack and no Smart Connector
Measured view8.5/10What the pros say · verified oct 8, 2026.
ScoreVerified Oct 8, 2026
Independent coverage

What other reviewers say

Reviews from other sites and creators. They don't change the Gadget Clash score.

Submit your review
Trusted Reviews4/5
Article · Full reviewiPad Mini 6 ReviewMax Parker · Mar 2023Read on Trusted Reviews ↗
Tom's Guide4.5/5
Article · Full reviewApple iPad mini 6 (2021) review: Awesome and ultraportableHenry T. Casey · Jul 2022Read on Tom's Guide ↗
TechRadar4/5
Article · Full reviewiPad mini (2021) reviewJames Peckham · Nov 2021Read on TechRadar ↗
Marques BrownleeiPad Mini 2021 Review: Pocketable Power!Watch on YouTube ↗
Dave2DApple iPad Mini 2021 ReviewWatch on YouTube ↗
MrMobile [Michael Fisher]iPad mini 2021: The Review You Don't Need (For The Tablet You Might)Watch on YouTube ↗
Head to head

How it stacks up

Open a comparison for the full side-by-side view.

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Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
This deviceiPad mini (6th generation)
VS
AlternativeiPad mini
Score
8.5—
Full comparison
Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
This deviceiPad mini (6th generation)
VS
iPad mini (A20 Pro, OLED)
AlternativeiPad mini (A20 Pro, OLED)
Chipset
A15 BionicA20 Pro
Full comparison
Apple iPad mini (6th generation)
This deviceiPad mini (6th generation)
VS
iPad Air 13-inch (M4)
AlternativeiPad Air 13-inch (M4)
Chipset
A15 BionicM4
Full comparison
Same category

Alternatives worth a look

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iPad Air 13-inch (M4)8.6
AppleiPad Air 13-inch (M4)13" (330 mm) · M4 · 12 GB
iPad Air 11-inch (M4)—
AppleiPad Air 11-inch (M4)11" (279 mm) · M4 · 12 GB
Product data

Full specifications

25 attributes, grouped for quick scanning. Verified Oct 8, 2026. Spot a wrong value? Hit the next to it.

Display

Screen size
8.3"
Display type
Liquid Retina display
Brightness
500

Performance

CPU
6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores

Battery & Charging

Battery
19.3 Wh
Charging port
USB-C

Camera

Rear camera
  • 12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture - Digital zoom up to 5x - Five-element lens - Quad-LED True Tone flash - Autofocus with Focus Pixels - Panorama (up to
  • 63MP) - Smart HDR 3 - Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos - Advanced red-eye correction - Photo geotagging - Auto image stabilization - Burst mode

Connectivity

Wi‑Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth
5.0
Ports
USB-C port with support for:

Body

Dimensions
195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm
Weight
293 g
Vote & discuss

Community says

No reader votes on the iPad mini (6th generation) yet. Votes happen on head-to-heads: pick a matchup and say which one you would buy.

iPad mini (6th generation)No store price yetSpecs
Apple iPad mini (6th generation) Specs & Price | Gadget Clash