Image: Apple · source
iPad mini (6th generation)
A complete redesign: bigger screen, USB-C and no home button.
Overview
The iPad mini 6 was the first real redesign of the small iPad in years. Taking cues from the iPad Air 4 and Pro, it dropped the home button and thick bezels, which let the screen grow from 7.9 to 8.3 inches without enlarging the body at all.
It used the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 with 4 GB of memory, a significant performance step, and USB-C replaced Lightning. A 12-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultra wide front camera with Center Stage made video calls better, and optional 5G cellular suited the pocketable format.
The second-generation Apple Pencil attached magnetically on one side, and the new colors included pink, purple and starlight alongside space gray. Early units drew attention to a slight screen wobble when scrolling, known as jelly scrolling, which software and later production largely minimized.
Why it mattered
A ground-up redesign that gave the mini line modern hardware and a larger display in the same footprint.
At a glance
- Announced
- September 14, 2021
- Released
- September 24, 2021
- Discontinued
- October 15, 2024
- Launch price
- $499
- Chip
- Apple A15 Bionic
- Display
- 8.3"
- Storage
- 64GB, 256GB
- Status
- Discontinued
Highlights
- 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display
- A15 Bionic with 4 GB RAM
- USB-C and 5G, Touch ID in top button
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation) attaches magnetically
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 8.3-inch
- Type
- Liquid Retina IPS, True Tone, wide color (P3)
- Resolution
- 2266 x 1488 (326 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Brightness
- 500 nits
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A15 Bionic, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU
- Coprocessor
- 16-core Neural Engine
Memory
- RAM
- 4 GB
- Storage options
- 64GB, 256GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 12 MP f/1.8, 4K video at 60 fps
- Front camera
- 12 MP ultra wide, Center Stage
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 19.3 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Cellular
- Optional 5G model
- Connector
- USB-C
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- Keyboard
- Bluetooth keyboards and third-party cases
Design
- Dimensions
- 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm
- Weight
- 293 g (Wi-Fi), 297 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Touch ID in the top button
Software
- Launch OS
- iPadOS 15
- Latest supported OS
- iPadOS 27 (still supported)
How it compares
More in the iPad mini family
iPad mini
Apple's first small tablet, light enough to hold in one hand.
iPad mini 2
The small iPad gets its Retina screen and a 64-bit brain.
iPad mini 3
Same mini, now with Touch ID and a gold finish.
iPad mini 4
An Air 2 in miniature, with a laminated screen and 2 GB of RAM.
iPad mini (5th generation)
After four years, the mini comes back with Apple Pencil.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
The pocketable iPad gets an iPhone-class A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence.