iPad Mini vs iPhone Pro Max

The Apple superphone versus entry level iPad. Prices is almost the same and the size is not that far off. Which one is the right one for you? Posted by erwinkarim on 11:13 PM, December 25, 2020 Last updated on 9:31 AM, September 24, 2021 Filed in: ipados, ios, iphone, ipad, comparisons,

Table of Contents

Update: In light of iPhone 13 and iPad Mini 6 update, we have updated our comparison to reflect the new changes. You can read the comparison between the new generation iPhone and iPad Mini here

They both has almost the same screen size, iPad Mini is 7.9" and iPhone 12 Pro Max is 6.7". Just around 1.2" of difference or 3.05 cm for those in SI units. But yet they both like live in different planet. One is a base iPad and the other is the flagship iPhone. You can almost buy 3 iPad Mini for the price of one iPhone Pro Max. With each at a different spectrum, which one is the right one for you?

The mini tablet vs the phablet

Here are the key differences between the iPad Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.


common aspect ratios
The iPad Mini aspect ratio is 4:3 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max is around 2:1. TV shows and internet videos are commonly shot on 16:9 aspect ratio while Hollywood films are on 2.4:1 ratio. 4:3 aspect ratio is commonly for monitors and old TV shows.

Screen Aspect Ratio The iPad Mini has a screen Aspect Ratio of 4:3 while the iPhone Pro has a screen ration of around 2:1. The iPhone Pro screen is more suited for viewing movies in 16:9 aspect ratio while the iPad Mini screen is more suited for browsing the web or reading a book.

Screen Quality As of end 2020, the iPhone 12 line up is the only Apple device that can play Dolby Vision HDR content. As said before, the iPhone is designed more for a video consumer than a web consumer.

Pocket Rocket vs a Generalist The iPhone Pro is like a pocket rocket that will do any tasks that is being thrown at. That being said, it is not to say that the iPad Mini is a slouch, but the iPhone will do it a lot better than the iPad Mini. But the iPad Mini can do almost anything the iPhone can do, but at a slower rate.


Camera The camera system on the iPhone Pro is the best in the Apple line up. It is second to none. The iPad Mini, just like the rest of the iPad lineup except for the Pro, is pretty much a document scanner. If camera is very important to you, go for the iPhone.

Sidecar Despite being a pocket rocket, the iPad Mini can do something that the iPhone can’t: be a second monitor to your Mac via Sidecar. Despite being more powerful than the iPad Mini, the screen ratio on the iPhone just would not work as a second monitor for the Mac. And having Apple Pencil support for the iPad Mini, it can be a very useful sketch tool when using apps like Adobe Illustrator.

Pocketable Because of the iPad Mini aspect ratio, the iPad Mini is almost twice the width of the iPhone while being slightly taller. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is more pocketable because it is like a long bar, but it is not to say that the iPhone is small. It’s a hefty bar that you will really feel it in the pocket. But since the trends nowadays is to carry messenger bags or handbags, both of them should able to fit inside any bags without feeling the weight.

Communications The iPhone can take cellular calls. But in the age of FaceTime, Zoom calls and Google hangouts, cellular version of the iPad Mini can pretty much communicate as well as the iPhone. However, the mic array on the iPhone is much better. However, advantages on the iPhone can be negated if you pair the iPad Mini with an AirPods to ensure a better mic pickup.

General Specs

Feature iPad Mini iPhone 12 Pro Max
General
CPU A12 A14
RAM (GB) 3 6
Storage (GB) 32 or 128GB 128, 256 or 512
Base Price ($) 399 1099
Screen
Size (inches) 7.9 6.7
Resolution (pixels) 2048 x 1536 2778 x 1284
Aspect Ratio 4:3 ~2.1:1
Max brightness (nits) 500 800
HDR Max Brightness (nits) - 1200
HDR Support - Yes
Rear Camera Systems
Wide Camera 8 MP f/2.4 12 MP f/1.6
Ultra Wide Camera - 12 MP f/2.4
Telephoto - 10 MP f/2.2
LIDAR? - Yes
Optical Zoom - 5x
Digital Zoom - 12x
Apple ProRAW - Yes
Night Mode Potrait - Yes
Dimensions And Weight
Height (mm) 203.2 160.8
Width (mm) 134.8 78.1
Depth (mm) 6.1 7.4
Weight (g) 300.5 228

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