iPad Mini (6th generation)

Not to be confused with iPad (6th generation).

iPad Mini (6th generation)

An iPad mini (6th generation)
Also known as	iPad mini 6
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Product family	iPad Mini
Type	Tablet computer
Generation	6th
Release date	September 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Discontinued	October 15, 2024 (2024-10-15)
Operating system	Original: iPadOS 15 Current: iPadOS 18.1, released October 28, 2024
System on a chip	A15 Bionic with 64-bit architecture and embedded motion co-processor
CPU	Hexa-core (2× 2.93 GHz Avalanche and 4× 1.82 GHz Blizzard)
Memory	4 GB
Storage	64 or 256 GB
Display	8.3 inches (210 mm) 2266×1488 px (326 ppi), 500-nits Max Brightness, Wide-Color Display (P3), True Tone Display, Fully Laminated Display, 1.8% Reflectivity and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support
Graphics	Apple-designed 5 core GPU
Sound	Stereo speakers (landscape)
Input	Multi-touch screen, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass, dual microphone, Touch ID fingerprint scanner, barometer
Camera	Front: 12 MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, burst mode, timer mode, exposure control, face detection, Smart HDR 3, wide-color capture, auto image stabilization, Retina flash, 1080p HD video recording Rear: 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture, five-element lens, quad-LED True Tone flash, burst mode, timer mode, exposure control, noise reduction, face detection, Hybrid IR filter, Live Photos with stabilization, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, face detection, Smart HDR, panorama, wide-color capture, auto image stabilization, 4K 60fps video recording, video stabilization, slo-mo, time-lapse
Connectivity	Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular: 802.11 Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) and MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi + Cellular: GPS & GLONASS GSM UMTS / HSDPA 850, 1700, 1800, 1900 MHz LTE Multiple bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 5G NR Multiple bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79
Power	3.82 V 19.19 W·h (5034 mA·h)
Dimensions	7.69 in (195 mm) (height) 5.31 in (135 mm) (width) 0.25 in (6.4 mm) (depth)
Mass	Wi-Fi models 0.65 pound (293 grams) Wi-Fi + Cellular models 0.66 pound (297 grams)
Predecessor	iPad Mini (5th generation)
Successor	iPad Mini 7
Related	iPad Air (4th generation) iPad (9th generation)
Website	https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/

The sixth-generation iPad Mini (stylized and marketed as iPad mini and colloquially referred to as iPad Mini 6) is a tablet computer in the iPad Mini line, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on September 14, 2021, and released on September 24, 2021, alongside the ninth-generation iPad, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Its predecessor, the fifth-generation iPad Mini, was discontinued on the same day. It is available in four colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, and Purple.

It is the first major redesign of the iPad Mini, and resembles the fourth-generation iPad Air in design and with Touch ID on the power button (removing the home button), with a larger 8.3-inch display, USB-C port (replacing the Lightning port), and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil.

The iPad Mini 6 was discontinued on October 15, 2024, with the announcement of the iPad Mini (7th generation).

Features

Hardware

It is the first redesign of the iPad Mini since the iPad Mini 4 in 2015, and the first major redesign since its introduction in 2012. Externally, it is essentially a smaller version of the 4th-generation iPad Air and third-generation and newer iPad Pro. It lacks a Smart Connector for a keyboard, likely due to its smaller size. Internally, it has an A15 Bionic SoC which is underclocked to 2.92 GHz instead of the iPhone models' 3.23 GHz. The chip has a six-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

It has an 8.3-inch 2266x1488 Liquid Retina display, taller and slightly narrower than previous models while maintaining the pixel density of 326 PPI, which is the same on all iPhones with Retina LCDs since the iPhone 4, excluding the Plus models. The display is laminated and has an anti-reflective coating, as well as wide color and True Tone. A 12 MP front camera was implemented in the iPad, replacing the older 7 MP camera, and features the Center Stage technology that detects the user and moves the camera view accordingly during video recording and video calls using on-device processing, while the rear camera is upgraded to 12 MP with a True Tone flash and 4K video recording at up to 60fps, replacing the 8 MP camera, which the module is identical to the third-generation iPad Pro.

The Home Button is removed, with the Touch ID sensor relocated to the Sleep/Wake button. The volume control buttons have been moved to the top edge of the device to accommodate the second-generation Apple Pencil. Landscape stereo audio effect is also added to the system's audio recording system.

Connectivity

The sixth-generation iPad Mini discontinues the proprietary Lightning port in favor of a universal USB-C port that is used for charging as well as connecting external devices and accessories. All models have Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless capabilities while the cellular models support 5G connectivity but lack mmWave support unlike the iPad Pro (5th generation).

Accessories

The sixth-generation iPad Mini is compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation and USB-C). Compatibility with Magic Keyboard for iPad or the Smart Keyboard Folio isn't possible due to its smaller form factor.

Reception

This model received a very positive reception, noting a new design was long overdue and felt 5G was a nice surprise, with Jason Perlow from ZDNET calling it "Apple's most exciting new product in years".

Timeline

Timeline of iPad models
See also: Timeline of Apple Inc. products

Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.