iPad 2 vs. iPad Mini 2

Despite both having a "2" at the end of their name, the iPad 2 and the iPad Mini 2 are different tablets. They are still iPads, so they perform the same basic functions. While the iPad Mini 2 performs with style and grace, the iPad 2 slogs along like yesterday's technology trying to keep up with today's features. The iPad 2 is two-and-a-half years older than the iPad Mini 2, which in tablet terms, is a long time. We've reviewed the two iPads so you can make a confident decision about which is right for you.

Overall Findings

Both of these iPads were top-of-the-line performers when initially introduced, but time has gone by, and they've been left behind by newer models. Both are still serviceable tablets you can use to get work done, read and play games, and access the internet, your email, and your social networks. The fact that the iPad 2 is more than 2 years older than the iPad Mini shows in the quality of its display and the speed with which it operates.

Apple improves its cameras with each model it releases. With the two years between the release of these iPads, the camera improved from 720p on the iPad 2 to 5 MP on the iPad Mini 2. The iPad 2 offers a larger display screen. Without the Retina display technology present in the Mini, the larger display is hardly a major advantage.

Pricing: Affordable Bargains When You Can Find Them

The original iPad Mini debuted alongside the iPad 4, but it used the same technology as the iPad 2. This allowed the first Mini to be priced initially at $329, which was quite a bargain compared to the $499 entry-level price of the full-sized iPad. The iPad Mini 2 was released alongside the iPad Air with a price tag of $399, and it contained much of the same technology as its bigger brother.

Generations: Both Are Discontinued. One Is Obsolete

The iPad Mini 2 is more than six times as fast as the iPad 2. The graphics processor is almost three times as fast. This is necessary because the iPad Mini 2 has a 2048x1536 Retina display compared to the iPad 2's old 1024x768 display. The graphics processor must do more work to run the higher quality screen.

The iPad Mini 2 has double the random access memory (RAM) used for running applications, and the 5-megapixel back-facing iSight camera on the Mini 2 is vastly superior to the 720p camera on the iPad 2.

The only thing the iPad 2 has going for it compared to the Mini 2 is the larger screen, and that is only a benefit if you prefer the 9.7-inch form factor. At 7.9-inches, the iPad Mini series is bigger than the 7-inch Android tablets. It is big enough to operate with ease and small enough to hold in one hand while manipulating it with the other.

Age Matters: Tech in iPad Mini 2 is Much Newer

The iPad 2 is no longer in production, so the only way to buy one is through a friend or services such as eBay or Craigslist.

Both the iPad 2 and the iPad Mini 2 are still sold secondhand on eBay, with the iPad Mini 2 usually being more expensive. Even with the price difference, the iPad Mini 2 is the better deal. The technology running the iPad 2 is considered outdated, and the device is considered obsolete because Apple no longer supports updates for its operating system. 

Final Verdict

Hands down, the iPad Mini 2 is the better buy. It is newer and much faster. The superior Retina display is easy on the eyes. Although both models are discontinued, Apple still issues updates for the iPad Mini 2 operating system.

Both iPad models can be found occasionally on eBay and similar sites. Either of these devices makes a good starter iPad for a child or teen.