Easily the most noticeable difference between the iPad Mini and the 4th-gen iPad is the size. The iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1024×768 (163ppi), whereas the 4th-gen iPad has a 9.7-inch Retina Display with a resolution of 2048×1536 (264ppi), offering you four times the number of pixels on a larger display. Of course, the iPad Mini is physically smaller at 200×134.7×7.2mm and about 308 grams, compared to the 241.2×185.7×9.4mm dimensions of the iPad 4, which also weighs about twice as much at 652 grams (for the Wi-Fi only model).

Both the iPad Mini and the iPad 4 come in your choice of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage, and they both come in WiFi-only or with 3G/LTE support as well, though the iPad Mini uses a nano-SIM, whereas the iPad 4 has a micro-SIM. They also both get Siri. The cameras are effectively the same and they both use the new Lightning connector. The iPad 4 is the more powerful of the two with its upgraded dual core Apple A6X processor with quad-core graphics, compared to the dual core A5 in the Mini.

Assuming that you’re bent on an iPad and iOS, and you won’t let Android or Windows tablets enter the conversation, the real decision here is based on two factors: If you want something smaller and more portable, the iPad Mini is likely the better choice. If you want a little more power by way of the A6X processor and you want to have more pixels, then the Retina Display-touting iPad 4 is for you.

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