Apple
iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB
128GB · 2024
86
/ 100
From $599
VS
iPad Pro 13" (M5) wins by 9
Apple
iPad Pro 13" (M5)
M5 · Tandem OLED · Apple Pencil Pro
95
/ 100
From $1,299
Specdex verdict
iPad Pro 13" (M5) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB lands at 86 and iPad Pro 13" (M5) at 95. That puts iPad Pro 13" (M5) ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB if…
- ✓Portable creative canvas
- ✓Strong SoC
- ✓App ecosystem matures per year
Pick iPad Pro 13" (M5) if…
- ✓Biggest generational leap for iPad Pro in years
- ✓M5 ray-traced graphics
- ✓visionOS-adjacent spatial capture
iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB 86
vs 95 iPad Pro 13" (M5)
Score breakdown
iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB
86 performance 86
display 84
battery 86
portability 88
software 82
iPad Pro 13" (M5)
95 performance 97
display 98
battery 88
portability 92
software 82
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB | iPad Pro 13" (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 128GB | ▲ 256 GB – 2 TB |
| Release year | 2024 | — |
| Chip | — | Apple M5 |
| Display | — | 13″ Tandem OLED, 120Hz |
| RAM | — | 16 GB |
| OS | — | iPadOS 19 |
iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB
Pros
- +Portable creative canvas
- +Strong SoC
- +App ecosystem matures per year
Cons
- −Keyboard/pen extra cost
- −RAM often soldered
- −Mid-tier cameras
iPad Pro 13" (M5)
Pros
- +Biggest generational leap for iPad Pro in years
- +M5 ray-traced graphics
- +visionOS-adjacent spatial capture
Cons
- −iPadOS multitasking still limited
- −Keyboard extra
- −Thermals matter on sustained RT workloads
FAQ: iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB vs iPad Pro 13" (M5)
Which is better, iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB or iPad Pro 13" (M5)? +
iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB worth the price? +
At $599, iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in portability.
Is iPad Pro 13" (M5) worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPad Pro 13" (M5) delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in display.
Does iPad mini (A17 Pro) · 128GB or iPad Pro 13" (M5) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.