Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
The Verdict
The Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen and Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen is the cheaper of the two at $499 versus $800, a difference of about $301. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen stands out for ultra-portable at 293 g — perfect one-handed reading and note-taking, while Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is praised for ip68 water and dust resistance for a tablet. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen if…
- →Ultra-portable at 293 g — perfect one-handed reading and note-taking
- →A15 Bionic is plenty powerful for gaming and productivity
- →Apple Pencil 2 support with magnetic attach and charging
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 if…
- →IP68 water and dust resistance for a tablet
- →S Pen included in the box
- →Dimensity 9400+ delivers flagship performance
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen
Pros
- Ultra-portable at 293 g — perfect one-handed reading and note-taking
- A15 Bionic is plenty powerful for gaming and productivity
- Apple Pencil 2 support with magnetic attach and charging
- USB-C replaces Lightning for universal accessories
- Beautiful 8.3" Liquid Retina display with wide color
Cons
- Jelly scrolling effect noticeable on some units in portrait mode
- 60Hz display — no ProMotion at this price point
- Only 4 GB RAM limits heavy multitasking
- Starting at $499 is pricey for an 8.3" tablet
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Pros
- IP68 water and dust resistance for a tablet
- S Pen included in the box
- Dimensity 9400+ delivers flagship performance
- MicroSD expansion up to 2TB
- Slim 5.5mm profile
Cons
- Starting price of $800 is steep for 11-inch tablet
- 13MP rear camera is basic for the price
- No HDMI or Thunderbolt port
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPad Mini 6th Gen | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iPadOS 15 (upgradable to iPadOS 17+) | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 293 g (Wi-Fi) | 469 g |
| Dimensions | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm | 253.8 x 165.3 x 5.5 mm |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours web browsing on Wi-Fi | Up to 17 hours video |
| Capacity | 5124 mAh (19.3 Wh) | 8400 mAh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 8.3 inches | 11.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 2266 x 1488 | 1600 x 2560 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Storage | ||
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 2 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU) | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB | USB-C | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E (tri-band) |
| Cellular | ||
| Stylus Support | ||
| Cameras | ||
| Rear | — | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF |
| Front camera | — | 12 MP, f/2.4, ultrawide |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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