If there's one product that's a direct rival to the new iPod touch, it's probably the iPad mini. Both are great for kids and run a bit cheaper than other iOS devices. Let's see how the latest versions compare.
Size
![Dimensions](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/d9b9692/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1773+0+0/resize/975x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_dimensions.jpg)
These two may target a similar audience, but their sizes are far apart. The iPad mini 3 is 63 percent taller and 129 percent wider than the 6th-generation iPod touch.
The iPod touch ties the iPad Air 2 for the title of thinnest iOS device ever made. The Touch is 19 percent thinner than the iPad mini 3.
Weight
![Weight](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/e2a2404/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1623+0+0/resize/1065x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_weight.jpg)
The iPad mini doesn't feel heavy for its size, but the tiny iPod touch still comes out at 73 percent lighter.
Build
![Build](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/11c5b15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1467+0+0/resize/1178x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_build.jpg)
The two iDevices' builds are very similar. Both have aluminum unibody designs, as do most of Apple's modern products.
Colors
![Color options](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/6637710/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x2258+0+0/resize/765x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_colors_h7uMJHE.jpg)
Apple offers six different color options for iPod touch buyers.
Display size
![Display size](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/96a9689/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1481+0+0/resize/1167x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_display_size.jpg)
If you took four iPod touch screens and put them together, you'd still have a screen that was smaller than the iPad mini's!
Display resolution
![Display resolution](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/069447d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1644+0+0/resize/1051x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_display_resolution.jpg)
Both displays have the same 326 PPI pixel density.
Display type
![Display type](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/dca21d2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1475+0+0/resize/1172x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_display_type.jpg)
As with all iOS devices, both screens use IPS panels.
Chip
![System-on-a-chip](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/300f057/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1893+0+0/resize/913x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_CPU.jpg)
Though the iPad mini 3 is a late 2014 product, it uses a late 2013 system-on-a-chip. The iPod touch is the faster device, and should be future-proofed a bit longer for gaming.
RAM
![RAM](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/b87511b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1420+0+0/resize/1217x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_RAM.jpg)
Each of these Apple devices has 1 GB of RAM.
Storage
![Storage](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/b72107c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1910+0+0/resize/905x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_storage.jpg)
The iPod touch has an extra 32 GB tier; otherwise internal storage options are the same.
Battery
![Battery](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/4cf13f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1453+0+0/resize/1189x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_battery.jpg)
In our battery benchmark (streaming video over Wi-Fi with brightness at 75 percent), the iPad mini 3 had the better score. It only dropped 9 percent per hour; the new iPod touch lost 12 percent per hour.
Camera megapixels
![Camera megapixels](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/36fd0c9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1655+0+0/resize/1044x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_camera.jpg)
If you want to use your device for photography, the iPod touch is the better choice. It has higher resolution, and takes better shots all around.
Camera flash
![Camera flash](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/b840e58/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1486+0+0/resize/1163x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_flash.jpg)
The iPad mini 3 also doesn't have a flash. The iPod touch has a single LED flash, not the dual LED ("True Tone") found on the latest iPhones.
Cellular option
![Cellular option](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/4587385/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1481+0+0/resize/1167x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_cellular.jpg)
As cool as a cellular-enabled iPod touch would be (you could use VOIP services like Skype to turn it into a cheap – and super-light – iPhone), Apple has never made such a thing. You can, however, add an extra US$130 to your upfront price to buy an LTE-enabled iPad mini.
Touch ID
![Touch ID](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/efd0bd3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1479+0+0/resize/1168x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_Touch_ID.jpg)
You won't find a Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the new iPod touch.
Apple Pay
![Apple Pay](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/31c6ae2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1467+0+0/resize/1178x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_Apple_Pay.jpg)
You can't use the iPad mini 3 with the in-store portion of Apple Pay, but you can use it for online Apple Pay purchases.
No Touch ID means no Apple Pay for iPod touch owners.
Software
![Software](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/98fff9a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1556+0+0/resize/1111x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_software_XYF1VQi.jpg)
Both devices run iOS 8, and will jump up to iOS 9 in a couple of months. They should also both stay up-to-date for some time after that, though the iPod touch may stay current longer, as it has the newer SoC inside.
Release
![Release](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/e3a2fb9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1446+0+0/resize/1195x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_release.jpg)
The iPad mini 3 launched late last year, but it's really an iPad mini 2 (Apple's 2013 model) with two changes: a Touch ID sensor and the option of buying a gold model.
Starting price
![Starting price](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/bb2295b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1466+0+0/resize/1179x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2FiPod_touch_6th_generation_vs._iPad_mini_3_price.jpg)
The iPad mini 3 isn't a great buy, due to that 2013 hardware, but the $100 cheaper iPad mini 2, which Apple still sells, makes a lot more sense (as long as you can live without Touch ID). If you throw the iPad mini 2 into the mix, then your decision comes down to better performance and camera for $200 vs. much bigger screen for $300.
For more on each device, you can hit up Gizmag's full reviews of the 2015 iPod touch and the iPad mini 3.