Sometimes—but only for the unfolded-screen work. An iPad mini can run multiple apps or windows, making it a plausible substitute when you already carry a phone and want more room for reading, reference, or another app. It cannot replace a foldable phone’s closed-phone role: the iPad mini is a separate tablet. Your choice comes down to the apps you use, how they fit in the available layout, and whether you want one device or two.
What each device is built to do
The current iPad mini is an 8.3-inch tablet with an A17 Pro chip. Apple lists its body at 195.4 × 134.8 × 6.3 mm, with a weight of 293 g for Wi-Fi and 297 g for Wi-Fi + Cellular; Apple’s specifications page does not state a publication year for these figures. Apple’s iPad mini specifications also list support for Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C).
A book-style foldable phone has a different two-part role: it works as a phone while closed and opens to a larger main display. Samsung documents Multi window on Galaxy foldables, including split-screen and pop-up views, and says certain Z Fold models can handle up to five apps at once. That capability depends on the model and supported apps, not every app or Fold configuration. Samsung’s foldable-phone support page describes the feature.
So the comparison is not simply tablet versus phone screen size. It is a separate tablet for open-screen work versus a phone that can also expand into a larger workspace.
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#1 Best Overall
- WHY IPAD MINI — The full iPad experience in an ultraportable design. Featuring Apple Intelligence.* With an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display,* ultrafast A17 Pro chip, 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, USB-C connectivity, superfast Wi-Fi 6E, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro.* Take notes, mark up documents, and edit photos and videos.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.* With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple. (Coming fall 2024.)
- 8.3-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display features advanced technologies like P3 wide color, True Tone, and ultralow reflectivity, which make everything look stunning.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The A17 Pro chip delivers powerful performance and ultrafast graphics. And with all-day battery life, iPad mini is always ready for any task or project.* Storage starting at 128GB for all your apps, music, movies, and more.*
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos. iPad mini comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps available on the App Store.
Can you use split screen on an iPad mini?
Yes. Apple documents using multiple apps or multiple windows of the same app on iPad. Its iPad multitasking documentation covers Windowed Apps and Stage Manager, including moving and resizing windows; the available controls depend on the iPadOS version and apps. Apple’s iPad User Guide explains working with multiple windows, and its Stage Manager guide covers arranging, resizing, and grouping windows.
For iPadOS 26, Apple describes window resizing, placement, tiling, and gestures, including flicking two windows toward the screen edges to split them. These controls are specific to that software version; check the instructions for the iPadOS version installed on your device before following a setup tutorial. Apple’s iPadOS 26 feature summary is dated September 2025.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Apple’s windowed multitasking should not be assumed to match a foldable phone’s split-screen interface exactly. Before relying on the iPad mini, open the two apps you need and confirm that each works in the intended window arrangement and orientation.
Which workflows suit each device?
| Your priority | More plausible fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Read a document while keeping a reference app visible | iPad mini, if you already carry a phone | The tablet offers a dedicated screen for the paired apps; confirm that both fit your preferred iPadOS window layout. |
| Use one device as both a phone and an expanded workspace | Book-style foldable phone | Samsung documents use of supported Galaxy foldables on outer and main screens, with App continuity between them. Samsung’s overview of open and closed use describes those capabilities. |
| Keep several apps visible at once | Depends on the exact model and apps | Samsung says certain Z Fold models support up to five apps in Multi window; Apple documents multiple iPad apps and windows. Neither OS-level feature guarantees that every app will behave well in every layout. |
| Handwrite or mark up material alongside another app | iPad mini, if Pencil input suits the task | Apple lists Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) compatibility. A Pencil is optional and is not required for multitasking. |
| Avoid carrying both a phone and a tablet | Book-style foldable phone | The iPad mini is a separate tablet, not a substitute for a closed phone form factor. |
These are workflow-based recommendations drawn from manufacturer specifications and support documentation, not results of a hands-on comparison. Diagonal display measurements alone do not tell you how much of your particular apps will remain usable side by side.
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- WHY IPAD MINI — The full iPad experience in an ultraportable design. Featuring Apple Intelligence.* With an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display,* ultrafast A17 Pro chip, 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, USB-C connectivity, superfast Wi-Fi 6E, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro.* Take notes, mark up documents, and edit photos and videos.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.* With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple. (Coming fall 2024.)
- 8.3-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display features advanced technologies like P3 wide color, True Tone, and ultralow reflectivity, which make everything look stunning.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The A17 Pro chip delivers powerful performance and ultrafast graphics. And with all-day battery life, iPad mini is always ready for any task or project.* Storage starting at 128GB for all your apps, music, movies, and more.*
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos. iPad mini comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps available on the App Store.
Check app support before choosing
The key practical question is whether your two essential apps work well together at the size and arrangement you want. An operating system can provide multitasking controls without guaranteeing that an individual app supports every window size, orientation, or layout. Samsung also notes that Flex mode compatibility varies by app and model.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Gorgeous 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone - A15 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
- 12MP Wide back camera, 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Stay connected with ultrafast Wi-Fi 6 - Up to 256GB storage - Comes in 4 colors
- Up to 10 hours of battery life - Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
- USB-C connector for charging and accessories - Supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD MINI — The full iPad experience in an ultraportable design. Featuring Apple Intelligence.* With an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display,* ultrafast A17 Pro chip, 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, USB-C connectivity, superfast Wi-Fi 6E, and compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro.* Take notes, mark up documents, and edit photos and videos.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.* With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple. (Coming fall 2024.)
- 8.3-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display features advanced technologies like P3 wide color, True Tone, and ultralow reflectivity, which make everything look stunning.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The A17 Pro chip delivers powerful performance and ultrafast graphics. And with all-day battery life, iPad mini is always ready for any task or project.* Storage starting at 128GB for all your apps, music, movies, and more.*
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos. iPad mini comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps available on the App Store.
- List the exact apps you need visible together, not just broad categories such as “messaging” or “documents.”
- Try the pair on the specific iPad mini and iPadOS version, or the specific foldable and Android/One UI version, you are considering.
- Check whether both apps remain usable when sharing the display, including any controls or content you need to reach.
- Decide whether you can carry a separate phone. If not, the iPad mini cannot fill the foldable’s closed-phone role.
How to decide
- Choose the iPad mini if you already carry a phone, want a tablet canvas for paired tasks such as reading beside a reference app, and have confirmed that the apps work in your preferred iPad window layout.
- Choose a book-style foldable if you want one device to serve as a phone while closed and an expanded workspace when opened, and your apps work well in Multi window or the equivalent on the exact model.
- Choose neither on multitasking features alone if the apps you rely on do not support the layout you need. Verify compatibility first rather than assuming an OS feature guarantees a good app experience.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
