Apple iPad mini (6th generation) battery drains too quickly

The checks in more detail

A mini is small, so brightness and screen-on time dominate: Auto-Brightness, a shorter Auto-Lock and True Tone off save power. Background App Refresh and Location Services set to Always are common silent drains, as is a mini used for reading with a streaming video playing. Cellular models drain faster in weak coverage, so use Wi-Fi where possible. Apple's iPad battery page also describes the 80 percent charging limit on newer models, which the mini 6 does not have, so a mini kept at full charge for years wears faster.

A mini left on its Smart Folio in a warm bag loses charge to heat. If the phone-like drain continues in Low Power Mode and Battery Health shows a low figure, an Apple service replaces the battery. The mini's small size makes it popular as a kitchen or car display, and an iPad left in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill ages its battery quickly, so keep it out of heat. Avoid charging it under a pillow.

Updating iPadOS regularly also brings battery management improvements, and the Battery screen's graph tells you whether drain happens while the screen is on or off, which separates apps from standby drain. Games, video calls and navigation are the apps that drain a mini fastest, and reading and note-taking the least, so match your expectations to what you use it for. If the mini only drains with one app, check that app's settings for background audio or location use that you can turn off.