Compare tablets
Apple iPad Air 2
128 GB Wi-Fi OnlyApple iPad 3
32 GB Verizon| Global Score | |
| 79.3 | 69.5 |
| Basic Information | |
| Apple | Apple |
| iOS 8.x | iOS 7.x, 6.1, 6, 5.1 |
| 2014-10-16 | 2012-03-07 |
| 9.45 x 6.67 x 0.24 inches | 9.50 x 7.31 x 0.37 inches |
| 15.41 ounces | 23.35 ounces |
| Gold and Gray | Black and White |
| Aluminium | -- |
| -- | Scratch-Resistant Glass |
| $ 271.00 | $ 270.00 |
| Display / Screen | |
| 9.7 inches | 9.7 inches |
| 1536 x 2048 pixels | 2048 x 1536 pixels |
| IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| 264 pixels per inch | 264 pixels per inch |
| Capacitive, Multi-touch | Capacitive, Multi-touch |
| 8.2 | 8 |
| Performance | |
| Apple A8X chipset | Apple A5X chipset |
| 64-bit Cyclone (Single-Core 1500 MHz) processor | ARM Cortex-A9 (Dual-Core 1000 MHz) processor |
| 2 GB (1600 MHz) RAM | 1 GB RAM |
| PowerVR GXA6850 GPU | Quad core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU |
| 8.82 | 7.83 |
| Storage | |
| 128 GB internal memory | 32 GB internal memory |
| No SD card slot | No SD card slot |
| 10.1 | 5.8 |
| Camera | |
| 8.00 MP + 1.20 MP | 5.00 MP + 0.30 MP |
| f/2.40 aperture | f/2.40 aperture |
| 31.00mm focal length | 35.00mm focal length |
| 1920 x 1080 (30 fps) (Full HD) video resolution | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps) (Full HD) video resolution |
| 1280 x 720 (120 fps) (HD) slow motion video | -- |
| 8.47 | 7.81 |
| Networks | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Mobile Hotspot | Mobile Hotspot |
| LTE (4G), HSPA, UMTS, EV-DO A, EV-DO B, EDGE, GPRS, GSM and CDMA | LTE (4G), HSPA+ (4G), HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS and GSM |
| Nano SIM | Micro SIM |
| 6.7 | 6.9 |
| Battery Life | |
| 7340mAh Battery | 11560mAh Li-Polymer Battery |
| Non-Removable Battery | Non-Removable Battery |
| 8.56 | 11.2 |
| Other Features | |
| Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| GPS | GPS |
| Fingerprint ID Scanner | -- |
| Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope and Light Sensor | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope and Light Sensor |
Comparison review
IPad Air 2 is much better than iPad 3, having a 79.3 score against 69.5. IPad Air 2's construction is newer, way thinner and lighter than iPad 3. Both of these tablets have iOS operating system, but the iPad Air 2 has the newer 8.x version while iPad 3 has iOS 7.x version. The Apple iPad Air 2 counts with a more powerful CPU than iPad 3, because although it has a lower number of cores (although faster), it also counts with a 64-bit CPU and 1 GB more RAM.
The Apple iPad Air 2 has a little more vivid screen than iPad 3. They have exactly the same resolution of 2048 x 1536px, a better pixels amount per inch of display and a screen of the same size. The iPad Air 2 counts with a way bigger storage capacity to install applications and games or saving photos and videos than Apple iPad 3, because it has more internal storage capacity.
The Apple iPad Air 2 has just a bit better camera than iPad 3, and although they both have a F2.4 aperture, the same 30 fps video frame rate and the same (Full HD) video definition, the Apple iPad Air 2 also has a back-facing camera with much more MP. Apple iPad 3 counts with a really longer battery life than iPad Air 2, because it has 11560mAh of battery capacity against 7340mAh.
Apple iPad Air 2 is a little more expensive than the iPad 3, but you can get a better tablet for that few more dollars.
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