Compare tablets
Apple iPad mini 3
128 GB Wi-Fi OnlyA1600, A1599
Apple iPad Air 2
64 GB| Global Score | |
| 77.4 | 77.1 |
| Basic Information | |
| Apple | Apple |
| iOS 8.x | iOS 8.x |
| 2014-10-16 | 2014-10-16 |
| 7.87 x 5.30 x 0.30 inches | 9.45 x 6.67 x 0.24 inches |
| 11.68 ounces | 15.41 ounces |
| Gold and Gray | Gold and Gray |
| Aluminium | Aluminium |
| $ 360.00 | $ 275.00 |
| Display / Screen | |
| 7.9 inches | 9.7 inches |
| 2048 x 1536 pixels | 1536 x 2048 pixels |
| IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| 324 pixels per inch | 264 pixels per inch |
| Capacitive, Multi-touch | Capacitive, Multi-touch |
| 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Performance | |
| Apple A7 chipset | Apple A8X chipset |
| 64-bit Cyclone (Dual-Core 1300 MHz) processor | 64-bit Cyclone (Single-Core 1500 MHz) processor |
| 1 GB RAM | 2 GB (1600 MHz) RAM |
| PowerVR G6430 (600 MHz) GPU | PowerVR GXA6850 GPU |
| 9.18 | 8.82 |
| Storage | |
| 128 GB internal memory | 64 GB internal memory |
| No SD card slot | No SD card slot |
| 10.1 | 7.7 |
| Camera | |
| 5.00 MP + 1.20 MP | 8.00 MP + 1.20 MP |
| f/2.40 aperture | f/2.40 aperture |
| 32.00mm focal length | 31.00mm 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 |
| 7.92 | 8.47 |
| Networks | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Mobile Hotspot | Mobile Hotspot |
| LTE (4G), HSPA, EV-DO A, EV-DO B, EDGE, GPRS and CDMA | LTE (4G), HSPA, UMTS, EV-DO A, EV-DO B, EDGE, GPRS, GSM and CDMA |
| Nano SIM | Nano SIM |
| 6.6 | 6.7 |
| Battery Life | |
| 6350mAh Battery | 7340mAh Battery |
| Non-Removable Battery | Non-Removable Battery |
| 7.84 | 8.56 |
| Other Features | |
| Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| GPS | GPS |
| Fingerprint ID Scanner | Fingerprint ID Scanner |
| Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope and Light Sensor | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope and Light Sensor |
Comparison review
Apple iPad mini 3 is just a bit better than iPad Air 2, having a 77.4 score against 77.1. Both of these devices include the same iOS 8.x OS, so you shouldn't perceive any differences regarding that. Although the Apple iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 were only released with a few months difference, the Apple iPad mini 3 design is noticeably thicker but also extremely lighter.
Apple iPad mini 3 has just a little better hardware performance than iPad Air 2, because although it has a smaller amount of RAM memory, and they both have a 64 bits processing unit, the Apple iPad mini 3 also counts with an additional graphics processor and more cpu cores. IPad mini 3 has a slightly better display than iPad Air 2, because although it has a little smaller screen, and they both have the same 1536 x 2048px resolution, the iPad mini 3 also counts with a little higher pixel number per screen inch.
The Apple iPad mini 3 has a way bigger memory capacity for games and applications than iPad Air 2, because it has 128 GB internal memory. The iPad Air 2 shoots a bit better photographs and videos than iPad mini 3, and although they both have the same video resolution, the same 30 fps video frame rate and a same size camera aperture, the iPad Air 2 also has a much higher resolution back facing camera.
The iPad Air 2 features just a bit better battery lifetime than Apple iPad mini 3, because it has 7340mAh of battery capacity.
Although Apple iPad mini 3 is a better device, it costs more money than the iPad Air 2, and it doesn't have such a good relation between it's price and quality as iPad Air 2. If you are trying to save some dollars, you can buy iPad Air 2, and give up a few specs and features, but you will get the most with your budget.
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