At the official presentation held by Apple on October 22, a new development of the company was presented - the iPad Air tablet (5th generation iPad), characterized by a thinner body and low weight. In addition, the hardware has been noticeably improved, but let's look at the new product in more detail.

In addition to the reduction in thickness, the body has become somewhat thinner in other proportions. So, if the iPad 4 was presented in dimensions: 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 mm, then the new product pleased us with its dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm. As you can see, this is a significant decrease, because it has become 20% thinner.

Appearance of the tablet

Many may wonder how you can reduce the size of a tablet and at the same time not only maintain, but also improve its functionality. It turns out that the developers gradually reduced the thickness of all components:

  • Protective glass – -17%;
  • Touchpad – -70%;
  • Retina display – -20%;
  • Battery – -25%;
  • Hull – -23%

Which ultimately led to an amazing result.

At the same time, the weight of the device decreased: if previously it was 652 or 662 g (with a cellular module), now the weight is 469 or 478 g, respectively. It turns out that the iPad Air has become 28% lighter, that is, almost 190 g, which can only please fans of long-distance travel. It’s not for nothing that Apple positions it as the lightest full-size tablet among all those presented on the world market.

Along with white and dark gray front panel, users received two color options for the aluminum body. The regular model, equipped only with a Wi-Fi module, will be presented in a dark gray case, and the model with an additional cellular module will sport a silver one with a white front panel.

To reliably protect the display from shocks and scratches, the front panel of the tablet, as in the previous model, is equipped with a protective glass with oleophobic coating, thanks to which he is not afraid of marks from greasy fingers. Above the screen, as before, is located 1.2 MP front camera, and at the bottom of the front panel there is a hardware “Home” key. There is enough space left around the edges of the screen in the form of a border to comfortably hold the body so that the user does not accidentally touch the touch screen with his fingers while working. Although it is worth noting that frame thickness decreased by 43%, giving you the opportunity to adjust the dimensions of the gadget.

The anodized aluminum back panel is combined with the side panels into a single piece, which significantly increases the rigidity of the entire structure. At the top end, in addition to the 3.5 mm headphone jack and power button, there is hole of the second microphone, which performs the noise reduction function.

In the middle part of the bottom end there is a Lightning connector, on both sides of which there are decorative grilles. Behind one of them there is a built-in speaker. On the right side, as before, there is a “Mute” slider, which provides silent mode and locks the image orientation. Below it are two oblong volume buttons, which are more convenient than the “rocker” in the previous model.

On the back panel at the top is the main camera lens and to the right of it is the second microphone hole. In models with a cellular communication module, there is a plastic plug at the top of the panel


Screen

The screen in the new iPad Air uses a 9.7-inch Multi-Touch LED-backlit display made using IPS technology. As in the previous model, with a resolution of 2048x1536, the pixel density on it is 264 PPI, allowing you to get an image more like a photograph from a glossy magazine. The pixels on the screen are practically indistinguishable and the image is simply amazing in its reality. The use of an IPS matrix, as before, ensures maximum viewing angles and natural colors in warm tones.

Thanks to a thinner display frame, the image on the screen has become more visible, allowing you to better keep your attention on the main information. The new software provides the ability to recognize the activity of tactile interaction with the screen, so the system will not respond to simply pressing a finger. At the same time, the capacitive sensor has become more accurate and faster, which significantly reduces response time to user actions.

Computing power

If the previous model used the Apple A6X chip, the new tablet is equipped with a 64-bit 2-core processor Apple A7 with a clock frequency of 1.3 GHz. Today it is considered one of the most powerful and effective devices for this type. According to the developers, the A7 chip has increased the tablet's operating speed by 2 times compared to the old model. Graphics performance has also noticeably improved (according to some statements, it has increased tenfold), which is a merit of the PowerVR G6430 graphics chipset.


The iPad 5's power and energy efficiency are enhanced by new M7 coprocessor, taking over some of the computing functions. Now information about the operation of the gyroscope, accelerometer and compass is processed separately, which significantly reduces the load on the A7 chip and frees up its computing power to solve other problems.

In addition, the M7 chipset consumes significantly less power than the A7 chip, so performing assigned tasks requires less power consumption, which led to longer battery life for the tablet with a smaller battery capacity.

operating system

Unlike the iPad 4, the new models come with the new iOS 7 operating system installed by default, ensuring compatibility with the new chipsets for maximum performance. At the same time, the iOS 7 interface is quite simple and incredibly intuitive, so you won’t have to get used to it.

As an example, you can consider several options to understand the principles of the new development, which took a more thoughtful approach to consumer requirements.

In the Camera app, you'll now find the shutter button on the side of the screen instead of at the bottom as before. This is more convenient, because the thumb is on the side when holding the tablet, so taking photographs has become much more convenient.

The Control Center panel is horizontally oriented, making it easier to read. Now you just need to touch the panel to see your most frequently used programs and select the application you need.

The new interface has become more discreet due to the removal of unnecessary decorative elements, so that it is possible to completely focus on the content. At the same time, realistic animation and translucent background make running applications quite fun. This is facilitated by: a new button design, improved fonts and a streamlined color palette, bringing special harmony to the interface elements.

Photo and video

Compared to the previous model, the new iPad Air uses the same 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera that shoots video clips in 720p HD quality. This is fully enough for communicating via FaceTime via Wi-Fi or cellular5 cellular communications. In addition, it features facial recognition, geotagging and backlighting.

The main 5 MP iSight camera with a five-element lens and aperture ?/2.4 has been slightly improved. It has the following functions: autofocus, LED flash, face recognition in the frame, exposure control, photo and video geotagging. A hybrid IR filter has also been applied and the ability to obtain HDR photographs has been implemented.


When recording video, the camera can shoot HD videos at 1080p/30 fps with 3x zoom, which is used for the first time on Apple tablets. In addition, video image stabilization, face recognition function, and backlighting of the object are provided.

Equipment

The iPad 5 has the following sensors: gyroscope, accelerometer and light sensor, which have become more stable under the control of the M7 coprocessor. The company was also the first to use a Wi-Fi a/b/g/n module in a tablet, equipped with a 2-band MIMO antenna, which allows “on-the-fly” switching between 2.4 and 5 GHz channels. This will instantly increase your speed by 2 times when working with content and communicating on social networks.

The device has Bluetooth 4.0 available, and the version with cellular5 has an LTE module installed. This model is compatible with the following cellular standards:

  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz);
  • UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz);
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz).

To the models with built-in memory of 16, 32 and 64 GB, a model with 128 GB on board has been added.

Nutrition

The power of the iPad Air's built-in lithium-polymer battery is 32.4 Wh, which is significantly less than that of the iPad 4 - 43 Wh, but despite this, the tablet can operate without recharging in the following modes:

  • Listening to music and watching videos – 10 hours;
  • Surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi – 10 hours;
  • Surfing the Internet using cellular networks – 9 hours.

The device is charged using a power adapter or via the USB port of a computer.

Comparison of iPad 5 and iPad 4 specifications

iPad 4 (Retina)
Appearance

Dimensions: height/width/thickness (mm)
240 x 169.5 x 7.5 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4
Weight
469 g. (478 with communication module) 662
Display
  • Retina display
  • Diagonal: 9.7 inches
  • Resolution: 2048x1536
  • Pixel Density: 264 PPI
  • Retina display
  • Diagonal: 9.7 inches
  • Resolution: 2048x1536
  • Pixel Density: 264 PPI
Video processor
Quad-core PowerVR graphics G6430 GPU Quad-core PowerVR SGX554MP4 graphics
CPU
Quad core processor A7, coprocessor M7 Dual-core A6X 1.4 GHz
Connection

WiFi

  • MIMO
  • Bluetooth 4.0 technology

Wi-Fi + Cellular

  • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and MIMO
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • GSM/EDGE
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B
  • UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA

Wi-Fi model

  • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n; 802.11n at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0

Wi-Fi + Cellular model

  • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n; 802.11n at 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • GSM/EDGE
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B
  • UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA

GPS, GLONASS

SIM card
Nano-SIM Micro-SIM
Main camera
  • 5-megapixel matrix
  • Autofocus
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
  • Five-element optics
  • Hybrid IR cut filter
  • Aperture: ?/2.4
  • 5-megapixel matrix
  • Autofocus
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
  • Five-element optics
  • Hybrid IR cut filter
  • Aperture: ?/2.4
Front-camera
  • FaceTime HD camera
  • 1.2 MP matrix
  • 720p HD video
  • FaceTime video calls
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
  • FaceTime HD camera
  • 1.2 MP matrix
  • 720p HD video
  • FaceTime video calls
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
Video recording
  • Quality: 1080p HD
  • Focusing
  • Image stabilization
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
  • 3x zoom
  • Quality: 1080p HD
  • Focusing
  • Image stabilization
  • Face recognition
  • Backlight
System interface
Lightning Lightning
Battery
10 hours of surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi, watching videos and listening to music. 9 hours if cellular module is used. 10 hours of surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi, watching videos and listening to music

In 2013, the world was presented with a new creation from Apple - iPad Air. The tablet has won the recognition of millions of users around the world. And a year later, at the autumn presentation, the company presented the thinnest device in the world - iPad Air 2, which did not revolutionize the world of mobile technology, but became no less popular than its predecessor. Despite the release of the new product, many users were in no hurry to change first-generation devices, because they did not see much point in it. Of course, the iPad Air 2 received several important changes that made it the flagship among tablet computers.

Comparing the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 will allow you to determine exactly what the advantages of the newer gadget are. However, there is a category of users who, in any case, change their smartphones and tablets from Apple after the release of a new model. This is, rather, dictated not by the need to use advanced device functions, but by the desire to be one step ahead of the rest. If you value value for money, functionality, and also use a rational approach when buying gadgets, comparing two popular models will be useful and interesting for you.

Comparison and review of two tablet models: iPad Air and iPad Air 2

The differences between the two devices are in the appearance and size of the case. If the length and width of the gadgets remained the same - 240 mm and 169.5 mm, then iPad Air 2 became the thinnest device in the world at the time of its release. Its thickness was 6.1 mm, which is 1.4 mm less than that of its predecessor. Many experts have come to the conclusion that minor differences in the sizes of the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 are practically not felt when using gadgets, which cannot be said about their weight.

The new device has become much lighter - its weight was only 437 grams, which is 36% less than the first generation device. Thanks to its reduced weight, iPad Air 2 is very comfortable to work with. After prolonged use, your arms and back will not get so tired. This was a significant transformation for users who prefer to hold the tablet in their hands rather than place it on a horizontal surface.

It should be noted that the first generation iPad Air only comes in two colors - space gray and silver. The second-generation gadget is presented in three colors - in addition to the usual silver and space gray, a golden one has been added. This gives users more options to choose from. Some people prefer to buy smartphones and tablets in the same color scheme. Now you can purchase a similar device to go with your gold iPhone.

The first generation tablet is supplied to the market with a version of the operating system iOS 7, and the second - iOS 8. Today, the characteristics of the device allow you to upgrade to iOS 9.2, which improves system performance and fixes some bugs.

Display Specifications

The screen resolution of the compared devices remains the same - 2048 by 1536 pixels. Has not changed - it is 9.7 inches, which ensures comfortable work. We believe that these sizes are optimal for a tablet computer designed for a wide audience of consumers.

At the same time, the second-generation gadget is equipped with a completely different level. During its development, the technology of full screen lamination was used. The developers managed to remove the air gap between the glass and the matrix. This made the device thinner and led to the fact that the image in the iPad Air 2 visually seemed to lie on the surface of the glass. The device released earlier does not have similar visual effects. Another advantage of the second generation iPad Air was its reliable anti-reflective coating, which ensured comfortable work with the gadget in bright light conditions.

Some users considered it a minus that in the new tablet the developers removed the button for blocking automatic image rotations when changing the position of the gadget in space. It was located on the sidebar and was often used by gamers who like to read while lying down and often change their position. Auto-lock allowed you to capture the image. On the iPad Air 2, a similar option must be activated using user settings.

Camera

It is immediately worth noting that in the second generation iPad Air, significant changes affected the camera. The first thing that catches your eye is that its resolution has increased to 8 megapixels. In the model released in 2013, it is 5 megapixels. At the same time, the iSight camera is equipped with a high-tech sensor and advanced optics, which improves the quality of pictures and videos. For many, the presence of new functions was a pleasant surprise. One of them is Slow Motion. It is designed to slow down video recording. Thanks to this function, you can shoot interesting videos, which can be conveniently emphasized using slow motion. In addition, the camera has other interesting and useful features.

When comparing photos taken on the two tablets, you will notice that the iPad Air 2 produces better photo quality. Images have improved color reproduction. At the same time, all colors look more natural. The noise level in the pictures has been reduced and the detail of objects has been improved. However, such improvements are only important for discerning users. The camera performance of the first generation device is quite satisfactory for a device of this level.

The changes did not affect - its resolution is still 1.2 megapixels. However, it is not equipped with autofocus.

Technical specifications

The 2013 tablet is equipped with an A7+M7 processor. Gadgets introduced in 2014 run on the A8X+M8 processor. iPad Air 2 has three cores, while its predecessor had two. The clock speed of the gadgets is 1.5 GHz and 1.4 GHz, respectively. According to the developers, such changes made it possible to increase the performance of the central processor by 40%. Power has been improved by 2.5 times.

The difference between iPad Air and iPad Air 2 lies in the amount of memory. If the first generation tablet has 1 GB of RAM, then the second generation device is equipped with 2 GB of RAM. At the same time, the 2013 model has built-in memory capacity of 16 and 32 GB. Various modifications of the later gadget allow you to purchase a tablet with 16, 64 or 128 GB of memory. This improvement is dictated by the development of a huge number of applications that require not only performance from a tablet computer, but also a sufficient amount of memory.

Battery life

The battery capacity of the device, released at the end of 2014, is 7184 mAh. Its predecessor has a larger battery capacity - it is 8827 mAh. The developer stated that in the mode of searching information on the World Wide Web, watching videos and listening to audio, the battery of the newer device will last for 10 hours of continuous operation. At the same time, its predecessor works for about 12-13 hours without recharging. In maximum brightness mode, while watching HD video, the time is reduced by 2 hours - these are the results shown by test tests.

We can conclude that Apple had to sacrifice battery capacity in order to fit it into the thin body of the iPad Air 2. It should be noted that no matter how long the battery life of any device, it will always not suit certain categories of users. You always want your phone or tablet to last longer. In this regard, Apple has found an excellent compromise between the weight of the gadget, its size and operating time.

Announced in September 2019, it retained the same design and internal filling, not much different from its predecessor; on the other hand, it received an enlarged screen. Now the geometric dimensions of the device are completely identical (with different screen diagonals). And if comparing the iPad 6 (2018) and iPad 7 (2019) doesn’t make much sense, then choosing between the iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 may not be easy. Externally similar devices differ greatly in price. Let's try to compare these two Apple tablets that were current at the end of 2019.

iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 case design and materials

Externally, the tablets retained the traditional design for the entire line. From a distance it is not difficult to confuse them; only upon closer inspection can one identify the model externally. We are talking about the same rectangular aluminum body with thin frames on the sides and larger ones at the top and bottom.

The front camera is located in the center above the screen, and below it is the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. It should be noted here that the iPad Air 3 received a second-generation Touch ID (accordingly, the iPad 7 has a first-generation Touch ID sensor).

On the left side there was a place for the Smart Connector, which finally ceased to be a distinctive feature of the Pro series. Both tablets have dual speakers on the bottom edge, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Lightning port. There are no differences between tablets in the colors offered. These are all the same options: silver, gold and space gray.

The design difference between the iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 is only the slightly thinner frames of the more expensive model. This ensures a larger screen size with the same width and height of the case.

Dimensions and weight of iPad 7 and iPad Air 3

Despite the different screen area, the width and height of the tablets are the same. The only differences are in the thickness of the devices.

  • iPad 7, 10.2 inch screen diagonal– 250.6 × 174.1 × 7.5 mm, weight 483 g (493 g for Cellular version).
  • iPad Air 3, 10.5-inch screen diagonal– 250.6 × 174.1 × 6.1 mm, weight 456 g (464 g for Cellular version).

Obviously, the iPad Air is more elegant (but it's almost unnoticeable). A body of the same size was made thinner, lighter and accommodated a larger screen.

Built-in memory (drive) iPad 7 and iPad Air 3

The more budget version, iPad 7, received two options for built-in storage capacity: 32 and 128 GB. The iPad Air 3 has a minimum memory capacity of 64 GB, and the older version has 256 GB. The difference can be explained by the positioning of the products. Today, 32 GB in a tablet is frankly not enough, given the increased size of the content. Those who like to actively work with a large amount of information are offered to choose a more expensive model.

iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 screen

The actual screen size of the two devices is different: 10.2 inches for the iPad 7 and 10.5 inches for the iPad Air 3. However, the pixel density of the devices is the same: 264 PPI. This number allows iPad displays to carry the Retina label. The screen resolution of the iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 is 2,048 × 1,536 and 2,224 × 1,668 pixels, respectively. Brightness reaches 500 nits on both devices. Oleophobic coating is present in both.

However, the Air's display is noticeably better than its sibling. First of all, this is achieved due to the presence of True Tone technology, which adapts the color temperature to the ambient lighting. Additionally, the iPad Air 3's display is fully laminated, anti-glare, and supports P3 color gamut.

The iPad 7 screen lacks these features, however, during normal use the difference between the screens of these two tablets is unlikely to be very noticeable.

Processor and RAM iPad 7 and iPad Air 3

The 10.2-inch iPad 7 (2019) has the same 16-nanometer quad-core A10 Fusion chip that was in last year's 9.7-inch model (iPad 6) and in the now outdated iPhone 7. But the Air 3 It has a 6-core A12 Bionic chipset made using 7-nanometer technology with the Neural Engine system, which powered the iPhone XS and iPhone XR. The performance difference is truly significant. This is also explained by the different amounts of RAM – 2 GB for the iPad 7 and 3 GB for the iPad Air 3.

However, again, in practice it will be difficult to feel this difference - for light games, reading social networks and watching videos, the resources of the younger model will be enough. Plus, the iPad 7 still performs better than most of its Android competitors. But in a few years, computing power may already be in demand. It is worth remembering this when choosing a device.

iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 battery

Apple traditionally does not disclose the battery capacity of its devices. It is officially reported that both the iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 can work up to 9 hours on the Internet via cellular communications, and using Wi-Fi – up to 10 hours, as well as when watching videos or listening to music.

However, we managed to find out that the iPad 7 received a battery with a capacity of 32.4 Wh or 8,827 mAh, and Air 3 – 30.2 Wh or 8,134 mAh. In tests, due to the more energy-efficient processor, Air 3 runs 1-2 hours longer, depending on the quality of the load.

iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 cameras

There are no fundamental differences in the parameters and capabilities of the main cameras of tablets.

Main cameras and iPad 7 (2019) and iPad Air 3 have a resolution of 8 MP and an f/2.4 aperture, a BSI sensor, a five-element lens, a hybrid IR filter, autofocus, touch focus, exposure control, HDR for photos, the ability to shoot panoramas with a resolution of up to 43 MP, burst shooting, timer mode, Live Photos, binding to the shooting location. There is no optical stabilization, as is the flash. Capable of recording 1080p video at 30 fps, 720p slow-motion video at 120 fps, time-lapse mode, 3x zoom.

But with the front camera the difference is already clearly visible.

iPad 7 equipped with a front FaceTime HD camera with a resolution of only 1.2 MP.

iPad Air 3 received a front FaceTime HD camera with a resolution of 7 MP with support for auto-HDR (for photos and videos) and a wide color range.

The iPad Air 3 tablet finally received an up-to-date front camera module, in line with market realities. Still, tablet users make video calls more often than take photos. So the improved front camera is a clear advantage of the Air 3 model. But none of these tablets received the Face ID function - it remained exclusive to the Pro series.

Apple Pencil and Smart Connector keyboard support on iPad 7 and iPad Air 3

Both tablet models received support for Apple Pencil, but only the first generation. iPad 7 and iPad Air 3 They also have a Smart Connector for connecting a keyboard. This allows tablets to claim the role of an alternative to laptops. This is how Apple shows the direction of development of this class of devices.

Comparison of technical characteristics (specifications) of iPad 7 and iPad Air 3

The main tangible advantages of the iPad Air 3 over the iPad 7

  • Storage capacity (internal memory);
  • CPU;
  • Front-camera.

Before the Pro line, the iPad lineup consisted of the 7.9-inch Mini and the 9.7-inch Air. It was the perfect tablet that managed to strike a striking balance between being a compact tablet and something more productive. Its airy, slim design makes it easy to carry, making it feel like you're holding a paperback book.

iPad Air 2 maintains the perfect balance of size and weight, making it a complete package. The first thing you notice is its thickness, which is obviously a key feature of the Air. It weighs just 437 grams and adding to its beauty is the simplistic design that undoubtedly places the tablet in the premium category.

iPad Pro

Just when we thought things couldn't get any better, the company announced the next iPad, the iPad Pro 10.5, as well as the new and improved iPad Pro 12.9. The company has made several improvements to its iPad lineup in terms of design in recent years, if you compare the new iPad Pro models to the original iPad Pro 9.7.

Aside from the weight factor, the new iPad Pro looks nearly identical to its predecessor—the 9.7-inch models look identical—but the new iPad lacks a True Tone display and anti-glare coating. The company has also reduced bezels by 40 percent in iPad Pro 10.5, while bezels have all but disappeared in iPad Pro 12.9.

Technically, the new iPad Pro lineup is the company's biggest update since the launch of iPad Pro 9.7, especially the 12.9 version, which is a monster in every way. The world has witnessed a new breed of iPad that is getting bigger and faster in every aspect. A brighter display, better storage options, superior cameras, and a faster processor all in a compact design.

iPad Air vs iPad Pro

1. Screen size

The iPad Pro comes in two screen sizes: 10.5 inches and 12.9 inches. On the other hand, the second generation iPad Air is available in a 9.7-inch screen size.

2. Display

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a screen resolution of 2732 × 2048 px at 264 ppi, and the 10.5-inch model has a screen resolution of 2224 × 1668 px at 264 ppi. The iPad Air 2, on the other hand, has a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels (264 ppi).

3. Storage

The iPad Pro - 10.5 and 12.9 - is available in three internal storage options: 64, 256 and 512 GB. The new and larger 512GB configuration makes this the first iOS device to offer this storage option. The iPad Air comes with 16, 64, and 128 GB of built-in storage options.

4. Processor

Under the hood, iPad Pro features an advanced A10X Fusion Forth-Generation chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture and is housed in a companion Apple M10 processor, making iPad Pro insanely faster and more efficient than its predecessors. The iPad Air, on the other hand, packs the Apple A8X chip with 64-bit architecture and the Apple M8 motion coprocessor.

5. Memory

Both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch variants pack 4GB LPDDR4, which means better performance compared to the iPad Air, which only has 2GB LPDDR3. The extra RAM means it will technically wipe the floor for Air when it comes to multitasking.

6. Camera

Coming to the camera, the iPad Pro comes with a 12-megapixel main camera that is capable of recording 4K videos and a 7-megapixel front camera that can record up to 1080p high-quality videos. The iPad Air 2, on the other hand, has an 8-megapixel iSight camera on the back and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera that is capable of recording videos at 720p HD resolution.

A 2.39 GHz hex 64-bit processor powers the iPad Pro, while the iPad Air has a 1.5 GHz triple-core 64-bit processor.

8. Weight

The 10.5-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi model) weighs 469 grams (1.03 lbs), and the iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular model) weighs 477 grams (1.05 lbs). The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi) weighs 677 grams (1.49 lbs), and the iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular) weighs 692 grams (1.53 lbs). The iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi) weighs 437 grams (0.96 lbs), and the iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) weighs 444 grams (0.98 lbs).

9. Operating system

The iPad Pro comes with iOS 10, which can be upgraded to the company's latest and improved iOS 11. On the other hand, the iPad Air 2 comes with Apple's iOS 8.1.

10. Graphics

The iPad Pro features a 12-core PowerVR 7XT-series GPU, while the iPad Air 2 features an 8-core PowerVR GXA6850 GPU.

iPad Pro iPad Air
Available in 10.5 and 12.9 inch screen sizes. Available in 9.7-inch model.
Powered by the A10X Fusion chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture and integrated into the Apple M10 coprocessor. Powered by the Apple A8X chip with 64-bit architecture and integrated into the Apple M8 motion coprocessor.
Comes with a 12-core PowerVR 7XT series processor. Included with PowerVR GXA6850 octa-core GPU.
Packs of 4GB LPDDR4 RAM under its hood. Comes with 2GB LPDDR3 RAM.
12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization and six-element lens. 8MP 1080p camera on the back.
7-megapixel front-facing FaceTime HD camera with 1080p HD video recording. 1.2 megapixel front camera with 720p HD video recording.
Comes with iOS 10 (upgradable to iOS 11). Comes with iOS 8.1.

Summary

The biggest differences between the iPad Pro and iPad Air, aside from the display, are in the processor and memory department. Apple has managed to double the storage capacity from the 2GB of RAM found in its predecessor, the iPad Air 2, to the 4GB found in its latest iPad line. A huge 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM coupled with the company's latest and improved A10X Fusion chip makes the new iPad Pro stand out. The iPad Pro is definitely the way to go if you don't mind spending a whopping $600 or more on a tablet. Well, for those who don't want to spend too much money and still want to go for a solid iPad without the bells and whistles, the iPad Air 2 could be a good investment and you won't be disappointed.

The brand new iPad Air is already on sale, although it's not that easy to buy. New models are selling like hotcakes. And users who recently purchased an iPad 4 are biting their elbows, or getting ready to add to their iPad Air collection.

And for good reason. After all, he's really good. Everything they say about him is really true. It is lighter, thinner and more productive than its predecessor. If you've used an iPad 4 or iPad 3 before, you'll notice a noticeable difference.

Let's compare iPad Air and iPad 4:

  • by size and weight,
  • in terms of performance,
  • compare cameras
  • Let's compare the batteries.

Size and weight.

The size and weight of the iPad Air have been reduced, and this is immediately impressive. Especially if you pick it up together with its predecessor, the difference is colossal - the iPad 4 seems simply bulky. This can be compared to the sensations from the first acquaintance with the iPad mini.

Comparing iPad with SIM card. Differences:


Performance.

Until recently, the iPad 4 was Apple's most powerful tablet. Now this place has been taken by the iPad Air.

iPad Air is powered by the new A7 processor. The 64-bit A7 architecture doubles the processor and graphics speed. Applications and games launch faster, the tablet responds to commands more quickly.

The iPad Air is also equipped with an M7 coprocessor, which measures the movements of the tablet using data from the gyroscope, accelerometer and compass.

Once you've played a few games on your iPad Air, you'll see what it's all about.

In this video you will see the difference in how the Pages and Keynote apps load on the iPad 4 and iPad Air:

This video shows the difference between loading Garage Band and iPhoto:

Camera

The iSight camera remains the same, but the A7 processor works directly with the camera to produce better footage.

The FaceTime camera has an improved light sensor and increased pixel size.

Battery

The 32.4 Wh battery (compared to 42.5 Wh) provides the same 10-hour battery life when playing videos, music and surfing the Internet in Wi-Fi mode.

Total

The iPad Air, as the comparison shows, is an aesthetically pleasing, surprisingly lightweight and productive tablet. It has everything you need to want. Even though it did not receive new functionality, except for an updated design and performance.

And if you're still wondering whether you should replace your iPad 4 with a new iPad Air, the answer is yes! Have a lot of fun. And convenience of course. Its only competitor is the iPad mini with Retina display. But that's another question.