Apple iPad (3rd generation) vs Apple iPad (9th generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPad (3rd generation) compared with iPad (9th generation)

	AppleiPad (3rd generation)	AppleiPad (9th generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2012	September 2021
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	10.2″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536	2160 × 1620 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Brightness
Brightness	–	500 nits
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating; Multi-Touch	True Tone; oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5X	A13 Bionic
Memory
Memory	1 GB	3 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	64 GB, 256 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core Apple A5X; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	A13 Bionic; 3 GB RAM reported by Notebookcheck
AI engine
AI engine	–	Neural Engine
GPU
GPU	Quad-core graphics	–
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	8 MP (better)
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	0.3 MP	12 MP (better)
Rear camera
Rear camera	iSight; autofocus; tap to focus; face detection; backside illumination	Wide; f/2.4 five-element lens; 5x digital zoom; HDR; 43MP panorama; automatic image stabilisation; burst
Front camera
Front camera	VGA FaceTime camera; 0.3MP (PhoneArena)	Ultra Wide; f/2.4; 122-degree field of view; Centre Stage; HDR; Retina Flash; lens correction
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at up to 30 fps with stabilisation; front VGA at up to 30 fps; geotagging	Rear 1080p at 25 or 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 120 fps; 3x video zoom; front 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; stabilised time-lapse; HEVC and H.264
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	42.5 Wh (better)	32.4 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Supported, sold separately
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	Yes	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours browsing over cellular	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	10W USB Power Adapter included	20 W USB-C Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported
USB-C
USB-C	30-pin dock; 3.5 mm headphone jack; 1080p video output through optional Digital AV or VGA adapter; AirPlay mirroring at 720p	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac); 2x2 MIMO; up to 866 Mb/s
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.2
Mobile network
Mobile network	UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; micro-SIM; cellular model weighs 662 g; LTE only supported on specified US and Canadian networks	Gigabit-class LTE and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA; nano-SIM and eSIM; cellular model weighs 498 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately
Keyboards
Keyboards	Apple keyboard dock supported (Notebookcheck)	Smart Keyboard through Smart Connector, sold separately
Design
Weight
Weight	652 g	487 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	9.4 mm	7.5 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	241.2 × 185.7 mm	250.6 × 174.1 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Accelerometer; ambient light; gyroscope; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS/GNSS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure (iFixit)	Enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminium
Colours
Colours	Black or White front	Silver, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 5.1	iPadOS 15
In the box
In the box	iPad; Dock Connector to USB Cable; 10W USB Power Adapter; documentation	iPad; Lightning to USB-C Cable; 20 W USB-C Power Adapter