Apple iPad (3rd generation) vs Apple iPad (A16)

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

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iPad (3rd generation) compared with iPad (A16)

	AppleiPad (3rd generation)	AppleiPad (A16)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2012	March 2025
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	10.86″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536	2360 × 1640 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	–	60 Hz
Brightness
Brightness	–	500 nits
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit IPS LCD; sold as 11-inch, 10.86 inches measured diagonally as a rectangle
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating; Multi-Touch	True Tone; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5X	A16
Memory
Memory	1 GB	6 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core Apple A5X; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	5-core CPU
GPU
GPU	Quad-core graphics	4-core GPU
AI engine
AI engine	–	16-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	12 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	12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8, five-element lens, autofocus with Focus Pixels, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera
Front camera	VGA FaceTime camera; 0.3MP (PhoneArena)	Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/2.4
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at up to 30 fps with stabilisation; front VGA at up to 30 fps; geotagging	4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p)
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)	28.93 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 surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data
Charging
Charging	10W USB Power Adapter included	Via USB-C power adapter (not included) or computer
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	USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s); one external display up to 4K at 60Hz
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 5.3
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	5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; eSIM only
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil (1st generation) with the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter
Keyboards
Keyboards	Apple keyboard dock supported (Notebookcheck)	Magic Keyboard Folio
Design
Weight
Weight	652 g	477 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	9.4 mm	7 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	241.2 × 185.7 mm	248.6 × 179.5 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID in the top button
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Landscape stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Accelerometer; ambient light; gyroscope; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model	Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure (iFixit)	100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure and metal chassis; 40% recycled content overall
Colours
Colours	Black or White front	Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 5.1	iPadOS 18
In the box
In the box	iPad; Dock Connector to USB Cable; 10W USB Power Adapter; documentation	iPad, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m)