Apple iPad (3rd generation) vs Apple iPad Air (1st generation)

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

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iPad (3rd generation) compared with iPad Air (1st generation)

	AppleiPad (3rd generation)	AppleiPad Air (1st generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2012	November 2013
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	9.7″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536	2048 × 1536
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch	264 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
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	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A5X	A7
Memory
Memory	1 GB	1 GB
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Dual-core Apple A5X; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A7; M7 motion coprocessor; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
GPU
GPU	Quad-core graphics	–
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	5 MP
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	0.3 MP	1.2 MP (better)
Rear camera
Rear camera	iSight; autofocus; tap to focus; face detection; backside illumination	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; face detection
Front camera
Front camera	VGA FaceTime camera; 0.3MP (PhoneArena)	FaceTime HD; backside illumination; face detection
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at up to 30 fps with stabilisation; front VGA at up to 30 fps; geotagging	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation, face detection and 3x video zoom; front 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)	32.4 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Not supported
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	Yes	No
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, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	10W USB Power Adapter included	Power adapter or USB computer charging
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	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
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	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 478 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	No Apple Pencil support
Keyboards
Keyboards	Apple keyboard dock supported (Notebookcheck)	No Smart Connector
Design
Weight
Weight	652 g	469 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	9.4 mm	7.5 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	241.2 × 185.7 mm	240 × 169.5 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	No Touch ID
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)
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; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model (Notebookcheck)
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure (iFixit)	Aluminium enclosure (Notebookcheck)
Colours
Colours	Black or White front	Silver, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 5.1	iOS 7
In the box
In the box	iPad; Dock Connector to USB Cable; 10W USB Power Adapter; documentation	iPad Air; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter