Apple iPad (7th generation) vs Apple iPad Air (3rd generation)

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

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iPad (7th generation) compared with iPad Air (3rd generation)

	AppleiPad (7th generation)	AppleiPad Air (3rd generation)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2019	March 2019
Display
Screen size
Screen size	10.2″	10.5″
Resolution
Resolution	2160 × 1620	2224 × 1668 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	265 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Brightness
Brightness	500 nits	500 nits
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD (IPS confirmed by Notebookcheck)
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating	P3 wide colour; True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A10 Fusion	A12 Bionic
Memory
Memory	3 GB	3 GB
Storage
Storage	32 GB, 128 GB	64 GB, 256 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	64-bit A10 Fusion with embedded M10 coprocessor; 3 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A12 Bionic; M12 motion coprocessor; 3 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
AI engine
AI engine	–	Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	8 MP	8 MP
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	1.2 MP	7 MP (better)
Rear camera
Rear camera	f/2.4 five-element lens; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; Live Photos; HDR; 43MP panorama; burst; timer; backside illumination	f/2.4 five-element lens; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; wide colour and Live Photos; HDR; panorama up to 43 MP; burst; timer; auto image stabilisation
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; Retina Flash; Live Photos; HDR; burst; timer	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; Retina Flash; wide colour capture; backside illumination; auto HDR; burst; timer
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 120 fps; 3x video zoom; stabilised time-lapse; front 720p	Rear 1080p; slow-motion at 240 fps; stabilised time-lapse; video stabilisation; 3x video zoom; front 1080p at 30 fps
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	32.4 Wh (better)	30.2 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Supported, sold separately	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 cellular browsing	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	USB Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported	USB power adapter or USB computer charging
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; Smart Connector
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 5.0
Mobile network
Mobile network	Gigabit-class LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support and eSIM; cellular model weighs 493 g	Gigabit-class LTE; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support and eSIM; cellular model weighs 464 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately
Keyboards
Keyboards	Smart Keyboard through Smart Connector, sold separately	Smart Keyboard, sold separately
Design
Weight
Weight	483 g	456 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm	6.1 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	250.6 × 174.1 mm	250.6 × 174.1 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iPadOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	Touch ID in Home button	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS/GNSS on cellular model	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS and GNSS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminium	–
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iPadOS	iOS 12; orders opened 18 March 2019, with shops receiving it the following week
In the box
In the box	iPad; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad Air; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter