Apple iPad Air (1st generation) vs Apple iPad Air 2

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

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iPad Air (1st generation) compared with iPad Air 2

	AppleiPad Air (1st generation)	AppleiPad Air 2
Overview
Released
Released	November 2013	October 2014
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	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating	Fully laminated; anti-reflective coating; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A7	A8X
Memory
Memory	1 GB	2 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
CPU
CPU	64-bit A7; M7 motion coprocessor; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A8X; M8 motion coprocessor; 2 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	5 MP	8 MP (better)
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	1.2 MP	1.2 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; face detection	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; auto HDR; panorama up to 43 MP; burst; timer; auto image stabilisation; face detection
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; backside illumination; face detection	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; backside illumination; auto HDR; burst; timer; face detection
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p with video stabilisation, face detection and 3x video zoom; front 720p	Rear 1080p at 30 fps; slow-motion at 120 fps; stabilised time-lapse; video stabilisation; 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	32.4 Wh (better)	27.3 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Not supported
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	No	No
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	Power adapter or USB computer charging	Power adapter or USB computer charging
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.2 (current Apple UK specifications)
Mobile network
Mobile network	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 478 g	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support; Wi-Fi calling; cellular model weighs 444 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	No Apple Pencil support
Keyboards
Keyboards	No Smart Connector	No Smart Connector
Design
Weight
Weight	469 g	437 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm	6.1 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	240 × 169.5 mm	240 × 169.5 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	No Touch ID	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)	Built-in stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model (Notebookcheck)	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure (Notebookcheck)	–
Colours
Colours	Silver, Space Grey	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 7	iOS 8.1; orders opened 17 October 2014, with availability the following week
In the box
In the box	iPad Air; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter	iPad Air 2; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter