Apple iPad Air (1st generation) vs Sony Xperia Tablet S

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

iPad Air (1st generation) compared with Xperia Tablet S

	AppleiPad Air (1st generation)	SonyXperia Tablet S
Overview
Released
Released	November 2013	September 2012
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	9.4″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536 (better)	1280 × 800
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch (better)	161 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	TFT colour LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	–
Display features
Display features	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating	–
Performance
Chip
Chip	A7	NVIDIA Tegra 3
Memory
Memory	1 GB	1 GB
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB (better)	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB
CPU
CPU	64-bit A7; M7 motion coprocessor; 1 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	Tegra 3 mobile processor at 1.3 GHz, as listed on Sony's model specification page
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 (better)	1 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	iSight; f/2.4 five-element lens; autofocus; backside illumination; hybrid IR filter; HDR; face detection	–
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; backside illumination; face detection	–
Video recording
Video recording	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 12 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	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	No	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing	Maker claims approximately 12 hours video or 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing; approximately 5.5 hours for a full charge
Charging
Charging	Power adapter or USB computer charging	–
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video	Proprietary multi-port for power and accessory connections; optional HDMI/USB accessories; SD, SDHC and SDHC UHS-I card slot
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 3.0, according to Sony's specification page
Mobile network
Mobile network	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM; cellular model weighs 478 g	Wi-Fi and 3G variants; Wi-Fi body weighs 570 g and 3G body 585 g; capacity availability varies by region
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	–
Keyboards
Keyboards	No Smart Connector	Optional cover with keyboard connects through the multi-port; no Bluetooth pairing needed
Design
Weight
Weight	469 g (better)	570 g
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm (better)	11.85 mm
Height × width
Height × width	240 × 169.5 mm	174.4 × 239.8 mm
Water and dust resistance
Water and dust resistance	–	IPX4
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	Android
Biometrics
Biometrics	No Touch ID	–
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers (Notebookcheck)	Built-in stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Built-in mono microphone; stereo mini-jack doubles as a mono microphone input
Sensors
Sensors	Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; ambient light; compass; assisted GPS and GLONASS on cellular model (Notebookcheck)	Accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass, ambient light sensor, GPS and infrared remote control
Materials
Materials	Aluminium enclosure (Notebookcheck)	Aluminium body with folded upper edge; 8.8 mm at the thin section and 11.85 mm maximum, excluding projections; IPX4-equivalent splash protection with covers closed and tablet standing upright, not immersion
Colours
Colours	Silver, Space Grey	–
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 7	Android 4.0 with Guest Mode and Small Apps
In the box
In the box	iPad Air; Lightning to USB cable; USB power adapter	Mains adaptor