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iPad Air Q&A
Update Published October 30, 2020
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What are all the differences between the current iPad Air 3 and the iPad model it replaced? How does it compare to the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro?
The iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, and iPad Pro 10.5" (2nd Gen) models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with current iOS details and more and can be quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these tablets on the used market.
The iPad Air 3 is a bit of an odd duck. It would be normal to assume that the iPad Air 3 models -- the iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi Only), iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cellular US/CA/AU/NZ), iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cellular Global), and iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cellular China) -- replaced the iPad Air 2 models -- the iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi Only) and iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular).
Although the iPad Air 2 did come before the iPad Air 3, the iPad Air 2 was discontinued two years earlier. The iPad Air 3 is more of a direct replacement for -- and yet both a bit better and worse than -- the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) models -- the iPad Pro 10.5" (Wi-Fi Only) and iPad Pro 10.5" (Wi-Fi/Cellular).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air 3 with Smart Keyboard)
Essentially, when first introduced, the iPad Air series was Apple's top-of-the-line iPad. When Apple later introduced the iPad Pro as a new top-of-the-line iPad series, the company kept the older iPad Air 2 around for a year and then discontinued the iPad Air series entirely. Two years later, Apple introduced the iPad Air 3, essentially reincarnating the iPad Air brand as a new mid-range, full-size iPad offering slotted between the entry-level non-Pro iPad and the iPad Pro.
Accordingly, this Q&A compares the iPad Air 3 to the iPad Air 2 that preceded it in the series in addition to the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) that it more directly replaced.
External Design & Color Differences
The iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, and iPad Pro 10.5" (2nd Gen) models all use designs of similar style with gently rounded sides and corners, but the iPad Air 2 is a bit smaller than the other two models, which are the same size and almost the same weight. All three devices have "Touch ID" fingerprint authentication and dual microphones, but the iPad Air 2 and iPad Air 3 only have two speakers whereas the iPad Pro 10.5" (2nd Gen) has a better quality four speaker system.
All three tablets were offered in silver and white, gold and white, or black and "Space Gray," but the iPad Pro 10.5" (2nd Gen) also was available in a pink-tinted "Rose Gold" color option:
 iPad Air 2 |
 iPad Air 3 |
 iPad Pro 10.5" |
|
| Microphones: | Two | Two | Two |
| Speakers: | Two | Two | Four |
| Security: | Touch ID | Touch ID | Touch ID |
| Colors: | Silver Gold Space Gray |
Silver Gold Space Gray |
Silver Gold Rose Gold Space Gray |
| Height x Width (In.): | 9.4 x 6.6 | 9.8 x 6.8 | 9.8 x 6.8 |
| Depth (In.): | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Weight (Lbs.): | 0.96-0.98 | 1.0-1.02 | 1.03-1.05 |
Accessory Support Differences
The 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) and iPad Air 3 both support the original Apple Pencil (A1603, MK0C2AM/A), as an optional purchase, but not newer Apple Pencil options. The Apple Pencil provides a variety of pressure-sensitive sketching and drawing capabilities.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Original Apple Pencil)
Both the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) and iPad Air 3 models also are equipped with a "Smart Connector" that provides connectivity for the same optional, size-compatible Apple Smart Keyboard. It originally was US$149.
The older iPad Air 2, on the other hand, offers no support for either the original Apple Pencil or an Apple Smart Keyboard.
Display Differences
All three of these devices have respectable quality displays, but the iPad Air 2 display is physically smaller and lower quality than the other two. The iPad Air 3 and 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) both have 10.5" displays, but the iPad Pro has a higher refresh rate for better performance, particularly when using the Apple Pencil:
iPad Air 2 |
iPad Air 3 |
iPad Pro 10.5" |
|
| Dimensions: | 9.7" | 10.5" | 10.5" |
| Resolution: | 2048x1536 | 2224x1668 | 2224x1668 |
| Pixel Density: | 264 PPI | 264 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Wide Color: | No | Yes | Yes |
| True Tone: | No | Yes | Yes |
| ProMotion: | No | No | Yes |
Wide-color support provides the full DCI-P3 color gamut for greater range, "True Tone" capability evaluates the color temperature and ambient brightness of your surroundings and dynamically adjusts the display's white balance to match, and "ProMotion" technology provides an adaptive refresh rate with a default of 120 Hz.
Camera Differences
The newest iPad Air 3 provides better quality cameras than the iPad Air 2, but inferior cameras when compared to those on the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen):
iPad Air 2 |
iPad Air 3 |
iPad Pro 10.5" |
|
| Front Camera | |||
| Megapixels: | 1.2 MP | 7 MP | 7 MP |
| Aperture: | f/2.2 | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Video: | 720p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Live Photos: | No | Yes | Yes |
| Retina Flash: | No | Yes | Yes (True Tone) |
| Auto HD: | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Camera | |||
| Megapixels: | 8 MP | 8 MP | 12 MP |
| Aperture: | f/2.4 | f/2.4 | f/1.8 |
| Video: | 1080p | 1080p | 4K |
| Lens Type: | 5-Element | 5-Element | Six-Element |
| OIS/EIS: | No | No | Yes |
| True Tone Flash: | No | No | Yes |
The cameras in the iPad Air 3 and 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) both are quite capable, but the iPad Pro cameras clearly are better than those in the newer iPad Air 3, a curious step backwards.
Identification Differences
It is easy to mix up any of these iPad Air or iPad Pro models with one another or any number of other iPads. Accordingly, visual identification is not a good method for differentiation.
Instead, one of the best methods for external identification is via Model Number. Model numbers are provided in tiny type toward the bottom of the back of each iPad:
iPad |
Model No |
EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can precisely identify these iPad models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and their Serial Numbers, too.
Internal & Connectivity Differences
The iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, and 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) models have significant internal differences:
iPad Air 2 |
iPad Air 3 |
iPad Pro 10.5" |
|
| Clockspeed: | 1.5 GHz | 2.49 GHz | 2.3 GHz |
| Processor: | A8X | A12 Bionic | A10X Fusion |
| Coprocessor: | M8 Motion | M12 | M10 |
| Neural Engine: | No | Yes | No |
| Cores: | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| RAM: | 2 GB | 3 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage: | 16/64/128 GB | 64/256 GB | 64/256/512 GB |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11ac (HT80) | 802.11ac (HT80) | 802.11ac (HT80) |
| LTE Bands: | 20 Bands | 28 Bands | 25 Bands |
| Bluetooth: | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 |
From this internal comparison, it is clear that the iPad Air 3 is more modern than the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen). Despite having less RAM, the iPad Air 3 otherwise has newer guts and this enhancement result in about 24% faster performance overall than the older iPad Pro. Cellular-equipped configurations have more capable 4G/LTE, too.
Apple estimates around ten hours of runtime for all of these models on Wi-Fi and around nine hours of runtime for cellular-capable models when operating on a cellular network.
iOS Support Differences
The iPad Air 2 first shipped with iOS 8.1, the iPad Air 3 first shipped with iOS 12.2, and the 10.5" iPad Pro first shipped with iOS iOS 10.3.2. All three tablets support iOS 13 (iPadOS) and the current version of the iOS, iOS 14 (iPadOS).
Running iOS 14 (iPadOS), the iPad Air 2 is more limited than these other two tablets. It does not support a number of advanced features (ARKit Depth API and Location Anchors, AR RealityKit Video Textures, Spatial Audio via AirPods Pro and On-Device Dictation).
iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3 and 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) Comparison Chart
The above differences between the iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, and 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) -- as well as original US pricing details -- are summarized below:
iPad Air 2 |
iPad Air 3 |
iPad Pro 10.5" |
|
| Dimensions: | 9.7" | 10.5" | 10.5" |
| Resolution: | 2048x1536 | 2224x1668 | 2224x1668 |
| Wide Color: | No | Yes | Yes |
| True Tone: | No | Yes | Yes |
| ProMotion: | No | No | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 1.2 MP | 7 MP | 7 MP |
| Rear Camera: | 8 MP | 8 MP | 12 MP |
| Clockspeed: | 1.5 GHz | 2.49 GHz | 2.3 GHz |
| Processor: | A8X | A12 Bionic | A10X Fusion |
| Coprocessor: | M8 Motion | M12 | M10 |
| Neural Engine: | No | Yes | No |
| Cores: | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| RAM: | 2 GB | 3 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage: | 16/64/128 GB | 64/256 GB | 64/256/512 GB |
| LTE Bands: | 20 Bands | 28 Bands | 25 Bands |
| Bluetooth: | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Speakers: | Two | Two | Four |
| Apple Pencil: | No | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Connector: | No | Yes | Yes |
| SIM Card: | Nano | Nano | Nano |
| Colors: | Silver Gold Space Gray |
Silver Gold Space Gray |
Silver Gold Rose Gold Space Gray |
| Original iOS: | iOS 8.1 | iOS 12.2 | iOS 10.3.2 |
| Maximum iOS: | iOS 14 | iOS 14 | iOS 14 |
| Height x Width (In.): | 9.4 x 6.6 | 9.8 x 6.8 | 9.8 x 6.8 |
| Depth (In.): | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Weight (Lbs.): | 0.96-0.98 | 1.0-1.02 | 1.03-1.05 |
| Orig. Price (Wi-Fi): | US$499 US$599 US$699 |
US$499 US$649 |
US$649 US$749 US$949 |
| Orig. Price (Cell): | US$629 US$729 US$829 |
US$629 US$779 |
US$779 US$879 US$1079 |
For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPad as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPad.com.
Comparison Summary
As the above detailed comparison indicates, the iPad Air 3 represents a one step forward, one step back kind of upgrade. It is better than the iPad Air 2 that was discontinued two years previously in just about every way. However, compared to the 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen), the iPad Air 3 is faster, has more advanced connectivity, and a lower original price tag, but has an inferior screen, inferior cameras, and potentially less storage, as well.
Even on the used market, the iPad Air 3 remains a solid tablet. It is slower and less capable than newer, more expensive iPad Pro models, but still an excellent option. The also discontinued 10.5" iPad Pro (2nd Gen) also is quite capable and can be a particularly good value on the used market, as well.
iPad Air and iPad Pro Purchase & Sale Options
There are many companies that sell iPad devices. However, purchasing from a solid business with extensive Apple knowledge -- and after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad Air models with free shipping. Other World Computing and JemJem sell used and refurb iPad Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City may have used iPad models in stock, as well. All Macs and devices are available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad (new or old alike).
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