Apple is the marvel of the smartphone industry. Beginning with iPhone 1 in 2007, Apple has come a long way while completely refining its devices in terms of both performances and looks. The cutting-edge designs of Apple devices are the key factor people tend to choose them. And the top-notch performance is an added benefit.
This perfect combination in almost all Apple devices is the reason many of us feel confused while shortlisting among iPhones and iPads. If you are looking for a new Apple iPad, it is pretty obvious to feel perplexed as Apple has recently launched two of them, the iPad Air 3 and iPad Air 4.
Product Specifications
Here are all the important numbers that you need to know about iPad Air 4 and iPad Air 3!
| Feature | iPad Air 4 (2020) | iPad Air 3 (2019) |
| Dimensions | 0.24 x 7.03 x 9.75 inches | 0.24 x 6.85 x 9.87 inches |
| Weight | 1.00 lbs (458 g) | 1.00 lbs (456 g) |
| Screen | 10.9 inches | 10.5 inches |
| Operating System | iPadOS 14.1 | iOS 12.1.3 |
| Cameras | Rear: 12MP
Front: 7MP |
Rear: 8MP
Front: 7MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion 7606 mAh | Li-Po 8134 mAh |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64/256 GB | 64/256 GB |
| Features | Top-mounted fingerprint sensor, no headphone jack, dual stereo speakers, 4k recording | Front-mounted fingerprint sensor, headphone jack, dual standard speakers, 1080p recording |
| In the Box | iPad Air, USB-C cable, 20W power adapter | iPad Air, Lightning to USB cable, Power adapter |
Both of these products have some pretty awesome features that will surely keep you overthinking while choosing one. So, here we will contrast both of these devices so that you can make your pick easily!
iPad Air 4 & iPad Air 3: Head to Head
As Apple devices are super comprehensive when it comes to features, analyzing them can become a bit tough for you. So, here is a concise comparison of both the models based on each feature:
Display
The display is the master factor that we all tend to observe whenever we choose any smartphone or tablet. And when it comes to iPads, Apple leaves no stone unturned to make them absolutely stunning.
If we talk about the iPad Air 3, the device features a 10.5 inch IPS Liquid Crystal Display that pops out brilliant colors. On the other hand, the iPad Air 4 has a bigger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS Liquid Crystal Display. The brightness offered by both the devices is 500 nits which makes their picture quality super crisp.
The resolution of the iPad Air 3 varies slightly from the iPad Air 4. Both of them have 264 pixels per inch, and they both support multi-touch. Apart from this, the screens of both the devices are shielded by the scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating.
Based on these aspects, it will be better to go with the iPad Air 4 if you are overly fond of a bigger display.
Body
The feature that acts as a visible difference between both the iPad models is the home button. The iPad Air 3 has a round home button on the front just like the iPhones, whereas the iPad Air 4 doesn’t.
Another difference in their design is the edges. The iPad Air 3 has chamfered edges on the front and curved on the back. In contrast, the 2020 iPad Air 4 features squared-off edges on both front and rear sides of the body.
The Air 3 model has 9.87 x 6.85 x 0.24 inches dimensions which are a bit more than that of Air 4 (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches). However, it does not add up any benefit as the screen-to-body ratio of Air 3 (78.3%) is less than Air 4 (81.3%).
The material used in making both the iPads is aluminum. Both of them have an aluminum back and frame that offers them immense robustness and class. Other than this, their beauty is perfectly enhanced by the dazzling glass front.
When it comes to handling, they both are pretty easy to handle as they have almost similar weight (1.01 lbs).
Performance
When it comes to performance, users are just concerned about the speed at which they can get the work done.
The latest 2020 iPad Air 4 fulfills this need of the users. It features the A14 Bionic chipset that offers world-class performance to the iPad. It is the most powerful chip made by the tech titan so far, which also powers the iPhone 12. The core reason behind this is the 2.99 GHz Hexa-core processor and the 4GB of RAM. The collective effort of both of these provides a score of 1583 with one core and about 4200 with multiple cores.
The brand says that their trailblazing A14 chipset has a 16-core neural engine that can seamlessly process 11 trillion operations per second.
Parallel to this, the 2019 iPad Air 3 has an A12 Bionic chip which is a bit slower than the A14. But, this does not mean it cannot deliver performance. It’s Apple; the brand always keeps something packed in their device. Similarly, the A12 chip packed with 3GB RAM delivers superior performance while you are gaming, running next-gen apps, and even during AR experiences.
Both of these devices can be upgraded to iPadOS 14.4, and both of them are backed by Apple 4-core GPU.
Camera
For selfie lovers, this one will be the indispensable point to look at, isn’t it? Well, you will not be disappointed.
The 2020 iPad Air 4 features a 12MP wide back camera with an aperture of f/1.8. This allows you to click live stabilized pictures with autofocus and Smart HDR. Other than this, you can make super clear 4k videos at 24/30 and even 60 frames per second. The rear camera is also equipped to take 1080p videos at 30,60,120 and 240 frames per second.
On the other hand, the 2019 iPad Air 3 has an 8MP rear shooter camera with an aperture of f/2.4. It is a standard camera that can click live pictures with auto-focus and auto HDR. You can also use the camera to record 1080p videos at 30 frames per second.
When it comes to selfie shooter front camera, both the iPad models have a 7MP camera with a video shooting capability of 1080p at 30 frames per second. The front camera of the iPad Air 4 can also record 1080p videos at 60 frames per second.
Authentication and Sound
Let’s talk about security. As you will be investing a handsome amount in this gadget, it is necessary to ensure that all your data is going to be safe.
The iPad Air 3, launched back in 2019, has a front-mounted fingerprint scanner that keeps your data secure. On the other hand, the latest 2020 iPad Air 4 has a top-mounted Touch ID. The power button of the iPad Air 4 acts as the authentication fingerprint sensor.
Moving on to the sound aspect, the iPad Air 4 has dual stereo speakers that offer a better and realistic sound experience while watching videos. On the other hand, the iPad Air 3 has standard dual speakers.
One noticeable aspect of the iPad Air 4 is that it does not has the 3.5mm headphone jack, whereas the iPad Air 3 does.
Accessories and Compatibility
If you are buying an iPad for work, it is imperative for you to check if it is compatible with accessories or not.
The Apple iPad Air 4 is fully compatible with the second-generation stylus or Apple pencil. On the other hand, the Air 3 is compatible with the first-generation Apple pencil. The best thing is that you can charge the second-generation stylus by attaching it to the magnetic connector on the side of the iPad Air 4 wirelessly. The first-generation pencil needs a lightning port to charge.
On the one hand, the iPad Air 4 works seamlessly with the Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard. Whereas the iPad Air 3 is only compatible with the Smart Keyboard.
Apple Pencil and Keyboard are some of the brilliant accessories that you can own. Unfortunately, they both do not come with the iPad. They need to be purchased separately.
iPad Air 4 or iPad Air 3! Which one is better for you?
Well, it is pretty clear that the iPad Air 4 outruns the Air 3 in almost every aspect. The device has a super-powerful A14 chipset, a bigger camera, a high screen-to-body ratio, and is also compatible with the latest accessories of Apple.
Unlike Air 4, iPad Air 3 has a smaller camera and a bit less powerful chipset. It also misses the stereo speakers. So, in terms of features, the iPad Air 4 will be an ideal choice for you.
However, if you don’t have a strong budget, it will be best to go for an iPad Air 3. The device is almost $150 cheaper than the 2020 version. Here is a pricing table for both devices.
| Storage | iPad Air 3 | iPad Air 4 (Wifi) |
| 64 GB | $407 | $559 |
| 256 GB | $464 | $679 |
Verdict!
As all the Apple devices are super awesome, it can become a bit tricky to put your hands on one. But, after studying this head-to-head comparison guide of both devices, you will be able to easily make your final pick, of course, our advice is to go always for the newer model(Apple iPad Air 4) in all the cases new is always better, but we understand that sometimes our budget just doesn’t allow that and we have to sacrifice a spec of two.
We only hope we gave some meaningful insight into which device is more suitable for you and what are the differences between them.
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