Apple iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) vs Apple iPad Air (4G 16GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad 3 vs Apple iPad Air tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
0.3mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
11560
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
8820
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad Air (4G 16GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
3 Advantages 
11 Advantages | 29 Common items in both devices |
| TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| 16 million |
| 1536x2048 pixels |
| 264 PPI |
| 9.7" |
| (back) 5MP |
| Only digital zoom |
| +22 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Model | iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) |
| Other model names | iPad 3 A1416 (Wi-Fi) | iPad Air A1475 (4G LTE + CDMA), iPad 5, iPad Air 1 |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 3/16/2012 | 11/1/2013, Announced: 10/22/2013 |
| Depth | 9.4 millimeters (0.37 inches) | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 185.7 x 241.2 millimeters (7.31 x 9.5 in) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) |
| Weight | 652 grams (22.82 ounces) | 478 grams (16.73 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 9.7" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~65.1% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1536x2048 pixels | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 264 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| System version | iOS 5.1.0 | iOS 7.0 |
| Firmware update | iOS 9.0 | iOS 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple A5X APL5498 (45nm) | 64bit: Apple A7 (APL5698) (28nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Dual-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.4GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR SGX543MP4 | PowerVR G6430 (4-core, 450MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | Basemark X: 13597 |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR2 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (59GB available) | 16GB eMMC |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | Not supported | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | feature not registered | 100/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | feature not registered | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Not supported | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | Not supported | CDMA 800/1700/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat3 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 5 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2592x1944 pixels | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.4 (aperture) | f/2.4 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 33mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo only main camera | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 0.3 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 640x480 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | VGA (640x480) | HD (1280x720) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | feature not registered | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | Not supported | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, MOV | MP4, H.264, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | USB 2.0 proprietary connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | Proprietary TV-out |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | Not supported | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 11560 mAh | 8820 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | 720 hours (30 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Voice recorder |
| Messaging | E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | feature not registered | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | feature not registered | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, White • Oleophobic coating • iCloud service • WiFi hotspot | • Colors: Space Gray, Silver • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPad 3 (WiFi 64GB) | iPad Air (4G 16GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |