Both the normal iPad and iPad Air are powerful, versatile tablets made by Apple. However, there are some key differences between the two models that are worth examining if you’re trying to decide which one to buy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the normal iPad vs the iPad Air across a variety of factors like design, display, performance, battery life, and price. We’ll also provide an overview of the key similarities between the two tablets. Read on to find out which iPad model is right for you.
Design
The most obvious difference between the normal iPad and iPad Air is in their design and build. Let’s take a closer look:
Size and Weight
The normal iPad has a 10.2-inch display and the following dimensions:
– Height: 250.6 mm (9.87 inches)
– Width: 174.1 mm (6.85 inches)
– Depth: 7.5 mm (0.30 inches)
– Weight: 487 grams (1.07 pounds) for WiFi model
The iPad Air has a slightly bigger 10.9-inch display but is considerably thinner and lighter with these measurements:
– Height: 247.6 mm (9.74 inches)
– Width: 178.5 mm (7.03 inches)
– Depth: 6.1 mm (0.24 inches)
– Weight: 458 grams (1.02 pounds) for WiFi model
So the iPad Air shaves off some bezels to be more compact and easier to handle despite having a larger screen. It’s about 10% thinner and 6% lighter than the normal iPad.
Build
Both tablets have an aluminum unibody build that’s durable and sleek. The normal iPad comes in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold color options. The iPad Air comes in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue colors giving you more variety.
Another difference is that the iPad Air has more rounded corners and edges compared to the normal iPad’s sharper corners. This gives it a smoother and more polished look.
Overall, the iPad Air’s minimized bezels, slimmer form factor, lower weight, and color choices give it an advantage in terms of design and portability. But the normal iPad is still an elegantly designed tablet in its own right.
Display
The displays on both these iPads deliver sharp, vivid images and video, but there are some characteristic differences:
Screen Size
– Normal iPad: 10.2-inch
– iPad Air: 10.9-inch
The iPad Air’s larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display provides more screen real estate making it better for multitasking and using multiple apps side by side. But the normal iPad’s display is still sufficiently large for most everyday needs.
Resolution
– Normal iPad: 2160 x 1620 pixels
– iPad Air: 2360 x 1640 pixels
Both tablets have the same pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. But the slightly higher resolution of the iPad Air gives it the edge, especially when viewing high-res images and videos.
Brightness
– Normal iPad: 500 nits
– iPad Air: 500 nits
Brightness levels are identical at an ample 500 nits, so both deliver good outdoor visibility and can combat glare when used in bright environments.
True Tone
Both models come with True Tone technology that automatically adjusts the screen’s color temperature based on ambient lighting conditions. This provides a more natural and comfortable viewing experience in all environments.
Overall, the iPad Air takes the lead when it comes to display quality thanks to its larger 10.9-inch screen and slightly higher resolution. But the normal iPad also packs an excellent Retina display that will satisfy most users.
Performance
The iPad Air is powered by a newer generation chip compared to the normal iPad, which gives it a performance boost:
Chip
– Normal iPad: A13 Bionic chip
– iPad Air: M1 chip
The M1 chip is leaps and bounds ahead of the A13 Bionic. It’s an 8-core CPU that delivers up to 60% faster performance than the previous generation. This translates to much faster loading and switching between apps.
Neural Engine
– Normal iPad: Neural Engine (8-core)
– iPad Air: 16-core Neural Engine
The Neural Engine powers machine learning capabilities on the iPads. The iPad Air’s 16-core version is twice as fast as the 8-core version in the normal iPad. So you get significantly faster ML tasks like video analysis, AR experiences, voice recognition, and more.
Overall, the iPad Air is the clear winner when it comes to sheer processing power and speed. If peak performance is your priority, the Air is worth the extra cost. But the normal iPad is still no slouch and offers smooth performance for everyday use.
Camera
The iPad Air has a slight camera advantage as well:
Rear Camera
– Normal iPad: 8MP wide camera
– iPad Air: 12MP wide camera
While both tablets have decent rear cameras, the iPad Air’s 12MP sensor captures sharper, more detailed photos and video especially in low light. It also offers Smart HDR 3 for richer images.
Front Camera
– Normal iPad: 12MP Ultra Wide front camera
– iPad Air: 12MP Wide front camera
You get a 12MP selfie camera on both models. But the iPad Air’s front camera has Center Stage support, which automatically pans and zooms to keep you in frame during video calls.
Overall, the iPad Air provides a more versatile camera system for photos, videos, scanning documents, AR apps, video calls, and more. But the normal iPad’s cameras still perform well for basic needs.
Battery Life
Both iPads deliver excellent battery life on a full charge:
– Normal iPad: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video
– iPad Air: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video
Battery life is identical at about 10 hours, which is impressive for the iPad Air considering its larger screen, thinner design, and more powerful chip. Both tablets have fast charging capabilities with a 20W adapter.
So in terms of battery performance, it’s pretty much a tie between the two. The iPad Air manages to preserve long battery life despite having a more powerful, energy-hungry chip and display. But the normal iPad also provides all-day battery as per Apple’s claims.
Other Features
Here are some other feature differences that are worth mentioning:
Connectivity
– Normal iPad: WiFi 6, 4G LTE option
– iPad Air: WiFi 6, 5G option
While both offer the latest WiFi 6 standard, the iPad Air also comes in a 5G model allowing for super fast cellular data speeds wherever 5G networks are available.
Storage
– Normal iPad: 64GB and 256GB options
– iPad Air: 64GB and 256GB options
Storage options are identical at 64GB and 256GB. Both have no external storage support, so you’ll need to choose wisely based on your storage needs.
Speakers
– Normal iPad: Dual speaker system
– iPad Air: Quad speaker system with wide stereo sound
The iPad Air has a more immersive quad speaker setup compared to the normal iPad’s dual speakers.
Touch ID
– Normal iPad: Home button with Touch ID (fingerprint sensor)
– iPad Air: Side button with Touch ID
Both tablets feature Touch ID but the sensor is elegantly built into the power button on the iPad Air.
Apple Pencil
– Normal iPad: Supports 1st generation Apple Pencil
– iPad Air: Supports 2nd generation Apple Pencil
The iPad Air is compatible with the newer 2nd gen Apple Pencil which magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad Air for charging and pairing.
Magic Keyboard
– Normal iPad: Not compatible
– iPad Air: Supports Magic Keyboard
Only the iPad Air works with Apple’s Magic Keyboard with built-in trackpad. This accessory turns the iPad Air into a laptop-style device.
5G Connectivity
– Normal iPad: WiFi only or WiFi + 4G LTE
– iPad Air: WiFi only or WiFi + 5G
The key connectivity difference is that the iPad Air comes in a model with super fast 5G cellular data. The normal iPad maxes out at 4G LTE speeds.
So the iPad Air comes out ahead in terms of connectivity, input devices, speakers and future-proofing with 5G support. But the normal iPad still covers the basics pretty well.
Price
Lastly, let’s look at how pricing shakes out:
| Model | Price |
| Normal iPad 64GB WiFi | $329 |
| Normal iPad 256GB WiFi | $479 |
| Normal iPad 64GB WiFi + 4G LTE | $459 |
| Normal iPad 256GB WiFi + 4G LTE | $609 |
| iPad Air 64GB WiFi | $599 |
| iPad Air 256GB WiFi | $749 |
| iPad Air 64GB WiFi + 5G | $749 |
| iPad Air 256GB WiFi + 5G | $899 |
As you can see, the iPad Air commands a significant premium over the normal iPad. You’re looking at paying $270 more for the base iPad Air model compared to the entry-level normal iPad.
The normal iPad starts at just $329 making it the most affordable iPad available. So if budget is a concern, the normal iPad provides fantastic value. But if you need more power, connectivity, and pro-level features, the iPad Air is worth the higher price.
Conclusion
In summary, the iPad Air is the superior tablet with its edge-to-edge screen, slimmer design, faster M1 chip, 5G connectivity, and support for the latest accessories like the 2nd gen Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. But the normal iPad remains a reliable workhorse that gets all the tablet basics right at an appealing price point.
So the iPad Air is ideal if you want luxury features and top-tier performance with price being less of a consideration. But budget-focused buyers who want a solid overall experience for things like web browsing, streaming, light gaming, etc. can save money by opting for the normal iPad.
Both are outstanding tablets that represent the best Apple has to offer. The normal iPad and iPad Air align with different user priorities whether that’s premium power or maximum value. So weigh your needs and budget carefully before deciding. But whichever model you pick, you’re getting Apple’s unmatched hardware quality, intuitive software, and extensive app ecosystem in a potent mobile device.