Apple iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) vs Apple iPad Air (4G 128GB)
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 128GB)
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!
 1 Advantage Apple iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | vs |  8 Advantages Apple iPad Air (4G 128GB) |
| +11560 mAh31% Battery - higher amperage (mAh) allows more device usage time, but it also depends on the hardware and use | vs | 8820 mAh |
| 1GHz 32bit Dual-core | vs | +1.4GHz 64bit Dual-core (28nm)92% More powerful processor, you can open your applications faster |
| 1GB LPDDR2 | vs | +1GB LPDDR3Advantage This RAM type is better and more efficient. |
| 16GB (12GB available) | vs | +128GB (117GB available)9 times More internal storage for applications and files |
| 662 grams (23.17 ounces) | vs | +478 grams (16.73 ounces)38% Lighter |
| 9.4 millimeters (0.37 inches) | vs | +7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches)25% Thinner |
| (front) 0.3MP | vs | +(front) 1.2MP3 times Higher resolution secondary camera to take pictures and selfies |
| (front) VGA (640x480) | vs | +(front) HD (1280x720)2 times More image quality for recording videos with the secondary camera |
| iOS 9.0 | vs | +iOS 12Advantage iOS 12 is newer and safer |
| 30 Common items in both devices |
| TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| 16 million |
| 1536x2048 pixels |
| 264 PPI |
| 9.7" |
| (back) 5MP |
| Only digital zoom |
| +23 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| Model | iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) |
| Other model names | Verizon iPad 3 A1403 (4G + CDMA) | iPad Air A1475 (4G LTE + CDMA), iPad 5, iPad Air 1 |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (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 | 662 grams (23.17 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR2 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (12GB available) | 128GB (117GB available) eMMC |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 100/50 Mbps | 100/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1700/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 (Bands 13) | 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 | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE | 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 | A-GPS, GeoTagging | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 | 9 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | 720 hours (30 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| Call control | Voice recorder | Voice recorder |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | 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 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 |