Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) vs Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad Air 2 vs Apple iPad mini 3 tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Triple-core
7340
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
7.9"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
6350
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 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!
12 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 29 Common items in both devices |
| 128GB (117GB available) / 128GB (120GB available) |
| Aluminum body, glass front |
| TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| 16 million |
| 1536x2048 pixels |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| +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 Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Model | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) |
| Other model names | iPad Air 2 A1566 (WiFi), iPad 6 | iPad Mini 3 A1601 (4G LTE) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 10/24/2014, Announced: 10/16/2014 | 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches) | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) | 134.7 x 200 millimeters (5.3 x 7.87 in) |
| Weight | 437 grams (15.3 ounces) | 341 grams (11.94 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 9.7" inches | 7.9" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) | 1536x2048 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 264 PPI | 324 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | Not supported | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| System version | iOS 8.0 | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | iPadOS 13 | iOS 12 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A8X (20nm) | 64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm) |
| CPU | Triple-core, 1 processor: 3x 1.5GHz Typhoon (Triple-core) | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR GX6450 Rogue (8-core) | PowerVR G6430 MP4 |
| Performance (benchmark) | Basemark X: 29753 | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| RAM memory | 2GB LPDDR3 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 128GB (117GB available) | 128GB (120GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | Not supported | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | Not supported | GPRS, EDGE, 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 Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 8 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 3264x2448 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 | 31mm (lens) | 32mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.12µm pixel | 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/video and HDR photo on front camera | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1.2 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x960 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | HD (1280x720) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.2 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | 31mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, MOV | MP4, H.264, H.263, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ | MP3, WAV, eAAC, M4A |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | 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/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | Not supported | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 7340 mAh | 6350 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB) | |
| Call control | Not supported | Voice recorder |
| Messaging | E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | 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: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD | • Colors: Black on gray, White on silver, Gold • Apple SIM only USA and UK • Oleophobic coating on Retina display • Fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) • Aluminium body • FaceTime • Siri natural language • iCloud cloud service • Twitter and Facebook • Lightning connector port • OpenGL ES 3.0 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB) | iPad mini 3 (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 |