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 with full specifications. What's the better?

1/5/2015 10:52 AM, updated: 4/1/2020 8:04 PM

Compare Apple iPad mini 3 XApple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)12Points

Specifications Compare Models

9.7"
IPS

1536x2048

8
MP

1.2mp

2GB
RAM

64bit 3s

7340
mAh

(Non removable)

05PointsApple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)Compare Apple iPad Air 2 X

Specifications Compare Models

7.9"
IPS

1536x2048

5
MP

1.2mp

1GB
RAM

64bit Dual

6350
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 Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	vs	5 Advantages Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
+1.5Ghz 64bit 3-Cores29% More powerful processor, you can open your applications faster	vs	1.3Ghz 64bit Dual-Core
+2GB LPDDR3100% More RAM memory. Typically more responsive and better for multitasking.	vs	1GB LPDDR3
+6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches)23% Thinner	vs	7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches)
+9.7"23% Larger screen	vs	7.9"
+(back) 8MP59% Higher resolution main camera	vs	(back) 5MP
+HDR photo/video and HDR photo on front cameraAdvantage The HDR technology produced photos with more detail in dark areas	vs	HDR photo only main camera
+iPadOS 13Advantage iPadOS 13 is newer and safer	vs	iOS 12
+BarometerAdvantage Sensors help you use the device	vs	Not supported
+7340 mAh16% Battery - higher amperage (mAh) allows more device usage time, but it also depends on the hardware and use	vs	6350 mAh
+802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz)Advantage WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz) is newer and faster	vs	802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz)
+DLNAAdvantage With DLNA technology you can access and play media files on TV, tablet or DLNA compatible device.	vs	Not supported
+Scratch-resistant glassAdvantage Protection against scratches on the screen lets you carry your phone with your keys	vs	Not supported
437 grams (15.3 ounces)	vs	+341 grams (11.94 ounces)28% Lighter
264 PPI	vs	+324 PPI23% Crisper display of text, images and videos because it has more pixels per inch (ppi)
Not supported	vs	+4G LTEAdvantage The 4G LTE network is newer and faster
(Not supported)	vs	+(4G LTE) 100 MbpsAdvantage Faster for surfing the internet and download files
Not supported	vs	+A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASSAdvantage It's harder to lose yourself in the city with GPS on your device

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

Physical features	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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	October, 2014	October, 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)
Qwerty physical keyboard	Not supported	Not supported
Antenna	Internal antenna	Internal antenna
Build, materials	Aluminum body, glass front	Aluminum body, glass front
Protection against water and others	Not supported	Not supported
System (OS)	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Operating system	iOS 8.0	iOS 8.0
Firmware update	iPadOS 13	iOS 12
Hardware	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Chipset	64bit - Apple A8X (20nm)	64bit - Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm)
CPU processor	1.5Ghz 3-Cores Apple Cyclone	1.3Ghz Dual-Core Cyclone
GPU graphical controller	PowerVR GXA6850 MP8	PowerVR G6430 MP4
RAM memory	2GB LPDDR3	1GB LPDDR3
Internal storage	128GB (117GB available)	128GB (120GB available)
External storage	Not supported	Not supported
Display	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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	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
Display features	feature not registered	feature not registered
Mobile networks	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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 detailsCollapse 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
Calling	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Messaging	E-mail, Push mail	SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail
Speakerphone	Supported	Supported
Video calling	Supported	Supported
Call control	Not supported	Voice recorder
Camera	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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
2ª camera	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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
Multimedia	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
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	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
USB	MicroUSB 2.0	USB 2.0 proprietary connector
TV output	Proprietary TV-out	Proprietary TV-out
Audio output	3.5mm jack	3.5mm jack
Bluetooth	4.0 + A2DP	4.0 + A2DP
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz)	802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz)
DLNA	Supported	Not supported
NFC	Not supported	Not supported
GPS	Not supported	A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS
Infrared port	Not supported	Not supported
Other functions	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Active noise cancellation	Supported	Supported
Vibrating alert	Not supported	Not supported
Ringtones	feature not registered	Polyphonic and customized
Web browser	HTML, XHTML, HTML5	HTML, XHTML, HTML5
Sensors	Accelerometer Compass Ambient Light sensor Gyroscope Barometer Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted)	Accelerometer Compass Ambient Light sensor Gyroscope Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted)
Other features	- 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
Power supply	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple iPad mini 3 (4G 128GB)
Battery	LiPo: Li-Ion polymer (Non removable)	LiPo: Li-Ion polymer (Non removable)
Battery capacity	7340 mAh	6350 mAh
Charger, watts	Standard charging	Standard charging
Talk time autonomy	600 minutes \| 10 hours \| 0.4 day	600 minutes \| 10 hours \| 0.4 day
Standby	feature not registered	feature not registered
Radiation rate	Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 128GB)	Apple 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