Apple iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) vs Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPad mini 3 vs Apple iPad Air 2 tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
7.9"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
5
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
6350
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Triple-core
7340
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better tablet? Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 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!
6 Advantages 
12 Advantages | 28 Common items in both devices |
| Aluminum body, glass front |
| TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| 16 million |
| 1536x2048 pixels |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| EIS: Digital stabilization |
| +21 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 mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Model | iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) |
| Other model names | Verizon iPad Mini 3 A1600 (4G LTE + CDMA) | iPad Air 2 A1566 (WiFi), iPad 6 |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 10/16/2014 | 10/24/2014, Announced: 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 7.5 millimeters (0.3 inches) | 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 134.7 x 200 millimeters (5.3 x 7.87 in) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) |
| Weight | 341 grams (11.94 ounces) | 437 grams (15.3 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum body, glass front | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 7.9" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~71.7% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1536x2048 pixels | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 324 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| System version | iOS 8.0 | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | iOS 12 | iPadOS 13 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A7 APL5698 (28nm) | 64bit: Apple A8X (20nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Cyclone (Dual-core) | Triple-core, 1 processor: 3x 1.5GHz Typhoon (Triple-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR G6430 MP4 | PowerVR GX6450 Rogue (8-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | Basemark X: 29753 |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (11GB available) | 16GB (10GB available) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 100/50 Mbps | feature not registered |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26) | Not supported |
| 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 | Not supported |
| 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 mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 5 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2592x1944 pixels | 3264x2448 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 | 32mm (lens) | 31mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.12µm pixel |
| 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/video and HDR photo on front camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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 | feature not registered | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 31mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| 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, H.263, MOV | MP4, H.264, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, eAAC, M4A | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| 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/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | Not supported |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Not supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 6350 mAh | 7340 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 16GB) | |
| Call control | Voice recorder | Not supported |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | feature not registered |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • 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 | • Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPad mini 3 (CDMA 16GB) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 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 |