Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) vs Apple iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 vs Apple iPad Air 2 tablets, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
7"
TFT
TFT
600x1024
3.1
MP
MP
1.3mp
1.5GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
4000
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 (4G 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 
21 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| Only digital zoom |
| EIS: Digital stabilization |
| 4G LTE |
| 100 Mbps |
| Capacitive |
| +10 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 | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Model | Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Tab 3 SM-T217A (AT&T) | iPad Air 2 A1567 Cellular (4G LTE), iPad 6 |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Samsung | Apple |
| Release date | 9/1/2013, Announced: 4/30/2013 | 10/24/2014, Announced: 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 9.9 millimeters (0.39 inches) | 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 111.1 x 188 millimeters (4.37 x 7.4 in) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) |
| Weight | 306 grams (10.71 ounces) | 444 grams (15.54 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 7" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~66% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 600x1024 pixels (16:9) | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 170 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | Not supported | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| System version | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | iPadOS 13 |
| User Interface | TouchWiz UX UI | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930AB (28nm) | 64bit: Apple A8X (20nm) |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.7GHz Krait 300 (Dual-core) | Triple-core, 1 processor: 3x 1.5GHz Typhoon (Triple-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 305 | PowerVR GX6450 Rogue (8-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | Basemark X: 29753 |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1.5GB LPDDR2 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 16GB (12GB available) eMMC | 16GB (10GB available) |
| External storage | Until 64GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| 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 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 (1, 2, 4, 5, 13) | LTE Cat4 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, 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 | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 3.1 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2048x1536 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/2.4 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 31mm lens |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1.12µm pixel |
| Autofocus | Not supported | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | Not supported | HDR photo/video and HDR photo on front camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1.3 megapixels | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x1024 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | VGA (640x480) | 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 | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | Not supported | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV | MP4, H.264, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Micro-B USB MHL | Proprietary TV-out |
| Bluetooth | 3.0 + A2DP | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 7340 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 10W Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 7 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 16GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (Swype), 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 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Midnight Black • Quickoffice • Java framework | • Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 4G (SM-T217A) | iPad Air 2 (4G 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 |