Tablet Comparison
Apple iPad Air vs Apple iPad Air 2 Comparison
A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
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Verdict
Pros & cons
iPad Air
+
What's good
+
Fast performance
+
High-quality design
+
MIMO support
+
Beautiful display
+
Plenty of model options
−
What's not
−
Price
−
Lack of Touch ID
−
Mediocre camera
iPad Air 2
+
What's good
+
Reduced weight and thickness
+
Incredibly fast performance
+
Beautiful display with vibrant colors and deep blacks
−
What's not
−
Potential issues with bending
−
16GB base model not worth the price
−
No real improvement in battery life
iPad Air
+
Good
+
Fast performance
+
High-quality design
+
MIMO support
+
Beautiful display
+
Plenty of model options
−
Not
−
Price
−
Lack of Touch ID
−
Mediocre camera
iPad Air 2
+
Good
+
Reduced weight and thickness
+
Incredibly fast performance
+
Beautiful display with vibrant colors and deep blacks
−
Not
−
Potential issues with bending
−
16GB base model not worth the price
−
No real improvement in battery life
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
Price (MSRP)
—
—
OS
iOS
iOS
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Apple A8X Triple core
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
—
—
Wired charging
—
—
Wireless charging
—
—
Display
Color
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
—
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
437g (15.4 oz)
Fingerprint
No
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
Price (MSRP)
—
Price (MSRP)
—
OS
iOS
OS
iOS
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Processor
Apple A8X Triple core
Camera zoom
—
Camera zoom
—
Battery life
—
Battery life
—
Wired charging
—
Wired charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Wireless charging
—
Display
Color
Display
Color
Software support
—
Software support
—
Repairability
—
Repairability
—
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
437g (15.4 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
No
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Physical comparison
Size & weight
Footprint · to scale
iPad Air
9.4" × 6.6"
iPad Air 2
9.4" × 6.6"
Thickness · to scale
iPad Air
0.3"
iPad Air 2
0.2"
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
9.4" (239 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
6.6" (168 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
0.2" (6 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
437g (15.4 oz)
Screen
9.7"
9.7"
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Depth
0.2" (6 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
437g (15.4 oz)
Screen
9.7"
Screen
9.7"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Common questions
iPad Air vs iPad Air 2: FAQ
Which is better, the iPad Air or iPad Air 2?
Both phones earn identical Compass Scores of 9.0, meaning critics rate them equally overall. The right choice depends entirely on which trade-offs matter more to you. Scroll through the spec-by-spec breakdown above to see where each phone pulls ahead.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →