Tablet Comparison
Apple iPad Air vs BlackBerry PlayBook 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
PlayBook
iPad Air
+
Good
+
Fast performance
+
High-quality design
+
MIMO support
+
Beautiful display
+
Plenty of model options
−
Not
−
Price
−
Lack of Touch ID
−
Mediocre camera
PlayBook
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
PlayBook
Price (MSRP)
—
—
OS
iOS
BlackBerry
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
OMAP4430
Camera zoom
—
—
Battery life
—
—
Wired charging
—
—
Wireless charging
—
—
Display
Color
Color
Software support
—
—
Repairability
—
—
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
425g (15 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Unknown
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
Spec data
How they compare
iPad Air
PlayBook
Price (MSRP)
—
Price (MSRP)
—
OS
iOS
OS
BlackBerry
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Processor
OMAP4430
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
425g (15 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
Unknown
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"
PlayBook
0.5" × 0.8"
Thickness · to scale
iPad Air
0.3"
PlayBook
0"
iPad Air
PlayBook
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
0.5" (13 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
0.8" (19.4 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
0" (1 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
425g (15 oz)
Screen
9.7"
7"
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Height
0.5" (13 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Width
0.8" (19.4 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Depth
0" (1 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
425g (15 oz)
Screen
9.7"
Screen
7"
Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.
Common questions
iPad Air vs PlayBook: FAQ
Which is better, the iPad Air or PlayBook?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPad Air earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 6.5 for the PlayBook. That 2.5-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.
Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →