iPad Air vs. iPad 4: Specs Of Apple Tablets Compared; Is The Lightweight Version Of The Flagship Slab A Good Buy?

iPad Air vs. iPad 4: Specs of two Apple tablets, the current and former flagship, is compared in this review. We delve in to answer the question if the lightweight version is a worthy buy.

Here is a quick rundown to help you decide.

DESIGN

In terms of design, Apple has outdone itself with the iPad Air. Having a thinner (7.5mm vs 9.4mm), smaller (240x169mm vs 241x185mm), and lighter (469g vs 662g) body than the iPad 4, the Air is the clear-cut winner in this comparison. With a drastic change in bodies, the iPad 4 now appears too bulky, while the Air is perfectly portable.

Both tablets are available in Space Gray or Silver.

DISPLAY

When it comes to screen quality, we are now looking at a draw. Both iPads sport a 9.7-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels and a pixel display of 264 ppi.

With their IPS-type screens, the two Apple models are great at viewing in different angles. They are both recommended to those who enjoy viewing videos or movies with other people.

It is somehow strange and a bit disappointing that Apple has not done (or released) better screens for its tablets, considering that it has earned the reputation of the leader in displays.

PERFORMANCE

The iPad 4’s A6X Dual-Core processor (the same one found in the iPhone 5) renders the huge Retina display for a more vibrant and crisper media playing. Although it has worked well with iOS 7, there is still a lot of room for improvements. And this is where the iPad Air delivers.

The iPad Air uses the Apple A7 64-bit processor that doubles the tablets CPU performance. With even better Retina display, the Air is perfect for advanced gamers, downloaders, and extreme media users. But if you’re the type of user who uses an iPad for simple or daily functions, then the iPad 4 should be just fine.

It is undeniable, however, that the Air’s drastic difference in terms of internal storage is something worth noticing. The Air is available for 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of memory, while the iPad 4 can only reach up to 16 GB.

If you’re in the market looking for a premium tab that has sound quality and a lightweight design, then the iPad Air is a wise choice. However, as an upgrade, its edge over its predecessor is not enough to make you want to ditch the iPad 4 just yet.