Apple iPad Air 3 vs iPad Air 2: A comparison of specs and features

Apple did not refresh its iPad Air tablet lineup in 2015, but March 2016 could see the unveiling of the iPad Air 2's successor, the iPad Air 3. And of course, the Cupertino giant will only launch a new generation of tablets that have upgraded top-notch features.

But should you splash out for the new iPad Air tablet, or stick with its predecessor? We compare the specs and features of both devices to help you understand if and how the upcoming tablet might be better.

Display

The iPad Air 3 is said to feature a 9.7-inch display like its predecessor, but will apparently come with a magnificent 4K resolution of 2334 x 3112 pixels that results in a pixel density of 401 pixels per inch (ppi). The iPad Air 2 supports a resolution of 1536 x 2048 pixels.

The iPad Air 2 display screen measures 240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm. However, the iPad Air 3 is believed to be thicker and wider than its predecessor.

Colour Options

The iPad Air 2 comes in three colour options including silver, gold and space gray. There are rumours that apart from these colours, the iPad Air 3 will also come in Rose Gold.

Processor and hardware

The iPad Air 2 runs on Apple A8X chipset with 2GB of RAM. The tablet offers 16GB, 64GB or 128 GB of internal storage options.

Under the hood, the iPad Air 3 is tipped to come with Apple A9X processor paired with 4 GB of RAM. The new Apple tablet is expected to launch with similar storage choices to its predecessor.

Camera

The current Apple iPad Air 2 sports an 8-megapixel iSight camera along with a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera. Its successor is expected to feature an 8 MP iSight camera coupled with an LED flash.

If the rumours are true, this will be a major upgrade of the third-gen iPad Air. Even the coveted Apple iPad Pro does not feature a rear camera flash. Moreover, the third-gen iPad Air 3 will also come equipped with a 2.1 MP FaceTime camera.

Related: Apple iPad Air 3 specs update: New tablet sports Smart Connector, 4-speaker design and rear-camera LED flash

Battery

The iPad Air 2 has a 27.3 watt-hour battery, while the iPad Air 3 is expected to get an upgrade in terms of battery capacity, according to Tech Times.

Other Features

The third generation iPad Air will reportedly feature a four-speaker design and sport a Smart Connector for accessories, based on alleged leaks of the iPad Air 3 case design. The upcoming slate may also come with support for the Apple Pencil stylus.

The iPad Air 3's release date is on March 15, according to unofficial sources. Apple is also expected to launch its 4-inch iPhone 5se and a refreshed Apple Watch 2 on the same day.