Apple iPad (2020) vs iPad Air (2019): Which one to get?

If you’re thinking of getting a tablet, now is the best time to look at Apple’s iPads. One of the newest tablets the company announced is the iPad (8th-gen) 2020. It has a screen above 10-inches and is powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chip. There’s another iPad, though, that features similar specs, the iPad Air (3rd-gen) 2019. Which tablet is the best bang for your buck? Find out in the comparison below.

Although the two tablets have plenty of similarities, the iPad Air (3rd-gen) still has a few advantages:

• Slightly larger, fully laminated screen
• True Tone and P3 wide color support
• Slimmer side bezels
• Larger storage capacity
• Higher front camera resolution
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Thinner body

If you want a tablet with a better screen, the iPad Air (3rd-gen) is the one to get. It has a fully laminated screen, making the images and icons pop out. It also has True Tone that automatically adjusts the screen based on ambient lighting. Lastly, it has slimmer side bezels, which makes it more attractive.

The two tablets also have the same rear camera resolution; however, the iPad Air (3rd-gen) has a higher 7MP sensor, which can provide a better quality when you’re in a video call.

For connectivity, both have 4G and WiFi-only variants, but the iPad Air (3rd-gen) has Bluetooth 5.0 for better wireless connectivity with other Apple devices. Both are also compatible with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil (1st-gen).

We can expect the same level of performance from both tablets since they both run on Apple’s A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine. Their battery life is also the same, according to Apple. Both also support the latest iOS 14.

At this point, the iPad Air (3rd-gen) has all the advantages. However, this is not to say that it’s the best pick. Apple has configured the iPad (8th-gen) in a way that it can co-exist with the iPad Air (3rd-gen).

Let’s look at the storage. The iPad (8th-gen) comes in 32GB and 128GB configurations, while the iPad Air (3rd-gen) comes in 64GB and 256GB. Together, the two tablets cover most of the storage options a user might need, and this is the part where it can be tricky for some. Let’s take a look at their launch prices below.

Apple iPad (8th Gen):
• 32GB – PHP 18,990USD 324INR 27,433EUR 308CNY 2,357 (WiFi) | PHP 26,990USD 460INR 38,990EUR 438CNY 3,349 (WiFi + LTE)
• 128GB – PHP 24,990USD 426INR 36,101EUR 406CNY 3,101 (WiFi) | PHP 32,990USD 562INR 47,657EUR 535CNY 4,094 (WiFi + LTE)

Apple iPad Air (3rd-gen):
• 64GB – PHP 29,990USD 511INR 43,324EUR 487CNY 3,722 (WiFi) | PHP 37,990USD 647INR 54,880EUR 617CNY 4,715 (WiFi + LTE)
• 256GB – PHP 39,490USD 673INR 57,047EUR 641CNY 4,901 (WiFi) | PHP 47,490USD 809INR 68,604EUR 771CNY 5,894 (WiFi + LTE)

Just like the storage options, the prices of the iPads weave together to satisfy different users’ budgets. Take note, though, that the price of the iPad Air (3rd-gen) is lower now since the iPad Air (4th-gen) is already out.

Which one to choose?

If you have a limited budget and only planning on using it for browsing the web and watching YouTube and Netflix videos, then you can start with the iPad (8th-gen) 32GB. But if you more than that, you can go with the iPad Air (3rd-gen) 64GB. It’s no longer listed on Apple’s website, but some sellers offer it at PHP 25K.

To summarize, get the iPad (8th-gen) if you have a limited budget. But if you can stretch that budget and want something with bigger storage capacity, a superior screen, and a thinner body, then the iPad Air (3rd-gen) is a great choice.