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

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

Written By Louie Diangson
Published • September 30th, 2020
ComparisonsPersonal Computing
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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.

Apple iPad (8th-gen)	Apple iPad Air (3rd-gen)
10.2-inch Retina (2160 x 1620), 264ppi	10.5-inch Retina (2224 x 1668), 264ppi
500 nits	True Tone, 500 nits, P3 wide color, Fully laminated
Apple A12 Bionic w/ Neural Engine	Apple A12 Bionic w/ Neural Engine
32GB, 128GB storage	64GB, 256GB storage
8MP F2.4 primary camera	8MP F2.4 primary camera
AF, Live Photos	AF, Live Photos
1080p @ 30fps, 720p slo-mo @ 120fps	1080p @ 30fps, 720p slo-mo @ 120fps
Video stabilization	Video stabilization
1.2MP front camera	7MP front camera
Nano-SIM, eSIM	Nano-SIM, eSIM
4G LTE (27 bands)	4G LTE (28 bands)
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 5.0
GPS/GNSS	GPS/GNSS
Lightning port	Lightning port
Touch ID (Home button)	Touch ID (Home button)
Two speakers	Two speakers
Compatible w/ Smart Keyboard	Compatible w/ Smart Keyboard
Compatible w/ Apple Pencil (1st-gen)	Compatible w/ Apple Pencil (1st-gen)
250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm	250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1 mm
490 g (WiFi), 495 g (WiFi + LTE)	456 g (WiFi), 464 g (WiFi + LTE)
Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold	Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold

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 18,990 (WiFi) | PHP 26,990 (WiFi + LTE)
• 128GB – PHP 24,990 (WiFi) | PHP 32,990 (WiFi + LTE)

Apple iPad Air (3rd-gen):
• 64GB – PHP 29,990 (WiFi) | PHP 37,990 (WiFi + LTE)
• 256GB – PHP 39,490 (WiFi) | PHP 47,490 (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.