Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) vs. iPad Air (2020): A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Air (2020) wins overall thanks to its faster A14 Bionic chip, better display, and slimmer design. However, the iPad 10.2 (2021) remains a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize affordability and a familiar design.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) | Apple iPad Air (2020) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - A2603 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2324 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - A2604 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2072 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2020, September 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2020, October 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm (9.87 x 6.85 x 0.30 in) | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 487 g (Wi-Fi) / 498 g (LTE) (1.07 lb) | 458 g (Wi-Fi) / 460 g (3G/LTE) (1.01 lb) |
| Stylus support (1st gen only) | Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1620 x 2160 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.2 inches, 322.2 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) | Hexa-core (2x3.0 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 14.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@25/30fps, 720p@120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 7 MP, f/2.0, 31mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | GPS, GLONASS (LTE model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0; magnetic connector | USB Type-C, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 8557 mAh (32.4 Wh) | Li-Ion 7606 mAh (28.93 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, Sky Blue |
| Models | A2603, A2604, iPad12,1, iPad12,2 | A2324, A2072, A2325, A2316, iPad13,1, iPad13,2 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 640 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1123:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -29.4 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 617292(v9) GeekBench: 3124 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)
- Affordable
- Familiar design
- Good for basic tasks
- Decent battery life
- Older chipset
- Non-laminated display
- Lower performance than Air
Apple iPad Air (2020)
- Faster A14 Bionic chip
- Laminated display
- Slimmer and lighter design
- Apple Pencil 2 support
- More expensive
- No included Apple Pencil
Display Comparison
The iPad Air (2020) boasts a significantly better display. It features a laminated display with an anti-reflective coating, resulting in improved viewing angles and reduced glare. While the iPad 10.2 (2021) has a decent display with a contrast ratio of 1123:1 and 513 nits brightness, it lacks the lamination and coating of the Air, making it less enjoyable to use outdoors or in bright environments. The Air also has a slightly higher resolution.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is similar on both devices, as both are primarily focused on video calls and casual snapshots. Neither tablet excels in photography, but they are adequate for basic needs. The iPad Air (2020) may have a slight edge in video recording due to the A14 chip's improved image signal processor.
Performance
The A14 Bionic chip in the iPad Air (2020) is a clear winner here. It offers a noticeable performance boost over the A13 Bionic in the iPad 10.2 (2021), especially when handling demanding tasks like video editing or gaming. Both tablets are capable of multitasking, but the Air handles it with greater ease and responsiveness.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable between the two iPads, offering around 10 hours of mixed usage. Both devices support fast charging with a 20W adapter (sold separately). While the iPad 10.2 (2021) has a slightly larger battery capacity, the A14 chip's efficiency in the Air helps maintain similar battery performance.
Buying Guide
The iPad 10.2 (2021) is ideal for students, casual users, and those on a tight budget who need a reliable tablet for browsing, streaming, and basic productivity. The iPad Air (2020) is better suited for creative professionals, power users, and anyone who values performance, a premium design, and features like Apple Pencil 2 support.