Apple iPad Air (2022) vs. iPad 9.7 (2017): A Generational Leap?

The iPad has long been the gold standard for tablets, but the landscape has changed significantly since the iPad 9.7's release. We're pitting the powerful iPad Air (2022) against the venerable iPad 9.7 (2017) to see how they stack up in today's market.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPad Air (2022) is the clear winner, offering a massive performance boost, a superior display, and modern features. However, the iPad 9.7 (2017) remains a budget-friendly option for basic tasks, making it a viable choice for those prioritizing affordability.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPad Air (2022)	Apple iPad 9.7 (2017)

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 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, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2589	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2591	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, March 08	2017, March. Released 2017, March
Status	Available. Released 2022, March 18	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in)	240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm (9.45 x 6.67 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb)	469 g (Wi-Fi) / 478 g (LTE) (1.03 lb)
	Stylus support (2nd gen)	-

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating	Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating
Resolution	1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density)	1536 x 2048 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~264 ppi density)
Size	10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)	9.7 inches, 291.4 cm2 (~71.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ)	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz)	Dual-core 1.84 GHz (Twister)
Chipset	Apple M1	Apple A9 (14 nm)
GPU	Apple GPU (8-core graphics)	PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics)
OS	iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1	iOS 10.3, upgradable to iPadOS 16.7.12

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM	32GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF	8 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF
Video	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	Face detection, HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	1.2 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard)
Video	1080p@30/60fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, EDR	4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS (5G model only)	GPS, GLONASS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector	Lightning, USB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer

Battery
Talk time	-	Up to 10 h (multimedia)
Type	Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh)	Li-Po 8827 mAh, non-removable (32.9 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue	Silver, Gold, Space Gray
Models	A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17	A1822, A1823, iPad6,11, iPad6,12
Price	About 550 EUR	About 390 EUR
SAR	-	1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.99 W/kg (body)

Apple iPad Air (2022)

Blazing-fast M1 chip
Stunning Liquid Retina display
Improved cameras with Center Stage
Slim and lightweight design
Modern features like USB-C

Higher price point
No headphone jack (requires adapter)

Apple iPad 9.7 (2017)

Affordable price
Compact and portable
Decent battery life for basic tasks
Headphone jack

Outdated A9 chip
Lower resolution display
Basic cameras
Slower performance
Limited storage options

Display Comparison

The iPad Air (2022) boasts a stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology, offering vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles. The iPad 9.7 (2017) has a smaller 9.7-inch display with lower resolution and lacks True Tone, resulting in a noticeably less immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

The iPad Air (2022) features improved cameras, including a 12MP Wide camera and an Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage. The iPad 9.7 (2017) has a basic 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front camera, offering significantly lower image quality.

Performance

The M1 chip in the iPad Air (2022) is a game-changer, delivering significantly faster performance than the A9 chip in the iPad 9.7 (2017). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and the ability to handle demanding games and creative applications with ease. The iPad 9.7 struggles with more intensive tasks.

Battery Life

Both iPads offer respectable battery life, but the iPad Air (2022) generally provides slightly longer usage due to its more efficient chip. Expect around 10 hours of web browsing on both devices.

Buying Guide

The iPad Air (2022) is ideal for students, creative professionals, and anyone who wants a fast, versatile tablet for demanding tasks. The iPad 9.7 (2017) is best suited for casual browsing, media consumption, and basic productivity for budget-conscious users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the iPad Air (2022) worth the extra cost?

If you need a powerful tablet for demanding tasks or want a premium display and modern features, the iPad Air (2022) is well worth the investment. However, if you're on a tight budget and only need a tablet for basic use, the iPad 9.7 (2017) can still be a viable option.

❓ Can the iPad 9.7 (2017) still handle everyday tasks?

Yes, the iPad 9.7 (2017) is perfectly capable of handling everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking email, and watching videos. However, it may struggle with more demanding apps or multitasking.