COMPARISON
Instead, let’s compare the new kid on the block to
2019’s refreshed iPad Air, which has a 10.5in Retina
display that’s now very close in size to what you’d get
on the 10.2in iPad. The bodies of both models now
measure exactly 250.6x174.1mm, although the Air has
a tiny advantage in thinness – 6.1mm compared to the
10.2in iPad’s 7.5mm. The Air costs more, but unless
you’re really just out to save money or you don’t think
you’ll need more space, the iPad Air undoubtedly will
be the smarter buy at this size. Here’s why.
The iPad Air’s display gives
you a lot more besides extra room
If you’re just using your tablet for watching videos or
surfing the web, you’re probably not going to notice
the fraction-of-an-inch difference in the displays for
the two models. For that matter, both models have
a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch and can reach
500 nits of brightness.
You might notice the difference, though, if you’re
using your iPad for writing or drawing with the
supported first-generation Apple Pencil. And that’s
also where you might appreciate the Air’s many
improvements over what the 10.2in iPad offers. For one,
it supports Apple’s TrueTone tech, which adjusts the
colours on the screen to better fit the light around you
for more comfortable reading. It’s also got a laminated
display – which means the glass sits closer to the
actual display – as well as a P3 wide-colour display
and an anti-reflective coating. The laminated display
in particular does a good job of helping the iPad mimic
the feel of writing on paper with a pen.
COMPARISON
Instead,let’scomparethenewkidontheblockto
2019’srefreshediPadAir,whichhasa10.5inRetina
displaythat’snowverycloseinsizetowhatyou’dget
onthe10.2iniPad.Thebodiesofbothmodelsnow
measureexactly250.6x174.1mm,althoughtheAirhas
atinyadvantageinthinness–6.1mmcomparedtothe
10.2iniPad’s7.5mm.TheAircostsmore,butunless
you’rereallyjustouttosavemoneyoryoudon’tthink
you’llneedmorespace,theiPadAirundoubtedlywill
bethesmarterbuyatthissize.Here’swhy.
The iPad Air’s display gives
youa lotmorebesidesextraroom
Ifyou’rejustusingyourtabletforwatchingvideosor
surfingtheweb,you’reprobablynotgoingtonotice
the fraction-of-an-inchdifferenceinthedisplaysfor
the twomodels.Forthatmatter,bothmodelshave
apixeldensityof 264 pixelsperinchandcanreach
500 nitsofbrightness.
Youmightnoticethedifference,though,ifyou’re
usingyouriPadforwritingordrawingwiththe
supportedfirst-generationApplePencil.Andthat’s
alsowhereyoumightappreciatetheAir’smany
improvementsoverwhatthe10.2iniPadoffers.Forone,
itsupportsApple’sTrueTonetech,whichadjuststhe
coloursonthescreentobetterfitthelightaroundyou
formorecomfortablereading.It’salsogotalaminated
display–whichmeanstheglasssitsclosertothe
actualdisplay–aswellasaP3wide-colourdisplay
andananti-reflectivecoating.Thelaminateddisplay
inparticulardoesagoodjobofhelpingtheiPadmimic
the feelofwritingonpaperwithapen.
