44 MACWORLD FEBRUARY 2020
iOSCENTRAL 10.2-INCH IPAD VS. IPAD AIRthe block to this year’s refreshed iPad Air
(go.macworld.com/ipar), which has a
10.5-inch Retina display that’s now very
close in size to what you’d get on the
10.2-inch iPad. The bodies of both models
now measure exactly 9.8 inches by 6.8
inches, although the Air has a tiny
advantage in thinness. The Air costs more,
The iPad Air supports Apple’s TrueTone tech.
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 10.2-inch iPad offers.
For one, it supports Apple’s
TrueTone tech, which adjusts
the colors on the screen to
better fit the light around you
for more comfortable reading.
It’s also got a laminated
display—which means the