iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 2 specs comparison

Apple launched its iPad Pro at their September event. It seems that the iPad Pro will become available for purchase in November, so there is still time to decide whether you need the iPad Pro or the older iPad Air 2 is good enough. To be frank, based on the announced technical specifications, I would say that the pretty minor differences between the iPad Pro and the previous iPad Air 2 won’t really urge people to upgrade to the latest version of Apple’s tablets.

The most significant difference between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 consists in their sizes. The iPad Pro measures 12 x 8.6 x 0.27 inches, while the iPad Air 2 only measures 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.24 inches. The iPad Pro is naturally heavier also, weighing 1.54 lbs, against the 0.96 lbs of the iPad Air 2. Of course, the iPad Pro is not larger without a reason, it also features a larger, 12.9- inch display. This is a lot bigger than the iPad Air 2’s 9.7-inch IPS display. The iPad Air 2 has a 2048 x 1536 resolution, while the iPad Pro features a 2732 x 2048 resolution. Although the display of the iPad Pro is considerably larger than the iPad Air 2’s, they feature the same 264 ppi pixel density. This is the feature that makes the iPad Pro the most pixel dense iOS device out there.

Another feature that is new in the iPad Pro 4 is its 1.8 times more powerful processor. The iPad Air 2 was equipped with a fairly powerful, A8X chip and M8 motion coprocessor. The iPad Pro packs a more impressive, A9X chip and M9 motion coprocessor, made by Apple.  Both chipsets have 64- bit architecture, so there is no news there. We still don’t know how much RAM will the iPad Pro boast, but we hope to see an improvement in that corner also. The iPad Air 2 included 2 GB RAM, so it would be quite nice for the iPad Pro to have at least 4. Specially when we think of the Surface Pro 4, which is said to have 16 GB RAM.

In the internal storage section there are no big changes either. The iPad Air 2 comes in three versions: 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB. Although the maximum internal storage of the iPad Pro is also 128 GB, this model only comes in 2 versions: 32 GB and 128 GB. Unfortunately this will be reflected by its price, which will certainly be higher even for the smaller version.

Coming to the camera feature of the two Apple devices, it seems that the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 pack exatcly the same cameras. There is a 1.2 MP front facing camera with 720 p video, face detection, backside illumination and burst mode. FaceTime video calling over Wi- Fi or cellular is offered by both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2. The back camera of both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 is an 8 MP one. It has autofocus feature, face detection, backside illumination and burst- mode. It also features a five- element lens with hybrid IR filter, ƒ/2.4 aperture and it takes HDR and panoramic photos. Both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 feature 1080 p HD video recording, video stabilization, face detection and Backside illumination. Users can tap the screen to focus while recording and the devices have a 3x zoom. The cameras of both Apple tablets feature slo- mo video and time- lapse stabilization.

The fingerprint identity sensor built into the iPad Air 2’s Home button will be found situated in the same place on the iPad Pro. The Apple Pay feature is offered to users by both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2. This app enables users to pay with their iPad using Touch ID within apps. It also allows them to receive and redeem rewards using rewards cards. Sensor- wise both iPads offer the same features: three-axis gyro, accelerometer, ambient light sensor,barometer, and Touch ID.

As far as connectivity goes, both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 are available in two versions. One is Wi- Fi only, and the other one is Wi- Fi  plus cellular. The latter are $130 more expensive than the basic version, but it does offer LTE connectivity. According to their specs both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 can offer Up to 10 hours of web surfing, watching videos, or listening to music. They both come with lightning connector charger so there is no difference between them there.

The technical specifications of the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 don’t really differ from each other. Until now, the only major differences we’ve noticed are the ones related to their size. The larger display of the iPad Pro and the thinner body of the iPad Air 2. Other differences can be observed by analyzing the extras these tablets come with.

The new Pencil stylus of Apple and its new Smart Keyboard might make the difference between the two devices. Also, the iPad Pro’s quad speaker system is able to ensure better audio quality and greater user- experience. You might say that the iPad Pro is really only a somewhat improved version of the iPad Air 2. Given the fact that there is no significant difference between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 other than their size and a better processor for the first one, an upgrading will probably not be absolutely necessary for Apple customers.

Both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 run the same iOS 9, so that couldn’t be a reason to upgrade. The only motive for upgrading this instant is the larger display of the iPad Pro. But considering the fact that the iPad Air 2 128 GB, only Wi- Fi version costs $699 and the same version of the iPad Pro will cost you $949, maybe a larger display will seem less important.You can purchase both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 in silver, gold or space gray colors. Of course, if you are a tech- enthusiast, avid for new gadgets, an upgrade to the iPad Pro could be a good step for you.