With a 2-year gap between their release dates, the iPad 5th Generation, also referred to as the 2017 iPad, should prove to be the significantly better tablet over the iPad Air 2. However, the only way we can be confident about this assumption is by comparing their specs and putting them through the same benchmarks. We did just that below so you can easily get a clear idea of their capabilities if you’re deciding on which one to get.
The 5th-gen iPad brings you an immersive tablet experience with its 9.7-inch Retina display, A9 chip and advanced cameras.
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iPad Air vs iPad 5th Generation Comparison Chart
| Model | iPad Air 2 64GB Wi-Fi Only | iPad 5th Gen (2017 Model) 32GB Wi-Fi Only |
 | | |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
| Display Size | 9.7″ | 9.7″ |
| Resolution | 1536 x 2048 pixels | 1536 x 2048 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Height | 9.45″ | 9.45″ |
| Width | 6.67″ | 6.67″ |
| Depth | 0.30″ | 0.30″ |
| Weight | 469g | 469g |
| System Chip | A8X | A9 |
| Processor | Dual-core, 1.4 GHz | Dual-core, 1.84 GHz |
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 (quad-core) | PowerVR G7600 (hexa-core) |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB | 32GB, 128GB |
| Front Camera | 1.2MP, ฦ/2.4 aperture size | 1.2MP, ฦ/2.2 aperture size |
| Rear Camera | 8MP, ฦ/2.4 aperture size | 8MP, ฦ/2.4 aperture size |
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver | Gold, Space Gray, Silver |
| Battery Capacity | 8600 mAh | 8827 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Barometer | No | Yes |
| Released | 2015 | 2017 |
Design
Both iPads look and feel the same.
Simply checking the dimensions and the weight of each device confirms that they are physically the same tablet when held. Since the iPad Air 2 was intended to be the lightest, thinnest tablet of its time, this is actually an advantage for the iPad 5th Gen. You get to enjoy a lightweight tablet that packs more power inside.
There are minor differences between the two though: notably the visible icon on the Home button of the iPad Air 2. It’s gone from the iPad 5th Gen since it features a Touch ID sensor. Apple also did away with the physical switch on the iPad Air 2 which toggles Rotation Lock or Mute, moving those controls instead within the interface of newer iPads. The holes for the mics are also smaller on the 5th Gen, and there’s only a single row of holes for the speaker. You also get another color choice in addition to the Space Gray and Silver case options — a Gold back with a white front.
Display
Both iPads share the same display.
Once again, the iPad 5th Gen offers no significant improvement over the iPad Air, as they both use the same 9.7-inch Retina display with matching resolutions and pixel density. That’s not a bad thing, of course, since the iPad continues to offer the best looking display among its contemporary tablets. However, it’s a bit of a downside for the 5th Gen since the iPad Air 2, which was released the year prior, featured a fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating. Instead of using the same technology, Apple opted to put the first Air’s non-fused display inside their 2017 update of the iPad.
The iPad Air 2 is an ultra-thin and ultra-light tablet with a 9.7-inch display, A8X chip, and up to 10 hours battery life.
With nearly the same physical build and display, it does seem like the iPad 5th Generation and the iPad Air can be identical twins. Thankfully, the story takes a turn once we delve inside their covers.
Performance
The iPad 5th Generation is nearly twice as powerful.
We finally get to the juicy part: the 5th Generation iPad features more processing muscle than the iPad Air 2. With an A9 chip powered by a dual-core 1.84GHz processor and M9 motion coprocessor, as well as a hexa-core GPU, the iPad 5th Gen looks mighty indeed compared to the Air’s A8X chip, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, M8 motion coprocessor, and quad-core GPU.
In terms of real-world performance, we can look to benchmark tests to see how all these numbers add up. Geekbench 4 gave the 5th Gen a single-core score of 2539 and a multi-core score of 4383, while the iPad Air 2 got 1357 and 2299, respectively. On AnTuTu, the iPad 5th Gen scores 124669 overall, double what the iPad Air 2 received at 66998. Even running these benchmarks took the iPad Air 2 several seconds longer to complete. Needless to say, you can expect faster loading and smoother game graphics on the 2017 model of the iPad. It’s easy to tell the difference if you actually attempt to open the same app on both devices side by side.
Cameras, Storage, and Battery
The iPad 5th Generation has better cameras.
Taking photos and videos with the 5th Gen iPad should produce better results, as both of its cameras have an edge over the iPad Air’s. Its front 1.2MP camera has a bigger aperture size of ฦ/2.2 than the ฦ/2.4 of the latter. In addition, you can get 8-megapixel photos with the 5th Gen’s main camera, versus the 8-megapixel limit of the iPad Air 2.
Internal storage choices are trimmed down to two for the iPad 5th Gen, which simplifies its price points. It also has a slightly larger battery capacity, but it’s not enough to consider an improvement since battery life remains the same at 10 hours of multimedia use. The addition of a barometric sensor is also only relevant if you actually use apps that require that feature.
One notable feature that was added to the 5th Generation iPad is the Touch ID sensor, as it provides tougher security as well as faster screen unlocking while enabling limited Apple Pay capabilities.
Verdict
The iPad 5th Generation gives you twice the power within the same build.
The iPad Air 2 is an ultra-thin and ultra-light tablet with a 9.7-inch display, A8X chip, and up to 10 hours battery life.
The 5th-gen iPad brings you an immersive tablet experience with its 9.7-inch Retina display, A9 chip and advanced cameras.
What it comes down to is that Apple essentially upgraded the iPad Air 2 with faster internal components and released it as the 5th Generation iPad. They turned what was once their high-end offering into their next entry-level model, which makes our recommendation easier.
Currently, you’ll only be able to find these iPads in the refurbished market, and with the iPad Air 2 being older, it will definitely be priced lower at the same storage price points. However, the difference isn’t actually too far apart (as you can see in the links above), and we can safely say that the faster performance of the iPad 5th Gen is worth the extra cost, and will provide you better longevity with your device in the long run. That said, if internal storage is your biggest consideration, you can get a lot more with your budget by choosing a 128GB iPad Air, which is priced closer to the 32GB iPad 5th Gen.
FAQs
No, the iPad 5th Generation has a more powerful A9 processor compared to the iPad Air 2’s A8X chip. The iPad Air 2 is a bit lighter and thinner than the iPad 5th Gen, and their displays look similar but are not identical.
Most cases made for the iPad 5th Gen should fit an iPad Air 2. However, the same isn’t always true vice versa, since the iPad Air 2 is thinner.
The iPad Air 2 is the second-generation iPad Air tablet.
Nearly all iPads will have their model number and storage capacity indicated at their backs. You can also find its model number (which is AXXX or A followed by four numbers) by going to Settings > General > About, and you can look up that iPad model number on the Internet to find out which generation iPad it is.