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9.7-inch iPad Air is lighter, thinner, and faster
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During a San Francisco press conference today, Apple took the wraps off its newest iPad Air tablet. Sporting a more powerful 64-bit A7 processor, narrower bezels, and a thinner 0.29-inch profile, the iOS 7 device features incremental upgrades from its previous iteration, and retains the familiar aesthetics consumers have come to expect.
And while it’s obvious that this iPad is an improvement on the last, Apple isn’t the only company out there making top-notch tablets.
From different mobile OSes to various display sizes, users can now choose from a bevvy of tablet alternatives. To see how the new Apple iPad Air compares, CNET has compiled this chart that stacks it against other current frontrunners that were recently announced. This includes the Microsoft Surface 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition). Check it out below and be sure to tell us what device fancies your interest the most.
iPad Air hands-on (pictures)
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| iPad Air | Microsoft Surface 2 | Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.45 x 6.7 x 0.29 inches; 1lb. (Wi-Fi only) or 1.05 lbs. (Wi-Fi and cellular) | 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.35 inches; 1.49 lbs. | 9.57 x 6.75 x 0.31 inches; 1.19 lbs. (Wi-Fi only) or 1.21 lbs (Wi-Fi and cellular) |
| Display | 9.7 inches; 2,048×1,536-pixel resolution; 264ppi | 10.6 inches; 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution; 208ppi | 10.1 inches; 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution; 299ppi |
| Operating system | iOS 7 | Windows RT 8.1 | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean |
| 4G LTE | Yes | Expected early 2014 | Yes (global) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | v4.0 | v4.0 | v4.0 |
| Rear-facing camera | 5-megapixel; 1080p video | 5-megapixel; 1080p video | 8-megapixel; 1080p video |
| Front-facing camera | 1.2-megapixel; 720p video | 3.5-megapixel; 1080p video | 2-megapixel; 1080p video |
| Processor | Proprietary A7 (64-bit) with M7 motion co-processor | Nvidia Tegra 4 | Exynos 5420 quad-core processor |
| Capacity | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB | 32GB and 64GB; 2GB RAM | 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB (global); 3GB RAM |
| Expandable memory | No | Up to 64GB | Up to 64GB |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours of video playback | Up to 10 hours of video playback | 8,220mAh; up to 10 hours of video playback |
| Carriers | AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile | AT&T and Vodafone expected early 2014 | n/a |
| Available colors | Black and white | Silver | Black and white |
| Pricing | Wi-Fi only: $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB), $699 (64GB), and $799 (128GB); Wi-Fi and cellular: $629 (16GB), $729 (32GB), $829 (64GB), and $929 (128GB) | $449 (32GB) and $549 (64GB) | $549.99 (16GB) and $599.99 (32GB) |
Credit: Lynn La/CNET
See CNET’s complete coverage of all of today’s Apple iPad and Mac news.
