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iPad iPad Air 2019 vs iPad 8th gen

dukebound85

dukebound85

macrumors Core
Original poster
Jul 17, 2005
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These seem very on par feature wise. Are the only differences:
-air larger screen
- air laminated display
- air larger storage options

for those with the old 2019 air, it seems the device will be supported for quite some time
 
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We don’t know yet, but the Air probably has more RAM.

It also has a usb-c connector, and is compatible with the Magic Keyboard.
 
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The Air 3 has 3GB RAM, which is the same as the RAM in the 7th Gen. The 8th Gen would have the same, as you are probably right that the Air 4 will have 4GB.

The Air 3 and 8th Gen both have the smart connector and Pen 1 compatibility, so the OP is right in their summary of the differences.

Air 4 and 8th Gen is a different matter, as would be expected for gap in price.
 
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I ordered an iPad air 3 this past weekend for my daughter before the new models were announced. We were deciding between an iPad 7th generation 128 GB and the iPad air 3 64 GB. I cannot remember why we decided on the air 3. Probably because of the faster processor. We also got the Logitech combo touch keyboard case, so the reduced thickness of the air (compared with the normal iPad) is kind of negated (since the same case fits both).

Now that Apple just introduced the 8th generation with the same chip as the air 3, it seems that I should return the air 3 once I get it and get the 8th generation, since it is cheaper. I am looking for any comments as to which one I should go with and any major differences (in addition to the ones already mentioned in this thread) I should consider. Thanks.
 
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iPadCurious said:
I ordered an iPad air 3 this past weekend for my daughter before the new models were announced. We were deciding between an iPad 7th generation 128 GB and the iPad air 3 64 GB. I cannot remember why we decided on the air 3. Probably because of the faster processor. We also got the Logitech combo touch keyboard case, so the reduced thickness of the air (compared with the normal iPad) is kind of negated (since the same case fits both).
Click to expand...
Warning, the combo keyboard itself works fine on both models but iirc, the kickstand case is model specific due to the difference in device thickness.

I remember trying to swap the cases between iPad 7 and Air 3 just to test and they don't fit properly when swapped.

www.logitech.com

Combo Touch Keyboard Case for iPad | Logitech

Shop Combo Touch for iPad. Compatible with iPad (7th, 8th, 9th & 10th gen). Backlit, Multi-touch Trackpad
www.logitech.com www.logitech.com

  • DIMENSIONS
    Combo Touch for iPad 7th gen
    • Height: 10.12 in (257 mm)
    • Width: 7.68 in (195 mm)
    • Depth: 0.89 in (22.55 mm)
    • Weight: 21.52 oz (610 g)
  • Combo Touch for iPad Air and iPad Pro 10.5-inch
    • Height: 10.12 in (257 mm)
    • Width: 7.68 in (195 mm)
    • Depth: 0.85 in (21.64 mm)
    • Weight: 21.52 oz (610 g)
 
Also Air 3 has True Tone and better color in display

BT 5.0 support too and 7MP Front camera unlike that 1.2MP one (ewwwww lol)

And it’s lighter too
 
hakim_radzuan said:
I’m in dilemma between latest 8th gen ipad with an used ipad air 3.

With the same price
Click to expand...

Performance wise they are identical with the A12 Bionic and 3gb ram. The air 3 has a slightly larger laminated screen with the P3 wide colour gamut and touch tone though, which for me is very important. The 8th gen IPad is excellent value for money though, but if you can get a Apple refurb IPad air 3 for the same price then id go for that.

Edit - Air 3 also has higher base storage at 64 gb
 
iPadCurious said:
I ordered an iPad air 3 this past weekend for my daughter before the new models were announced. We were deciding between an iPad 7th generation 128 GB and the iPad air 3 64 GB. I cannot remember why we decided on the air 3. Probably because of the faster processor. We also got the Logitech combo touch keyboard case, so the reduced thickness of the air (compared with the normal iPad) is kind of negated (since the same case fits both).

Now that Apple just introduced the 8th generation with the same chip as the air 3, it seems that I should return the air 3 once I get it and get the 8th generation, since it is cheaper. I am looking for any comments as to which one I should go with and any major differences (in addition to the ones already mentioned in this thread) I should consider. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I would do this. With the RAM and processor identical, a 128GB 8th Gen might mean that your daughter can hold onto the iPad for longer than if she got the Air, as if her storage needs increase, she has more room to play with. The lack of a laminated display and true tone aren’t bottlenecks in the same way.

Also, the white spot issue found in the 10.5 Pros has been cropping up in the Air 3’s. If it is in the 7th Gen, it is much less common and we would expect it to be the same for the 8th Gen.
 
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Thanks for the replies and good information. The storage 64 GB vs 128 GB (for less money - trying to keep it under $500 and closer to $400 is even better) is what I keep coming back to. I am not sure if the other differences will have that much affect on my daughter. It may come down to when I can get my hands on a 8th generation and if they have the Logitech combo case for it. Not sure if the 7th generation/iPad air 3 one that I bought fits it or not.
 
iPadCurious said:
Thanks for the replies and good information. The storage 64 GB vs 128 GB (for less money - trying to keep it under $500 and closer to $400 is even better) is what I keep coming back to. I am not sure if the other differences will have that much affect on my daughter. It may come down to when I can get my hands on a 8th generation and if they have the Logitech combo case for it. Not sure if the 7th generation/iPad air 3 one that I bought fits it or not.
Click to expand...
The 7th gen should fit the 8th gen just fine. Apple's actually already updated the listing to say 8th gen.

Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case with Trackpad for iPad 9th generation - Apple

Apple Store Search Results
www.apple.com

The Air 3/Pro 10.5 case will not.

Check the camera cut out to see which one you actually have.

For iPad 7th/8th gen:
F3A7AD97-66D0-401F-AE4F-92D6C8731726.jpeg




For iPad Air 3 and Pro 10.5:
37735FB8-E81B-426D-8605-99F0BAA6DC07.jpeg
 
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@rui no onna Thanks for pointing that out. I actually have the one for the 7th/8th generation iPad. The Best Buy sales person gave me the wrong one for the iPad Air 3 that I bought. Either way, I will have to exchange iPads or cases, because I have a mismatch as of now.
 
Another note, when I bought the iPad Air 3 with education pricing, Apple had a deal for free air pods (which Best Buy matched for both ed pricing and air pod deal). I think last weekend when I ordered the air 3, Apple had the free airpod deal for all the iPads. Now I only see it for the iPad Pro (unless someone can show me how to get the deal for the 8th generation on the apple site). So if I go with the 8th generation and return the air 3, I lose the free airpods (not that my daughter needs them, but would love them). The Logitech crayon also does not seem to get the Best Buy $20 bundle discount with the 8th generation (in the color my daughter wants anyways).

Decisions, decisions. Spend less (8th generation), get less (no air pods), but more memory (128 GB) or spend more (Air 3), get more (airpods), but less memory (64 GB). In the end, I think it is $50 cheaper for the 8th generation with the other bundled accessories my daughter wants (minus the airpods). I also need to see if Best Buy will take $30 off the Logitech combo case, because it is another bundle deal they have for the air 3. It did not register when I bought it with the air 3, because they had given me the case for the 7th generation instead of the air 3. So it may only be a savings of $20 for going with the 8th generation over the air 3. We will see what happens when I go to Best Buy.
 
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