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Apple iPad Air 2 vs Google Nexus 9 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition): specs comparison clash

posted by Peter K. / Oct 16, 2014, 1:52 PM

Apple iPad Air 2 vs Google Nexus 9 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition): specs comparison clash

Apple's new iPad, the iPad Air 2, is here and it's destined to clash the surplus of high-end Android and Windows tablets that have been around for some time now. The first iPad defined the tablet category back in 2010 and its newest generation seems to be fiercer than ever. Sporting the 64-bit A8X SoC, the iPad Air 2 is an improved version of Apple's last year flagship tablet, which will appeal to those iFans that want to possess the latest and greatest piece of tech that comes straight out of Cupertino.

Although we can choose among many tablets, we decided to pit the new iPad Air against Google's newest, hot-off-the-oven Nexus 9 slate in a heated specs battle. We've also thrown in an S Pen-toting Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) for a good multitasking measure.

On paper, the differences will be drastic, as each and every tablet of this trio has its own strong points and reasons to be the top-ranking slate. Such comparisons, however, will have to wait a little, and now we are purely comparing the specs sheets of the devices. It won't be too far-fetched to say that the iPad Air 2, the Google Nexus 9, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition) are among the best tablets at the moment. Yes, the Nexus 9 will be taking names in the hardware department, but let's not forget that it is not the sole defining point of a good tablet.

Which one of these reigns supreme over the rest? Let' check out the specs game of the tablets right below!

Apple iPad Air 2 vs Google Nexus 9 vs Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

Display

Display size

9.7 inches

8.9 inches

10.1 inches

Resolution

1536 x 2048 pixels

2560 x 1600 pixels

Pixel density

264 ppi

288 ppi

299 ppi

Technology

IPS LCD

Super Clear LCD

Screen-to-body ratio

71.65 %

69.90 %

70.97 %

Camera

Rear

Single camera

Main camera

8 megapixels

Hardware Features

Autofocus, Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

Specifications

Aperture size: F2.4; Focal length: 31 mm

Aperture size: F2.4; Focal length: 29.2 mm; Sensor size: 1/4"; Pixel size: 1.12 μm

Video recording

1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps), 1280x720 (HD) (120 fps)

1920x1080 (Full HD) (30 fps)

1920x1080 (Full HD)

Recording format

H.264, MOV

H.264, 3GP

Features

Time-lapse video, Digital image stabilization, Video calling

Front

1.2 megapixels

1.6 megapixels

2 megapixels

Video capture

1280x720 (HD) (30 fps)

1280x720 (HD)

Design

Dimensions

9.45 x 6.67 x 0.24 inches (240 x 169.5 x 6.1 mm)

8.99 x 6.05 x 0.31 inches (228.25 x 153.68 x 7.95 mm)

9.57 x 6.75 x 0.31 inches (243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9 mm)

Weight

15.41 oz (437 g)

15.38 oz (436 g)

19.29 oz (547 g)

Materials

Back: Aluminum

Back: Plastic

Biometrics

Fingerprint (touch)

Features

Notification light

Stylus

Phone functionality

Yes

Hardware & Performance

System chip

Apple A8X

NVIDIA Tegra K1

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974

Processor

Triple-core, 1500 MHz, Cyclone, 64-bit

Dual-core, 2300 MHz, Denver, 28 nm

Quad-core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400

GPU

PowerVR GXA6850

Kepler

Adreno 330

RAM

2 GB LPDDR3

2 GB DDR3

3 GB LPDDR3

OS

iOS (12.x, 11.x, 10.x, 9.x, 8.x)

Android (7.1 Nougat, 7.0 Nougat, 5.0 Lollipop)

Android (4.4.2, 4.3), Samsung TouchWiz UI

Battery

Capacity

7340 mAh

6700 mAh

8220 mAh

Stand-by time

30.0 days (720 hours)

Talk time (3G)

43.00 hours

Music playback

217.00 hours

Video playback

9.50 hours

11.00 hours

Shopping information

MSRP price

$ 829

Options

18 Comments

1. kalloud

Posts: 155; Member since: Jun 21, 2012

Isn't thé nexus 9 lovely.

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 1:55 PM 5

2. kalloud

Isn't the nexus 9 lovely?

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 1:56 PM 0

4. kalloud

And why can't I edit my comments?

14. hurrycanger

Posts: 1761; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Because the Nexus 9 is lovely.

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:47 PM 2

17. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

isn't the GALAXY S PRO more lovely with it's stylist?

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 5:50 PM 0

3. ivancapp

Posts: 3; Member since: Jun 13, 2013

it says nexus 9 but shows a Microsoft surface pro 3? ...

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 1:56 PM 3

10. PeterK.

Posts: 314; Member since: Nov 13, 2013

Sorry about that, it's fixed now!

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:18 PM 2

5. mawhob2222

Posts: 219; Member since: Mar 22, 2014

Surface is better

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 1:57 PM 1

6. Klamba92

Posts: 212; Member since: Jun 25, 2012

Where is the nexus 9 has the surface but no nexus 9 even though its in the title?

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 1:58 PM 0

7. UglyFrank

Posts: 2194; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

They can sneak a surface pro into the comparison but they can't put a lumia in a camera comparison

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:06 PM 0

8. asiansatan

Posts: 59; Member since: Sep 18, 2014

microsoft has bought nexus 9

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:09 PM 0

9. renz4

Posts: 319; Member since: Aug 10, 2013

Forget about spec comparison. Where is performance comparison?

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:15 PM 0

11. TRUVILLE

Posts: 146; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

Phone arena where is the nexus 9 tablet? This is why the writers at phonearena suck!!! They are not tech people they are apple only!!! Apple 6 and new iPads didn't bring nothing innovative to the market same old crap rename this site iphonearena!!

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:24 PM 2

12. Iodine

Posts: 1480; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

And if they will rename it, you will go away right ?

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:42 PM 0

16. TRUVILLE

I'm a new technology person I keep up with all tech from anywhere, by remaining the site at least technology people would know what to expect,instead of posting one sided imaterial

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 3:47 PM 0

13. wando77

Posts: 1168; Member since: Aug 23, 2012

Why the note and note the tab s 10.5? lol

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:46 PM 1

15. Rager722 unregistered

Like the "Hot Phones" section Phonearena should create the "Hot Tablets" section.

posted on Oct 16, 2014, 2:50 PM 0

18. gigaraga

Posts: 1454; Member since: Mar 29, 2013

Hmm....PA did you put the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition in the comparison instead of the Tab S 10.5 because the Tab S gets a easy win against the new iPad? Still, the 2014 Edition is no slouch either. comparable to a 2014 Apple pab. A 2013 Samsung Tab vs. 2014 Apple pad. Woah.