Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: Which One Is A Better Buy?

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On Wednesday, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) unveiled its HTC-made Nexus 9 tablet. A day later, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) came out with its iPad Air 2. They are both going to compete for your hard-earned money this holiday season. They both face tough competition from a number of other devices from Samsung, Sony and Lenovo and others. But Apple and Google’s tablets are the hottest releases in quite some time. Which one should you buy? Here is the detailed comparison between Nexus 9 and the iPad Air 2 that would help you decide.

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: design

The Nexus 9 comes with a soft touch plastic back panel with brushed metal sides. It’s a bit thicker at 7.95mm compared to just 6.1mm of the iPad Air 2. The Nexus tablet weighs 425g, slightly less than 437g of the new iPad Air. Meanwhile, the iPad Air 2 retains the unibody aluminum design of its predecessor. But Apple’s latest tablet is 18% slimmer than the original iPad Air. In fact, the company claimed that the iPad Air 2 is the “world’s thinnest tablet.”

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: display

Though the two tablets differ in screen size, they have the same 2048 x 1536p resolution. The Nexus 9 sports an 8.9-inch display, while the iPad Air 2 comes with a bigger 9.7-inch screen. The new Nexus has seen a significant improvement from Nexus 7 in terms of display, which had a 1920 x 1200p resolution. The latest versions of the iPad Air and Nexus bot have the same 4:3 aspect ratio. With the same aspect ratio and display resolution, there seems to be little difference between the two. But the smaller display of the Nexus 9 will ensure that it offers sharper images.

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: Which One Is A Better Buy?

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: processing power

Both devices sport a 64.bit processor. Google’s device is equipped with Nvidia Tegra K1 processor with 2.3GHz clock speed, while the iPad Air 2 has Apple’s custom A8X processor. The new Nexus tablet is packed with 2GB RAM to offer speedy and responsive experience even while gaming. Apple claims that the second-generation A8X CPU in the iPad Air 2 is 40% faster than its predecessor. What’s more, it has a 2.5 times faster GPU.

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: battery

Google claims that the latest Nexus tablet offers nine hours of browsing over WiFi. LTE browsing reduces the battery life to 8.5 hours. The 6,700mAh battery in Nexus 9 offers 9.5 hours of video playback. On the other hand, Apple didn’t reveal the battery size of the iPad Air 2. But the company said that users can expect up to 10 hours of battery life while surfing the web, working or playing games.

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: Which One Is A Better Buy?

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: camera

The new iPad Air 2 sports an improved 8-megapixel iSight rear camera with a f/2.4 aperture. It can record 1080p full HD videos. Apple has also thrown in some exciting new features such as time lapse videos, slow motion videos, burst mode and panoramas. It supports 1.2MP FaceTime front camera. In contrast, the Nexus 9 comes with 8-megapixel main camera with LED flash, autofocus and f/2.4 aperture. It also boasts of 1.6-megapixel front-camera.

Nexus 9 vs. iPad Air 2: storage and price

The Nexus 9 will be available in 16GB WiFi only, 32GB WiFi only or 32GB WiFi and 4G LTE. Pre-orders for the latest Nexus begin on Oct.17 with launch on Nov.3. Nexus 9 pricing begins at $399 in the U.S. However, Apple’s tablet offers more options to the users. The iPad Air 2 will be available in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB. Apple has ditched a 32GB model. And yes, you can get them with WiFi only or with LTE compatibility as well. The 16GB WiFi only iPad Air 2 costs $499.

Both tablets pack great features, and powerful processors. The iPad Air has a bigger screen, but images and videos will look sharper on the Nexus 9.

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