Apple released the iPad Air 2 only one day after Google released its newest tablet, the Google Nexus 9.
With an increasing amount of competition between the two tech titans, many consumers are likely wondering just which tablet is right for them. Here is a comparison of the two flagship tablets.
Design
Both companies have focused quite heavily on design in their latest tablets. The iPad Air 2 is the thinnest device, and tablet, ever made coming in at a tiny 6.1mm thick. Despite this, the Nexus 9 is certainly not thick, coming in at 7.95mm, which is still very thin.
The iPad Air 2 looks exactly like something you would expect from Apple. A premium look, beautifully rounded corners and more. Despite this, many suggest the Google Nexus 9 is the classiest looking Nexus tablet to date, giving even the iPad a run for its money in the "premium look" department.
As far as design goes, there is no clear winner. Neither of these devices is ugly by any means. If thinness is extremely important to you, than clearly the iPad Air 2 is in the lead, but for those who are a bit more relaxed about that aspect, then perhaps the design of the Nexus 9 is more for you.
Display
Both Apple and Google are offering a seriously premium display on their new tablets. Both offer a display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536, however because of the fact that the display of the Google Nexus 9 is 8.9-inches, against the iPad Air 2's 9.7-inches, pixel density is on Google's side, coming in at 288ppi over 264ppi for the iPad Air 2.
It is arguable that this difference is barely noticeable and users will appreciate the extra inch on the iPad Air. Again, while pixel density is better on the Nexus 9, there is no clear winner in the display department.
Processing Power
Apple has introduced the A8X processor in the iPad Air 2, which is not a slow processor at all. The A8X offers 64-bit architecture with a whopping 3 billion transistors. While more specs about the A8X have yet to be released and the device still has to undergo some benchmark tests, it is likely this processor is at least as fast as the Tegra K1, which is found on the Nexus 9 and is also 64-bit.
Both tablets are perfect for those who need serious power. While the iPad Air 2 may be a hair faster, it won't be enough to put the Nexus 9 far behind.
Camera
Yet again, both the iPad Air 2 and the Google Nexus 9 are neck-and-neck, both offering a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. Apple has been offering some great features on its camera, however, with the iSight camera offering slow-motion video capture at 120 frames per second. Other features include Timelapse and burst mode.
The front facing camera, however, is a different story. The "selfie" camera found on the Nexus 9 comes in at 1.6 megapixels, putting it ahead of the Facetime camera on the iPad Air 2 at only 1.2 megapixels. For those who enjoy taking selfies, or if you video chat a lot, then the Nexus 9 may be the better option.
Storage
The iPad Air 2 and Nexus 9 both offer 16GB versions, with the Nexus 9 offering a 32GB version on top of that. The iPad Air 2, however, beats the Nexus 9 with maximum storage, offering 64GB and 128GB versions as well. While users are increasingly storing content on the cloud, for those who don't plan on being around Wi-Fi all the time, the iPad Air 2 is perhaps the better option.
Pricing
As for price, as expected the iPad Air 2 is a little more expensive than the Nexus 9. The 16GB version of the iPad Air 2 is $499, $100 more expensive than the 16GB version of the Nexus 9. The 32GB version of the Nexus 9 comes in at $429, while the 64GB and 128GB versions of the iPad Air 2 cost $599 and $699 respectively.
Conclusion
The iPad Air 2 and Google Nexus 9 are extremely similar on paper. Both offer top-of-the-range specs and would be great choices. There are certainly areas where the iPad beats the Nexus, just like there are areas where the Nexus wins. Another factor for users is the operating system being used. Both the Nexus 9 and iPad Air 2 can offer a lot and there really is no winner.
