iPad 3 vs iPad 9th Gen

Swappasaurus says...
The iPad (3rd generation) was released in March 2012, and the iPad (9th generation) was released in September 2021. Features of the 3rd generation iPad include a 9.7” Retina display, a dual-core Apple A5X chip, and up to 64GB of storage. Features of the 9th generation iPad include a 10.2” Retina display, an Apple A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine, and up to 256GB of storage.
Price Comparison
iPad 3 vs iPad 9th Gen Pricing
Specs Comparison
The iPad (3rd generation) features include a 9.7” Retina display, an Apple A5X chip, up to 64GB of storage, a 5MP iSight rear camera, a VGA-quality FaceTime front camera, and a 30-pin dock connector. The 3rd generation iPad also features WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a built-in speaker, a microphone, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a micro-SIM card tray with assisted GPS with GLONASS on the WiFi + Cellular model. The iPad (9th generation) features include a 10.2” Retina display, an Apple A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine, up to 256GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, a Lightning connector, and a home button with Touch ID for device security. The 9th generation iPad hardware feature set also includes WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, stereo speakers, dual microphones, and a SIM card tray with GPS and GNSS on the WiFi + Cellular model.
Size | iPad 3 | iPad 9th Gen |
---|---|---|
Width | 174 mm 6.9 inches | |
Height | 251 mm 9.9 inches | |
Depth | 8 mm 0.3 inches | |
Weight | 487 g 17.2 ounces |
The iPad (3rd gen) measures 9.50” (H) x 7.31” (W) x 0.37” (D) and features a 9.7” display size. The WiFi-only iPad (3rd gen) weighs 1.44 pounds and the WiFi + Cellular model weighs 1.46 pounds. In comparison, the iPad (9th gen) measures 9.8” (H) x 6.8” (W) x 0.29” (D) and features a 10.2” display size. The WiFi-only iPad (9th gen) weighs 1.07 pounds and the WiFi + Cellular model weighs 1.09 pounds.
Camera | iPad 3 | iPad 9th Gen |
---|---|---|
Primary | 8.0 MP | |
Resolution | 3264x2448 |
The iPad (3rd generation) features a 5MP iSight camera on the back and a VGA-quality FaceTime camera on the front. The iPad (9th generation) features an 8MP camera on the back and a 12MP ultra-wide camera on the front with a 122-degree field-of-view. The 9th generation iPad also brought Center Stage as a new front-facing camera feature.
Display | iPad 3 | iPad 9th Gen |
---|---|---|
Resolution | 1620x2160 | |
Screen Size | 259 mm 10.2 in | |
Pixels Per Inch | ppi | 265 ppi |
The 3rd generation iPad features a 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen Retina display with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, and a native resolution of 2048 x 1536 at 264 pixels per inch. The 9th generation iPad features a 10.2-inch LED-backlit multi-touch Retina display with a native resolution of 2160 x 1620 at 264 pixels per inch, a maximum brightness of 500 nits, and True Tone. The 9th gen iPad display also features a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and support for the 1st gen Apple Pencil.
Battery | iPad 3 | iPad 9th Gen |
---|---|---|
Capacity | mAh | 8686 mAh |
Longevity | hours | 9 hours |
USB | Lightning |
The iPad (3rd gen) is powered by a built-in 42.5-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, and charges via a 30-pin dock connector. The iPad (9th gen) is powered by a built-in 32.4-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, and charges via a USB-C connector. The 3rd gen and the 9th gen battery capacities allow for up to 10 hours of battery life on the WiFi-only model and up to 9 hours of battery life on the WiFi + Cellular model.
Color Choices
iPad 3 vs iPad 9th Gen Colors

The iPad (3rd generation) features a Silver back with an option for a Black or White bezel on the front around the display. The iPad (9th generation) is available in Silver or Space Gray. Both color options for the 9th generation iPad feature a Black bezel on the front around the display.
Storage Options
iPad 9th Gen
Choose from 2 storage options:
-
64GB
-
256GB
iPad 3 vs iPad 9th Gen Storage

The 3rd generation iPad is available with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage space. In comparison, the iPad (9th gen) is available with 64GB or 256GB of storage.
iPad 3 vs iPad 9th Gen Reviews
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