iPad Air 3 screen vs iPad 8 gen

[MacBH928]

Hello, I am wondering if the Air 3 has an OLEDdisplay like the modern iphone 12 and Air 4 or does it have the older lcd ones? As for the current iPad, they say the display is not laminated and there is an air gap. Do they mean the gap like in the original iPad or is it the same screen in the flatter Air 2? Also both are 3GB RAM and bionic A12, any other difference?

 

[nicho]

Hello, I am wondering if the Air 3 has an OLEDdisplay like the modern iphone 12 and Air 4 or does it have the older lcd ones? As for the current iPad, they say the display is not laminated and there is an air gap. Do they mean the gap like in the original iPad or is it the same screen in the flatter Air 2? Also both are 3GB RAM and bionic A12, any other difference?

The Air 4 doesn't have an OLED display. The Air 3 doesn't have an OLED display. No iPad has an OLED display.

That out of the way... The Air 3 display is laminated like the Air 2, and slightly larger than the one in the iPad 8th gen.

The iPad 8th gen has a non-laminated display, your "like the original ipad" comparison is a good one.

 

[ScreenSavers]

The laminated displays in the Air series (except the original) and Pro feel much more premium than the separated screens in the basic iPad. The gap just feels odd and it sounds hollow when you tap the display or type. Just my opinion.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Hello, I am wondering if the Air 3 has an OLEDdisplay like the modern iphone 12 and Air 4 or does it have the older lcd ones? As for the current iPad, they say the display is not laminated and there is an air gap. Do they mean the gap like in the original iPad or is it the same screen in the flatter Air 2? Also both are 3GB RAM and bionic A12, any other difference?

The iPads do not yet have an OLED display. You can tell by doing a black background - it will have slight light leakage unlike the iPhone 12 Pro, etc.

The iPad Air 4 has 4GB of ram - https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/05/new-ipad-air-4-4gb-ram/ —- though I think you were probably talking about the Air 3 so ignore if so.

One thing to note that the reflectivity of the older iPad screens are significantly worse as you go back in the past. Compare a base iPad to a mini 5 or an Air 4 - the reflectivity is unbearable. Since I spend a lot of time reading on my iPad, this is a huge deal for me.

 

[BigMcGuire]

The laminated displays in the Air series (except the original) and Pro feel much more premium than the separated screens in the basic iPad. The gap just feels odd and it sounds hollow when you tap the display or type. Just my opinion.

Yeah sounds like plastic. Agreed. Not even to mention the reflectivity of light - the clarity In the laminated displays.

 

[AutomaticApple]

The laminated displays in the Air series (except the original) and Pro feel much more premium than the separated screens in the basic iPad. The gap just feels odd and it sounds hollow when you tap the display or type. Just my opinion.

To be fair, I think that non-laminated displays are much easier to repair.

 

[ScreenSavers]

To be fair, I think that non-laminated displays are much easier to repair.

Without question! I don’t know know about easier, but definitely more economical. I was actually going to mention that but then I thought, why would the OP care.

 

[MacBH928]

The Air 4 doesn't have an OLED display. The Air 3 doesn't have an OLED display. No iPad has an OLED display.

That out of the way... The Air 3 display is laminated like the Air 2, and slightly larger than the one in the iPad 8th gen.

The iPad 8th gen has a non-laminated display, your "like the original ipad" comparison is a good one.

The iPads do not yet have an OLED display. You can tell by doing a black background - it will have slight light leakage unlike the iPhone 12 Pro, etc.

The iPad Air 4 has 4GB of ram - https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/05/new-ipad-air-4-4gb-ram/ —- though I think you were probably talking about the Air 3 so ignore if so.

One thing to note that the reflectivity of the older iPad screens are significantly worse as you go back in the past. Compare a base iPad to a mini 5 or an Air 4 - the reflectivity is unbearable. Since I spend a lot of time reading on my iPad, this is a huge deal for me.

I knew something was off, I put iphone7 screen and 12 next to each other and the 12 blacks weren't any better really.

Ok so I don't understand. I got iphone7 and iphone 12. I thought 7 was LCD and 12 was OLED. The screens are definitely not the same for sure. Its the same difference I have on an Air 2 compared to Air 4. Whats different here? And is the Air3 screen like Air 2 or Air 4? I understood basic iPad is probably like original iPad.

I agree the anti reflective coating-or whatever it is-is so much nicer and functional. Its what they call "matte" I guess. I don't know if the screen is matte or it has anti-reflective coating. Years ago Apple dropped that for the "glossy" displays because it makes colours pop out but now they seem to be going back. Whats going on?

Do they use "anti-reflective" on iphones too now?

 

[snipr125]

I knew something was off, I put iphone7 screen and 12 next to each other and the 12 blacks weren't any better really.

Ok so I don't understand. I got iphone7 and iphone 12. I thought 7 was LCD and 12 was OLED. The screens are definitely not the same for sure. Its the same difference I have on an Air 2 compared to Air 4. Whats different here? And is the Air3 screen like Air 2 or Air 4? I understood basic iPad is probably like original iPad.

I agree the anti reflective coating-or whatever it is-is so much nicer and functional. Its what they call "matte" I guess. I don't know if the screen is matte or it has anti-reflective coating. Years ago Apple dropped that for the "glossy" displays because it makes colours pop out but now they seem to be going back. Whats going on?

Do they use "anti-reflective" on iphones too now?

The Air 3 and Air 4 screens are similar due to both being laminated, with P3 wide colour gamut and true tone. Both have the same PPI for sharpness.

 

[Torty]

The laminated displays in the Air series (except the original) and Pro feel much more premium than the separated screens in the basic iPad. The gap just feels odd and it sounds hollow when you tap the display or type. Just my opinion.

Once it got the white spot there is nothing premium left and every non laminated display is much better. If you want a reliable device get the iPad 8.

 

[MacBH928]

Once it got the white spot there is nothing premium left and every non laminated display is much better. If you want a reliable device get the iPad 8.

What are you talking about? I have air2 no white spots here. Aren't the iphones and macbooks laminated too?

 

[rui no onna]

What are you talking about? I have air2 no white spots here.

It's an issue that appears to be fairly common on 10.5" iPads (2017 Pro 10.5 & 2019 Air 3).

 

[MacBH928]

It's an issue that appears to be fairly common on 10.5" iPads (2017 Pro 10.5 & 2019 Air 3).

Whats with Apple and screen issues? Is it just the nature of the technology, sometimes it works and sometimes it does not?

 

[ScreenSavers]

Whats with Apple and screen issues? Is it just the nature of the technology, sometimes it works and sometimes it does not?

They are not widespread issues, but rare cases. I’ve never had the issue on any of my iPads. I wouldn’t let that stop you from buying one. Apple offers a one year warranty and AppleCare is available for additional time. There are often repair programs for common issues as well.

 

[sracer]

They are not widespread issues, but rare cases. I’ve never had the issue on any of my iPads. I wouldn’t let that stop you from buying one. Apple offers a one year warranty and AppleCare is available for additional time. There are often repair programs for common issues as well.

Words like "widespread" and "rare" have no objective measurements. It's good that you personally have not experienced the white spot issue. But just because you personally have not experienced the issue doesn't mean that customers should not be concerned about the possibility that THEY will experience it.

The white spot doesn't always appear within the one year warranty period and if AppleCare is available, then not only is there the additional cost of AC+ but there is a service fee for the incident.

Apple will only offer a repair program if they formally acknowledge that the issue exists. Apple has refused to acknowledge it even though this problem has been around for years. And even if they get to that point and offer a repair program, there will be restrictions and limitations to the program to keep the number of devices eligible for the program to a minimum. This is exactly how every other one of Apple's repair programs have worked.

I do not recommend people buy iPads with screens larger than 10.2" unless they absolutely need the larger screens (and willing to risk getting the white spot). There is something unique to those larger iPads that makes them susceptible to the white spot issue.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Words like "widespread" and "rare" have no objective measurements. It's good that you personally have not experienced the white spot issue. But just because you personally have not experienced the issue doesn't mean that customers should not be concerned about the possibility that THEY will experience it.

The white spot doesn't always appear within the one year warranty period and if AppleCare is available, then not only is there the additional cost of AC+ but there is a service fee for the incident.

Apple will only offer a repair program if they formally acknowledge that the issue exists. Apple has refused to acknowledge it even though this problem has been around for years. And even if they get to that point and offer a repair program, there will be restrictions and limitations to the program to keep the number of devices eligible for the program to a minimum. This is exactly how every other one of Apple's repair programs have worked.

I do not recommend people buy iPads with screens larger than 10.2" unless they absolutely need the larger screens (and willing to risk getting the white spot). There is something unique to those larger iPads that makes them susceptible to the white spot issue.

Have you had the issue yourself? If we could get every owner of a large screen iPad to vote in a poll whether or not they’ve had white spots on their screen, we’d see how widespread the issue is. People only come to complain on this forum if they have issues, and naturally that’s what we see.

 

[trk6640]

any other difference?

Maybe the biggest reason I chose the Air 3 over the iPad 8 was the Bluetooth version. The Air 3 has 5.0 and the iPad 8 is still using 4.2. The delayed audio when using 4.2 really bothers me.

 

[MacBH928]

Words like "widespread" and "rare" have no objective measurements. It's good that you personally have not experienced the white spot issue. But just because you personally have not experienced the issue doesn't mean that customers should not be concerned about the possibility that THEY will experience it.

The white spot doesn't always appear within the one year warranty period and if AppleCare is available, then not only is there the additional cost of AC+ but there is a service fee for the incident.

Apple will only offer a repair program if they formally acknowledge that the issue exists. Apple has refused to acknowledge it even though this problem has been around for years. And even if they get to that point and offer a repair program, there will be restrictions and limitations to the program to keep the number of devices eligible for the program to a minimum. This is exactly how every other one of Apple's repair programs have worked.

I do not recommend people buy iPads with screens larger than 10.2" unless they absolutely need the larger screens (and willing to risk getting the white spot). There is something unique to those larger iPads that makes them susceptible to the white spot issue.

The question is , Is this Apple quality control issue or just the nature of the technology? I don't remember so many problems with ibooks, flat screen iMacs, original iPads, iphones up to say version 5, a lot of macbooks.

Maybe the biggest reason I chose the Air 3 over the iPad 8 was the Bluetooth version. The Air 3 has 5.0 and the iPad 8 is still using 4.2. The delayed audio when using 4.2 really bothers me.

Does the paired device have to be BT 5.0 too to gain the benefits?

 

[trk6640]

Does the paired device have to be BT 5.0 too to gain the benefits?

Yes, it'll connect using whatever the newest version is that both devices have in common.

 

[Torty]

What are you talking about? I have air2 no white spots here. Aren't the iphones and macbooks laminated too?

Subject is Air 3 vs IPad 8. Air 2 became very slow so here too I would prefer the iPad 8 over the Air 2 which I still own.

 

[Torty]

They are not widespread issues, but rare cases. I’ve never had the issue on any of my iPads. I wouldn’t let that stop you from buying one. Apple offers a one year warranty and AppleCare is available for additional time. There are often repair programs for common issues as well.

It can’t be this rare when I got the white spot the original Air 3 and also on the replacement device. I was never such a lucky guy, I never won the lottery. So I assume that this defect occurs very often.

 

[scupking]

The iPad 8 has a great screen and being non laminated has the benefit of being a more uniform display with less potential issues. I have a 7 (same screen as the 8) and the screen is as good as it was the first day I got it in 2019.

 

[Richard8655]

After having both laminated (Pro 10.5, Air 3, Mini 5) and regular Retina (iPad 5, 6), I'm not at all impressed with all the hype surrounding laminated. Laminated, though good, was not visually better to me. I didn't like that pressing the screen could easily produce weird spot anomalies, though temporary.

I prefer Retina's glass space separation and feeling that accidental jabbing won't cause permanent damage. It just feels more solid with better longevity. The history of widely reported white spots and various patches with laminated doesn't help convince me either.

 

[BigMcGuire]

The iPad 8 has a great screen and being non laminated has the benefit of being a more uniform display with less potential issues. I have a 7 (same screen as the 8) and the screen is as good as it was the first day I got it in 2019.

The only problem I have with non-laminated is the reflectivity. It is BAD. Just comparing a normal iPad to an iPad mini 5 .... it's night and day difference for me when trying to read next to a window.

 

[rui no onna]

The only problem I have with non-laminated is the reflectivity. It is BAD. Just comparing a normal iPad to an iPad mini 5 .... it's night and day difference for me when trying to read next to a window.

My laminated iPads are usually covered in fingerprint haze anyway. The oleophobic coating seems to be not as effective on laminated/anti-reflective so that kinda evens out with the reflections on non-laminated.