iPad Air 2 vs Nexus 9 Review, Comparison of Specs: Serious Competition, Many Similarities, Many Differences

There's no doubt that the iPad Air 2 has found serious competition in the form of the new Nexus tablet from Google – the Nexus 9.

There are many similarities between the two tablets, but there are also some differences ranging from screen size to price.

The most visible difference between the two tablets is the screen size. The iPad Air 2 features a 9.7-inch screen while the Nexus 9 has a smaller 8.9 inch screen. However, this does not mean much in terms of display quality because both have around 2048x1536 pixels resolution and almost similar pixels per inch.

Although the Nexus 9 is smaller than the iPad Air 2, it is a bit thicker at 0.31 inches while its competitor measures 0.24 inches thick. For those who prefer a lighter tablet, the Nexus 9 at 0.93 pounds is slightly lighter than the iPad Air 2 which weighs 0.96 pounds.

The cameras on both the tablets also have very little difference. Both have an 8 megapixel rear camera. The Nexus 9 has a slightly better 1.6 megapixel front camera compared to the 1.2 megapixel camera on the iPad Air 2.

One major difference is that the iPad Air 2 has a fingerprint sensor which the Nexus 9 does not have.

As for sound quality, the Nexus 9 has front facing speakers which provide better sound output. Those who watch videos on tablets will find them helpful. Mashable notes that even in a crowded room the sound quality of the speakers is quite good.

Another big difference between the Nexus 9 and the iPad Air 2 is their price tag. The Nexus 9 with 16GB and Wi-Fi is priced at $400, while its 32 GB version with LTE is priced at $600. The base version of the iPad Air 2 is priced at $500 which comes with 16GB and Wi-Fi. It costs $130 or more if it is LTE-enabled.