The iPad Air and the iPad 4 may seem very similar in some aspects, but considering some factors the two are actually quite different from one another.

The iPad Air drew its inspiration from the Macbook Air, which featured a slimmer profile and a lighter weight. The iPad 4 came before the iPad Air and might be called the predecessor to the device, and was originally supposed to be called the iPad 5.

Apple fans continuously debate on whether tablet fans should make the jump from the iPad 4 to the iPad Air. A comparison of price and specs will provide insight into the complex consumer question.

The iPad Air for starters is lighter and thinner, as previously mentioned. It weighs around 478g, which is about 100g lighter than iPad 4, and is about a millimeter thinner too. The edges of the Air are tapered off to give it a smoother look and to give it the illusion of being smaller.

The Air jumps to the faster 64-bit A7 chip while the iPad 4 has the 32-bit A6X chip. The Air's faster processor allows for smoother gaming and better graphics; this could be most appealing for iPad users who use their devices mainly for that purpose. Overall, the Air is faster in the aspects of gaming, but that does not mean that the iPad 4 can't handle any of the same games.

Both the Air and the iPad 4 share the same screen size and resolution at 9.7-inches with 2048 x 1536 screen resolution.

As expected, the iPad Air is more expensive than the iPad 4, which is a major point of debate.

A 16GB variant of the iPad 4 costs around $570 while the same 16GB variant for the iPad Air costs $680. Breaking it down, for an extra $100, buyers will get a lighter, thinner, and slightly faster iPad Air. Generally, the iPad 4 isn't all bad and is still fast for its class. However, for those who don't want to deal with the weight and size of the iPad 4, they can get the Air for an extra $100 with its bonus speed.