I have a 13in air that I bought this year.
This really isn't the best way to identify the model of a MacBook Air. Someone purchasing a MacBook Air "this year"...could have purchased:
- a brand new 2013 MacBook Air
- a refurbished 2012 model MacBook Air
- a used Macbook Air via e-Bay or Craig's List
Computers are technical devices...and the question you're asking could have a technical answer. But not knowing the exact model MacBook Air you have makes answering a technical question difficult.
The image on the iPad 2 just looks clearer and looks great.
If we're talking about a brand new model 13" 2013 MacBook Air and an iPad 2. The 2013 13" MacBook Air has a display resolution of 1440 x 900 (127ppi). And iPad 2 has a display resolution of 1024 x 768 (132ppi).
So technically speaking...the iPad 2 has a slightly higher resolution display than a 13" 2013 MacBook Air (132ppi vs. 127ppi). But I sort of doubt that this would be that dramatic visually.
Also consider that the two display's are:
- different sizes (13.3" vs. 9.7")
- the two displays may not have been set at the same brightness level
- the two displays may be made by different manufacturers
- the graphics processors of the two devices are different
And finally as I mentioned above...someone saying that one display is better than another display can be very subjective. Ask a 2nd or a 3rd person...and they may have the opposite opinion.
There are also ways that someone can describe what they mean by "better display".
- Nick