When choosing between the iPad Air and iPad Pro, it’s essential to consider their features, performance, and pricing to determine which model best suits your needs. Here’s a detailed comparison:
Design and Build Quality
- Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display
- Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches
- Weight: Approximately 1 pound (varies slightly depending on configuration)
- Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, Sky Blue
- Design: Thin and lightweight, featuring flat edges and an all-screen design
- Materials: Aluminum body
- Display: Two sizes – 11-inch and 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (for 12.9-inch)
- Dimensions:
- 11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches
- 12.9-inch: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches
- Weight:
- 11-inch: Approximately 1.03 pounds
- 12.9-inch: Approximately 1.5 pounds
- Colors: Space Gray, Silver
- Design: Similar thin and flat edge design, with a larger screen-to-body ratio on the 12.9-inch model
- Materials: Aluminum body, more premium feel
Display
iPad Air:
- Resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels
- Brightness: Up to 500 nits
- ProMotion Technology: No
- True Tone and P3 Wide Color: Yes
iPad Pro:
- Resolution:
- 11-inch: 2388 x 1668 pixels
- 12.9-inch: 2732 x 2048 pixels
- Brightness: Up to 600 nits (1000 nits peak brightness for HDR on the 12.9-inch model)
- ProMotion Technology: Yes (120Hz refresh rate)
- True Tone and P3 Wide Color: Yes
- Additional Features: Mini-LED technology on the 12.9-inch model for improved contrast and HDR performance
Performance
iPad Air:
- Processor: Apple M1 chip
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage Options: 64GB, 256GB
iPad Pro:
- Processor: Apple M2 chip
- RAM: 8GB or 16GB (depending on storage configuration)
- Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Camera and Audio
iPad Air:
- Rear Camera: 12MP wide camera
- Front Camera: 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Audio: Stereo speakers (landscape mode)
iPad Pro:
- Rear Camera: Dual camera system with 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide, plus a LiDAR scanner
- Front Camera: 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Audio: Four-speaker audio system for better sound quality
Battery Life
Both Models:
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video
- Charging: USB-C, with the iPad Pro supporting Thunderbolt / USB 4
Connectivity
iPad Air:
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Cellular: Optional 5G
- Ports: USB-C
iPad Pro:
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Cellular: Optional 5G
- Ports: Thunderbolt / USB 4, allowing for more versatile connectivity and faster data transfer
Accessories
iPad Air:
- Apple Pencil: Supports 2nd generation
- Keyboard: Compatible with Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
iPad Pro:
- Apple Pencil: Supports 2nd generation
- Keyboard: Compatible with Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio
Software and Features
Both Models:
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Features: Multitasking, Apple Pencil support, various productivity and creativity apps, Face ID on iPad Pro, Touch ID on iPad Air
Price
iPad Air:
- Starting Price: Around $599 for the base model (64GB, Wi-Fi only)
iPad Pro:
- Starting Price:
- 11-inch: Around $799 for the base model (128GB, Wi-Fi only)
- 12.9-inch: Around $1,099 for the base model (128GB, Wi-Fi only)