Home / Budget Tablet / Comparison
Apple iPad (A16) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1)
Apple iPad (A16) ($449) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) ($412) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right budget tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad (A16) | Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449 | $412 |
| Weight | 477g | 466g |
| Chip | A16 | Apple M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 11" Liquid Retina, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil (USB-C) | — |
| Weight | 477 g (Wi-Fi) | 466g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Camera | — | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
| Pencil | — | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad (A16)
- $449 entry into a mature ecosystem
- A16 is plenty for media and notes
- Same 11-inch screen size as the Air
- Years of software support at this price
- No Pencil Pro — USB-C Pencil only
- Heavier than the 11-inch Air it undercuts
- Unlaminated display feels less premium
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1)
- M1 chip, genuinely desktop-class performance that still feels fast
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 port supports external displays and fast storage
- 120Hz ProMotion display
- LiDAR scanner for AR and improved autofocus
- No mini-LED XDR display, that arrived on the 12.9-inch model only
- 466g plus a Magic Keyboard adds real bag weight
- M1 is now several generations behind current iPad Pro silicon
- Costs meaningfully more used than the iPad Air it visually resembles
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) is the better value at $412. Both are part of our curated budget tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
More Budget Tablet comparisons
Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M4)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad (A16)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)