Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) vs Apple iPad (9th generation)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) ($500) vs Apple iPad (9th generation) ($155) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | Apple iPad (9th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 | $155 |
| Weight | 460g | 487g |
| Chip | M3 | A13 Bionic |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.2" Retina |
| Ports | USB-C | — |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro | 1st generation Apple Pencil |
| Audio | Landscape stereo speakers | — |
| Weight | 460g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 487g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Camera | — | 12MP Center Stage front, 8MP rear |
| Port | — | Lightning |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3)
- M3 with hardware ray tracing
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- 460g, the sweet spot for holding
- Much cheaper than a Pro
- 60Hz display after years of 120Hz Pros
- No OLED
- Chip is overkill for what most Airs do
Apple iPad (9th generation)
- Cheapest working iPad with a modern-enough chip for everyday apps
- Home button and Touch ID, familiar to anyone coming from an older iPhone
- Center Stage front camera for video calls
- Compatible with the 1st-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard
- Lightning port, not USB-C
- Thick bezels around a smaller 10.2-inch display
- 487g is heavier than every iPad Air or Pro on this list
- No longer sold new, so accessories will thin out over time
Apple iPad (9th generation) is the better value at $155. If weight matters most, Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) carries lighter at 460g. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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