Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) ($500) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation) ($237) — 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 Air (5th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 | $237 |
| Weight | 460g | 461g |
| Chip | M3 | M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
| Audio | Landscape stereo speakers | Landscape stereo speakers |
| Weight | 460g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) |
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 Air (5th generation)
- M1 for around two hundred dollars
- 461g and a laminated display
- USB-C
- Still fully supported by iPadOS
- 60Hz
- Only 64GB on the base model, which is tight
- Second-generation Pencil, not Pencil Pro
- Single rear camera
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) is the better value at $237. 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.
More 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)