Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) vs Apple iPad (9th generation)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) ($749) 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 (M4) | Apple iPad (9th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749 | $155 |
| Weight | 464g | 487g |
| Chip | M4 | A13 Bionic |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 10.2" Retina |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 464 g (Wi-Fi) | 487g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Camera | — | 12MP Center Stage front, 8MP rear |
| Port | — | Lightning |
| Pencil | — | 1st generation Apple Pencil |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
- The best balance of price, weight, and power
- M4 outruns what iPadOS asks of it
- Touch ID beats Face ID for flat-on-desk use
- $450 less than the equivalent Pro
- 60Hz LCD, no ProMotion or OLED
- Keyboard and Pencil push it past $1,000
- No Face ID
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 (M4) carries lighter at 464g. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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