Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) ($749) 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 (M4) | Apple iPad Air (5th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749 | $237 |
| Weight | 464g | 461g |
| Chip | M4 | M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 464 g (Wi-Fi) | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) |
| Ports | — | USB-C |
| Pencil | — | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
| Audio | — | Landscape stereo speakers |
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 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. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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