Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1)
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) ($749) vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) ($412) — 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 Pro 11-inch (3rd generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749 | $412 |
| Weight | 464g | 466g |
| Chip | M4 | Apple M1 |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina | 11" Liquid Retina, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Security | Touch ID top button | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 464 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 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 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. 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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