Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) vs Apple iPad (10th generation)
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) ($590) vs Apple iPad (10th generation) ($272) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) | Apple iPad (10th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $590 | $272 |
| Weight | 616g | 477g |
| Chip | M3 | A14 Bionic |
| Display | 13" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.9" Liquid Retina, edge-to-edge |
| Ports | USB-C | — |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro | 1st generation Apple Pencil, via adapter |
| Audio | Four-speaker landscape audio | — |
| Weight | 616g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 477g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | USB-C |
| TouchID | — | Moved to top button |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3)
- 13-inch screen without Pro pricing
- Four-speaker audio is a real upgrade
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- 616g, heavy to hold for long
- 60Hz on a screen this size is noticeable
- No OLED or ProMotion
Apple iPad (10th generation)
- USB-C, first base iPad to drop Lightning
- Edge-to-edge display matches the iPad Air's modern look
- A14 chip is a real step up from the 9th gen's A13
- Landscape stereo speakers, better for video and games
- Still only supports the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, and needs a USB-C adapter to charge it
- No ProMotion or laminated display like the Air/Pro
- 477g, barely lighter than the 9th gen despite the redesign
- Costs meaningfully more than the 9th gen used for a smaller feature gap than the redesign suggests
Apple iPad (10th generation) is the better value at $272. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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