Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M3) ($590) 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 13-inch (M3) | Apple iPad Air (5th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $590 | $237 |
| Weight | 616g | 461g |
| Chip | M3 | M1 |
| Display | 13" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
| Audio | Four-speaker landscape audio | Landscape stereo speakers |
| Weight | 616g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) |
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 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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