Apple iPad Air (4th generation) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
Apple iPad Air (4th generation) ($206) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) ($500) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air (4th generation) | Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $206 | $500 |
| Weight | 458g | 682g |
| Chip | A14 Bionic | Apple M1 |
| Display | 10.9" Liquid Retina | 12.9" Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| Port | USB-C | Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| TouchID | Top button | — |
| Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
| Weight | 458g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) | 682g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Camera | — | 12MP Wide + 10MP Ultra Wide, LiDAR |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air (4th generation)
- First iPad Air with the edge-to-edge design later iPads copied
- 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, magnetic attach and wireless charge
- USB-C port for a design that finally caught up
- A14 chip still handles current iPadOS comfortably
- No ProMotion, 60Hz display like the base iPad
- Single rear camera, no Ultra Wide
- 458g, heavier than the mini for a similarly-aged chip
- Costs close to the newer base iPad used, worth comparing both
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation, M1)
- Mini-LED XDR display, still one of the best screens ever put in a tablet
- M1 chip handles anything current iPadOS asks of it
- Thunderbolt/USB 4 for external displays and fast storage
- LiDAR and the full Pro camera system
- 682g plus a keyboard case is a genuine laptop-weight bag addition
- Mini-LED can show blooming around bright text on dark backgrounds
- Costs noticeably more used than the 11-inch M1 Pro for the display upgrade alone
- Several generations behind current M-series Pro silicon now
Apple iPad Air (4th generation) is the better value at $206. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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