Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad Air (4th generation)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) ($1,199) vs Apple iPad Air (4th generation) ($206) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right pro tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) | Apple iPad Air (4th generation) |
| Price | $1,199 | $206 |
| Weight | 444g | 458g |
| Chip | M5 | A14 Bionic |
| Display | 11" Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED | 10.9" Liquid Retina |
| Thickness | 5.3 mm | — |
| Security | Face ID | — |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard | — |
| Weight | 444 g (Wi-Fi) | 458g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | USB-C |
| TouchID | — | Top button |
| Pencil | — | 2nd generation Apple Pencil |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)
- Full Pro display and chip under a pound
- One-handed reading is actually comfortable
- Fits bags the 13-inch cannot
- $300 less than the 13-inch
- Cramped for serious illustration
- Still $1,199 before accessories
- Same iPadOS limits as the 13-inch
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 Air (4th generation) is the better value at $206. If weight matters most, Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5) carries lighter at 444g. Both are part of our curated pro tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.