Doubts between buying the iPad Pro vs iPad Air? We analyze and compare all the features of both models and tell you which one is more worthwhile and why.
The new iPad Pro (the one from 2021) is the biggest update that the iPad Pro has received since its inception and is the best tablet in terms of power and technology that money can buy. And it is precisely its price that makes many users back. Is it worth spending so much? Am I going to put all that potential to use?
The alternative for many (Apple lovers) is the iPad Air 4, a cheaper tablet in comparison that still has some impressive features, technology and Apple’s own design. And, if you can not decide between the iPad Pro vs iPad Air we are here to help you. That’s why we have gone through all the features and specifications of both tablets, as well as the price, the design, and everything you need to know before pulling out the wallet.
In short, with both tablets so powerful and competitive, how do you know which one to buy? Is the iPad Pro vs iPad Air worth it? As tablets, either of the two Apple models should work for your plans, but after reading this comparison you may discover that one of them has the best balance between features and price, depending on your intentions. What will it be? Keep reading.
iPad Pro vs iPad Air technical comparison
| Characteristics | iPad Pro 11″ (2021) | iPad Air 4 (2020) |
| Colors | Space Gray, Silver | Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, Blue |
| Dimensions | 24,76 x 17,85 x 0,59 cm | 24,76 x 17,85 x 0,61 cm |
| Weight | 466 gr | 458 gr |
| Screen | Liquid Retina (IPS) de 11» | Liquid Retina (IPS) de 10,9» |
| Resolution | 2.388 x 1.668 | 2.360 x 1.640 |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Brightness | 600 nits | 500 nits |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Speakers | 4 stereo speakers | 2 stereo speakers |
| Processor | M1 | A14 Bionic |
| Storage capacity | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | 64 GB / 256 GB |
| Memoria RAM | 8 GB (128, 256 and 512 GB) / 16 GB (1 and 2 TB) | 4 GB |
| Autonomy | 9-10 hours | 9-10 hours |
| Frontal camera | 12 Mpx lens with ultra-wide-angle and f / 2.4 aperture | 7 Mpx lens with f / 2.2 aperture |
| Rear cameras | 12 Mpx wide-angle with an aperture of f / 1.8 and Ultra wide-angle with an aperture of f / 2.4 plus LiDAR sensor | 12 Mpx lens with f / 1.8 aperture |
| Connectors | USB-C compatible con Thunderbolt (USB 4) y Smart Connector | USB-C y Smart Connector |
| Biometric systems | Face ID | Touch ID |
| SIM card | Only with the WiFi + Cellular version: Nano-SIM and eSIM | Only with the WiFi + Cellular version: Nano-SIM and eSIM |
| Bluetooth | Yes (5.0) | Yes (5.0) |
| Wifi | Yes (2.4 and 5 GHz) | Yes (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| 5G | And | No |
| GPS | And | And |
| Prices at Apple | From 879 euros | From 649 euros |
Prices
The price of the standard 11-inch iPad Pro starts at € 879 for its 128GB version and goes up to € 898 for 256 GB of storage, which could put this tablet at the same price as most high-end phones. At the other extreme and with half the gigs, the price of the iPad Air is considerably cheaper: € 649 for 64 GB or € 819 for 256 GB of storage.
If we want to continue adding gigs, the prices of the iPad Pro and iPad Air rise to € 1,649 for their 2TB. In addition to taking into account that the models compatible with mobile cards are more expensive. At this point, it should be noted that while the iPad Air stays with 4G, the improved version of the iPad Pro does come with 5G incorporated.
And where can we buy the new iPad Pro or iPad Air? Well, if you want to pay it at the original price, you can buy it almost anywhere. However, if you want to save a lot of money on both models, we recommend that you look for both the iPad Pro and the second-hand iPad Air.
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Design
In terms of design, the iPad Pro vs iPad Air is very even. Both the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) and the iPad Air 4 have a very similar design and the size is the same. Although that is in the 11-inch version of the iPad Pro if we analyze the 12.9-inch version things change. For this larger model, the iPad Pro measures 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm while the iPad Air 4 measures 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm. That is, if you are one of those who think that size does matter, the iPad Pro is your tablet.
If, on the other hand, size does not matter to you and what you care about is aesthetics, you have to know that the iPad Pro is only in silver or space gray, while the iPad Air 4 is in many more colours such as silver, space gray, rose gold, green or sky blue.
Screen
Both screens of the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air 4 are very similar, as can be seen in our comparison table at the beginning of the article. That is why at this point we are going to make special mention of the 12.9 ”iPad Pro, as it stands out more among the competition.
This model incorporates a Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion and True Tone technology (which adjusts the colour temperature automatically). And while the iPad Air 4’s screen also has True Tone technology, it lacks the rest and only has a Liquid Retina LCD screen (this doesn’t mean it looks bad, just that the iPad Pro’s is superior).
In terms of image quality, the 12.9 ”iPad Pro offers the highest resolution on the market (2048 x 2732) without losing pixel density (265 PPI). The iPad Air 4 on the other hand is not that impressive, and its somewhat smaller size limits it to a resolution of 1640 x 2340 (264 PPI). Although this does not make it stop being a tablet with an excellent screen.
Otherwise, the maximum brightness of the iPad Go 4 is set at 500 nits, similar to the 600 nits of the 11-inch iPad Pro, but much lower than the 1600 nits of the 12.9 ”iPad Pro. And finally, something that will thrill gamers, while the refresh rate of both models is 60 Hz, the Pro 12.9 ”version with an improved screen has a total of 120 Hz.
Camera and battery
At this point, we have to be frank. Neither the iPad Pro nor the iPad Air 4 stand out for their ability to take photos, but this does not mean that you do not have good cameras. The iPad Pro 12.9 has a photographic section with a 12 MP main camera and a 10 MP ultra-wide secondary camera. For its part, the iPad Air 4 only has a single 12 MP main camera.
If we turn them around, things don’t change too much. And it is that when it comes to making video calls, the iPad Pro has the same 12 MP camera while the iPad Air 4 is reduced to a 7 MP lens. Perhaps the biggest difference between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air is the latter with its Center Stage function, with which the camera will follow you during video calls.
On the battery issue, don’t expect too much either. And is that, it does not matter if we talk about iPad Pro or iPad Air 4, since the duration of both models is the same. Apple ensures that with active and continuous use the battery lasts up to 10 hours in both models, although experience tells us that depending on the use and the brightness of the screen it may be somewhat less.
Performance
It’s time to open both tablets to see what makes each of them unique, it is at this point, it is where arguably the biggest difference between the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 4. On the one hand, the iPad Pro uses Apple’s powerful M1 chipset, while the iPad Air 4 incorporates the A14 Bionic processor. The latter is the range that so far has incorporated all the iPad, while the M1 chip Apple is the same as the MacBook or iMac carry portable (hence power). On the other hand, the A14 Bionic chip is the same chipset that you will find in the iPhone 12, which gives us an idea of its power.
This makes the iPad Pro one of the most powerful tablets on the market, designed for those who want to make music, edit video, draw or all at the same time. Of course, keep in mind that neither of the two iPads has microSD support, so you will have to decide which version of memory to buy or pay for cloud storage.
In short: which one to choose, the iPad Pro or iPad Air 4?
Both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air 4 are both very good tablets, but (there is always a but) they are designed for different audiences. If you don’t have budget problems and want to enjoy the most powerful tablet out there, go for the iPad Pro. Its performance combined with its magnificent screen with 120 Hz makes it the perfect replacement for any laptop when combined with a keyboard.
On the other hand, if what you are looking for is simply a good tablet for day-to-day, to take notes, watch series, draw or even play games, then the iPad Air 4 is more than enough. Its size (compared to the 12.9 ”Pro version) makes it better suited to the tablet experience. Also, as a user, you will not notice the difference in performance compared to what the iPad Pro can offer advanced users.
And so far our comparison iPad Pro vs iPad Air 4. We hope we have solved your doubts about which one to choose. Remember the memory limitations and the price differences between the different models and you will have no more problems choosing the tablet that best suits you.
