Many consider Apple to be the top producer of tablets, and the Apple iPad is thought by many to be the best tablet money can buy. But now, there are multiple iterations of the iPad that are available for purchase. Among these, the iPad Air and the iPad Pro stand out the most. They’re the best in terms of overall specs as well as reviews. However, there is a longstanding debate about which of the two is the best iPad to buy. In this article, we pit the iPad Air vs iPad Pro and provide you with all you need to make an informed decision.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro: Comparison
“They’re both iPads, there’s literally no difference. Just buy one.” Well yes, but no. They’re both iPads, but they’re also worlds apart from each other. Their uses, specs, design, price, memory, and even size are all distinctive. The way you use an iPad Air is unlike how you use an iPad Pro, and vice versa. These products are fundamentally different from each other.
Specs
| iPad Air | iPad Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | A14 Bionic chip | A12Z Bionic chip |
| Camera | 12 MP Wide camera |
|
| Sensor | Touch ID |
Face ID |
| Video Shooting | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps (Wide); 60 fps (Ultra Wide) |
| Speakers | Two-speaker audio landscape mode | Four-speaker audio |
| Charging Ports | USB‑C connector | USB‑C connector |
| Apple Pencil Support |
2nd generation | 2nd generation |
| Dimension | 10.9 inches | 12.9 inches |
The most important element to consider would, of course, be the specs. Both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro are intended to be quality products, but they’re built differently. For instance, the processor of the iPad Air is an A14 Bionic processor, while the processor of the iPad Pro is just an A12.
The differences don’t end there. Though both rear cameras of iPad Air and iPod Pro are at 12 megapixels, iPod Pro can still even be capped up to 10-MP Ultra Wide cameras. Additionally, the iPad Pro supports face identification, whereas the iPad Air can only support touch identification.
In terms of connectors, both iPad Air and iPod Pro support USB‑C connector. Additionally, both can now support second-generation Apple pencils.
These models also come with video recording features. Both can now record up to 4k at up to 60 fps. However, iPod Pro can maximize its recording up to 60 fps ultra wide. It also has extensive video recording features that you can tweak.
When it comes to audio, the iPad Pro also beats the iPad Air. It gives you four speakers. Meanwhile, the iPad Air only supports two. In a battle of specs, the iPad Pro clearly comes out on top.
Design
Another thing that factors into the differences is the design. Apple has begun innovating and experimenting with the design of their products while still maintaining the Apple feel. And the first product they’ve tried this out with is none other than the iPad Pro.
Apple purposely gave the iPad Pro a huge upgrade in its design. This makes the product look a lot more modern and sleek. Now, it has an edge-to-edge screen complete with little bezels. It’s a noteworthy departure from the usual design that Apple has had.
The thickness of the tablets is also distinct. The iPad Air comes in only a bit smaller at a 10.9-inch display, compare with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. And obviously, the latter is the biggest of the bunch.
When you measure up the iPad Air vs iPad Pro in terms of design, it’s hard to say. If you want something more compact, then consider going for the iPad Air. Otherwise, looking at the features and the modern design, the iPad Pro is superior.
Usability
Debating on the iPad Air vs iPad Pro concerning usability is a very close fight as they are alike in many aspects. You can use them both as regular tablets since they’re both run by iPadOS. You can use them to browse the internet, watch videos, and download Apple apps.
They also support the use of Apple pencils, which are great for drawing and graphic design. If you want to draw but don’t want something too big or too expensive, the iPad Air is a good choice. However, as we’ve stated before, only the iPad Pro utilizes face recognition. On an iPad Air, you’ll need to use your fingerprint.
You can also attach the Apple smart keyboard to your iPad Air or iPad Pro to make your life easier. The iPad Pro can give you an experience similar to that of a laptop since its features are close. It also has 1 TB of storage space for your needs.
Price
The price is something that can make or break these products for you. You might think they’re expensive, but really they’re worth it. Though, the iPad Pro is significantly more expensive than the iPad Air.
A regular iPad Air is worth nearly $500. This might seem expensive, but it doesn’t stop there. In fact, the standard iPad Pro 11-inch version is worth almost $800 at market value. Its 12.9-inch counterpart can go up as high as $1,000 or more.
If you’re not on a budget but don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount either, the 11-inch iPad Pro may be the best choice for you. It’s definitely worth it for all of its features. Likewise, if you want it badly, you can go for the 12.9-inch version. It’s not a bad purchase by any means.
However, if you’re on a budget but want to try getting into digital graphic design, consider the iPad Air. In terms of core features, it’s a great option that fits just about everyone. The iPad Air (10.2-inch version) is also considered by many to be the best-value option out of every iPad. It has the best price for its extensive amount of specs, though it does fall behind the iPad Pro.
Size Comparison
The iPad Air has a display size of 10.9″, while the iPad Pro comes in 12.9-inch variants. Dimensions for the iPad Air are 9.74 x 7 inches, and the 11-inch iPad Pro is just slightly bigger. The biggest is obviously the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, coming in at 11.04 x 8.46 inches.
Contrary to popular belief, size is actually an important factor in picking a tablet. The size dictates the display resolution. For the iPad Pro, the display resolutions are 2388 x 1668 and 2732 x 2048 for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions respectively. The iPad Air is slightly smaller than the iPad Pro 12.9-inch
If the size dictates the display resolution, then the display resolution dictates how many things you can fit on your screen at once. This is extremely important for people who are always on the move and always working. This is because a bigger display lets you multitask more efficiently. It does this by giving you the ability to have multiple things on the screen at once.
If you’re always on the move and have a need to multitask often, consider a bigger screen resolution. Though if you want something with a good resolution and you can’t spend all that much, you can get the 11-inch version of the iPad Pro.
Storage Space
Comparing the iPad Air vs iPad Pro in terms of storage is easy. The direct conclusion is that the iPad Pro will almost always have more space than the iPad Air. However, this does depend on the price you buy it at.
The iPad Air can have storage space of up to 256 GB. This is big already, but if you’re always on the move, this might not be nearly enough. The iPad Pro fixes this marvelously by allowing you to have storage space up to 1 TB.
However, the prices of these models vary according to the storage space. For instance, the standard price of the iPad Air is $500. If you want more storage space and better features, it can go up to $700. The same is true for the iPad Pro. It goes up from $800 to $1,300, with its 12.9-inch version going as high as $1,500.
If you go to different places often and need a device with lots of storage, the iPad Pro is excellent. The iPad Air can only support storage up to 256 GB. If you want anything higher, you’ll need to buy an iPad Pro. Not to mention, the iPad Pro can support SD cards.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro: Pros and Cons
To settle the iPad Air vs iPad Pro debate, we’ve listed down their pros and cons. While both the iPad Air and iPad Pro are great products, they’re not perfect. As with every product, they have their fair share of flaws. Both models have benefits to make you choose them, and disadvantages that might make you hesitant to buy them.
iPad Air
Having an objective take at the iPad Air may help you in deciding whether to buy it or an iPad Pro. That being said, here we present the pros and cons of getting the iPad Air.
Pros
- It has a decent design comparable to the iPad Pro line.
- It’s pretty fast for a tablet, having 3 GB of RAM.
- It has good battery life, being able to last ten hours.
- It also has support for the Apple pencil.
- The product also has built-in support for 4G and LTE, as well as Bluetooth.
- Its camera is among the top-of-the-line in the industry.
- Its on-screen keyboard is useful, and its interface is extremely user-friendly.
- It’s excellent for people who find the iPad Mini slow but think that the iPad Pro line is too expensive.
Cons
- An obvious downside is that it pales in comparison to the iPad Pro line.
- You can’t replace its batteries. For long-term use, the battery isn’t the best.
- You can’t buy an iPad Air with storage above 256 GB. Upgrading the storage isn’t an option either, since it doesn’t support SD cards.
- The camera is not as superior as the iPad Pro, which has ultra-wide cameras.
- If you like big displays and multitasking, the iPad Air might be a little too small for you.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro is widely considered the king of high-end tablets due to its extensive features. In this section, we take a look at everything it does right and everything it does wrong.
Pros
- It has a sleek design and is faster than the old iPad version.
- Its camera is a huge leap forward for Apple, and its storage capacity is great.
- Its audio output is great because it has a high-quality microphone you won’t find in most other tablets.
- It has LTE support and even a LiDAR scanner, making it compatible with augmented reality.
- In general, its features are superior to most other tablets out there.
Cons
- The price may be a turn-off for a lot of people. It starts at $800 for the cheapest standard version.
- Some people also complain that the price is too high for the 1 TB version of the iPad.
- Its processor isn’t that much faster than the iPad Air.
- The only noticeable upgrades are the storage space and size.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro: The Verdict
We’ve provided the information, so now it’s time to decide which tablet is the best for you. Well, generally people consider the iPad Air as the best because it offers the most for its price. It doesn’t cost you a fortune like the iPad Pro and has similar features.
Although, if you’re always on the move and need something like a laptop, consider buying an iPad Pro. It’s faster and has more features than the iPad Air, not to mention a lot more storage space. If you’re willing to spend the money, go for an iPad Pro. Generally, you’ll want the 11-inch version unless you really need a big screen size.
