Choosing a high-end iPad?
Are you confused about the differences between the 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro?
Learn more about what differentiates both iPad categories and how iPad Air and iPad Pro models compare.
Lifewire / Emily Mendoza
Overall Findings
Comes in 12.9 and 11-inch models.
Offers up to 2 TB of storage.
Runs on Apple M1 chip with 16-core Neural Engine.
Pro camera system: Wide and Ultra-Wide cameras.
Comes in a single 10.9-inch model.
Limited to 256 GB of storage.
Runs on Apple M1 chip with Apple Neural Engine.
Less expensive than an iPad Pro.
The main differences between the two iPad Pro models are size and price.
The iPad Pro comes in two sizes: an 11-inch version and the more expensive 12.9-inch model.
Speed: The iPad Pro Is Faster
Runs on Apple M1 chip.
Has 16-core Neural Engine.
Has Apple Neural Engine.
Slightly slower than an iPad Pro.
The latest generation iPad Pro is fastPC fastbut the iPad Air isn’t far behind.
Both the 12.9-inch and the 11-inch models run on an Apple M1 chip and have a 16-core Neural Engine.
The 5th-generation iPad Air is no slouch in the speed category.
Productivity: Equal Support for Apple Peripherals
Supports the Smart Keyboard Folio.
Compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Works with the Magic Keyboard.
Compatible with the same Apple peripherals.
Audio Quality: Four Speakers vs. Dual Speakers
Four-speaker system.
Fuller sound and less muffling.
Good for watching media.
Comes with dual speakers.
Less dynamic audio quality than an iPad Pro.
iPad Pro models contain four speakers versus a two-speaker audio system on the iPad Air.
Camera and Video: iPad Pros Offer Ultra-Wide Shooting
Wide and Ultra-Wide rear-facing cameras.
2x Optical zoom out
12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera.
No advanced camera tweaks like Portrait mode.
12MP FaceTime HD front-facing camera.
The iPad Air rear-facing camera is also a 12-megapixel camera, but it lacks an ultra-wide lens.
Both iPad Pro models and the iPad Air record 4K video, but the latter lacks ultra-wide shooting ability.
Storage Space: More Room to Grow With iPad Pros
Models start with 128 GB capacity.
Storage is expandable to 2TB.
Other increments include 256 GB, 512 GB and 1TB.
Starts with 64 GB of storage.
Maximum storage capacity is 256 GB.
The iPad Air starts at 64 GB and expands up to 256 GB of storage.
Price: iPad Pro Requires a Bigger Investment
The 11-inch model starts at $799.
The 12.9-inch model starts at $1099.
More storage and features for the price.
Starts at $599.
Fewer features overall than the iPad Pro models.
Both iPad Pro models surpass the capabilities of the iPad Air in many areas.
Still, the iPad Air holds its own and is an impressive tablet.
The decision about which iPad to buy may come down to price more than any other factor.
However, the additional speakers make that movie sound better.
Apple will support it for years to come.
While it doesn’t have some of the Pro’s bells and whistles, you won’t be disappointed.
Once you get used to the bigger screen, anything else seems diminutive by comparison.
Don’t overlook the rest of the iPad lineup.
