iPad Air (M3) vs iPad Pro (M4): differences explained
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Intro
Apple just surprised everyone with a new iPad Air dropping ahead of the usual schedule, merely few months after the previous generation.
So why the rush and what's new?
The big new feature is clearly the processor, which is in the name: it's iPad Air (M3). With this chip and a new keyboard that now has a function row, perfect for productivity, the iPad Air (M3) is closer than ever to the iPad Pro (M4).
What are the differences? And does it even make sense to spend the extra cash for the Pro model?
iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4 differences:
| iPad Air M3 (2025) | iPad Pro M4 (2024) |
|---|---|
| 11-inch and 13-inch models | 11-inch and 13-inch models |
| 60 Hz refresh rate | 120 Hz ProMotion |
| LCD screens | OLED screens |
| 500 nits SDR brightness | 1,000 nits SDR brightness |
| Laminated display Anti-reflective | Laminated display Anti-reflective |
| - | Nano-texture option on 1 TB and 2 TB models |
| Apple M3 unknown RAM Up to 1 TB | Apple M4 Up to 16 GB RAM Up to 2 TB |
| USB C with USB 3 transfer speeds | USB C with Thunderbolt transfer |
| Two speakers, landscape stereo | Four speakers, full stereo |
| Two microphones | Four studio quality mics |
| Supports old style Magic Keyboard | New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro M4 |
| Apple Pencil Pro support | Apple Pencil Pro support |
| - | LiDAR camera |
| - | Adaptive True Tone flash |
Table of Contents:
Design and Display Quality
Air meet Pro
The iPad Air comes in more color options
These are both sleek looking tablet, but the Pro retains its main advantage — it's incredible thin! At 5.3 mm, it's thinner than any other Apple gadget in recent history. And that's a bit strange considering that the other product has "Air" in its name. Still, the iPad Air is a tiny bit thicker at 6.1 mm.
The iPad Pro also weighs a bit less. The 11-inch Pro model weighs 0.98 pounds (444 grams), while the same sized iPad Air (M3) model weighs 1.01 lbs (460 grams).
The other important difference is that the iPad Pro uses Face ID, while the iPad Air still relies on Touch ID, which we find a bit less convenient, but that's down to personal preference.
Both the Air and Pro work with the new Apple Pencil Pro, which has squeeze control, hover control, haptic feedback, and a gyroscope for barrel rolls and angle brushing.
Both models also come with a USB-C port, but we have Thunderbolt speeds (40 Gbps) on the iPad Pro M4 line, while the iPad Air M3 has USB 3 (10 Gbps).
The bigger differentiator is screen quality. Both models come in two flavors: a smaller 11-inch model and a bigger 13-inch size.
The iPad Pro M4, however, uses the cutting edge Tandem OLED screen tech with dual layers of OLED with better color balance and double the brightness. The Pro models reach 1,000 nits of SDR brightness compared to just 500 nits on the Air M3 (600 nits on the larger 13-inch version). Plus, the Pro has 120 Hz ProMotion, while the Air is disappointingly still limited to 60 Hz refresh rate.
Aside from those bigger differences, some smaller touches are actually shared on these two. Both have a laminated construction, where the glass and the touch panel are fused for an overall thinner build; both have a special anti-glare coating too.
A pricey $100 extra that you only get on the Pro models is nano textured displays. This is only available if you opt for the 1 TB or 2 TB iPad Pro M4 models and these nano-etched screens are much better at reducing reflections, so it's easier to use the tablets outdoors.
Aside from those bigger differences, some smaller touches are actually shared on these two. Both have a laminated construction, where the glass and the touch panel are fused for an overall thinner build; both have a special anti-glare coating too.
Performance and Software
The new Air is better for gaming
The major upgrade with the new Air is the M3 chip, which brings ray tracing for the first time to the iPad Air series.
In many ways, both of these have plenty of power for both intense tasks and gaming, but the bigger question here is: are there gamers who play on an iPad? The answer is still most likely a resounding "no".
For casual users, the difference that is way more noticeable is ProMotion aka 120 Hz refresh rate. This is only available on the iPad Pro and makes for much smoother and more enjoyable scrolling.
Where the Air series differs is the storage tiers. The base $600 model still gives you 128 GB of storage, while the the iPad Pro starts at 256 GB, but that also costs $1,000.
Both models also support Apple Intelligence. That has been a very slow launch with very few actually useful features, but let's hope to see AI expand and become more useful in the near future.
Camera
They are there
There is not much to say about the cameras here: you get a landscape positioned front camera with 12 MP resolution and Center Stage support on both.
On the back, you have just one 12 MP camera on both (the iPad Pro appears to have two cameras on the back but the second circle is just a depth sensor).
These are good enough for the occasional snap when you don't have your phone around. The iPad Pro can also record ProRes video, a feature not present on the iPad Air, but we doubt many people would use that.
Audio Quality
The iPad Air series features two speakers, located on the top and bottom of the tablet — or what Apple calls "landscape stereo", as they end up as left and right when you watch video.
The iPad Pro, however, takes things to the next level with four speakers and a lot more power. With this setup you get full stereo in both landscape and portrait.
We are yet to test the speakers on the iPad Air M3, so stay tuned for a more detailed comparison over the coming weeks.
We are yet to test the speakers on the iPad Air M3, so stay tuned for a more detailed comparison over the coming weeks.
Battery Life and Charging
iPads last
Most recent iPads give us around 10 hours of screen-on time, no matter whether you use the 11-inch or 13-inch model.
In other words, you get one-day battery life, unless you really push things hard.
No changes here! Apple still lists both of these with 10 hour of video playback or web surfing.
We will be running our in-house battery tests, though, to inspect for any changes and to give you the real-world numbers. Stay tuned for that in the next couple of weeks.
Specs Comparison
Below, you can find the specs for all the iPad Air M3 and iPad Pro M4 models:
| iPad Air M3 11" | iPad Air M3 13" | iPad Pro M4 11" | iPad Pro M4 13" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in (247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm) 1.02 lbs (462g) | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 in (280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm) 1.36 lbs (618 g) | 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches (249.7 x 177.5 x 5.3 mm) 0.98 lbs (446 g) | 11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches (280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.4 mm) 1.28 lbs (582 g) |
| Screen | 11" LCD 60 Hz | 13" LCD 60 Hz | 11" OLED 120 Hz ProMotion | 13" OLED 120 Hz ProMotion |
| Processor | Apple M3 | Apple M3 | Apple M4 | Apple M4 |
| *RAM, Storage, Price | 8 GB / 128 GB - $599 8 GB / 256 GB - $699 8 GB / 512 GB - $899 8 GB / 1 TB - $1,099 | 8 GB / 128 GB - $799 8 GB / 256 GB - $899 8 GB / 512 GB - $1,099 8 GB / 1 TB - $1,299 | 8 GB / 256 GB - $999 8 GB / 512 GB - $1,199 16 GB / 1 TB - $1,599 16 GB / 2 TB - $1,999 | 8 GB / 256 GB - $1,299 8 GB / 512 GB - $1,499 16 GB / 1 TB - $1,899 16 GB / 2 TB - $2,299 |
| Cameras | 12 MP main 12 MP front ultra-wide with Center Stage | 12 MP main 12 MP front ultra-wide with Center Stage | 12 MP main LiDAR 12 MP front ultra-wide with Center Stage | 12 MP main LiDAR 12 MP front ultra-wide with Center Stage |
| Battery | ~7,670 mAh | ~9,700 mAh | ~8,300 mAh | ~10,340 mAh |
| Charging | USB-C 20 W wired | USB-C 20 W wired | USB-C 20 W wired | USB-C 20 W wired |
*iPad Air RAM is not confirmed yet.
Summary
So, has Apple finally made the iPad Air substantially better?
Well, not really. The fundamental differences haven't changed: the iPad Pro still has ProMotion and that super bright and lush OLED screen. And the super slim design is another extra.
While the iPad Air M3 does not change too much, it is a better tablet than before with a faster chip and a better keyboard, so we are happy that Apple has broken its routine and released this one earlier than usual.
A final question you might have here is if a new iPad Pro might surprisingly drop soon? The answer is a "no" here, as the new M5 chip will probably arrive in late 2025 or might even arrive later.
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