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iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Price comparison
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Specs
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: What’s similar
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Key differences
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Which is best for you?
Ever since Apple unveiled their latest iPads at the "Let Loose" event on May 7th, the iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024 have become the focus of hot discussion. But what is the difference between ipad air and ipad pro? apple iPad Air vs iPad Pro - which is best for you? To help potential iPad buyers make a smart purchasing decision, we're going to take a product-focused deep dive into the differences between the iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024, along with some practical buying advice. So if you're on the fence about which new iPad to go for, or you're just curious about how they differ, this blog can provide you with reference.
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Price comparison
Let’s start with the obvious one–price. It's clear that while these new models are similar in size, there's a pretty hefty price gap between them. We're talking about a whopping $650 difference between the 13 inch iPad Pro and Air for the higher storage tiers.
- iPad Air 2024: More affordable price with 128GB to 1TB storage options.
- iPad Pro 2024: Starts at 256GB storage and goes up to a massive 2TB, more expensive.
Budget and needs are usually the biggest factors influencing your choice of iPad. When the price gap is that huge, the choice becomes easier. Worth noting that these prices don't include the optional nano-texture screen. iPad Pro offers 1TB and 2TB configs with the option to tack on an extra $100 for that nano-texture screen to reduce reflections and glare.
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Specs
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: What’s similar
Despite the hefty price gap, the spec sheets show these tablets have a ton in common too. Here are some of the major similarities:
- Cameras: Both rock that FaceTime camera with Center Stage and a 12MP wide angle lens
- Operating System: Running the latest iPadOS 17 for a similar user interface and experience
- Display: Offering P3 wide color, True Tone, and 264ppi pixel density
- Apple Pencil Support: Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and Pencil (USB-C)
- Charging: Via USB-C to a computer or power adapter
- Connectivity: WiFi and 5G cellular options
With so much in common, the iPad Air and iPad Pro deliver a nearly identical experience and basics. But that price gap has to be justified by some clear differences, right? So what is the difference between ipad air and ipad pro? You'll find the answers in this iPad Air 2024 vs iPad Pro 2024 comparison.
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Key differences
1.Performance
On the performance front, both of the latest iPad got chip upgrades. The iPad Air 2024 leveled up from M1 chip to M2 chip, packing plenty of punch for most tasks. But the iPad Pro went even further, skipping the Apple M3 chip entirely to jump from M2 chip to the new Apple M4 chip，providing even higher performance and efficiency. Apple has also stated that one of the key factors enabling the new iPad Pro to achieve its 5.1mm thin design and be equipped with a Tandem OLED display is the M4 chip.
According to the data released by Apple, the iPad Pro equipped with the M4 chip has a 50% increase in CPU performance, with 20% more memory bandwidth. The GPU rendering performance increased by 300%, which is 4 times that of M2 chip.
2.Display
Now let's talk about the display. Users familiar with Apple products know that the iPad Air 5th generation only had one 10.9-inch screen size option. But the latest iPad Air 6th generation has made changed the screen size, offering both 11-inch and 13-inch options, just like the iPad Pro 2024. Despite the similar size choices, there are still obvious differences in display technology between them.
The iPad Air uses the traditional Liquid Retina display, and the iPad Air 11 inch 2024 has a Max brightness of 500 nits under SDR, while the iPad Air 13 inch and iPad Pro 11 inch 2022 both reach up to 600 nits, with all having a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The display on the iPad Air is sufficient for perfect daily use, whether it's handling documents, browsing the web, or watching videos, providing a clear and comfortable visual experience.
One of the major hardware updates for the iPad Pro is the abandonment of the mini-LED display technology and the adoption of an OLED screen.Apple calls this screen the "Ultra Retina XDR/Tandem OLED display." As the name suggests, it is actually composed of two stacked OLED panels, with the aim of increasing brightness.Not only does it increase the SDR brightness to 1000 nits, which is twice that of the iPad Air 11 inch 2024, but HDR content can even reach a peak brightness of 1600 nits. Additionally, the latest iPad Pro supports the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology, reaching up to 120Hz, which provides higher brightness, color performance, and a smoother user experience, especially in games and professional graphics applications, offering a more comfortable visual experience.
In simple terms, one of the main reasons for the larger price difference between iPad Air and Pro compared to previous generations is the iPad Pro's adoption of the more advanced Tandem OLED display technology.
3.Ports
Both the iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024 come equipped with USB-C ports. Though they may look identical from the outside, there's a major difference between these the two interfaces. Especially in terms of transfer speed, they differ by as much as 4 times.
The iPad Pro is equipped with a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 4/3 and is compatible with USB 4. Since the theoretical 40Gbps speed of the Thunderbolt/USB 4 interface, this configuration allows for file transfer rates of up to 40Gbps. On the other hand, Apple has equipped the iPad Air with a USB-C port that supports the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard. This means you're capped at a Max transfer rate of 10Gbps when transferring files.
For users who need to frequently transfer a large amount of files between iPad Pro and external storage devices or cameras, the Thunderbolt interface with a transfer rate of 40Gbps can provide higher efficiency. However, iPad air vs Pro, although the Air's transfer speed is not as fast as the Pro, the speed of 10Gbps is sufficient in most daily use scenarios. Frankly, the port speeds on the iPad Air will not be a decisive factor in your purchase.
4.Battery Life
No doubt, the battery life on the new iPad Pro 2024 is very concerned issue, especially given the less-than-satisfactory battery life of previous iPad Pro generations. According to Apple,the battery life of iPad Pro 2024 has not been improved, and it has the same battery life as iPad Air 2024. When using Wi-Fi to browse the web or watch videos, the Max continuous use time of these new products is 10 hours. When browsing the web over a cellular connection, it will be used for up to 9 hours.However, due to the M4 chip's improved power efficiency, hardware-accelerated AV1 codec, and the power-sipping advantages of the OLED display in the iPad Pro, I'd expect the iPad Pro 2024 to outperform the Air in real-world battery life.
5.Design
The iPad Air series has always been known for its thin and light design, and the "Air" in the name also implies its lightness. To be honest, if I didn't compare the specs, I would subconsciously assume the iPad Air is lighter than the iPad Pro.In fact, it turns out that the iPad Pro has an edge in terms of thinness and lightness.
The iPad Air sticks to its svelte design, with the iPad Air 11 inch weighing 1.02 pounds and the iPad Air 13 inch coming in at 1.36 pounds. They both rock a uniform 0.24-inch thickness, making them easy to hold in hand. Meanwhile, the iPad Pro got a redesign and an even thinner body.The iPad Air 11 inch has a thickness of 0.21 inches and weighs 0.98 pounds, while the iPad Air 13 inch has a thickness of 0.2 inches and weighs 1.28 pounds, making it almost imperceptibly lightweight. Side by side, the new iPad Pro is clearly the more lightweight of the two.
In terms of color choices, since the iPad Air needs to cater to a broader consumer base, it offers more color options including blue, purple, space gray, and starlight to satisfy different personal preferences. On the other hand, the iPad Pro is positioned as a high-end product aimed at professional users, so its color design leans towards a more business-like style, with silver and space black as the two available choices.
6.Accessories
Apple also unveiled the Apple Pencil Pro alongside the new iPads at their "Let Loose" event. What's noteworthy is that the latest Magic Keyboard uses new materials and design that makes it exclusively compatible with the iPad Pro 2024 - it won't work with the iPad Air 2024. My take is Apple probably did this intentionally to keep a clear separation between product lines. If you go for the iPad Air, you're stuck with the older Magic Keyboard model.
But this new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro has gotten some solid upgrades in size, design, and features. Size-wise, it's more compact than the previous version. The keys use the same backlighting tech as MacBooks while keeping that classic Mac typing feel. There's a new row of 14 function keys for quickly adjusting brightness, volume, and more. In addition, the glass trackpad area is larger and even has haptic feedback for smooth scrolling and gestures. It really improves the overall user experience.
iPad Pro 2024 vs. iPad Air 2024: Which is best for you?
By now, you should know the key differences between iPad Air and Pro. So if you're still on the fence about which new iPad to get, my advice is don't worry too much. First figure out what your actual needs are, then consider your budget. Like we mentioned earlier, when the price gap is that huge, the choice becomes easier.
For most people, the iPad Air's performance is more than enough, and its price is quite affordable. It's likely to becoming the best iPad to buy in 2024. If you have no intention of upgrading to the new Magic Keyboard and only need a tablet for daily entertainment and studying, I suggest you don't hesitate and go directly for the iPad Air 2024 with the M2 chip.
But if you're a pro user who's all about that premium experience and money is no object? Then iPad Pro 2024 is undoubtedly your best choice! At least for now, basically no tablet can surpass it in performance and display technology.
