iPad Air vs iPad Pro: which one should you choose?

Daan11 JANUARY 2026

Content

What are the main differences between the iPad Air and iPad Pro?
What similarities are there between the iPad Air and iPad Pro?
Compare the iPad Air and iPad Pro
Our advice on choosing between the iPad Air and iPad Pro

Four iPad models in different sizes lined up from largest to smallest, each showing colorful abstract wallpapers on their displays.

In addition to the standard iPad, Apple also offers other versions: the iPad Air and iPad Pro. The Air and Pro are ideal if you want to do just a bit more with your tablet than browsing the internet and watching videos. Apple’s Air M3 (2025) and Pro M5 (2025) are 2 real powerhouses. But when is one iPad a better fit for you than the other? Below, we compare the iPad Air and the iPad Pro.

What are the main differences between the iPad Air and iPad Pro?

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On this page, we compare the iPad Air M3 and iPad Pro M5 (both from 2025) side by side. This way, you can see at a glance which iPad best suits your needs: from everyday tasks and studying to intensive creative work and professional use. While the iPad Air stands out for its value for money and portability, the iPad Pro focuses on maximum performance, a more advanced display, and better camera and audio features. Below, we explain the key differences for each aspect.

Everything about the latest Apple iPad models

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M3 vs M5: different iPad processors

When it comes to processors, both the iPad Pro and iPad Air are powerful. The Air features an M3 chip, allowing you to handle demanding tasks with ease. The iPad Pro goes one step further in processing power. It uses the M5 chip, a newer version of the M3. With this powerhouse, you can run Photoshop, 3D games and other graphics-heavy tasks without stuttering. There’s a small difference in RAM between the iPad Pro and the Air. The iPad Air M3 has 8 GB of RAM, while the iPad Pro M5 comes with 12 GB. This makes the Pro just that bit more capable when it comes to multitasking than the Air.

On a tablet screen, a dark Face ID setup box with smiling icon invites the user to begin secure facial recognition enrolment.

Face ID and Touch ID

The way you unlock the iPad differs clearly between the Air and the Pro. The iPad Air M3 uses Touch ID in the top button, which means you unlock your iPad with your fingerprint – handy if you often hold the iPad in your hands. The iPad Pro M5, on the other hand, uses Face ID. You unlock the iPad simply by looking at it. This feels especially natural if you frequently use the iPad with a keyboard or stand, as if you were working on a laptop.

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Speakers and microphones

The iPad Air M3 offers stereo speakers that are more than good enough for series, videos and video calls. Its 2 microphones are suitable for online meetings, voice memos and video calls. The iPad Pro goes a step further than the iPad Air. The iPad Pro M5 uses a more advanced audio system with more speakers (4) and a fuller, more spacious sound. In addition, the iPad Pro has 4 microphones. These microphones are higher quality and aimed at studio-like recordings, so your voice comes through more clearly and with less noise – useful for podcasts, voice-overs or professional meetings. If you mainly watch and listen to content, the iPad Air is a good choice. If you create a lot of professional content (video, audio, presentations), you’ll benefit from the better speakers and microphones of the iPad Pro.

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Screen sizes and display technologies

The iPad Air (2025) has either an 11-inch Liquid Retina display or a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology, meaning you can watch your favourite series or play your favourite games smoothly. The iPad Pro (2025) comes in the same sizes but adds an extra display technology compared to the Air. Its Ultra Retina XDR display features ProMotion technology and double the number of nits. This lets you watch movies and series with razor-sharp images and deep blacks, even in bright light, and play the most graphically demanding games without lag. Both the iPad Pro and iPad Air have a special anti-reflective coating, so you’re not bothered by light or sunlight on your screen. With iPad Pro models with 1 TB or 2 TB of storage, you can also opt for a display with nano-texture glass. This display technology gives a matte finish and keeps reflections to a minimum.

Colours, dimensions and weight of the Air and Pro

The iPad Air and iPad Pro differ not only in terms of technology, but also subtly in design and colour options. The iPad Air often focuses on more playful colours, while the iPad Pro usually comes in more business-like shades. In the table below, you can see all the differences at a glance.

Property name	Size	Weight	Colour
iPad Air M3 (2025)	247,6 mm x 178,5 mm x 6,1 mm (11 inch) and 280,6 mm x 214,9 mm x 6,1 mm (13 inch)	460 gram (11 inch), 616 gram (13 inch)	Blue, purple, starlight and space grey
iPad Pro M5 (2025)	249,7 mm x 177,5 mm x 5,3 mm (11 inch) and 281,6 mm x 215,5 mm x 5,1 mm (13 inch)	444 gram (11 inch), 579 gram (13 inch)	Silver and space black

Check out measurements of all iPads

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Camera system: improved front camera on iPad Pro

Do you enjoy taking photos and videos with your iPad? Or do you regularly FaceTime with friends and family? Then good camera and sound quality are important. Both the Air and the Pro have a 12‑megapixel back camera. With the iPad Pro in particular, you can record ProRes videos in 4K resolution and even edit them. The Pro’s front camera is also slightly more advanced. It features TrueDepth technology, which allows it to recognise facial contours even better. This is not only useful for taking selfies, but also for keeping your iPad secure.

On a tablet, an Apple TV+ scene shows a lone hunter at a cave mouth, overlooking a foggy river valley between steep mountains.

Other storage options

Both the iPad Air M3 and iPad Pro M5 offer multiple storage options, but the iPad Pro goes further in terms of maximum capacity and variety. With the iPad Air M3, you can choose from 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB. The iPad Pro M5 offers the same options but replaces 128 GB with 2 TB. This allows you to store a lot locally on your device, such as large video files or high‑res photos. Choose the iPad Air M3 with a mid-range storage capacity if you mainly stream, work online and save documents in the cloud. Choose the iPad Pro M5 with a larger storage capacity if you work with large projects, media and professional apps and want to keep them stored locally.

What similarities are there between the iPad Air and iPad Pro?

On an iPad with keyboard, many overlapping windows show video editing, maps and notes, highlighting smooth multitasking power.

At their core, the iPad Air and iPad Pro are very similar. Both models support 5G, so you can work online, stream and collaborate quickly even when you’re on the go. They’re also compatible with the same accessories: you can use both the Apple Pencil (USB‑C) and Apple Pencil Pro and easily connect a Magic Keyboard to turn your iPad into a full-fledged laptop replacement. In addition, both models are compatible with Apple Intelligence. This lets you use smart features for an even better user experience, easily create summaries of your notes or design your own emojis. Your iPad does need to be updated to iPadOS 26 to use these features. Both models also share a modern USB‑C port, so you can charge, transfer files and connect peripherals using the same cables and accessories.

Compare the iPad Air and iPad Pro

Property name	iPad Air M3 (2025)	iPad Pro M5 (2025)
Processor	M3 chip	M5 chip
Dimensions and weight	11 inch (247,6 mm x 178,5 mm x 6,1 mm and 460 gram) and 13 inch (280,6 mm x 214,9 mm x 6,1 mm and 616 gram)	11 inch (249,7 mm x 177,5 mm x 5,3 mm and 444 gram) and 13 inch (281,6 mm x 215,5 mm x 5,1 mm and 579 gram)
Display resolution and brightness	2360 x 1640 pixels at 264 ppi, 500 nits (11 inch), 2732 x 2048 pixels at 264 ppi, 600 nits (13 inch)	2420 x 1668 pixels at 241 ppi, max 1000 nits (11 inch), 2752 x 2064 pixels at 264 ppi, max 1000 nits (13 inch)
Display technology	True Tone	ProMotion (with refresh rates from 10 Hz to 120 Hz) and True Tone
Camera	12MP wide camera, up to 5x digital zoom, 12MP Center Stage front camera	12MP wide camera, up to 5x digital zoom, 12MP Center Stage front camera
Sound & recording	4K video, stereo speakers and 2 microphones	4K video, 4 speakers and 4 microphones
Face ID & Touch ID	Touch ID	Face ID
Storage capacities	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB
Battery	Up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi‑Fi or watching videos	Up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi‑Fi or watching videos
Colours	Blue, purple, starlight and space grey	Silver and space black
Compatible accessories	Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB‑C), Magic Keyboard for iPad Air	Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB‑C), Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro
Charge with	USB-C	USB-C and Thunderbolt/USB 4 connections

Our advice on choosing between the iPad Air and iPad Pro

A woman sits outdoors among big leaves, using a stylus on her green iPad, looking relaxed yet focused on her creative work.

Are you a graphic designer or do you enjoy gaming? Then you’ll naturally want the most powerful performance from your tablet, which makes the iPad Pro a great option. If you work less with graphics or gaming content, the iPad Air is likely a better fit. In many areas, its performance comes very close to that of the Pro, which is why the iPad Air is popular with pupils and students. If you only want to use an iPad for browsing the internet and other simple tasks, the standard iPad is also a good, more affordable choice. For even more options, you could compare the iPad with the iPad Air.

Compare all iPad models