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iPad Pro (right) vs. iPad Air (left)
To put it kindly, the state of the iPad is a mess.
There are five current models, with another dozen earlier releases that are still supported. Aside from the Pro with its distinctive edge-to-edge screen, they all look pretty much the same. The only difference is size, but even that isn’t a reliable metric. After all, when you can get an iPad mini and a sixth-generation iPad with the exact same resolution, why even bother with different models?
I’m here to help cut through the jargon and take a closer look at how Apple iPads compare to each other:
iPad Pro
An 11-inch Apple iPad Pro
The iPad Pro was recently refreshed with a larger screen. Those 11 inches are the sweet spot for most, but if you need a truly gargantuan iPad, there's also a 12.9-inch model. Since it has the aforementioned edge-to-edge screen design, there’s no Touch ID, instead using the Face ID of the latest iPhones. Whereas other iPads top out at 256GB or less of storage, you can get up to 1TB on the Pro. The iPad Pro supports my favorite mobile keyboard, the Smart Keyboard Folio. If you want to use the superior Gen 2 Apple Pencil, you’ll have to stick with the Pro, since other iPads aren’t able to charge it. The camera is the best you can get from an iPad. It can shoot 4K video and capture 12mp images. The front-facing camera supports Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting as well. The audio is better too, with four speakers to the other models’ two.
The only drawback with the iPad Pro? The price. The base model starts $300 more than the iPad Air and quickly rockets into what it would cost to buy a full-size laptop. The Pro really only makes sense if you’re an artist and need the latest digital stylus or you need the most versatile productivity device in Apple's stable. With the iPadOS enhancements, working on an iPad is easier than ever.
iPad Air
iPad Air
I’ll never understand Apple nomenclature. The iPad Air was released as a slimmed-down next-generation successor of the original iPad, until the iPad got more power and took the title back. Whereas MacBook Air models are thinner, they have less power than the laptops within its category. Currently, the iPad Air has an A12 chip (almost as good as the Pro and its A12X) and a large 10.5-inch screen. The Air is a very attractive midrange tablet for those who have explored what a tablet can do and seek a feature-packed model. It supports Apple’s Smart Keyboard (but not the Folio) and the 1st Generation Apple Pencil (which makes sense, since the iPad Air retains the Lightning port of most other iPads). Its retina display is a little dimmer than the Pro, but only by a bit. And its less-powerful 8mp camera can still capture crystal-clear images and HD video. Since it keeps Touch ID, it doesn’t need the enhanced front-facing camera of the Pro, so no portrait mode here. But when you look at the specs, the iPad Air can do just about everything the iPad Pro can do, but for hundreds of dollars less. You might not get the latest peripherals, upgraded cameras or extra storage of the Pro. The Pro is for a very specific audience. For $499, the iPad Air makes a lot more sense if you’re looking for an Apple tablet for reading books and comics, enjoying movies and leisure browsing. And for students, perhaps occasionally write a paper or two.
Shop iPad Pro | Shop iPad Air
