iPad Air vs. iPad (and iPad Pro): How to decide?

Apple has three iPad tiers and a sliding scale for what you can pay for…well, four if you count iPad Mini, it was last updated in 2024, but I won’t go into that here. And the question, as always, is: which one? Since i M4 iPad Air It’s set to arrive on March 11, let’s find out.

While Apple has different people in mind for different categories of its phones or Macs or iPads, the iPad has always been difficult because the sliding scale depends on what you define the iPad to be. Is it a regular couch buddy? A photo machine? A full laptop-like option? And how much should you spend?

Update me almost every iPad more than ten years now, so I have seen all the repetitions. I’m also one of those people who uses an iPad to type a fair amount with the keyboard. Also, I use it for movies and videos and checking things out on the go. It’s still not the perfect laptop replacement for me, but in many ways, it comes close when you pair it with a keyboard case.

I like a cheap iPad. But Apple doesn’t seem to like it update its basic iPad this year, and Air is more expensive. Pro, even more. They all feel the same in that they are touchscreen tablets, all cleanly designed. But I like the zippier speeds.

Here, I want to compare the iPad Pro and the iPad Air in particular, but let’s break them down quickly and maybe help you figure this out quickly. This is actually what I would tell my family if you asked me.

Entry-level iPad (11th generation)

I iPad’s basics good for basics. If I’m watching a movie or checking email with Bluesky and Safari on it, no problem. The limitations come with an older processor that now lags behind the M4 and M5 chips in the Air and Pro models by a large margin. Try to multitask, and you will feel overwhelmed. The design here is very similar to the iPad Air, apart from that, it has a big enough screen.

Alas, it only works with older Pencil models. It also connects with different keyboard cases than the Air and Pro. But you can get the phone of your choice here for $150 more, if you want. I love that all iPads have front-facing cameras for video chats and Auto-zoom Center Stage software.

Give this to a child, and they will be very happy. I wish it was more powerful, and I don’t like the Keyboard Folio case made by Apple…it’s not as Lap-friendly as the Magic Keyboard Air and Pro.

• Last updated March 2025
• Processor: A16
• Storage: 128GB for the base model, up to 512GB
• Screen size: 11 inches, Liquid Retina (non-OLED)
• Biometrics: Touch ID side button
• Apple Intelligence: No
• Pencil: USB-C model or Pencil 1
• Price: starts at $349, usually on sale

iPad Air

The Air’s performance-to-value proposition is the best right now, but you have to pay $250 more to get there compared to the base iPad. (The 13-inch model is even more expensive at $799.) I lived with the M1 iPad Air for years, and I loved it. That’s why I think of the Spirit as Pro for many people. The benefits here are performance obviously, but you also get anti-reflective screening, a bump in Wi-Fi 7 compatibility instead of Wi-Fi 6 on the iPad base and new cellular modems if you want to add 5G support ($150 extra for that configuration). Those are the little things.

Better pencil and keyboard options are similar to what the Pro offers, which is key. I don’t do a lot of drawing, but I’d like to use the Pencil Pro’s extra controls and gyro functions for sure. But the Air is heavier and thicker, slightly, than the Pro models, despite the name “Air.” You can hear it with the keyboard case open. I accept you. This one feels ready to do a lot of work.

• Recently updated
• Processor: M4
• Storage: 128GB base, up to 1TB
• Screen size: 11 and 13-inch sizes, Liquid Retina (non-OLED)
• Biometrics: Touch ID side button
• Apple Intelligence: Yes
• Pencil: Pencil Pro
• Price: Starts at $599

iPad Pro

The most expensive iPad model, i M5 iPad Pro nice but probably not necessary. It has the new M5 chip, but no Pro configuration or Max chip like the MacBook Pros offer. Storage options go up a notch here, and there’s Face ID for logging in and making payments, which is a little easier than the ID button on the side. The real advantage is the HDR OLED display, which is one of Apple’s best displays in any of its products.

I like that the Pros are a little thinner and lighter, too: with the magic keyboard open, they feel a little bulky. But you’ll be paying almost twice as much as you would with Air for the privilege. I’ve been sitting with the 13-inch M5 Pro for the past few months, and it’s lovely, but it’s a total luxury. And I’d personally prefer the smaller 11-inch iPad, because the 13-inch models have a square-ish aspect ratio that’s better for document work than watching movies.

• Updated October 2025
• Processor: M5
• Storage: 256GB base, up to 2TB
• Screen size: 11 and 13-inch sizes, Liquid Retina XDR (OLED)
• Biometrics: Face ID
• Apple Intelligence: Yes
• Pencil: Pencil Pro
• Price: Starts at $999

Are you getting Air or Pro?

The best iPad is the Pro if price wasn’t a factor, but features are. Air is the middle ground, which likes to work more than bells and whistles.

Are you getting the Air or the basic iPad?

This is difficult. The Air is clearly a better iPad, and more and more I’d recommend it. But I like the low price of the basic iPad. For kids and casual use, go with the iPad. But like I said, it’s a shame that the entry-level iPad didn’t get at least a minor chip update this time around. For anyone looking for an iPad that will last a while, it’s probably time to go for air.

That being said, I have yet to review the new iPad Air. I will have a lot of thoughts about this decision when I make it.