M4 iPad Pro vs. M3 iPad Air: Which One is Best For You

[MacRumors]

Both the iPad Pro and the iPad Air have had fairly recent updates, and there are quite a few similarities between them that might leave you wondering which one is the best to meet your needs. In our latest video, we go over the similarities and differences, and the use cases that might make you choose one over another.

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The M3 iPad Air is priced starting at $599, while the M4 iPad Pro is $999, so there's a notable difference in terms of cost. There are 11-inch and 13-inch size options for both models, and performance is not too far off between them.

With the iPad Pro, you essentially get an improved display, a faster chip, Face ID support, better audio, ProRes video recording, and the option to use the higher-end keyboard case. There are few things you can do on an iPad that stress the M3 chip, and most people won't notice the difference in performance from M3 to M4 for day to day tasks.

Where you might see a small difference is apps that are system intensive, like Final Cut Pro or Photoshop, but both handle those tasks just fine. It's actually the display that's the biggest differentiating factor. The iPad Pro has an OLED display that's much brighter, supports HDR, offers ProMotion, and has deeper blacks and more vivid colors. If you're doing something where color is a factor, or if display quality is important, that's where you would want to consider the iPad Pro.

Make sure to watch our full video where we go into much more depth about the differences, and show off the two tablets side-by-side.

Article Link: M4 iPad Pro vs. M3 iPad Air: Which One is Best For You

 

[abatabia]

For me the air, until iPad os actually makes the pro worth it.

 

[mdnz]

Do you want fancy consumption device or fancy consumption device with a better display?

 

[EugW]

For me, it's mainly iPad Pro vs. iPad. The iPad Air has a much inferior screen to the iPad Pro and doesn't have Face ID, but costs way more than the iPad.

The iPad does pretty much the same thing as the iPad Air, except for more complex gaming or AI. I don't game or use that AI. So, in my household I have the iPad Pro (because I can write off part of the cost), and the kids will likely get the iPad.

I must admit though I will consider the iPad Air for the kids because in one scenario it can make some sense, and that is when buying edu with the Back-To-School Promotion. If a gift card is provided, the much pricing gets closer to the iPad. Unfortunately, there is no Back-To-School Promotion for the regular iPad. I will wait until summer before making that decision. Hopefully we in Canada won't get hit by significant tariff-related price increases or watered down promotional discount.

 

[Foxglove9]

I gave the Air a shot when I demoed them in store hoping to save some money. I’m just too used to the Pro screen to ever go back.

 

[klasma]

For me the air, until iPad os actually makes the pro worth it.

How would iPadOS make the Pro worth it over the Air in a way that it doesn’t already today?

 

[Macalway]

They look the same from a distance.

That's about it.

 

[klasma]

For me, it's mainly iPad Pro vs. iPad. The iPad Air has a much inferior screen to the iPad Pro […] The iPad does pretty much the same thing as the iPad Air

The basic iPad has a worse screen than the Air.

 

[wilee]

You forgot that Pro has Nano Coating option which was real game changer for me, for example

 

[EugW]

The basic iPad has a worse screen than the Air.

Yeah but the iPad Air screen is a lot closer to the iPad screen than it is to the iPad Pro screen. The iPad Air screen is an incremental improvement over the iPad screen, whereas the iPad Pro screen is in a completely different league.

 

[ZiBart]

A refurbished M1 iPad Pro instead.

 

[Astuces iOS]

iPad Air feels the best for me! iPad Pro is soooo expensive for a tablet… i prefer investing this money on MacBook Pro instead of MacBook Air

 

[Astuces iOS]

Yeah but the iPad Air screen is a lot closer to the iPad screen than it is to the iPad Pro screen. The iPad Air screen is an incremental improvement over the iPad screen, whereas the iPad Pro screen is in a completely different league.

ok but iPad Pro is 1400 CAD against 780 CAD… iPad Air has M3 against A16 which is much better… M3 vs M4 : not huge

 

[ThisIsMike]

You forgot that Pro has Nano Coating option which was real game changer for me, for example

He discusses that in the video.

 

[pdoherty]

I say your best bet is an M2-based iPad Pro 11

No PWM problems and darn near as fast.

 

[klasma]

Yeah but the iPad Air screen is a lot closer to the iPad screen than it is to the iPad Pro screen. The iPad Air screen is an incremental improvement over the iPad screen, whereas the iPad Pro screen is in a completely different league.

Apart from ProMotion (which I personally don’t care much for), it’s basically the same screen quality as the previous Pro. Having an AR-coated laminated P3 display is an important improvement, IMO, and is the reason why I always opted for that over the basic iPad. The fact that the Pro now has an even better display doesn’t change that.

 

[vegetassj4]

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

***rotten tomatoes and cabbages incoming****🍅🍅🍅🍅🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦

 

[bruinsrme]

They look the same from a distance.

That's about it.

Unfortunately I don’t use it at all distance so it’s the pro for me

 

[JCCL]

If it wasn't for the 60 Hz screen, my next upgrade from an iPad Pro 11 M2 would be an air in a few more years.

 

[schneeland]

If it wasn't for the 60 Hz screen, my next upgrade from an iPad Pro 11 M2 would be an air in a few more years.

Yeah, that's the major blocker for me, too. But I guess Apple will delay 120Hz for the Airs as long as possible to keep the incentive to buy the Pro.

 

[EugW]

ok but iPad Pro is 1400 CAD against 780 CAD… iPad Air has M3 against A16 which is much better… M3 vs M4 : not huge

The iPad Pro has twice the storage at 256 GB. Anyhow, the iPad Air is actually 800 CAD retail. More importantly though, the regular iPad is 500 CAD. In other words, the iPad Air costs 60% more than the iPad. BTW, the iPad has the same single-core performance and the same 128 GB storage as the iPad Air.

For our household, the only way the iPad Air makes sense is if we buy edu during the promotion. Here is the edu pricing plus last year's gift card promotion:

iPad Pro 256 GB - CA$1249 with $140 gift card = $1109
iPad Air 256 GB - CA$879 with $140 gift card = $739
iPad Air 128 GB - CA$729 with $140 gift card = $589
iPad 256 GB - CA$619 with no gift card = $619
iPad 128 GB - CA$469 with no gift card = $469

Apart from ProMotion (which I personally don’t care much for), it’s basically the same screen quality as the previous Pro. Having an AR-coated laminated P3 display is an important improvement, IMO, and is the reason why I always opted for that over the basic iPad. The fact that the Pro now has an even better display doesn’t change that.

The iPad Pro M4's OLED screen is in a completely different league from the previous iPad Pro. Is it necessary for most people? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, it's absolutely fantastic. The Pro also has twice the storage of the iPad Air plus Face ID.

 

[victorvictoria]

As I'm no longer a content producer, only a content consumer, I have absolutely no need for a Macbook Pro. Nor do I need an M3 MacBook Air. My 13" M1 Air does everything I need and more.

 

[EugW]

As I'm no longer a content producer, only a content consumer, I have absolutely no need for a Macbook Pro. Nor do I need an M3 MacBook Air. My 13" M1 Air does everything I need and more.

OK, but this is about iPads.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

“With the ‌iPad Pro‌, you essentially get an improved display, a faster chip, Face ID support, better audio, ProRes video recording, and the option to use the higher-end keyboard case.”

What is the point of this post?

 

[Astuces iOS]

The iPad Pro has twice the storage at 256 GB. Anyhow, the iPad Air is actually 800 CAD retail. More importantly though, the regular iPad is 500 CAD. In other words, the iPad Air costs 60% more than the iPad. BTW, the iPad has the same single-core performance and the same 128 GB storage as the iPad Air.

For our household, the only way the iPad Air makes sense is if we buy edu during the promotion. Here is the edu pricing plus last year's gift card promotion:

iPad Pro 256 GB - CA$1249 with $140 gift card = $1109
iPad Air 256 GB - CA$879 with $140 gift card = $739
iPad Air 128 GB - CA$729 with $140 gift card = $589
iPad 256 GB - CA$619 with no gift card = $619
iPad 128 GB - CA$469 with no gift card = $469


The iPad Pro M4's OLED screen is in a completely different league from the previous iPad Pro. Is it necessary for most people? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, it's absolutely fantastic. The Pro also has twice the storage of the iPad Air plus Face ID.

Yup 800 sorry I was confused since I always buy with edu price…

So for storage yes I agree it has 256gb but 128 might be enough for most… now is it better to buy iPad Air + MacBook Pro or iPad Pro and MacBook Air… well I prefer MacBook Pro and iPad air