Apple announced the fifth-generation iPad Air in March, which has the M1 processor, 5G connectivity, and a new front-facing camera system. The new iPad Air arrives about a year after Apple unveiled its current iPad Pro lineup, which has the M1 CPU and 5G connectivity, as well as ProMotion and a Thunderbolt connection. The previous, fourth-generation iPad Air was released in September 2020, bringing the tablet considerably closer in design to the iPad Pro, and with the current edition, the iPad Air now uses the same M1 processor as the iPad Pro, putting them even closer together. Despite this, the iPad Air and iPad Pro are still two distinct tablets aimed at different user groups.
iPad Air Is The Better Choice
According to Apple’s specifications, the two iPads share many of their most significant characteristics, including the M1 processor. Even said, there are many significant distinctions between the iPad Air and iPad Pro that are worth mentioning, such as the screens, authentication mechanisms, and rear camera arrangements.
Overall, the iPad Air is the superior choice for the vast majority of consumers, simply because it offers greater value for money. Face ID, a more adaptable back camera system, four-speaker audio, and a ProMotion display with refresh rates up to 120Hz will not be worth the extra $200+ required to get the Pro.
Some iPad Pro technologies, such as LiDAR, the Ultra Wide back camera, greater storage choices with up to 16GB of RAM, and Thunderbolt connection, will only be beneficial to a tiny percentage of iPad customers. Some of these high-end capabilities will never be used by the majority of consumers. Many capabilities, such as True Tone flash, mmWave 5G connection, Audio zoom, and stereo audio recording, may not be used to their maximum potential by most users.
Professionals that have a clear need for more RAM and storage, Thunderbolt connection, and a mini-LED display for HDR content will profit from purchasing the iPad Pro.