Versus Engine
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED) vs iPad Air
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED) against iPad Air, side by side.
Cheaper to start
Tie
Both start at a similar price.
Best ecosystem
Tie
Neither lists native integrations.
Standout
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED)
Apple M5 chip
Apple M5 iPad Pro (OLED)
Apple's professional tablet with a Tandem OLED display and the M5 processor.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Stunning display
- Desktop-class performance
- Advanced eSIM technology
- LiDAR Scanner
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
Cons
- iPadOS still limits multitasking
Specifications
- 5G (sub-6 GHz)5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO
- BluetoothBluetooth 6
- Camera12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- ChipApple M5 chip
- Digital zoomup to 5x
- displayUltra Retina XDR
- eSIMeSIM 9
- FDD-LTE BandsBands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71
- Gigabit LTEGigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO
- Media EngineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
- Operating SystemiPadOS
- Power and BatteryBuilt-in 38.99-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- TD-LTE BandsBands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48
- UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPAUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- Wi-Fi + Cellular modelsUp to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
- Wi-Fi 7available in countries and regions where supported
- 10-core CPU10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores
- 10-core GPU10-core GPU
- 12MP Wide camera12MP Wide camera, ƒ/1.8 aperture
- 5G NR (Bands)—
- 5G, Gigabit LTE, and Wi-Fi callingavailable in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds are based on theoretical throughput and vary based on site conditions and carrier
- 9-core CPU9-core CPU with 3 super cores and 6 efficiency cores
- Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence 4
- Apple Pencil supportApple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)
- Autofocus—
- Buttons and Connectors / Magnetic connector—
- Buttons and Connectors / Microphone—
- Buttons and Connectors / Smart Connector—
- Buttons and Connectors / Speaker—
- Buttons and Connectors / USB-C connector—
- Buttons and Connectors / Volume buttons—
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / aperture—
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / features—
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / lens—
- Capacity—
- Cellular and Wireless / Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)—
- Cellular data plansold separately. The model you purchase is configured to work with a particular cellular network technology. Check with your carrier for compatibility and cellular data plan availability
- Chip / Apple M4 chip / 8-core CPU—
- Data onlyData only 8
- Digital video output—
- Display / 11-inch / brightness—
- Display / 11-inch / resolution—
- Display / 11-inch / supports—
- Display Support—
- Displaysrounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the 13-inch iPad Pro is 13 inches, and the 11-inch iPad Pro is 11.1 inches. Actual viewable area is less
- Face IDEnabled by TrueDepth camera for facial recognition
- FaceTime callingrequires a FaceTime-enabled device for the caller and recipient and a Wi-Fi connection. Availability over a cellular network depends on carrier policies; data charges may apply
- Fast-charge capableUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max or other USB-C power adapter capable of providing 60W or higher (adapters sold separately) 13
- FDD-LTEFDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
- Finish—
- GPU—
- Image formats captured—
- iPad Air uses advanced eSIM technology—
- iPad Pro uses advanced eSIM technologyfor more convenience and security (not compatible with physical SIM cards)
- iPadOScomes with powerful features and built-in apps designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of iPad
- iPadOS comes with powerful features and built-in apps—
- layPort—
- lens cover—
- memory bandwidth—
- Microphones—
- Models A3358 and A33615G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n77, n78, n79) 7
- Models A3358 and A3361 5G NR BandsBands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n77, n78, n79
- Nano-texture display glass optionon 1TB and 2TB models
- Neural Engine—
- Panorama—
- processorApple M5
- SDR brightness1000 nits max
- SensorsFace ID, LiDAR Scanner, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensors
- Size and weightvary by configuration and manufacturing process
- Size and Weight / depth—
- Size and Weight / height—
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular models—
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 11-inch Wi-Fi models—
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 13-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular models—
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 13-inch Wi-Fi models—
- Size and Weight / width—
- Smart HDR—
- Speakers—
- Supports Apple Pencil Pro—
- Supports one external display—
- TD-LTETD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48)
- thickness5.1mm
- unified memory—
- Up to 4K AirPlayfor mirroring, photos, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later) or AirPlay-enabled smart TV
- USB-C Digital AV Multiport AdapterVGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately) 11
- VGA, HDMI, and DVI output supported—
- Video mirroring—
- Video mirroring and video out support—
- Video Recording—
- Video Recording / 4K video recording / fps—
- Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO 6
- Wi-Fi callingWi-Fi calling 7
- Wide color capture—
- XDR brightness1000 nits max full screen, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only)
iPad Air
11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with Apple M4 chip and 12MP camera
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Powerful Apple M4 chip with 8-core CPU
- High-resolution display with support for Apple Pencil
- Advanced eSIM technology for secure and convenient connectivity
Cons
- Limited to eSIM, incompatible with physical SIM cards
Specifications
- 5G (sub-6 GHz)4x4 MIMO
- BluetoothBluetooth 6
- CameraBack
- ChipApple M4 chip
- Digital zoomup to 5x
- displayThe display has rounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the 11-inch iPad Air is 10.86 inches. Actual viewable area is less.
- eSIMiPad Air uses advanced eSIM technology for more convenience and security (not compatible with physical SIM cards)
- FDD-LTE BandsFDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
- Gigabit LTE4x4 MIMO
- Media EngineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
- Operating SystemiPadOS
- Power and BatteryBuilt-in 28.93-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
- TD-LTE BandsTD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48)
- UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPAUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- Wi-Fi + Cellular modelsUp to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
- Wi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO
- 10-core CPU—
- 10-core GPU—
- 12MP Wide camera—
- 5G NR (Bands)5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n77, n78, n79)
- 5G, Gigabit LTE, and Wi-Fi calling—
- 9-core CPU—
- Apple Intelligence—
- Apple Pencil support—
- AutofocusAutofocus with Focus Pixels
- Buttons and Connectors / Magnetic connectorBack
- Buttons and Connectors / MicrophoneBack
- Buttons and Connectors / Smart ConnectorBack
- Buttons and Connectors / Speakerbottom
- Buttons and Connectors / USB-C connectorbottom
- Buttons and Connectors / Volume buttonsRight side, top
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / apertureƒ/1.8
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / featuresPanorama (up to 63MP),Sapphire crystal lens cover,Autofocus with Focus Pixels,Smart HDR 4,Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos,Photo geotagging,Auto image stabilization,Burst mode,Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG
- Camera / 12MP Wide camera / lensFive-element lens
- Capacity128GB,256GB,512GB,1TB
- Cellular and Wireless / Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)2x2 MIMO
- Cellular data plan—
- Chip / Apple M4 chip / 8-core CPU3 performance cores and 5 efficiency cores
- Data only—
- Digital video outputNative DisplayPort output over USB-C
- Display / 11-inch / brightness500 nits
- Display / 11-inch / resolution2360-by-1640-pixel resolution at 264 ppi
- Display / 11-inch / supportsApple Pencil Pro,Apple Pencil (USB-C),Apple Pencil hover
- Display SupportSupports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors
- Displays—
- Face ID—
- FaceTime calling—
- Fast-charge capable—
- FDD-LTE—
- FinishBlue,Purple,Starlight,Space Gray
- GPU9-core GPU
- Image formats capturedImage formats captured: HEIF and JPEG
- iPad Air uses advanced eSIM technologyiPad Air uses advanced eSIM technology for more convenience and security (not compatible with physical SIM cards)
- iPad Pro uses advanced eSIM technology—
- iPadOS—
- iPadOS comes with powerful features and built-in appsiPadOS comes with powerful features and built-in apps designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of iPad
- layPortUSB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)
- lens coverSapphire crystal lens cover
- memory bandwidth120GB/s memory bandwidth
- MicrophonesDual microphones for calls, video recording, and audio recording
- Models A3358 and A3361—
- Models A3358 and A3361 5G NR Bands—
- Nano-texture display glass option—
- Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
- PanoramaPanorama (up to 63MP)
- processor—
- SDR brightness—
- Sensors—
- Size and weight—
- Size and Weight / depth0.24 inch (6.1 mm)
- Size and Weight / height9.74 inches (247.6 mm)
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 11-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular models1.03 pounds (465 grams)
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 11-inch Wi-Fi models1.02 pounds (464 grams)
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 13-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular models1.36 pounds (617 grams)
- Size and Weight / iPad Air 13-inch Wi-Fi models1.36 pounds (616 grams)
- Size and Weight / width7.02 inches (178.5 mm)
- Smart HDRSmart HDR 4
- SpeakersLandscape stereo speakers
- Supports Apple Pencil ProApple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)
- Supports one external displaySupports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz
- TD-LTE—
- thickness—
- unified memory12GB unified memory
- Up to 4K AirPlay—
- USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter—
- VGA, HDMI, and DVI output supportedVGA, HDMI, and DVI output supported using adapters (sold separately)
- Video mirroringUp to 4K AirPlay for mirroring, photos, and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later) or AirPlay-enabled smart TV
- Video mirroring and video out supportVideo mirroring and video out support through USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter and USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (adapters sold separately)
- Video Recording4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
- Video Recording / 4K video recording / fps24 fps,25 fps,30 fps,60 fps
- Wi-Fi—
- Wi-Fi calling—
- Wide color captureWide color capture for photos and Live Photos
- XDR brightness—