iPad Pro vs. iPad Air: Which should you buy?

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When it comes to an iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4 comparison, it's essential to look inside and out. Overall, the iPad Pro offers more, but it also costs more than the newer iPad Air. That's why even though it's a lesser machine, we're recommending the less expensive iPad.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: So much is the same

First introduced in March 2020, the current-generation iPad Pro is available in two sizes, 11-inch and 12.9-inch. By contrast, the iPad Air, arriving in October 2020, is only available in one size, 10.9-inch. The differences between the models extend beyond screen size.

The current-generation iPad Pro and iPad Air are the two best Apple tablets in the history of the product line. Both include a great list of features that should keep it upgrade-proof for many years to come. In comparing the two models, let's start with the similarities before moving onto the differences.

	iPad Air 4	iPad Pro (2020)
Price	From $599	From $799
Release date	October 2020	March 2020
Screen size	10.9-inch	11-inch 12.9-inch
Display	Liquid Retina	Liquid Retina
ProMotion	No	Yes
Weight (Wi-Fi)	1 pound	1.04 pounds 1.41 pounds
Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular)	1.01 pounds	1.04 pounds 1.42 pounds
Resolution	2360x1640 resolution at 264 ppi	2388x1668 resolution at 264 ppi 2732x2048 resolution at 264 ppi
Storage	64GB 256GB	128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB
Processor	A14 Bionic	A12Z Bionic
Face ID	No	Yes
Touch ID	Yes	No
Camera setup	12MP Wide camera	12MP Wide 10MP Ultra Wide
LiDAR	No	Yes
Battery life	Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi or watching video Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network	Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi or watching video Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
4K recording	4K video recording at 24 FPS, 30 FPS, or 60 FPS	4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps (Wide) 60 fps (Ultra Wide)
Colors	Silver Space Gray Rose Gold Sky Blue Green	Silver Space Gray
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Speakers	Two	Four
Smart Connector	Yes	Yes
Magic Keyboard	Yes	Yes
Smart Keyboard Folio	Yes	Yes
Apple Pencil Support	2nd-generation	2nd-generation

Source: Apple

Both iPad models support the second-generation Apple Pencil. The iPad Air 4 is the first non-iPad Pro to use the pressure-sensitive stylus, which burst onto the scene in 2018. Similarly, both devices use a USB-C connector; again, the iPad Air is the first non-iPad Pro to support this.

Moving on in our iPad Pro vs. iPad Air comparison, both offer an LED-backlit Liquid Retina display with Multi-Touch and IPS technology. The fully laminated/anti-reflective screen includes fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, the company's Wide Color standard, and True Tone. This all works to make sure you have the best picture possible.

Both support Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio. The one for the 11-inch iPad Pro is also usable with the 10.9-inch iPad Air.

Finally, when it comes to battery life, both provide up to 10 hours of use while surfing the web or watching video while connected to Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours when doing the same connected to cellular.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: But there are significant differences

Source: Apple

Intended for creatives and professionals, the iPad Pro offers key features the iPad Air does not, starting with ProMotion technology and a LiDAR Scanner. The former delivers refresh rates of up to 120Hz, which means fluid scrolling, better responsiveness, and smoother motion content. ProMotion technology also improves display quality and reduces power consumption.

LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a technology that lets you scan and map your environment by firing out laser beams. For many on iPad Pro, its use will focus on augmented reality or AR. Because of this, the iPad Pro features a 10MP Ultra Wide camera, which also improves photo- and video-taking.

The iPad Pro also includes a better front-facing camera. Where it offers a TrueDepth 7MP camera, the iPad Air has a less robust FaceTime 7MP camera. Improved goodies on the iPad Pro include portrait mode, portrait lighting, Animoji, and Memoji.

Digging deeper, the iPad Pro is available with as much as 1TB of storage versus 256GB found on the iPad Air. The Pro model also includes four speakers, not two. Finally, keep in mind, only the iPad Pro includes Face ID, while the iPad Air (2020) comes with a Touch ID that's built into the top button.

What about the processor?

When the iPad Air 4 was announced, one couldn't help but notice it offers an A14 Bionic processor, the first Apple device to do so. The iPad Pro includes an A12Z Bionic processor, by contrast. Until experts get a chance to test both processors side-by-side, one might assume the A14 bests the A12Z. However, that will likely be proven incorrect.

A12Z Bionic is an 8-core CPU that's been designed for both speed and energy efficiency. The A14 offers a 6-core CPU, with two of those for performance and four for efficiency. In other words, the iPad Pro handles graphics- and computation-heavy apps much better, even if the processor is older.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: Who should buy the iPad Air?

The iPad Air (2020) is the *best* Apple tablet for most people. If you plan on using it for writing, video-consuming, and casual game-playing, you'll be amazed, while also saving a lot of money. As a bonus, you get to choose from five consumer-friendly colors, include the all-new Sky Blue and Green.

iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 4: Who should buy the iPad Pro?

The well-reviewed iPad Pro (2020) is the ideal choice if you're a graphics designer or plan on embracing AR. Need more storage or the largest display possible? Have the money to spend? There's nothing better than the iPad Pro.