It is sometimes difficult to choose when you are ready for a new iPad. Will you buy an iPad Air or will you go for the iPad Pro? What are the differences and what are the similarities between the two tablets? In this iPad Air vs iPad Pro article, we compare these two (actually three) iPads and help you choose the tablet that’s best for you.
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iPad Air 2020 and iPad Pro 2021 comparison
In terms of hardware, the iPad Air 2020 and the iPad Pro 2021 are two quite different devices. Both have their own pros and cons. We put the tablets side by side for you, so that you can see which one is right for you.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro
Hardware
Let’s start with the main difference: the iPad Pro has the Apple M1 chip. You may have heard this name before, because the processor is also in the latest MacBook Air and iMac. Gaming, adjusting photos and editing videos is therefore no problem and all programs respond quickly.
The iPad Air 2020 contains the A14 Bionic chip, which you may know from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. This processor is less fast than the M1 chip, but still very powerful. The iPad Air can therefore also work well with demanding programs.
Another difference between the iPad Air and iPad Pro is the amount of RAM. With the iPad Pro you can choose from 8 or 16 GB. If you opt for the iPad Air, you’re stuck with 4 GB of RAM. You notice this especially when you use multiple apps at the same time or run heavy programs. On the iPad Pro, it all works a little smoother when you have a lot open at the same time.
Screen: Liquid Retina XDR and ProMotion
The screen is one of the most important parts of the iPad. There is not only a difference in the dimensions of the screen, the type of screen is also important. The largest iPad Pro (12.9 inches) has a Liquid Retina XDR display. This makes the iPad Pro (12.9 inches) very good at showing contrasts and HDR material.
The 11-inch iPad Pro from 2021 has a standard LCD screen, just like the latest iPad Air (from 2020). However, there is a difference between the screen of the iPad Air and the display of the iPad Pro. The screen of the iPad Pro 2021 (both 11-inch and 12.9-inch) can refresh up to 120 times per second. Apple calls this technique ProMotion. The iPad Air 2020 ‘only’ has to do with 60 refreshes per second.
Thanks to ProMotion, the iPad Pro’s display looks smoother with movements than the iPad Air. This is extra nice if you have an Apple Pencil, because this technique also ensures that the pen strokes become more accurate.
Camera: these are the improvements
There is quite a difference between the camera of the iPad Pro and iPad Air. The iPad Pro 2021 has a dual camera with a LiDAR scanner on the back. This scanner improves the camera functions and you can also use it with augmented reality apps, for example.
The iPad Air only has to make do with a single 12 megapixel camera. Furthermore, the iPad Pro has the Center Stage function. This ensures that you are always neatly seen in the center of the image. You can even walk a bit without getting out of sight.
Face ID vs Touch ID
There is another important difference between the iPad Pro and iPad Air. The iPad Air 2020 does not have Face ID and you unlock the tablet with the power button on top of the device. Apple has integrated a fingerprint scanner for Touch ID into this button. With the iPad Pro 2021 you have to rely on the face scanner, because it has no Touch ID.
Design and connections
When you look at the iPad Pro 2021 and iPad Air 2020, they are quite similar in shape, but the eye also wants something.
If you want an iPad with a fresh color, you should definitely go for the iPad Air 2020. The tablet is available in five colors: green, sky blue, space gray, silver and rose gold. The iPad Pro is only available in space gray and silver.
The iPad Air and the iPad Pro both have a USB-C connection, so you can connect an external hard drive or a monitor, for example. The iPad Pro also has Thunderbolt, which also allows you to connect the new Pro Display XDR 6K screen to the tablet.
Price
Where the two iPads differ quite a lot from each other is the price. The iPad Air 2020 has a suggested retail price of 669 euros, but can be found online for less. The cheapest iPad Pro 2021 costs 899 euros, but for the 12.9-inch version you pay 1219 euros.
Conclusion and buying advice: iPad Air vs iPad Pro
It remains to be considered and weighed up in order to ultimately make a choice. The iPad Air 2020 has the best price-quality ratio. The tablet fits comfortably in your hand, looks chic and is fast enough for almost all daily tasks. Playing games is no problem and the battery lasts about 10 hours.
Are you planning to use the iPad for heavier tasks? Then you better opt for the iPad Pro 2021. Things like video editing work more smoothly on the iPad Pro and you have more connectivity options with Thunderbolt. In addition, the Liquid Retina XDR display is worth considering for creatives and avid movie viewers. Keep in mind that only the 12.9-inch model of the iPad Pro has this screen.
To buy
Do you want to buy the iPad Air 2020? The tablet has a suggested retail price of 669 euros, but has already dropped considerably in price. You get the cheapest when you buy a refurbished iPad Air 2020.
You can buy the iPad Pro 2021 from 899 euros, but the larger 12.9-inch model costs hundreds of euros more. Little by little, the iPad Pro 2021 is also available refurbished. These revised models are of course cheaper.