Apple’s new M3 iPad Air is officially available today, alongside its upgraded Magic Keyboard. Here’s why the new Air is the best iPad for most people, but the M4 iPad Pro is still my favorite device and well worth the premium price tag.
M3 iPad Air provides the best of the iPad Pro at a discount
Apple’s recent earnings reports have pointed to a trend with iPad sales: users seem to really like the iPad Air.
Especially since Apple debuted the M2 iPad Air last May, Air sales have been especially strong. And the introduction of a brand new M3 model just 10 months later is further evidence of the device’s popularity.
This all makes sense, since the iPad Air fills a great niche: it offers the best of the iPad Pro line, but at a much more affordable price.
For example, the iPad Pro has historically been the only iPad with a large 13-inch display.
Now, you can get iPad Air in the same 11-inch and 13-inch sizes as the Pro line.
Also, Apple’s M-class chips offer a ton of power no matter which chip you’re talking about. In real-world use, the iPad Pro’s M4 chip won’t offer many advantages over the M2—or now M3—iPad Air.
iPad Air supports the Apple Pencil Pro, and it now offers an upgraded Magic Keyboard that almost matches the iPad Pro’s much-improved model.
Let’s consider the price differences:
The gap between the Air and Pro used to be much smaller. But with the M4 line, the Pro models got a lot more expensive.
So why would anyone buy an iPad Pro?
Well, if you’re like me, it’s because you want the best possible iPad. And the M4 iPad Pro is very much that.
M4 iPad Pro’s advantages are still worth it, depending on what you want
The M4 iPad Pro is expensive. Not just because of its starting price, but also because you’ll likely want to throw in another $300-500 for accessories.
Apple’s M3 iPad Air cost is much easier to swallow. And by contrast, the new M4 MacBook Air seems like a downright steal at $999.
But if the iPad is your go-to laptop replacement, as it is for me, there’s so much to love about the M4 iPad Pro.
iPad Pro’s Ultra Retina XDR screen is, per Apple, “the world’s most advanced display” thanks to its tandem OLED tech. And yes, it’s a beauty.
OLED aside, it would be very hard to give up the iPad Pro’s ProMotion support, which is missing from iPad Air.
The iPad Pro is also radically thin for all the power it packs. The 13-inch model is the thinnest device Apple has ever made.
I love having Face ID on my iPad, and Touch ID would definitely feel like a setback.
Another differentiator: as much as Apple has upgraded the new iPad Air Magic Keyboard, it still lacks a couple key niceties of the iPad Pro’s model.
- the aluminum palm rest is Pro-exclusive
- as is haptic feedback in the trackpad
I use my iPad Pro non-stop with the Magic Keyboard, so these upgrades make a real difference to me.
Finally, beyond getting all my work done on the device, I also use my iPad Pro to watch TV fairly often. The tandem OLED display, combined with the Pro’s four speaker audio, makes it great for entertainment.
M3 iPad Air or M4 iPad Pro? There’s no wrong choice
Apple’s current iPad lineup provides a lot of clarity to prospective buyers. The base iPad has a low entry price, but lacks Apple Intelligence. The M4 iPad Pro is the best iPad money can buy. And in the middle, the M3 iPad Air and A17 iPad mini pack a lot of powerful features at a reasonable price.
Even though the M4 iPad Pro is my device of choice, there’s no doubt that the M3 iPad Air is a better buy for most users. Unless you’re willing to pay up for the best possible model, the iPad Air offers a compelling iPad experience at a much lower price.
Which features of the M3 iPad Air vs. M4 iPad Pro matter most to you? Let us know in the comments.
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