iPad Air 11-inch (M3) vs iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2)
73.5Performance67.8
32.9Display81.8
33.6Battery50.4
85.2Portability47.6
74.4Features74.4
5 spec wins — iPad Air 11-inch (M3)4 spec wins — iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2)
InnoReviews verdict
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) wins this tablet face-off, 66.8 to 56.7, pulling ahead mainly in display (+49) and battery (+17). iPad Air 11-inch (M3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the iPad Air 11-inch (M3)
- Stronger performance score: 74 vs 68
- Stronger portability score: 85 vs 48
- 33% lower weight: 460 g vs 682 g
- 18% higher AnTuTu 10: 1,950,000 vs 1,650,000
- 17% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 11,600 vs 9,950
- Lower launch price: $599 vs $1,099
Reasons to pick the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2)
- Stronger display score: 82 vs 33
- Stronger battery score: 50 vs 34
- 220% higher Peak brightness: 1,600 nits vs 500 nits
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz
- 41% higher capacity: 10,758 mAh vs 7,606 mAh
Display
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 10.9 ″ | 12.9 ″+18% |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED IPS |
| Resolution | 2360x1640 | 2732x2048 |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 1,600 nits+220% |
Performance
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Apple M2 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 1,950,000+18% | 1,650,000 |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,050+16% | 2,620 |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 11,600+17% | 9,950 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
Battery
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 7,606 mAh | 10,758 mAh+41% |
| Charging | 20 W | 20 W |
| Endurance | 10 h | 10 h |
Design
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 460 g+33% | 682 g |
| Thickness | 6.1 mm+5% | 6.4 mm |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Camera
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Rear camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
Connectivity
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Cellular | 5G optional | 5G optional |
| USB | USB-C (10Gbps) | USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4) |
Features
| Spec | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad Pro 12.9-inch (M2) |
|---|---|---|
| Stylus | Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
| Keyboard support | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Stereo | Quad |
| Operating system | iPadOS 18 | iPadOS 16 |
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