iPad Air Get the Air unless you're waiting for the 2021 Pro

[KittyKatta]

I just bought a Pro but I can agree with a strong recommendation for the Air.

Personally, I question how the ARM transition may affect iPad Pro as a “Pro” platform. So far we’re being pretty neglected with Apple relying on 3rd party to provide Pro apps. It’s possible that porting desktop apps to ARM MacBooks may open the door for iPad ports also, but that would likely require new hardware for higher spec requirements (making all this 4 vs 6GB pointless when 8GB is a more realistic minimum)

So I think the rule of “don’t buy more than you need” may apply for some users because the future of “Pro” iPadding really has no roadmap. The current iPad lineup is beyond amazing and for most users it will last for years. But its also possible that there is no existing “Pro” iPad that will properly handle the Pro apps we’ve been waiting for.

 

[bluespark]

I’ve been trying both (I never do that, but long story in this case) and also am leaning toward the Air. I prefer the Air’s overall speed to ProMotion, I’m fine with Touch ID, and the screen is excellent (not quite equal to that of the Pro, but only when comparing side by side and looking closely). I also greatly prefer the look of the Air to that of the Pro (I don’t like the square camera thing on the iPad and I really like the Air’s colors — Sky Blue in the case of mine, but I also ended up with a Space Grey Pro and don’t like Space Gray). My only hesitation is the 4 GB of memory, but I am not noticing any difference in that respect. In short, the Pro is technically the better device, but I just find myself drawn to the Air more.

One thing I’m surprised to notice, but I do: the Air is just a hair lighter. I knew that, but didn’t think I’d even be able to tell the difference.

 

[blurryvision]

I’ve been trying both (I never do that, but long story in this case) and also am leaning toward the Air. I prefer the Air’s overall speed to ProMotion, I’m fine with Touch ID, and the screen is excellent (not quite equal to that of the Pro, but only when comparing side by side and looking closely). I also greatly prefer the look of the Air to that of the Pro (I don’t like the square camera thing on the iPad and I really like the Air’s colors — Sky Blue in the case of mine, but I also ended up with a Space Grey Pro and don’t like Space Gray). My only hesitation is the 4 GB of memory, but I am not noticing any difference in that respect. In short, the Pro is technically the better device, but I just find myself drawn to the Air more.

One thing I’m surprised to notice, but I do: the Air is just a hair lighter. I knew that, but didn’t think I’d even be able to tell the difference.

Yes I agree. The Pro is the better device by a very small margin any argument for its “future proofing” is rendered useless.

The Pro is great. 120hz and LIDAR was cool, Face ID was effective. RAM didn’t make a difference for me. The sky blue on the Air is sick. Touch ID just as simple. Screen difference is negligible other than fast scrolling and app home screen animations. Speakers still sounded good (None of them could ever match bluetooth speakers anyway). Bezels are so identical it’s pretty much the same. And the maxed out Air is still cheaper than the base Pro.

Canada doesn’t have the AirPods education deal anymore, so if you’re looking at them both at full price, the Air is the better value.

 

[StefanSC86]

IMO, it depends on how much storage you need.

If 64GB is enough for you, then the basic Air 4 is tremendous value.

If 64GB are not enough and you can do with 128GB, then I'd say the 11 Pro is that bit of a nicer experience (better display, better audio, plenty snappy by itself) and I'd say it is worth the 20-50$ difference between it and the 256GB Air 4 depending on region.

At 256GB of storage, the Air 4 is clearly the better value when compared with the 256GB 11' Pro, and from there on up, well.. only Pros

Obviously, we can't exclude the subjective reasons for buying, like the fact that the Air 4 has colors and fingerprint reader.

 

[Hello...]

I also went with the air and I have to say it’s the best iPad I think I’ve had so far and I have had the iPad Pro 12 inch, I don’t know what it is but this battery is incredible it’s easier to hold and touch works perfect

 

[Killbynumbers]

I bought my 256GB 12.9” Pro a month ago even when I knew the specs of the Air. Didn’t even have to think twice. The speed difference between the two isn’t something the average person would even care about.

 

[blurryvision]

I bought my 256GB 12.9” Pro a month ago even when I knew the specs of the Air. Didn’t even have to think twice. The speed difference between the two isn’t something the average person would even care about.

Nor is any of the other features on the Pro, IMO. Not saying your Pro is a bad device, just iterating that if you need to make a choice between the two today the Air is the better value

 

[Mackilroy]

Nor is any of the other features on the Pro, IMO. Not saying your Pro is a bad device, just iterating that if you need to make a choice between the two today the Air is the better value

The Pro's screen and speakers are arguably better, though - and the second-generation Pencil is more user-friendly in how it connects to the iPad and how it charges.

 

[muzzy996]

The Pro's screen and speakers are arguably better, though - and the second-generation Pencil is more user-friendly in how it connects to the iPad and how it charges.

It's a value thing so it's subjective. The pencil is the same though isn't it? I thought the Air 4 uses gen 2 pencil.

Not buying for the time being since I have other priorities for now but when I do it will be an Air 4 over the Pro for wife and son but pro for me once I decide to replace my gen 2 pro 12.9.

 

[Mackilroy]

It's a value thing so it's subjective. The pencil is the same though isn't it? I thought the Air 4 uses gen 2 pencil.

Not buying for the time being since I have other priorities for now but when I do it will be an Air 4 over the Pro for wife and son but pro for me once I decide to replace my gen 2 pro 12.9.

How much you value it may be subjective, but objectively the hardware *is* better. As for the Pencil, it looks like you're right, they finally switched to supporting the second generation.

 

[muzzy996]

How much you value it may be subjective, but objectively the hardware *is* better. As for the Pencil, it looks like you're right, they finally switched to supporting the second generation.

Correct, I was not saying that the hardware differences you identified aren’t better on the pro, was merely saying how valuable those differences are is a subjective thing. Personally I prefer the pro, my wife and son not so much.

 

[kendo88]

Nor is any of the other features on the Pro, IMO. Not saying your Pro is a bad device, just iterating that if you need to make a choice between the two today the Air is the better value

For 256GB, in the UK, the pro is £140 more expensive. I used the back to school offer to get a Pro (it’s not arrived yet) which saved me £160 on AirPods Pro. So for me, essentially the Pro cost the same as the Air.

I value a better screen, ProMotion, better speakers, over a negligible speed difference in some aspects.
The Pro is the better device, but yes, for most people, it will be a little more expensive

 

[blurryvision]

For 256GB, in the UK, the pro is £140 more expensive. I used the back to school offer to get a Pro (it’s not arrived yet) which saved me £160 on AirPods Pro. So for me, essentially the Pro cost the same as the Air.

I value a better screen, ProMotion, better speakers, over a negligible speed difference in some aspects.
The Pro is the better device, but yes, for most people, it will be a little more expensive

Having no discounts other than the Education pricing (they don’t give you AirPods anymore in Canada) I had to compare at full price. With both of them being just as equally fast and having pretty much the same screen sans 120Hz, I valued the storage options the most. With the Air I could get the most storage I could possibly get for the lowest price. That was my deciding factor.

2018 Pro Refurbs were impossible to find for me, so I had to pick between the Air and the 2020 Pro.

 

[NastyMatt]

I love the dictatorial subject!! "I chose an Air so my opinion is right.. Yes my screen does have light bleed but it's not bad enough to annoy me but I will be returning it when they fix it".

To tell people what they should choose based on a price difference is myopic. I am happy with "120hz screen with ProMotion adds no benefit to me" or "I am not concerned with external speakers so 2 or 4 is irrelevant" as a reason to your personal choice.

 

[blurryvision]

I love the dictatorial subject!! "I chose an Air so my opinion is right.. Yes my screen does have light bleed but it's not bad enough to annoy me but I will be returning it when they fix it".

To tell people what they should choose based on a price difference is myopic. I am happy with "120hz screen with ProMotion adds no benefit to me" or "I am not concerned with external speakers so 2 or 4 is irrelevant" as a reason to your personal choice.

Yeah but every other review online agrees with those points and came to the conclusion that the Air is the better value. I’m only giving my two cents as I had the privilege to use & compare both devices. I see a lot of people have a defensive stance on the device they personally own when they haven’t even tested the Air

 

[bluespark]

I love the dictatorial subject!! "I chose an Air so my opinion is right.. Yes my screen does have light bleed but it's not bad enough to annoy me but I will be returning it when they fix it".

To tell people what they should choose based on a price difference is myopic. I am happy with "120hz screen with ProMotion adds no benefit to me" or "I am not concerned with external speakers so 2 or 4 is irrelevant" as a reason to your personal choice.

I took his subject line as a recommendation based on his personal experience, and he backed that up by explaining his priorities and reactions. I don't think this point was that the 2020 11" Pro has no reason to exist, but rather that this was the advice he thought would be most helpful to most people. I found it worthwhile, but YMMV.