Do the iPad Pros (M4) have any functional advantage over the iPad Airs (M2) or even the last two iPad Pro Models (M2/M1) - meaning are there tasks you can do on an iPad Pro that you cannot do on an iPad Air? We know that the iPad Pros don’t add any new camera tech, no new screen functionality (always on), no new ports, no new specific OS functionality. The new Pencil Pro works on both the iPad Pros and iPad Airs. As someone who really likes iPadOs and the iPad as a platform in the current state (and I am not a proponent of adding MacOs to the IPad), I am struggling to see what an iPad Pro can do over a new iPad Air (the ”regular” iPad can’t do the same in terms of multitasking and camera and such, so this is really focused on Air vs Pro). I know the iPad Pro is just a nicer piece of kit, but I am struck at how there are not even battery or camera advantages for the iPad Pro this time around
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Pro The real issue with the iPad lineup this year… Air/Pro are the same functionally
- Thread starter Adelphos33
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Wait for WWDC. I’m sure there will be some kind of new features available only on M4.
Then wait for next year and the next update will have features not available on older iPads. This happens every year.
Then wait for next year and the next update will have features not available on older iPads. This happens every year.
I think you are right. The IPP M4 gives the premium hardware experience, but — unless you are in a very small subset of users for whom the M4 makes a difference — no significant greater capabilities. I downgraded from an IPP to an iPad 10 in 2022 because the old placement of the FT camera just did not work for me. The iPad 10 got the horizontal placement first. And I actually have liked the 10. But this year, I think I'm going to go to an Air, not back to an IPP.
Alternatively, if there were a lot of software things the Pro could do that the Air couldn't, people would complain about that as well.
Well, if you discount the significant increase in processing power, more RAM, higher tier storage options, much better display, better cameras, etc.
If you don't think the Pro is worth it and your needs are met by the air - guess what - buy the air?
That said, I'm keen to see WWDC this year as for some time now the iPad has been held back somewhat by iOS. Virtual memory was a recent addition, as was stage manager. Hopefully they make some further moves towards being usable as a laptop/desktop replacement with iPadOS 18.
If you don't think the Pro is worth it and your needs are met by the air - guess what - buy the air?
That said, I'm keen to see WWDC this year as for some time now the iPad has been held back somewhat by iOS. Virtual memory was a recent addition, as was stage manager. Hopefully they make some further moves towards being usable as a laptop/desktop replacement with iPadOS 18.
1) The cameras in the Pro and Air are basically the same (the back cameras on both are arguably worse than IPad Pro M1/M2 due to lack of ultra wide)
2) Higher processor power doesn’t matter for 99% of iPad Apps, even the Pro Apps - iPad Air with M2 and 8GB of RAM will more than support any iPad app, including Final Cut Pro or whatever
3) Storage Options yes, but you pay for them
4) Display yes - which is why I said iPad Pro is much better kit, but it really doesn’t add functionality
I guess - but there are functional things that a MacBook Pro (appropriately spec’d) does much better than a MacBook Air. That’s not really the case with iPad Pro.
Yeah I'm expecting most new iPadOS features to come to M1 and up.
iPad Air (M1/M2)
iPad Pro (M1/M2/M4)
iPad Pro (M1/M2/M4)
- All have a 12 MP rear camera
- All have a 12 MP front camera with center stage (2024 models place this on landscape)
- All have 8 GB RAM as base memory
- All have 1 USB-C Port (Pros support various Thunderbolt)
- All support various Magic Keyboard accessories
- All support 1 external display
- All support 5G Cellular
- All quote about 10 hour battery life
Every year people think AAPL will finally make the iPadOS relevant and somehow at least run Mac apps. Every year people are disappointed.
Thunderbolt 4 comes to mind, for example you can edit video on external storage. ProRes encoding/decoding. Also the LIDAR sensor and TrueTone flash (scan feature from the keynote), although those aren't used much. The front camera supports Animoji and Memoji, and you get function keys on the Magic Keyboard. 
Yes, it's all various hardware features (Face ID, ProMotion, better speakers and mics), but they either enable functionality or increase quality or convenience.
Yes, it's all various hardware features (Face ID, ProMotion, better speakers and mics), but they either enable functionality or increase quality or convenience.
Air doesn’t support thunderbolt data transfer, no promotion XDR display in Air, doesn’t have true depth camera, no Face ID. M2 processor in Air, only 2 speakers, and probably biggest difference is processor performance. If you don’t need those Air is a great buy.
I look at the two new models like a vehicle, base model vs loaded. Functionally, both will take you where you want to go. The loaded one just has more comfortable seats and upgraded finishes, making the experience just a little nicer during the ride.
iPad - Compare Models
Compare resolution, size, weight, performance, battery life, and storage of iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models.
www.apple.com
Im almost positive there will be features that are M4 specific, they always do that
I was going to get the pro.
But realistically I don't need any thing it offers. SO the air will be a nice bargain I will save a lot.
But realistically I don't need any thing it offers. SO the air will be a nice bargain I will save a lot.
Oh I'm sure SOME will be M4 specific. But I think the M1 is the point where at least some additional functionality will be included. Because its the same CPU/SOC they put in the MacBook Air they had on sale until recently.
I use my iPad for a variety of things, note taking, small coding projects, general on the go computing when a Mac feels a bit too big… and a lot of watching shows and movies. So the screen is a pretty significant functional upgrade over the air. Yes, they both provide the basic functionality of viewing a nice picture, but the iPad Pro is certainly going to be a much better experience there.
True.
This new feature for the Pros will be something questionably useful but highly demanding, like Stage Manager.
But no macOS. Not unless Apple has come up with a way to let you do so that isn’t running macOS natively on your iPad but is just streaming the content of a Mac nearby, an Mac that is signed into your iCloud account.
Last edited:
I don't see the issue. If they appear the same to you then buy the cheaper one.
I've see a few people commenting lately about how things are too expensive and aren't worth the difference in price from a mid-tier product like that's some kind of problem. People also keep complaining that Apple prices things too high. If it's priced too high and you don't need or want the incremental improvements from the cheaper device, the answer seems simple.
Is this because people have come to see themselves as "top shelf" kind of customers and aren't sure what to do when they don't need a top shelf device?
I've see a few people commenting lately about how things are too expensive and aren't worth the difference in price from a mid-tier product like that's some kind of problem. People also keep complaining that Apple prices things too high. If it's priced too high and you don't need or want the incremental improvements from the cheaper device, the answer seems simple.
Is this because people have come to see themselves as "top shelf" kind of customers and aren't sure what to do when they don't need a top shelf device?
No new screen functionality? That’s wildly underselling the new screen, especially compared to the Air. You get 2x brighter full-screen SDR, over 3X brighter HDR peaks, 2X the refresh rate, true blacks for infinite contrast, and better off-angle viewing. Funny that you mention cameras so much when the screen is a vastly more important part of the device (I would argue THE most important on a tablet), and it got the biggest upgrade it’s ever gotten.
This isn’t even to mention the M4 performance which looks to be one of the biggest speed upgrades ever YoY, especially considering CPU (50% faster) and graphics rendering (4X faster thanks to ray tracing).
Get the Pro this year. There’s no contest IMO. Your future self will thank you.
If you’re on a strict budget and can’t afford the Pro, I don’t know why you’re even comparing them. Definitely don’t get something you can’t afford or don’t need. Get something used or entry level for best value.
This isn’t even to mention the M4 performance which looks to be one of the biggest speed upgrades ever YoY, especially considering CPU (50% faster) and graphics rendering (4X faster thanks to ray tracing).
Get the Pro this year. There’s no contest IMO. Your future self will thank you.
If you’re on a strict budget and can’t afford the Pro, I don’t know why you’re even comparing them. Definitely don’t get something you can’t afford or don’t need. Get something used or entry level for best value.
Last edited:
- promotion
- quad speakers
- OLED with higher brightness
- thunderbolt
- Face ID
- more microphones (4 vs 2)
- supports new Magic Keyboard
- 128GB more base storage
- lighter / thinner
- M4 vs M2 with especially improvements on Neural engine and graphics
- True Tone flash
sone of these are minor obviously but some do enhance the experience a lot
- quad speakers
- OLED with higher brightness
- thunderbolt
- Face ID
- more microphones (4 vs 2)
- supports new Magic Keyboard
- 128GB more base storage
- lighter / thinner
- M4 vs M2 with especially improvements on Neural engine and graphics
- True Tone flash
sone of these are minor obviously but some do enhance the experience a lot