Apple iPad Air (5th generation) vs Apple iPad Pro 11″ (M2)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

iPad Air (5th generation) compared with iPad Pro 11″ (M2)
AppleiPad Air (5th generation)AppleiPad Pro 11″ (M2)
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2022October 2022
Display
Screen size10.9″11″
Resolution2360 × 16402388 × 1668 (better)
Sharpness264 pixels per inch265 pixels per inch (better)
PanelLCDLCD
Refresh rate–120 Hz
Brightness500 nits600 nits (better)
Display typeLiquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD; 10.86 inches measured diagonally as a rectangleLiquid Retina display, LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density264 ppi264 ppi
Display featuresP3 wide colour; True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; oleophobic coatingProMotion up to 120Hz (Notebookcheck); wide colour (P3); True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
ChipM1M2
Memory8 GB8 GB – 16 GB (better)
Storage64 GB, 256 GB128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB (better)
CPU8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 8 GB RAM8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 8GB RAM on 128–512GB models, 16GB on 1–2TB models
GPU8-core GPU; Media Engine with hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC video decode and encode10-core GPU; 100GB/s memory bandwidth; Media Engine with hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, video encode/decode and ProRes encode/decode
AI engine16-core Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera12 MP12 MP
Ultra wide cameraNone10 MP
Front camera12 MP12 MP
Rear cameraWide; f/1.8 five-element lens; autofocus with Focus Pixels; digital zoom up to 5x; wide colour and Live Photos; Smart HDR 3; panorama up to 63 MP; auto image stabilisation; burst; geotagging; HEIF and JPEG12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8, autofocus with Focus Pixels; 10MP Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4, 125°; five-element lenses; 2x optical zoom out, up to 5x digital zoom; True Tone flash; Smart HDR 4; sapphire crystal lens cover
Front cameraUltra Wide; 122° field of view; f/2.4; Centre Stage; Smart HDR 3; lens correction; Retina Flash; wide colour capture; auto image stabilisation; burst12MP TrueDepth Ultra Wide, ƒ/2.4, 122°; Center Stage; Portrait mode and Portrait Lighting; Smart HDR 4; Retina Flash; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps
Video recordingRear 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; slow-motion 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; extended dynamic range up to 30 fps; stabilised time-lapse; cinematic stabilisation; continuous autofocus; HEVC and H.264; front 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fpsProRes up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps on 128GB models); 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps (Wide); 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation; HEVC and H.264; stereo recording
Depth sensor–LiDAR Scanner
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 10 hoursUp to 10 hours
Battery capacity28.6 Wh28.65 Wh (better)
Mobile data optionYesYes
StylusSupported, sold separatelySupported, sold separately
Keyboard made for itYesYes
Battery life detailUp to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsingUp to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data
Charging20W USB-C power adapter supplied; charging via adapter or computerVia USB-C power adapter or computer; 20W adapter included, maximum charging power not specified by Apple
USB-CUSB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; one external display up to 6K at 60 Hz; Smart ConnectorUSB-C with charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 up to 40Gb/s, USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10Gb/s; one external display up to 6K at 60Hz
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); simultaneous dual band; HT80 with MIMOWi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; up to 2.4Gb/s
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.3
Mobile network5G (sub-6 GHz) and Gigabit LTE; nano-SIM and eSIM; cellular model weighs 462 gOptional 5G and LTE; nano-SIM and eSIM; GPS/GNSS on cellular models; 468g for Wi-Fi + Cellular, 466g for Wi-Fi; mmWave limited to US models
Stylus supportApple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C), sold separatelyApple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C), sold separately; hover detected up to 12mm above the display; USB-C Pencil compatibility added after launch
KeyboardsMagic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, sold separatelyMagic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, sold separately; Smart Connector
Design
Weight461 g (better)466 g
Thickness6.1 mm5.9 mm (better)
Height × width247.6 × 178.5 mm247.6 × 178.5 mm
Operating systemiPadOSiPadOS
BiometricsTouch ID in top buttonFace ID via TrueDepth camera
SpeakersLandscape stereo speakersFour-speaker audio
MicrophonesDual microphonesFive studio-quality microphones
SensorsThree-axis gyro; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS and GNSS on cellular modelThree-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass
Materials100% recycled aluminium enclosureEnclosure made with 100% recycled aluminium
ColoursSpace Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple, BlueSilver, Space Grey
Software at launchiPadOS 15iPadOS 16
In the boxiPad Air; USB-C charge cable (1 m); 20W USB-C power adapteriPad Pro, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), 20W USB-C Power Adapter

More comparisons