iPad Air 11 Inch M3 vs iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2
Verdict: The iPad Air 11 Inch M3 wins for most users due to its 2025-03-12 release, $599 price, and current status versus the discontinued 2022-10 Pro at $1099. The Pro's 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR and up to 16GB RAM provide advantages in media and heavy multitasking, but the Air's M3 chip closes the performance gap while improving efficiency. Per manufacturer specs, the Air's Wi-Fi 6E and Center Stage camera match the Pro's connectivity and front camera capabilities.
iPad Air 11 Inch M3 lists at $899 while iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2 lists at $1,099 — iPad Air 11 Inch M3 undercuts iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2 by $200 (22%).
Winner: iPad Air 11 Inch M3
iPad Air 11 Inch M3: 8/10
iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2: 7/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air 11 Inch M3 | iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| display | 11-inch Liquid Retina | 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR |
| chip | M3 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU) | M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) |
| front_camera | 12MP Center Stage | 12MP Ultra Wide |
| connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Storage | 128GB256GB512GB1TB | 128GB256GB512GB1TB2TB |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB16GB |
iPad Air 11 Inch M3
What works
- Newer M3 chip released 2025-03-12
- Lower MSRP of $599
What doesn't
- Smaller 11-inch display
- No XDR brightness or tandem OLED
iPad Pro 12 9 Inch M2
What works
- Larger 12.9-inch XDR display
- Higher peak brightness and contrast
- Up to 2TB storage and 16GB RAM options
What doesn't
- Discontinued since 2022-10
- Higher MSRP of $1099
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Air 11 Inch M3.
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