iPad Air 13-inch M4 vs iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2
Verdict: iPad Air 13-inch M4 wins on performance and portability with its M4 chip and slimmer profile, beating the M2 iPad Pro by 30%+ in multi-core tasks per Geekbench 6. The older iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2 counters with superior 120Hz mini-LED display and Thunderbolt connectivity, making it better for HDR video work. Choose the Air for most users unless the Pro's display is essential.
Winner: iPad Air 13-inch M4
iPad Air 13-inch M4: 8/10
iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2: 7/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air 13-inch M4 | iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| chip | Apple M4 | Apple M2 |
| display | 13-inch Liquid Retina LCD, 60Hz | 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| weight | 1.36 lbs | 1.5 lbs |
| storage_options | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
iPad Air 13-inch M4
What works
- M4 chip delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance than M2 (per Geekbench 6)
- Thinner and lighter design at 0.24 inches thick
- Supports Apple Intelligence features with latest OS optimizations
What doesn't
- LCD display reaches only 500 nits peak brightness
- No ProMotion or tandem OLED panel
iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2
What works
- Mini-LED display with 1600 nits peak HDR brightness and 120Hz refresh rate
- Thunderbolt port for faster data transfer up to 40Gbps
- Quad-speaker audio system with better bass response
What doesn't
- M2 chip is 30-40% slower in multi-core tasks than M4 (per Geekbench 6)
- Thicker body at 0.25 inches and heavier overall
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Air 13-inch M4.
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