iPad Air 13 M3 vs iPad Pro 13 M5
Verdict: iPad Pro 13 M5 wins due to 120Hz tandem OLED display and M5 chip advantages over the M3 in Air, as noted in CNET and RTINGS comparisons. The Air remains viable for lighter tasks at lower cost but trails in refresh rate and graphics performance. Pro excels for users needing top-tier visuals and speed.
iPad Air 13 M3 lists at $799 while iPad Pro 13 M5 lists at $1,299 — iPad Air 13 M3 undercuts iPad Pro 13 M5 by $500 (63%).
Winner: iPad Pro 13 M5
iPad Air 13 M3: 6.5/10
iPad Pro 13 M5: 8.5/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air 13 M3 | iPad Pro 13 M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| chip | Apple M3 | Apple M5 |
| display | 13-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 13-inch Tandem OLED, 120Hz ProMotion |
| ram | 8GB | 16GB |
| storage_options | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB |
| Storage | 128GB256GB512GB1TB2TB | 128GB256GB512GB1TB2TB4TB |
| Display | — | 11-inch12.9-inch |
iPad Air 13 M3
What works
- Lighter at 1.34 lbs for better portability
- Sufficient for media consumption and light productivity
What doesn't
- Only 60Hz refresh rate limits smoothness
- No ProMotion or tandem OLED display
iPad Pro 13 M5
What works
- 120Hz ProMotion with tandem OLED for superior visuals
- M5 chip delivers significantly higher performance
- Advanced camera and Apple Pencil hover support
What doesn't
- Higher price than Air model
- Heavier at 1.43 lbs
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Pro 13 M5.
View full comparison on GoodPickr
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