Apple iPad Air M1 vs Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4
Verdict: The iPad Pro 11-inch M4 wins decisively with its tandem OLED display at 1,600 nits HDR and M4 chip delivering nearly double the multi-core performance of the M1 per Geekbench 6. The M1 Air remains viable for basic use with solid 500-nit LCD and lower cost but trails in refresh rate and RAM flexibility. RTINGS and Notebookcheck reviews confirm the M4's edge in color accuracy and sustained performance.
Winner: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4
Apple iPad Air M1: 6.5/10
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4: 9/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Apple iPad Air M1 | Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina LCD | 11-inch Tandem OLED |
| Chip | Apple M1 | Apple M4 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8/16 GB |
| Storage | 64/256 GB | 256 GB - 2 TB |
Apple iPad Air M1
What works
- M1 delivers 1,700+ single-core Geekbench 6 (per Geekbench)
- 10.9-inch 2360x1640 at 264 ppi with 500 nits (per Apple specs)
- Starts at lower price point than current Pro models
What doesn't
- Only 8 GB RAM limits future-proofing for heavy multitasking
- LCD panel lacks 120 Hz and true blacks vs OLED
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4
What works
- M4 reaches 3,800+ single-core Geekbench 6 (per Geekbench)
- Tandem OLED hits 1,000 nits full-screen and 1,600 nits HDR (per Apple specs)
- Ultra-thin 5.1 mm design with 120 Hz ProMotion
What doesn't
- Higher starting price than M1 Air
- M4 power exceeds needs for basic tasks
Bottom line
Our pick: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4.
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