iPad Air 5TH Generation M1 vs iPad Pro 13 Inch M4
iPad Air 5TH
Verdict: iPad Pro 13 M4 wins on display quality with 1600-nit HDR peaks and M4 performance (CNET and Geekbench 6). iPad Air 5 M1 remains viable for lighter use at lower cost but trails in brightness and future-proofing (RTINGS panel tests). The Pro justifies its premium for users needing OLED and Thunderbolt.
How we scored it
Spec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial review
Our methodology
Winner: iPad Pro 13 Inch M4
iPad Air 5TH Generation M1: 6.5/10
iPad Pro 13 Inch M4: 9/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air 5TH Generation M1 | iPad Pro 13 Inch M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| chip | Apple M1 | Apple M4 |
| display | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina LCD | 13-inch Tandem OLED |
| ram | 8 GB | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| storage_options | 64 GB / 256 GB | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
iPad Air 5TH Generation M1
What works
- M1 delivers 2.1x faster CPU than prior A14 (per Geekbench 5)
- Supports Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard
- Starts at lower price point than current Pro models
What doesn't
- LCD panel reaches only 500 nits peak brightness
- No Thunderbolt support, limited to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2
iPad Pro 13 Inch M4
What works
- Tandem OLED hits 1000 nits full-screen and 1600 nits HDR (per Apple specs)
- M4 single-core score reaches 3800 on Geekbench 6
- Ultra-thin 5.1 mm chassis with 1.6 lb weight
What doesn't
- Starts at higher price than prior Pro models
- No Face ID, relies on landscape TrueDepth camera only
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Pro 13 Inch M4.
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