iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro 12.9 M2
Verdict: iPad Air M4 wins due to newer M4 chip, slimmer profile, and current-generation support per Apple's 2025-2026 lineup. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro M2 retains advantages in display brightness and Thunderbolt but trails in CPU speed by roughly 40-50% on Geekbench metrics from Notebookcheck. Choose the Air for most users unless the larger XDR screen is essential.
iPad Air M4 lists at $599 while iPad Pro 12.9 M2 lists at $1,099 — iPad Air M4 undercuts iPad Pro 12.9 M2 by $500 (83%).
Winner: iPad Air M4
iPad Air M4: 8.5/10
iPad Pro 12.9 M2: 6.5/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air M4 | iPad Pro 12.9 M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| chip | Apple M4 | Apple M2 |
| display | 11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina | 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR |
| storage_options | 128GB-1TB | 128GB-2TB |
| weight | 1.02-1.36 lbs | 1.5 lbs |
| Storage | 128GB256GB512GB1TB2TB | — |
| Display | — | 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology |
iPad Air M4
What works
- M4 chip delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance than M2
- Thinner and lighter design at 0.24 inches thick
- Supports Apple Intelligence features
What doesn't
- No ProMotion 120Hz display
iPad Pro 12.9 M2
What works
- 12.9-inch mini-LED display with 1000 nits brightness
- Thunderbolt port for faster data transfer
- Face ID and four-speaker audio
What doesn't
- M2 chip is two generations behind current M4
- Thicker body at 0.25 inches
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Air M4.
View full comparison on GoodPickr
Related Comparisons
- Apple AirPods Pro vs Apple MacBook Air M4
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max
- Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max vs Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09
- MacBook Air 13-inch M4 vs MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4
- Lucid Air vs Polestar 2
- MacBook Air M4 13-inch vs MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max
- iPad 9th Generation vs iPad Air M4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs iPad mini 7
- Cosori TurboBlaze 6 Quart Air Fryer vs Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker Air Fryer
- iPad Air 13-inch (M2) vs iPad Air (M1)
- iPad Pro 11 Inch M2 256GB Wi Fi vs iPad Pro 11 Inch M4 256GB Wi Fi
People also compared
Affiliate disclosure: GoodPickr may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through partner links on this page. Verdicts are editorially independent and never influenced by affiliate relationships.
GoodPickr · Data-backed product comparisons