Home Tablet comparison Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) and Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021) - Which is better?

Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) vs Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)

85 out 100
Apple IPad Air 13
VS
81 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 11
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)

Compared 2 smartphones : Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) Manufactured in May, 2024, with display 13 with chipsetApple M2 (iPad), vs Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021), Manufactured in May, 2021with chipsetApple M1 (iPad). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
  • Larger display: 13in
  • Higher battery capacity: 10340mAh vs 7538mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.3 vs 5
  • Fingerprint scanner
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
  • Higher pixel density: 265ppi
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Lighter design: 466g vs 617g
  • Supports newer USB: 4.0 vs 3.1

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB
- 8/512 GB
- 8/1024 GB		 - 8/128 GB
- 8/256 GB
- 8/512 GB
- 16/1024 GB
- 16/2048 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) and Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Camera
Main & front camera tests
Performance
App & system performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
Connectivity
Connectivity features
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Tablets:
IPad Air 13" (2024)
vs
iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD IPS LCD
Size 13 in 11 in
Resolution 2048x2732 pixels 1668x2388 pixels
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2
Pixel density 264 ppi 265 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (24-120 Hz)
Max brightness 600 nits 600 nits
HDR support No Yes Dolby Vision
Screen-to-body ratio 86.8 % 81.5 %
Features DCI-P3 DCI-P3
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
591 nits
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
597 nits
sRGB gamut99.7 %99.9 %
Response time45 ms30 ms
Contrast1018:11425:1
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)], [Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 280.6 mm (11.05 in) 247.6 mm (9.75 in)
Width 214.9 mm (8.46 in) 178.5 mm (7.03 in)
Thickness 6.1 mm (0.24 in) 5.9 mm (0.23 in)
Weight 617 g (21.76 oz) 466 g (16.44 oz)
Area 603 cm² (93.47 in²) 442 cm² (68.51 in²)
Water resistance No No
Back panel Metal Metal
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Gold
- Gray
- Blue
- Purple		 - Silver
- Gray
Fingerprint sensor Yes In-Button No
Screen-to-body ratio
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
86.8 %
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
81.5 %

Performance

Testing Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) and Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021) In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Apple M2 (iPad) Apple M1 (iPad)
Max Frequency 3490 MHz 3200 MHz
CPU Cores 8 (4 + 4) 8 (4 + 4)
Architecture - 4/2.42 (Blizzard)
- 4/3.49 (Avalanche)		 - 4/3.2 (Icestorm)
- 4/2.1 (Firestorm)
Process TSMC TSMC
Transistor Size 5 nm 5 nm
Neural Processor Apple Neural Engine Apple Neural Engine
Graphics Apple M2 GPU Apple M1 GPU
GPU Cores 1024 1024
GPU Frequency 1398 MHz 1278 MHz
FLOPS 2918 GFLOPS 2617 GFLOPS
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
2585
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
2311
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
10090
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
8488
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)25852311
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)100908488
Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)], [Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)]
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
2162189
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
1632968
CPU541821458801
GPU900244629387
Memory360102225102
UX360022319678
NanoReview Score21621891632968
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
n/a
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
16847
Max Surface Temp.n/a36.3 °C
Stabilityn/a76 %
Graphics Testn/a100 fps
Graphics Scoren/a16847
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)]

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 8 GB 8 GB
Memory Type LPDDR5 LPDDR4X
Memory Frequency 6400 MHz 4266 MHz
Channels 4 2
Storage
Storage Capacity128 GB128 GB
Storage TypeNVMeNVMe
Memory CardNoNo

Software

OS iPadOS 17.5 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.5) iPadOS 14.5.1 (Upgradeable to iPadOS 18.3)
OS Size 13 GB 13.7 GB

Battery

Volume 10340 mAh 7538 mAh
Max Charging Power 30 W 30 W
Battery Type Li-ion Li-Po
Removable No No
Wireless Charging No No
Reverse Charging No No
Fast Charging Yes Yes (50% in 60 min)
Full Charge Time 2:30 h 2:00 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
32:34
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
29:07
Web Browsing12:05 h10:15 h
Video Playback16:48 h14:55 h
Games08:10 h06:35 h
Standby Mode179 h167 h

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Zoom Digital n/a
Flash No Quad LED
Stabilization Digital Digital
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 60 fps)
Slow Motion 240 fps (1080p) 240 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens n/a 125 °
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP Standard: 12 MP
Ultra-wide: 10 MP
Depth
Features Bokeh effect - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
Main lens
Matrix12 MP12 MP
Aperturef/1.8f/1.8
Sensor sizen/a1/3.0"
Pixel size1.22 μmn/a
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationDigitalDigital
Ultra-wide lens
Matrixn/a10 MP
Aperturen/af/2.4
Stabilizationn/aDigital

Front camera

Matrix 12 MP 12 MP
Matrix 4032x3024 pixels 4032x3024 pixels
Aperture f/2.4 f/2.4
Sensor CMOS n/a
Autofocus No No
Stabilization Digital Digital
Video resolution 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No No

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5.3 5
Bluetooth features LE LE
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 3.1 4.0
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort Yes Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS		 - GPS
- GLONASS
NFC* No No
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*n/a1
SIM TypeeSIMNano
eSIM Support *YesYes
Hybrid SlotNoNo
2G Bandsn/aGSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
3G BandsUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHzUMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz
LTE Bands*LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B48/B66/B71)LTE (B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B11/B12/B13/B14/B17/B18/B19/B20/B21/B25/B26/B28/B29/B30/B32/B34/B38/B39/B40/B41/B42/B46/B48/B66/B71)
5G SupportYesYes

Sound

Speakers n/a 4.0
3.5 mm Jack No No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
80.1 dB
Apple iPad Pro 11" (3rd Gen, 2021)
83.5 dB

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced May, 2024 yr April, 2021 yr
Release Date May, 2024 yr May, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) n/a 799
Sensors - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Fingerprint sensor		 - Barometer
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
Charger Included Yes 20 W Yes 20 W
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

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