Home Tablet comparison Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021) - Which is better?

Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) vs Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

85 out 100
Apple IPad Air 13
VS
84 out 100
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th 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 12.9" (5th 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
  • Lighter design: 617g vs 682g
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.3 vs 5
  • Fingerprint scanner
Reasons to choose Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
  • Higher pixel density: 265ppi
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Higher battery capacity: 10758mAh vs 10340mAh
  • 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 12.9" (5th 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 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)

Display

Display quality comparison
Type IPS LCD Mini LED
Size 13 in 12.9 in
Resolution 2048x2732 pixels 2048x2732 pixels
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
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 % 85.5 %
Features DCI-P3 n/a
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
591 nits
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
612 nits
sRGB gamut99.7 %99.9 %
PWM (Flicker)n/a19190 Hz
Response time45 ms23 ms
Contrast1018:1∞ Infinite
Sources: NotebookCheck [Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 280.6 mm (11.05 in) 280.6 mm (11.05 in)
Width 214.9 mm (8.46 in) 214.9 mm (8.46 in)
Thickness 6.1 mm (0.24 in) 6.4 mm (0.25 in)
Weight 617 g (21.76 oz) 682 g (24.06 oz)
Area 603 cm² (93.47 in²) 603 cm² (93.47 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 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
85.5 %

Performance

Testing Apple IPad Air 13" (2024) and Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th 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 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
2324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
10090
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
8559
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)25852324
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)100908559
Sources: Geekbench v6 [Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)], [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)]
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
2162189
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
1708836
CPU541821494805
GPU900244688229
Memory360102197010
UX360022328792
NanoReview Score21621891708836
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
n/a
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
17076
Max Surface Temp.n/a39.2 °C
Stabilityn/a73 %
Graphics Testn/a102 fps
Graphics Scoren/a17076
Sources: 3DMark [Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th 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 n/a

Battery

Volume 10340 mAh 10758 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 65 min)
Full Charge Time 2:30 h 2:15 h
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Apple IPad Air 13" (2024)
32:34
Apple iPad Pro 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
32:24
Web Browsing12:05 h10:29 h
Video Playback16:48 h15:19 h
Games08:10 h07:27 h
Standby Mode179 h199 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 12.9" (5th Gen, 2021)
83.9 dB

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced May, 2024 yr April, 2021 yr
Release Date May, 2024 yr May, 2021 yr
Launch Price ($) n/a 1099
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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