Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) vs Apple iPad Air M3 11"
Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) (#1, best overall) vs Apple iPad Air M3 11" (#4): in our Performance Tablets scoring the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) totals 9.7/10 and the Apple iPad Air M3 11" 8.8/10. At $1,199 versus $599, the Apple iPad Air M3 11" costs $600 less.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Prices and availability shown are accurate as of Jan 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the merchant's price at purchase applies.
Side by side
| Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) | Apple iPad Air M3 11" | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | $599 |
| Display | 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED | 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz |
| Processor | M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) | M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) |
| RAM | 12GB (16GB with 1TB+) | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB-2TB | 128GB-1TB |
| Battery | 38.99Wh, 10-11 hours | 10 hours |
| Weight | 579g | 461g |
| Thickness | 5.1mm | — |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best display tablets scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and the Apple iPad Air M3 11" made our Top 5 Performance Tablets, at #1 (best overall) and #4. Absolute performance king with M5 chip—10-core CPU, 10-core GPU with ray tracing, 16-core Neural Engine. Geekbench 6 scores exceed 3,800 single / 15,000+ multi. Edits 4K ProRes, runs AAA games. Mid-tier champion with M3 chip handling 95% of Pro tasks. $400 less than iPad Pro 11" with Pro-level performance for most users.
We score performance tablets on CPU Performance (30%), GPU Performance (30%), RAM & Storage (20%), Sustained Performance (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) totals 9.7 out of 10 and the Apple iPad Air M3 11" 8.8. The widest gap is RAM & Storage, where the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores 10 against 8 for the Apple iPad Air M3 11" — memory. CPU Performance also separates them: 10 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 9 for the Apple iPad Air M3 11". The Apple iPad Air M3 11" claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display — 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air M3 11"; Processor — M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) on the Apple iPad Air M3 11"; RAM — 12GB (16GB with 1TB+) on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 8GB on the Apple iPad Air M3 11"; Storage — 256GB-2TB on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 128GB-1TB on the Apple iPad Air M3 11"; Battery — 38.99Wh, 10-11 hours on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 10 hours on the Apple iPad Air M3 11"; Weight — 579g on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 461g on the Apple iPad Air M3 11".
Pricing as of July 29, 2026: $1,199 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and $599 for the Apple iPad Air M3 11", a $600 difference in the Apple iPad Air M3 11"'s favor. Owners praise the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) for 1600 nits peak brightness and tandem OLED technology; the most common complaint is $1,299+ entry price. Owners praise the Apple iPad Air M3 11" for M3 chip proven performance and lighter than Pro; the most common complaint is 60Hz display dated.
Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5)
- 1600 nits peak brightness
- Tandem OLED technology
- M5 chip fastest
- ProMotion 120Hz
- $1,299+ entry price
- Slight warm color cast
- Overkill for basic use
Apple iPad Air M3 11"
- M3 chip proven performance
- Lighter than Pro
- Magic Keyboard compatible
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- 60Hz display dated
- No OLED option
- 8GB RAM limit
Which should you buy?
The Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) is the better fit for professional creatives and 4K video editing — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for RAM & Storage and CPU Performance. The Apple iPad Air M3 11" is the better fit for pro-level performance savings and magic Keyboard users, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. If the $600 saving matters more than RAM & Storage, the Apple iPad Air M3 11" is the better value. The Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) is a poor fit for budget buyers; the Apple iPad Air M3 11" is a poor fit for 120Hz priority.
Choose the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) if
- Professional creatives
- 4K video editing
- Display enthusiasts
Skip it if
- Budget buyers
- Basic tablet needs
Choose the Apple iPad Air M3 11" if
- Pro-level performance savings
- Magic Keyboard users
- Apple Pencil Pro users
Skip it if
- 120Hz priority
- OLED needs
Common questions
Is the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) better than the Apple iPad Air M3 11"?
In our Performance Tablets ranking the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores higher overall, 9.7 to 8.8, with the biggest advantage in RAM & Storage. The Apple iPad Air M3 11" is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) cost than the Apple iPad Air M3 11"?
$600 more as of July 29, 2026: $1,199 for the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) against $599 for the Apple iPad Air M3 11". Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly RAM & Storage — 10 versus 8 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) and the Apple iPad Air M3 11"?
The headline spec difference is Display: 13" Ultra Retina XDR, 2752×2064, 120Hz OLED on the Apple iPad Pro 13" (M5) versus 11" Liquid Retina LCD, 2360×1640, 60Hz on the Apple iPad Air M3 11". In use, the gap that matters most is RAM & Storage (10 vs 8 in our scoring): memory.