Discover all the differences, technical specifications and features of the latest generations of iPad Pro and iPad Air.
There are so many different models of iPad and so many variations that, even for us, it is often difficult to know all the differences between one iPad and another. Really, discerning the variations of one model and another can sometimes be a real gibberish.
If it has happened to you on some occasion, don’t worry anymore, from iPadízate our main objective is to help you and then we are going to accentuate all the differences that exist in the latest generation iPad tablets.
We recently did the same with the differences between iPad 2022 and iPad Air 2022 and we have even compared all the changes between iPad Pro 2021 and iPad Pro 2022. This time we will talk about all the differences between the 2022 iPad Pro with M2 chip and the 2022 iPad Air with M1 chip.
Index
iPad Pro 2022 vs. iPad Air 2022
iPad Pro models with its Magic Keyboard
We are facing two of the most powerful tablets on the market. Two authentic beasts with enormous performance but, obviously, they have many differences both at the design level and at the level of hardware and technical specifications.
Technical specifications
| iPad Pro 2022 | iPad Air 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.59 cm (11 inches) 28.06 x 21.49 x 0.64 cm (12.9 inches) | 9.5″ x 7″ x 0.25″ |
| Weight | 466g (11 inches) 684g (12.9 inches) | 462g |
| Screen | Liquid Retina display (11-inch) Liquid Retina XDR display (12.9-inch) | Liquid Retina display |
| Resolution | 2,224 x 1,668 pixels (11 inches) 2,732 x 2,048 pixels (12.9 inches) | 2,360 x 1,640 pixels |
| pixel density | 264 dpi | 264 dpi |
| Processor | m2 | M1 |
| RAM | 8/16GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 64GB and 256GB |
| cameras | Dual camera (12+10 Mpx) | 12 megapixel camera |
| Drums | 10 hours of Internet browsing | 10 hours of Internet browsing |
| Colors | Silver and Space Gray | Silver and Space Gray |
| Others | Face ID, Portrait mode, True Tone, Pro Motion, Apple Pencil floating pointer, ProRes up to 4K at 30 fps, LiDAR scanner | Face ID, Portrait mode, True Tone |
| starting price | From 1,049 euros | From 769 euros |
Design
The colors available in the new iPad Air of 2022
The design of the two models of the iPad Pro of 2022 and the iPad Air of the same year differ only in their size.
While the 2022 iPad Pro is available in two versions of 11 and 12.9 inches the 2022 iPad Air is available in a single version of 10.9 inches.
It’s quite a size difference. Opting for one design or another, in this case, will simply depend on the tastes and needs of each consumer.
However, we can find a small difference in favor of the 2022 iPad Air: its colors. The iPad Air line offers a wide range of colors (Space Grey, Blue, Pink, Purple and Star White) while the two 2022 iPad Pro models are only available in two colors (Space Gray and Silver). Although it might seem silly, this is something to keep in mind when choosing one iPad or another.
processor performance
There is an important evolution between the M1 and the M2
There is no doubt that one of the big differences between the iPad Pro and the latest generation iPad Air is the power, efficiency and performance of their processors.
On the one hand, as we previously reported, the 2022 iPad Pro has a series chip m2while on the other hand the 2022 iPad Air has a built-in chip M1.
This is the difference table between the M1 chip and the M2 chip:
| iPad Pro 2022 | iPad Air 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | m2 | M1 |
| CPU cores | 8 | 8 |
| GPU cores | 8/10 | 8 |
| neural motor nuclei | 16 | 16 |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 64GB and 256GB |
| RAM | 8GB/16GB | 8GB |
| Thunderbolt | Yes | Nope |
| Mobile data | 5G | 5G (without mmWave) |
The data in the table indicates the superiority of the processors of the two iPad Pro models with respect to the iPad Air.
M2 chips offer an 18% faster CPU that the M1 chips and a 35% more efficient GPU. It also has a considerable improvement in memory bandwidth from 50 GB/s up to 100 GB/s. In addition, the M2 chip has support for Thunderbolt.
The 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB versions have 8GB RAM while the 1TB and 2TB versions feature 16GB RAM.
Be that as it may, despite the clear superiority of the 2022 iPad Pro processors, many users think that the 2022 iPad Air with M1 chip and 8 GB of RAM has more than enough power for everyday use.
Screen
The iPad Pro screen is one of the best on the market
The truth is that the screen of the 2022 iPad Pro and the 2022 iPad Air is practically identical. It has many similarities and very few differences.
The iPad Air’s Liquid Retina display has a size of 10.9 inches and True Tone technology. Basically the same features as the 11-inch iPad Pro screenwhich is only slightly larger.
On the other hand, the screen of the 12.9-inch version of the 2022 iPad Pro is Liquid Retina XDRreaches a 1,600 nits peak brightness and has a higher resolution (2,732 x 2,048 pixels).
The only big difference is the ProMotion technology of the iPad Pro screen, which offers a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
Camera
iPad Pro Camera Module
The rear camera module of the 2022 iPad Pro lineup has a dual camera. On the other hand, the 2022 iPad Air has a single camera. Not surprisingly, this brings many advantages to the iPad Pro in terms of image quality.
One of these main advantages is reflected in the ability of the iPad Pro with M2 chip to capture videos in resolution ProRes 4K at 30 frames per second.
2022 iPad Air lock screen
The other most prominent reason why the iPad Pro cameras are better than the iPad Air cameras is that in the case of iPad Pro M2 models feature TrueDepth technology with Face ID. This is a difference in weight that can tip the balance towards the iPad Pro for all those users who need or usually use facial recognition in their day to day.
But there are other differences, such as the functionality Smart HDR 4 present in iPad Pro or, of course, the benefits of its ultra wide angle lens of 10 megapixels.
The iPad Pro M2 has a sensor LiDAR capable of measuring the distance at which an object is with respect to the point of emission in the real environment. An especially useful technology in the use of augmented reality.
Finally, the front camera of the iPad Pro has functions such as the portrait modethe portrait lighting effect and support for Animojis and Memojis while the front camera of the 2022 iPad Air does not have these options.
Which iPad model should I buy?
Now that we have talked about all the differences between the 2022 iPad Pro and 2022 iPad Air models, it is time to share a conclusion. Of course, the iPad Pro line is superior to the iPad Air – which also has its advantages – but some of the differences are simply based on small details that not all consumers will take into account. Ultimately, this is a very personal decision.
Is the M2 chip in the iPad Pro really that superior to the M1 processors in the iPad Air? The truth is that yes, and in this sense the differences can be seen with the naked eye. However, the superiority of its performance may not be so necessary for the vast majority of users who use their tablet for daily use based on web browsing, the consumption of multimedia elements, video calls, etc.
Also, the 2022 iPad Air is much cheaper and still has some of the coolest features of the iPad Pro. However, does not have Face ID and this may not appeal to many consumers, who would have to settle for using Touch ID.