With the release of the latest iPads, a comparison between an iPad Pro and MacBook Air became more reasonable; especially for anyone who is in the market to get a new computer for themselves. Both devices have reasonably evolved to the level where both of them have developed similar features. The MacBook Air is a powerful device with the M1 chip, a tough battery life, better performance, and even access to some apps that were available on smartphones. Updates to the iPad Pro 2021 include a better display system, its M1 chip, and performance that easily makes it one of the best tablets around the world.
If you are in the market for a new powerful Apple product, the MacBook Air and iPad Pro 2021 would make it into the list. They are individually capable of competing with the best PCs on the market but how they pair up against each other. If you are willing to invest in getting a keyboard for your iPad, you may just have gotten a device that can also handle all your laptop needs. Read on to find out the major differences between these two devices.
iPad Pro 2021 vs MacBook Air M1: Specs
| M1 MacBook Air | 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 | 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 | |
| Starting Price | $999 | $799 | $1,099 |
| Display | 13.3-inches (2560 x 1600 pixels) | 11 inches (2388 x 1668 pixels) | 12.9 inches (2732 x 2048 pixels) |
| Processor | M1 | M1 | M1 |
| Storage | 256GB – 2TB | 128GB – 2TB | 128GB – 2TB |
| Rear Cameras | None | 12MP wide (f/1.8), 10MP ultra-wide (f/2.4) | 12MP wide (f/1.8), 10MP ultra-wide (f/2.4) |
| Front Cameras | 720p FaceTime HD Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Dimensions | 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches |
| Weight | 2.8 pounds | 1.04 pounds | 1.51 pounds |
| Port | 2 Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, headphone jack | USB-C with thunderbolt, USB – 4 | USB-C with thunderbolt, USB – 4 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6, optional 5G | Wi-Fi 6, optional 5G |
iPad Pro 2021 vs MacBook Air M1: Price
Apple’s new iPad Pro 2021 comes in for $799 for the 11-inch model, while the 12.9-inch model is offered at $1,099. An entry-level M1 MacBook Air (7-core GPU and 256GB SSD space) has a starting price of $999 (or $899 for schooling customers), while the more powerful model with a better M1 chip (8-core GPU and 512 SSD space) costs $1299. The price may even increase further if you want some extra memory and storage.
It may immediately look like you are spending more by getting a new MacBook over an iPad Pro, but you have to keep in mind that the MacBook Air is designed with an in-built keyboard. To use your tablet as a laptop, you would need to purchase the Magic Keyboard as an additional accessory. If you’re getting the iPad Pro 12.9 – inch model with the Magic Keyboard, you’ll be spending close to $1,500 already – and that’s before you decide whether to expand the limited 128GB storage of the iPad Pro.
iPad Pro 2021 vs MacBook Air: Display
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When the MacBook Air was released, users and experts were fascinated with its display features. It was designed with a 2560 x 1600-pixel Retina display that made it incredibly pleasing to use the laptop to watch movies and for video editing applications. Its display was a combination of bold colors and attention to detail.
For all the impressive features of this laptop’s display, it does not rank as the best screen ever seen on a laptop. And there are indications that the 12.9-inch Mini-LED display on the iPad Pro 2021 may give the laptop a run for its money.
The new iPad Pro 2021 is built with a Liquid Retina XDR display. This large beautiful screen is so impressive as it’s backlit by LEDs almost five times smaller than standard LEDs, which means there is better control over screen brightness and display quality. Mini-LED displays are a big deal this year and we are still set to witness other applications. It’ll be nice to see what Apple does with this technology going forward. If screen quality is a major feature for you, the MacBook Air doesn’t do poorly but you may feel better about getting the iPad. Make sure to go for the 12.9-inch model as the 11-inch model sports a Liquid Retina display.
iPad Pro 2021 vs MacBook Air: Performance
It’s difficult to tell whether you would enjoy a more satisfying performance from using the new iPad Pro 2021 or the MacBook Air. But you’d enjoy using either of them.
When the MacBook Air was released with the M1 chip, Apple claimed that their new laptop was 3x faster than the previous Air model. These claims have been proven out as the laptop has proven itself as one of the most powerful laptop models on the market.
Now, the M1 chip has been introduced to the iPad family and in the latest release of the product, Apple claims that the octa-core chip can run 50% faster and offer 40% better graphics than the iPad Pro 2020 (which featured Apple’s A12Z Bionic processor). The storage access for the latest iPad also has twice as fast storage access as its predecessor.
Without any doubt, these devices are capable of handling any powerful tasks and operations. You’ll probably have more room to push the MacBook Air to higher limits because of its better design at dissipating heat but both devices offer top-level performance.
iPad Pro 2021 vs MacBook Air: Battery Life
According to tests and reports, the MacBook Air would last for 14 hours and 41 minutes – which is nothing short of impressive. Apple claims that the iPad Pro 2021 will offer up to 10 hours of battery life for watching videos and surfing the internet.
The MacBook Air does considerably better in this category.
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Conclusion
The iPad Pro 2021 seems to be like a successful release, thanks to the inclusion of the M1 chip and the 12-9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display. When you consider that you can purchase a magic keyboard for $349 and hook it up to the tablet, it’s possible that the tablet could become a makeshift laptop.
But to completely transform your tablet into a tablet, you would spend about $1500. At that price, you would get a MacBook Air with extra RAM and storage, a built-in battery, and a battery with a long life. At the end of the day, the choice is down to the budget and preference of the user.
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What is the weight difference?
Nevermind, I see it above. Thank you!