Which is better for students?

The iPad 11-inch covers notes, reading and video calls for $399.99 at Amazon as of November 5, 2026. Choose the iPad Pro only if your course needs pro apps like video or design software.

Is the iPad Pro worth the extra money?

Only if you use the M5 chip and XDR display. For streaming, browsing and email, the $399.99 iPad 11-inch does the same jobs for far less.

Which has the better screen?

The iPad Pro. Its 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR panel adds ProMotion, P3 wide color and higher brightness. The iPad 11-inch uses a standard Liquid Retina panel.

The iPad Pro should stay useful longer because of the M5 chip and 12 GB of RAM. The iPad 11-inch with A16 and 8 GB is fine for everyday tasks but will feel slower sooner on heavy apps.

Do both work with the Apple Pencil?

The iPad Pro works with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). Check the accessory list for the iPad 11-inch before buying a pencil for it.

Which is better for drawing?

The iPad Pro. The larger 13-inch screen, ProMotion and Apple Pencil Pro support suit sketching and design work. The iPad 11-inch is fine for light notes and sketches.

Apple iPad 11-inch, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB vs Apple iPad Pro (M5) 13" 1TB Standard Glass Silver Wi-Fi Tablet

Buy the iPad 11-inch if you want a tablet for browsing, streaming, notes and video calls at a low price. Buy the iPad Pro 13-inch M5 if you edit video, draw, run pro apps or want the best display and Apple Intelligence performance. The gap is large: $399.99 at Amazon for the iPad 11-inch as of November 5, 2026, versus $1,399.00 at Amazon for the iPad Pro as of the same date.

Today the Apple iPad 11-inch, A16, Wi-Fi, 128GB costs $999.01 less at its best price.

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