iPad Pro 11 M5 vs Apple iPad Air (M4)
Buy the iPad Air (M4) for most people: it handles note-taking, streaming, browsing and light editing, and at $649.99 at eBay as of November 4, 2026 it costs about $450 less than the iPad Pro 11 M5 at $1,099.99 at Amazon. Buy the iPad Pro 11 M5 if you want the M5 chip, a 120Hz Ultra Retina XDR display, Thunderbolt and 12GB of memory for heavy creative or AI work. The Pro's price has swung between $1,099.00 and $1,299.00 since November 1, 2026, so timing matters more on the Pro than on the Air.
Today the Apple iPad Air (M4) costs $400.99 less at its best price.
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iPad Pro 11 M5
Choose the iPad Pro 11 M5 if you edit video, draw in Procreate, run demanding pro apps or want the brightest, smoothest 120Hz display and Thunderbolt speed.
- M5 chip and 12GB of memory handle video editing, 3D and AI workloads.
- 120Hz Ultra Retina XDR display is far brighter with deeper contrast than the Air's LCD.
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 supports fast external drives and displays.
- Face ID unlock and a four-speaker, four-microphone setup.
- Storage scales to 2TB, with nano-texture glass on 1TB and 2TB models.
What separates them
| iPad Pro 11 M5 | Apple iPad Air (M4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (best new, November 4, 2026) | $1,099.99 at Amazon | $649.99 at eBay |
| Chip | Apple M5 | Apple M4 |
| Memory | 12GB unified memory | Not listed; lower than Pro |
| Display | 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR, 120Hz ProMotion, 264 ppi | 11-inch Liquid Retina LCD, 2360 x 1640, P3 wide color |
| Ports | Thunderbolt / USB 4 | USB-C |
| Weight | 0.98 lb (444 g) | About 1 lb |
| Storage options | 256GB to 2TB | Up to 1TB |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
Price history
- iPad Pro 11 M5: lowest $1,099.00 on Nov 3 at UCLA Store; $1,299.00 on Nov 4.
- Apple iPad Air (M4): lowest $638.00 on Nov 3 at PC Richard & Son.
Prices at every store
iPad Pro 11 M5
- Apple Education StoreNew
In stock
$1,299.00Free shippingObserved at 8:08 AM - UCLA StoreNew
In stock
$1,299.00+ $8.95 shippingObserved at 8:08 AM - WalmartNew
In stockSold by Datavision Computer Video
$1,343.00+ $35.00 shippingObserved at 8:08 AM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
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$1,099.99Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 6:58 PM
Also available at
- University of Iowa Hawk Shop and University BookstoreCheck price at University of Iowa Hawk Shop and University Bookstore
- University of Cincinnati BookstoreCheck price at University of Cincinnati Bookstore
- Compton College Campus StoreCheck price at Compton College Campus Store
Apple iPad Air (M4)
- PC Richard & SonNew
In stock
$638.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 9:44 AM - Apple Education StoreNew
In stock
$699.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 9:44 AM - B&H Photo-Video-AudioNew
In stock
$699.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 9:44 AM - Best BuyNew
In stock
$749.00Free shippingObserved Nov 3, 2026, 9:44 AM
Also available at
Specs compared
| Spec | iPad Pro 11 M5 | Apple iPad Air (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Display resolution | 2420-by-1668-pixel resolution at 264 ppi | 2360 x 1640 |
| Battery Life | 10 hours battery | All-day battery life |
| Rear Camera Resolution | 12 MP rear camera | 12 MP |
| Front Camera Resolution | 12 MP front camera | 12 MP |
| Year introduced | 2025 | — |
| Height | 9.83 inches (249.7 mm) | — |
| Width | 6.99 inches (177.5 mm) | — |
| Depth | 0.21 inch (5.3 mm) | — |
| Weight | 0.98 pound (444 grams) | — |
| Refresh rate | 10Hz to 120Hz | — |
What reviewers say
iPad Pro 11 M5
Owners and reviewers generally praise the M5 iPad Pro's speed, display and build, calling it the fastest tablet available. Criticism centers on price and on iPadOS not fully using the hardware for laptop-style work.
- Very fast M5 performance in pro apps
- Excellent 120Hz display
- Slim, light design
- Strong accessory ecosystem with Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard
- High price, particularly for more storage
- iPadOS limits multitasking versus a Mac
- Accessories add significant cost
- Battery life is average under heavy load
Apple iPad Air (M4)
Owners generally praise the M4 Air as fast, light and a good value in the middle of Apple's lineup. Most criticism centers on the 60Hz display and the high price of the larger storage tiers.
Questions and answers
- Is the iPad Pro 11 M5 worth the extra money over the iPad Air (M4)?
- Only if you need the M5 chip, 12GB of memory, Thunderbolt or the 120Hz XDR display for real work. For notes, streaming and everyday apps the Air does the same jobs for about $450 less.
- Which is better for students?
- The iPad Air (M4). It covers note-taking, textbooks, video calls and writing, and the savings pay for a keyboard or Pencil. The Pro makes sense for art, film or design students running heavy apps.
- Which has the better screen?
- The iPad Pro 11 M5. Its Ultra Retina XDR panel reaches far higher brightness with deeper contrast and runs at 120Hz. The Air uses a Liquid Retina LCD at a fixed refresh rate.
- Do both work with the same accessories?
- Both take Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard, but each generation has its own keyboard fit. Check the model before buying a used or older keyboard.
- Which lasts longer?
- Both list 10 hours of battery life. The Pro's M5 and extra memory should stay fast for heavy apps longer, while the Air's lower price makes an earlier upgrade cheaper.
- Is the iPad Pro price likely to drop?
- It already has. The lowest daily price since November 1, 2026 was $1,099.00 and the highest $1,299.00, so watch the price history before buying.