iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro M4: Is the Pro Still Worth the Premium?

These tablets share the M4 chip family, but Apple now sells the iPad Pro M5 as its current Pro. This guide compares the current Air with a previous-generation Pro M4 offer. Our M5 vs M4 comparison covers the current Pro's extra memory, networking and charging changes.

The Air M4 has been available since March 11. Apple's US 11-inch Wi-Fi model now lists from $749, rather than the $599 launch price. The Pro M4 no longer has a current new Apple list price; check the exact refurbished or remaining retailer configuration, warranty and condition before comparing totals.

At a Glance: iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro M4

Performance: M4 Meets Its Match

Both tablets run M4, but the chip configurations differ. For reading, browsing, handwritten notes and ordinary app switching, either has ample performance. The shared chip name is useful context; it does not prove identical application results or make display and port differences disappear.

The Air has an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU. A Pro M4 has a 10-core GPU, but its CPU is nine cores on 256GB/512GB models and ten on 1TB/2TB models. A demanding render or export can expose these differences. Compare results from the storage configuration you intend to buy rather than a top-tier Pro benchmark with an entry configuration's price.

The Air has 12GB of unified memory across its configurations, compared with 8GB in the 256GB/512GB Pro M4 and 16GB in the 1TB/2TB Pro M4. That makes the Air a stronger memory baseline than a low-capacity M4 Pro, while a high-capacity Pro still has more. App limits and workload determine whether additional memory is useful; it does not guarantee future feature eligibility.

Choose around the work you actually do. Notes and moderate illustrations do not establish a need for a ten-core Pro CPU; large projects with app-specific memory limits deserve a closer comparison.

Display: The Biggest Difference

If you want the single most compelling reason to pay the Pro premium, this is it: the display.

The iPad Pro M4 features an OLED Ultra Retina XDR panel, a tandem OLED design that Apple refined specifically for the iPad form factor. It delivers up to 1,000 nits sustained brightness for standard content and an eye-popping 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR. Colors are more vivid, blacks are true black (not backlit dark gray), and contrast ratios are in a different league from any LCD.

Add 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh, and scrolling and Apple Pencil input feel silky smooth in a way that's immediately noticeable.

The Air uses a 60Hz Liquid Retina LCD, rated at 500 nits on the 11-inch and 600 nits on the 13-inch. Both sizes have a laminated P3 display and support Pencil hover. The Pro's OLED contrast and adaptive refresh are the larger differences, particularly for HDR viewing or fast linework. Try the screen before deciding whether it deserves the premium.

Design & Build: Mostly the Same

Both use a thin aluminum design. The 11-inch Pro M4 is 5.3mm thick versus 6.1mm for the Air, but accessories can matter more to the weight you carry. Authentication differs: the Air uses top-button Touch ID, while the Pro uses Face ID. Test how that works with the keyboard, stand and orientation you normally use.

The Pro also has LiDAR, an Adaptive True Tone flash, four speakers and a more capable microphone array. Those features are useful for specific scanning, recording or media routines, but they need not decide a purchase mainly used for reading and handwritten notes.

Storage: Compare the Same Capacity

The Air starts at 128GB; the Pro M4 starts at 256GB. The Air goes up to 1TB and the Pro to 2TB. A base-price comparison therefore includes a storage difference, and Pro storage tiers also change CPU and RAM. Choose the required capacity first, then compare the total for that configuration.

For everyone else, the Air's 128GB to 1TB range covers most use cases comfortably, especially with iCloud cloud storage handling the heavy lifting.

Connectivity: Small But Real Differences

The Air M4 has N1 with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. The Pro M4 has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Cellular Air M4 models use Apple's C1X modem. Faster networking requires compatible infrastructure and service, so a newer standard alone does not guarantee a faster connection in your home.

Both can support an external display. The Pro's Thunderbolt / USB 4 port supports up to 40Gb/s, versus the Air's USB 3 connection at up to 10Gb/s. That matters for large transfers and compatible storage or docks, rather than establishing that only the Pro can use a monitor. Check the accessory and cable specifications too.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy What?

The Air M4 is our value recommendation for ordinary notes and creative work because its laminated display, Pencil Pro support and 12GB baseline cover those needs well. A refurbished Pro M4 can change that verdict if the verified saving makes its OLED display and Thunderbolt port affordable. We have not measured a universal “95% of Pro performance” figure.

The Pro makes sense if you're a creative professional or you simply want the best display money can buy in a tablet. But for everyone else? The Air M4 is the new sweet spot.