iPad Air M2 vs iPad Pro M4
Same family, two personalities: the iPad Air M2 and the iPad Pro M4 start from common ground and then go their separate ways. On the overall scorecard, the iPad Pro M4 is ahead: 4 of 5 areas, with display doing the heavy lifting. It also matters that $400 separates their launch prices, with the iPad Pro M4 at the top.
At a glance
- Display iPad Pro M4 wins
- Performance iPad Pro M4 wins
- Memory & Storage iPad Pro M4 wins
- Cameras Tie
- Battery & Connectivity iPad Pro M4 wins
- Price iPad Air M2 wins
- Display1.4
- Performance6.7
- Memory & Storage4.7
- Cameras9.0
- Battery & Connectivity2.1
- Display8.6
- Performance8.8
- Memory & Storage10.0
- Cameras9.0
- Battery & Connectivity2.8
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPad Pro M4 has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 120 Hz for the iPad Pro M4 versus 60 Hz for the iPad Air M2. Once you’ve seen a high-refresh tablet, standard-rate scrolling can feel a little choppy.
-
The iPad Pro M4 has 100% higher brightness
The iPad Air M2 lists 500 nits; the iPad Pro M4 comes in at 1,000 nits. That’s not a rounding error. The iPad Pro M4’s brighter panel also gives HDR video more punch.
-
The iPad Pro M4 has 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB
At 256 GB versus 128 GB, this is a decisive lead for the iPad Pro M4, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. Downloaded shows and large creative files fill space fast, so the iPad Pro M4’s bigger starting capacity is a practical win.
-
The iPad Pro M4 has a 0.03 in slimmer body
If thickness is one of your priorities, this settles it: the iPad Pro M4 leads clearly with 0.21 in to the iPad Air M2’s 0.24 in. Once you add a keyboard case, small thickness differences matter less, but the iPad Pro M4 still stays trimmer.
-
The iPad Pro M4 has a 0.63 oz lighter build
The iPad Pro M4 wins this narrowly, 15.66 oz against 16.30 oz, which makes it more of a bonus than a reason to buy. Accessories like keyboards and cases add weight too, so the base difference is a starting point.
Design & Size
- iPad Air M2 9.75 in × 7.03 in × 0.24 in
- iPad Pro M4 9.83 in × 6.99 in × 0.21 in
On overall dimensions, the iPad Air M2 and the iPad Pro M4 are separated by very little. Pick the iPad Pro M4 and you save 0.63 oz. The iPad Air M2 measures 0.03 in more in depth than the iPad Pro M4.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 9.75 in | 9.83 in |
| Width | 7.03 in | 6.99 in |
| Thickness | 0.24 in | 0.21 in (winner) |
| Weight | 16.30 oz | 15.66 oz (winner) |
Display
iPad Pro M4 leads
The iPad Pro M4 clearly takes the display round. The iPad Pro M4 brings a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. If you draw, take handwritten notes or play games, the iPad Pro M4’s smoother display is a real advantage. In short, the iPad Pro M4 is the better-equipped tablet for display.
Refresh rate
iPad Air M2: 60 Hz iPad Pro M4: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smoother and can make pen input feel more immediate.
Peak brightness (SDR)
iPad Air M2: 500 nits iPad Pro M4: 1,000 nits Indoors, both may be plenty bright; the gap matters most in strong daylight.
Performance
iPad Pro M4 leads
No contest in performance: the iPad Pro M4 is the stronger of the two. The iPad Pro M4 has the edge with 1 more CPU cores. Core count is only part of the picture, since chip design and clock speeds also shape performance. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPad Pro M4.
CPU cores
iPad Air M2: 8 iPad Pro M4: 9 More CPU cores help when you run several demanding apps at once or export large files.
GPU cores
iPad Air M2: 9 iPad Pro M4: 10 The iPad Pro M4’s extra GPU cores are most noticeable in demanding games and pro creative apps.
Memory & Storage
iPad Pro M4 leads
Here the iPad Pro M4 opens up one of its biggest leads in the comparison. The iPad Pro M4 comes with 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB. If you mostly stream and use cloud storage, the base tier matters less; if you work offline, it matters a lot. The takeaway: on memory & storage, the iPad Pro M4 is the stronger tablet.
Base storage
iPad Air M2: 128 GB iPad Pro M4: 256 GB Base storage decides how many movies, games and projects you can keep on the tablet without paying for an upgrade.
Max storage
iPad Air M2: 1 TB iPad Pro M4: 2 TB A bigger top storage option matters for people who keep large video projects or media libraries on the device.
Accessories & Productivity
There isn’t a number to compare on accessories & productivity, just names. Look at the rows below to see how the iPad Air M2 and the iPad Pro M4 differ.
Cameras
Too close to call
You can skip ahead if cameras was your deciding factor: the two are evenly matched here. The takeaway: cameras is not where these two differ.
Battery & Connectivity
iPad Pro M4 leads
On battery & connectivity, the iPad Pro M4 comes out slightly ahead. The iPad Pro M4 pulls ahead with 8.2% more battery capacity. A bigger battery usually means more hours of reading, streaming and working between charges. For anyone who cares most about battery & connectivity, the iPad Pro M4 is the safer choice.
Battery
iPad Air M2: 28.9 Wh iPad Pro M4: 31.3 Wh The iPad Pro M4 carries more capacity, which helps with heavier work that drains a battery faster.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 11 in | 11 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina (LCD) | Ultra Retina XDR (tandem OLED) |
| Resolution | 2360 x 1640 | 2420 x 1668 |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 500 nits | 1,000 nits (winner) |
| Fully laminated display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | M2 | M4 |
| CPU cores | 8 | 9 (winner) |
| GPU cores | 9 | 10 (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
| Base storage | 128 GB | 256 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 2 TB (winner) |
Accessories & Productivity
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Stylus support | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) |
| Keyboard accessory | Magic Keyboard | Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4) |
| OS at launch | iPadOS 17 | iPadOS 17 |
Cameras
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Rear camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Front camera position | Landscape edge | Landscape edge |
Battery & Connectivity
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 28.9 Wh | 31.3 Wh (winner) |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 10 h | 10 h |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C (Thunderbolt / USB 4) |
| Cellular option | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 9.75 in | 9.83 in |
| Width | 7.03 in | 6.99 in |
| Thickness | 0.24 in | 0.21 in (winner) |
| Weight | 16.30 oz | 15.66 oz (winner) |
Price
| Spec | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $599 (winner) | $999 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The iPad Pro M4 asked for $400 more at launch. That gap of 67% has to be justified by the specs. The value question is simple: are a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 100% higher brightness worth $400 to you? If so, the iPad Pro M4 makes sense.
Launch prices in the US as of May 2024; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPad Air M2 if…
- you want the lower price and can live with the trade-offs ($400 less)
Choose the iPad Pro M4 if…
- you want smoother scrolling and pen strokes (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you use your tablet near bright windows or outdoors (1,000 nits vs 500 nits)
- you want more room without paying for an upgrade (256 GB vs 128 GB)
- you want the slimmer tablet (0.21 in vs 0.24 in)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPad Air M2 or the iPad Pro M4?
We’d point most buyers to the iPad Pro M4. The main exception is if every dollar counts and $400 is a real sum for you.
Which has better battery life, the iPad Air M2 or the iPad Pro M4?
It’s effectively a tie. The battery figures for the iPad Air M2 and the iPad Pro M4 are too close to call.
Which is larger, the iPad Air M2 or the iPad Pro M4?
Size is essentially a tie. The official dimensions of the iPad Air M2 and the iPad Pro M4 differ only marginally.
Which is faster, the iPad Air M2 or the iPad Pro M4?
The iPad Pro M4 has the edge in performance thanks to 1 more CPU cores and 1 more GPU cores.
Is the iPad Air M2’s display better than the iPad Pro M4’s?
The iPad Pro M4 has the stronger display on paper, with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 100% higher brightness.
Is the iPad Air M2 cheaper than the iPad Pro M4?
The iPad Pro M4 launched at $400 more than the iPad Air M2, based on prices as of May 2024.
Executive Summary
I’ll admit the iPad Air M2 versus the iPad Pro M4 is the kind of question I enjoy: same maker, same family, and still a real choice to make. My main argument for the iPad Pro M4? It comes with a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. A second point goes to the iPad Pro M4 for 256 GB of base storage instead of 128 GB.
The iPad Air M2 is built for people who weigh price heavily, and the iPad Pro M4 for people who weigh display.
My pick: the iPad Pro M4, and I’d only look at the iPad Air M2 if you want to keep that $400 difference in your pocket.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.