Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) vs. iPad Air (2022): The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) wins on raw power, display quality (Mini-LED), and ProMotion, making it ideal for creative professionals. However, the iPad Air (2022) offers excellent performance for most users at a significantly lower price, making it the smarter choice for everyday use and portability.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) | Apple iPad Air (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2379, A2461, A2462 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2589 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2379 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2461, A2462 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2591 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 20 | 2022, March 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 21 | Available. Released 2022, March 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 in) | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 682 g (Wi-Fi), 685 g (5G) (1.50 lb) | 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb) |
| Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic) | Stylus support (2nd gen) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 2048 x 2732 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 12.9 inches, 515.3 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Apple M1 | Apple M1 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 14.5.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 2TB 16GB RAM | 64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 10 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | - |
| Features | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Face detection, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, barometer | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Po 10758 mAh (40.88 Wh) | Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue |
| Models | A2379, A2461, A2462, iPad13,8, iPad13,9, iPad13,10, iPad13,11 | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 |
| Price | About 1200 EUR | About 550 EUR |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
- Superior Display (Mini-LED, ProMotion)
- More RAM (8GB)
- Advanced Camera System (LiDAR)
- Thunderbolt Port
- Better Speakers
- Higher Price
- Larger and Heavier
- Can be overkill for casual users
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- More Affordable
- More Portable
- Excellent Performance (M1 Chip)
- Stylish Design
- Available in more colors
- Less Powerful Display (no ProMotion or Mini-LED)
- Less RAM (6GB)
- No LiDAR Scanner
- Slower charging
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) boasts a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with Mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible contrast and brightness. It also features ProMotion (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) for smoother scrolling and responsiveness. The iPad Air (2022) has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, which is still excellent, but lacks the ProMotion and Mini-LED technology of the Pro.
Camera Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) has a more advanced camera system, including a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences and better low-light photography. Both have excellent front-facing cameras for video calls.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the M1 chip, delivering exceptional performance. While the Pro has slightly more RAM (8GB vs 6GB in some Air models), real-world performance differences for most tasks are minimal. The Pro's thermal design allows it to sustain peak performance for longer durations.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable between the two, offering around 10 hours of mixed usage. The iPad Pro's larger size allows for a slightly larger battery capacity, but the difference is not significant.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)? Creative professionals (video editors, graphic designers), users needing the absolute best display, and those who require advanced features like ProMotion and Thunderbolt. Who should buy the Apple iPad Air (2022)? Students, casual users, those seeking a balance of performance and portability, and anyone on a tighter budget.