Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) vs iPad Air (2022): The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) wins for raw power, a superior display, and pro-level features like ProMotion. However, the iPad Air (2022) offers excellent performance and a gorgeous design at a significantly lower price, making it the smarter choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) | 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 - A2764, A2437 | 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - A2764 | 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, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2437, A2766 | 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 | 2022, October 18 | 2022, March 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 26 | 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 (4x3.49 GHz performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Apple M1 |
| GPU | Apple GPU (10-core graphics) | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 16.1, 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, ProRes | 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, HDR | 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 | 5.3, 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 3), DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, compass, 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 | A2764, A2437, A2766, A2436, iPad14,5, iPad14,6 | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 |
| Price | About 1450 EUR | About 550 EUR |
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)
- Unmatched performance with M2 chip
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- LiDAR scanner for AR and improved camera autofocus
- More RAM for multitasking
- Thunderbolt / USB 4 port
- Significantly higher price
- Larger and heavier than the iPad Air
- Can be overkill for casual users
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- Excellent performance with M1 chip
- Beautiful Liquid Retina display
- More affordable than the iPad Pro
- Lightweight and portable
- Available in more colors
- Less powerful than the iPad Pro
- No ProMotion display
- No LiDAR scanner
- Limited storage options compared to Pro
Display Comparison
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) features a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with Mini-LED backlighting, offering incredible brightness, contrast, and HDR performance. The iPad Air (2022) has an 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, which is still excellent but lacks the Pro's advanced technology. ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) on the Pro provides smoother scrolling and responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Both iPads have capable front and rear cameras. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has a slightly better camera system with a LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences and faster autofocus in low light. However, the difference in image quality isn't dramatic.
Performance
The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) delivers a noticeable performance boost over the M1 in the iPad Air (2022), especially in demanding tasks. Both chips are incredibly fast for everyday use, but the Pro handles intensive workloads with greater ease. The Pro also benefits from more RAM.
Battery Life
Battery life is excellent on both devices, typically lasting a full day of moderate use. The iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) has a slightly larger battery capacity, but the difference in real-world usage is minimal.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2022)? Creative professionals, power users, and anyone needing the absolute best performance and display quality for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and demanding games. Who should buy the Apple iPad Air (2022)? Students, casual users, and those seeking a powerful and portable tablet for everyday tasks, entertainment, and light creative work without breaking the bank.