iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio
256GB · 2025
iPad Pro 13" (M5)
M5 · Tandem OLED · Apple Pencil Pro
iPad Pro 13" (M5) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio lands at 88 and iPad Pro 13" (M5) at 95. That puts iPad Pro 13" (M5) ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio if…
- ✓Portable creative canvas
- ✓Strong SoC
- ✓App ecosystem matures per year
Pick iPad Pro 13" (M5) if…
- ✓Biggest generational leap for iPad Pro in years
- ✓M5 ray-traced graphics
- ✓visionOS-adjacent spatial capture
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio | iPad Pro 13" (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256GB | 256 GB – 2 TB |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| Chip | — | Apple M5 |
| Display | — | 13″ Tandem OLED, 120Hz |
| RAM | — | 16 GB |
| OS | — | iPadOS 19 |
iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio
- +Portable creative canvas
- +Strong SoC
- +App ecosystem matures per year
- −Keyboard/pen extra cost
- −RAM often soldered
- −Mid-tier cameras
iPad Pro 13" (M5)
- +Biggest generational leap for iPad Pro in years
- +M5 ray-traced graphics
- +visionOS-adjacent spatial capture
- −iPadOS multitasking still limited
- −Keyboard extra
- −Thermals matter on sustained RT workloads
FAQ: iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio vs iPad Pro 13" (M5)
Which is better, iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio or iPad Pro 13" (M5)? +
iPad Pro 13" (M5) scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio worth the price? +
At $878, iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in performance.
Is iPad Pro 13" (M5) worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPad Pro 13" (M5) delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in display.
Does iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio or iPad Pro 13" (M5) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.