iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio
256GB · 2025
iPad Pro M5 13″
M5 · Tandem OLED · 5G mmWave
iPad Pro M5 13″ 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 M5 13″ at 96. That puts iPad Pro M5 13″ ahead by 8 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 M5 13″ if…
- ✓M5 silicon parity with MacBook Pro
- ✓Tandem OLED with full Pro Display calibration
- ✓Apple Pencil Pro hover
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio | iPad Pro M5 13″ |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256GB | ▲ 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| Display | — | 13″ Tandem OLED, ProMotion 120Hz |
| Chipset | — | Apple M5 |
| RAM | — | 12 / 16 GB |
| Battery | — | 38.9 Wh |
| Charging | — | 20W USB-C |
| Weight | — | 579 g |
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 M5 13″
- +M5 silicon parity with MacBook Pro
- +Tandem OLED with full Pro Display calibration
- +Apple Pencil Pro hover
- −iPadOS still trails macOS for power users
- −Magic Keyboard sold separately ($349)
- −Storage upgrades pricey
FAQ: iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio vs iPad Pro M5 13″
Which is better, iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio or iPad Pro M5 13″? +
iPad Pro M5 13″ scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. 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 M5 13″ worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPad Pro M5 13″ delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does iPad Air 11 (M3) · 256GB (Space Gray) · with Smart Folio or iPad Pro M5 13″ 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.