iPad Air 11 (M3)
M3 · 11″ · Pencil Pro · Apple Intelligence
iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular
M5 · Tandem OLED · Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPad Air 11 (M3) lands at 90 and iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular at 95. That puts iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick iPad Air 11 (M3) if…
- ✓M3 silicon at iPad Air pricing
- ✓Pencil Pro support
- ✓Apple Intelligence eligible
Pick iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular if…
- ✓M5 performance in a tablet
- ✓Tandem OLED display
- ✓Apple Pencil Pro support
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPad Air 11 (M3) | iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11″ Liquid Retina, 60Hz | — |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | — |
| RAM | 8 / 16 GB | — |
| Storage | 128 / 256 / 512 / 1 TB | ▲ 256GB |
| Battery | 28.93 Wh | — |
| Weight | 460 g (Wi-Fi) | — |
| Chip | — | M5 |
| Display size | — | 13" |
| Connectivity | — | Wi-Fi + Cellular |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
iPad Air 11 (M3)
- +M3 silicon at iPad Air pricing
- +Pencil Pro support
- +Apple Intelligence eligible
- −No ProMotion 120Hz
- −No Tandem OLED
- −Single rear camera
iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular
- +M5 performance in a tablet
- +Tandem OLED display
- +Apple Pencil Pro support
- −iPadOS multitasking still limited
- −Keyboard sold separately
- −Pricey for casual use
FAQ: iPad Air 11 (M3) vs iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular
Which is better, iPad Air 11 (M3) or iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular? +
iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPad Air 11 (M3) worth the price? +
At $599, iPad Air 11 (M3) delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular worth the price? +
At $1,499, iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in display.
Does iPad Air 11 (M3) or iPad Pro 13" (M5) · 256GB · Wi-Fi + Cellular 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.