Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: The Apple iPad Air 2022 is one of the best-selling Apple iPads and this is because it is both affordable and powerful. However, it has its limitations like the camera and lower refresh rate. Whereas, the new Apple iPad Pro 2022 features a better chipset, better camera sensors, and a smoother display. But the catch is, the iPad Pro 2022 is about $200 more expensive than the iPad Air 2022. So, the question is, should you buy the more expensive iPad Pro 2022 or buy the cheaper and best-selling iPad Air 2022?
Choosing between these two devices comes down to user preference and what you do with your Apple iPad. In this Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022 specs comparison, I will be explaining why the iPad Pro 2022 is better than the iPad Air 2022 and also why most users will prefer to buy the iPad Air 2022 over the iPad Pro 2022.
See Also: Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Pro 2021: Which is better
Note: The Apple iPad Pro 2022 and Apple iPad Air 2022 are also known as M2 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air respectively. So, in this article, we’ll also be referring to them as M2 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air.
Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022
| Specs | iPad Pro 2022 | iPad Air 2022 |
| Display | 12.9-inches, 120Hz 11-inches, 120Hz | 10.9-inches, 60Hz |
| Display Panels | Retina XDR mini-LED Retina IPS LCD | Retina IPS LCD |
| RAM | up to 16GB | 8GB |
| Storage | up to 2TB | 64GB & 256GB |
| Back Camera | 12MP + 10MP + TOF 3D LiDAR | 12MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Apple M1 |
| Software | iPadOS 16 | iPadOS 15 |
| Battery | 12.9-inch (40.88Wh) 11-inch (28.65Wh) | (28.6Wh) |
| Stylus Support | YES | YES |
iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Display, Design, and Durability
The design and display of the iPad Pro 2022 are very different from that of the iPad Air 2022. The display of the iPad Pro 2022 supports Apple ProMotion technology i.e 120Hz refresh rate while the display of the iPad Air 2022 does not support ProMotion. This means the display of the iPad Pro 2022 is smoother and faster than that of the iPad Air 2022. As per the design, the M2 iPad Pro is bigger than the M1 iPad Air and the M2 iPad Pro also has a bigger rear camera module.
At first glance, you can tell the difference between both devices and the difference becomes even clearer when you power on the devices. The iPad Pro 2022 has a brighter and more colorful screen this is because the display has support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision with a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits. Both devices are made of a Glass front, aluminum back, and aluminum frame and have Stylus support.
The display of the Apple iPad Air 2022 is good but that of the Apple iPad Pro 2022 is better. With the iPad Pro 2022, you get a faster and smooth display that is brighter and more color accurate.
See Also: Apple iPad Air 2022 Review: Performance and Budget in one Product
Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Camera
| Camera | iPad Pro 2022 | iPad Air 2022 |
| Main | 12MP | 12MP |
| Ultra-wide | 10MP | N/A |
| Depth | TOF 3D LiDAR | N/A |
| Front | 12MP | 12MP |
The Apple iPad Pro 2022 comes with a triple rear camera and a single front camera while the Apple iPad Air 2022 comes with a single front and back camera. Aside from having more camera sensors, the iPad Pro 2022 also has more camera features.
The cameras of the iPad Pro 2022 have features such as ProRes, Cinematic mode (4K, 1080p), and Face detection. These features are not available in the iPad Air 2022. Note that the front and back cameras of the iPad Air 2022 are good but the iPad Pro 2022 offers a better camera system.
So, if you need an Apple iPad to record videos and take better photos between these two, the iPad Pro 2022 is the preferred choice here. However, if you won’t be using your Apple iPad to record videos or take photos often (maybe because you have an Apple iPhone), then the iPad Air 2022 is the preferred choice here.
See Also: Apple iPad Air 2022 vs iPad Pro 2021: Which should you buy
iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Chipset, RAM & Storage
The operations of the Apple iPad Pro 2022 are handled by the Apple M2 chip while those of the Apple iPad Air 2022 are handled by the Apple M1 chip. The M2 chip of the iPad Pro 2022 is the newer version of the M1 chip of the iPad Air 2022. And it has better performance and is more power efficient.
The chipset of the iPad Pro 2022 is also equipped with a more powerful GPU. The M2 chip in the iPad Pro 2022 has Apple GPU with 10-core graphics while the M1 chip of the iPad Pro 2021 has Apple GPU with 8-core graphics. The extra GPU cores of the M2 chip make the iPad Pro 2022 render graphics faster than the iPad Air 2022. So, when it comes to graphics-intensive gaming and rendering graphics, the Apple iPad Pro 2022 is better than the iPad Air 2022.
The iPad Pro 2022 has up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of internal storage while the Apple iPad Air 2022 comes with 8GB of RAM that is paired with 64GB or 256GB of storage. None of the devices have support for storage expansion via a microSD card slot.
See Also: Apple iPad Air 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8: Which is better
Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Software
Apple iPad Pro 2022 boots iPadOS 16 out of the box while the Apple iPad Air 2022 boots iPadOS 15 out of the box. Both devices will get up to five years of major software updates and users can download apps and games from the Apple App store.
The software and user experience on both smartphones are very smooth. Animation is fast, apps open very quickly, switching between apps is smooth, and the user interface on both phones looks neat. However, the iPadOS 16 has some new features, and to enjoy these features, users of the iPad Air 2022 should upgrade to iPadOS 16.
See Also: Apple iPad Air 2022 Price in Australia and Where to buy
iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Battery & Other Features
The 11-inches and 12.9-inches models of the Apple iPad Pro 2022 are powered by 28.65Wh and 40.88Wh batteries respectively while the Apple iPad Air 2022 is powered by a 28.6Wh battery. The Apple iPad Pro 2022 has bigger batteries and its Apple M2 chip is also more power efficient. So, even with the ProMotion tech, the iPad Pro 2022 has longer battery life.
Features available on the iPad Pro 2022 are Face ID, USB Type-C 4 (Thunderbolt 4), DisplayPort, magnetic connector, Nano-SIM, eSIM, Stylus support (Bluetooth integration; magnetic), and Face detection. In comparison, the features available on the iPad Air 2022 are Fingerprint (top-mounted), USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector, Nano-SIM, eSIM, and Stylus support (2nd gen).
See Also: Apple TV 4K 2022 Price and Availability
Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Price
The starting price of the Apple iPad Pro 2022 (8GB + 128GB) is $799 while the starting price of the Apple iPad Air 2022 (8GB + 64GB) is $599. However, the iPad Air 2022 is enjoying a discount and you can get it for around $499 on Amazon. Details of where and how to buy the iPad Pro 2022 and iPad Air 2022 are available in the table below.
| iPad Air 2022 | Prices |
| Buy on Amazon | $449.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (EUR) | €689.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (UK) | £569.00 |
| Apple iPad 2022 (12.9-inch) | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $1,099.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (EUR) | €1,449.00 |
| Apple iPad 2022 (11-inch) | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $799.00 |
| Buy on Amazon (EUR) | €1,049.00 |
Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022: Conclusion
From the Apple iPad Pro 2022 vs iPad Air 2022 specs, it’s clear that the iPad Pro 2022 is better than the iPad Air 2022. The iPad Pro 2022 has a smoother, brighter, and more color-accurate display, a better chipset, bigger batteries, better camera sensors, and more camera features. However, the Apple iPad Air 2022 is about $300 cheaper and offers good value for the money.
Truth is, if you already have an Apple iPhone, you might not have a need for the camera sensors and camera features of the iPad Pro 2022. And the Apple M1 chip in the iPad Air 2022 is more than capable to handle all your graphics work. So, buying the iPad Air 2022 seems like a better deal. But, if you have a need for a bigger display and feel you need the extra power that the Apple iPad Pro offers, then you should buy the iPad Pro 2022.
