BLOGiPhone & iOS › Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro - Which One to Buy?

Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro - Which One to Buy?

iPad Air4 vs Pro: an ultimate comparison

By Kendra D. Mitchell | Oct 12,2020 15:30 pm

iPad Air4 vs Pro: an ultimate comparison

Apple iPad Pro is considered the ‘king’ of smart tablets. But is that changing with the entrance of Apple iPad Air 4 on September 15, 2020? Widely regarded as an upgrade to the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch and its sibling, the Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch, the iPad Air 4 2020 is taking no prisoners. It features a brand new processor, a refreshed overall design, and of course, the futuristic iPadOS 14. However, many still believe that iPad Pro comes top in many aspects. So, let’s dive in and put the debate to rest with some straightforward facts.

Part 1. Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro: Design & Display

apple-ipad-air-4-vs-ipad-pro-display-and-design

Let’s start with one area where iPad Pro bosses all iPad models, including Air – screen display. Although iPad Air is catching up, thanks to its updated 11-inch display, it’s still significantly smaller than the desktop-like iPad Pro 12.9-inch screen. The Pro also edges out the Air in terms of brightness, with its extra 100 nits of brightness. Though small, it can still make a difference when it matters most.

The Pro also fares better in terms of resolution with its 2732 x 2048 display, compared to the Air’s 2360 x 1640 resolution. But the iPad Air makes it up in the authentification department with its Touch ID sensor on the top button. Compared to the Pro’s Face ID, I find the Air to be more convenient. Overall, the iPad Pro edges out the iPad Air here, bar the TouchID recognition.

Part 2. Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro: Camera

apple-ipad-air-4-vs-ipad-pro-camera

Now let’s discuss the camera versatility where the iPad Pro tops once again. Although both have 12MP rear cameras, the iPad Pro adds a 10MP camera with an ultra-wide. The ultra-wide feature allows the camera to capture more surroundings in a single shot. Not to forget the Light Detection and Ranging scanner (LiDAR) for letting the camera to record precise object distance. This way, you’ll enjoy better quality images.

But don’t dismiss the iPad Air 4 just yet. That’s because its 12MP camera can equally take slow-motion 4k videos at 60 frames per second. I really doubt if you’ll even miss the ultra-wide and LiDAR scanner with the iPad Air 4.

Part 3. Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro: Hardware & Performance

apple-ipad-air-4-vs-ipad-pro-performance-and-hardware

Honestly, the Apple iPad Pro can’t match the Air model here! To begin with, the iPad Air 4 2020 packs the powerful A14 processor under the hood. It is the latest Apple chip that we also expect to find in the yet to be released iPhone 12. Compared to iPad Pro’s A12z chip, the iPad Air will become faster and more efficient, at least for now. Apple claims that the chip comes with a massive 40% boost in CPU processing and 30% in graphics. Also, it features the brand new 16-core neural engine, which is 2x faster.

On the hardware similarities, both feature USB-C connectivity. The iPad Air 4 2020 also sees an upgrade to support the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2, which were previously a special reserve for the iPad Pro. Another similarity is that both iPads offer up to 10 hours of battery life, although the iPad Air 4 takes 30 minutes less to charge fully.

We’re not yet sure what RAM the iPad Air 4 packs, but what is certain is that it will be more than its predecessor’s 3GB. Again, some GBs less shouldn’t deter you from ordering the fantastic iPad Air. The physical storage size, however, can tilt the scales because the iPad Air is more conservative. While the Pro’s lowest capacity is 128GB, which can rise to 1TB, the Air is limited to two options, only – 256GB and 64GB.

Part 4. Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Apple iPad Pro: Price

The price tag is a vital determinant on which iPad model you choose. The iPad Air price starts at $599 for the 64GB and $749 for the 256GB. The iPad Pro price, on the other hand, starts at $799 for the lowest storage model, and that’s without a cellular connection. The more significant 12.9-in iPad Pro pushes near the mammoth $1,000 mark. So, when it comes to the pricing, it all depends on your bank account.

Memory size Apple iPad Air 4 Apple iPad Pro
64GB $599 N/A
128GB N/A $799
256GB $749 $899
Display Type Liquid Retina Liquid Retina
512GB N/A $1099
1TB N/A $1299

Final Advice

All in all, the Apple iPad Air 4 offers almost everything you can find in the Apple iPad Pro 2020. First of all, the powerful A14 processor is a game-changer. This is proof enough that it can handle more tasks than the iPad Pro. Also, the shorter charge time and lower price tag should come in handy. But of course, the iPad Pro has its strengths, such as a bigger and brighter 12.9-inch display. So, choose wisely!

Tip: After purchasing your iPad, you might create a couple of videos that you’ll need to edit and convert. If that’s the case, use Wondershare UniConverter! This Windows and macOS app is simple to install and use and offers multiple editing functions. Here is how to use it:

Step 1: Import your videos

After installing and running Wondershare Video Converter, use your iPad’s USB cable to connect it to your computer. After connecting successfully, go to Wondershare UniConverter and open the Video Editor window. Now choose the Crop function and then import your video files from iPad storage.

apple-ipad-air-4-wondershare-uniconverter-step-1

Step 2. Edit videos

Begin cropping your video by rotating, flipping, and resizing. You can also apply effects, subtitles, remove watermarks, and adjust audio by clicking their respective tabs. Hit the Ok button if you’re satisfied.

apple-ipad-air-4-wondershare-uniconverter-step-2

Step 3. Save your videos

Click the Output Format drop-down list, hit the Device tab, and then choose your iPad’s model. You can also click the Video tab to select a video format. Proceed to click the File Location textbox and choose a destination folder on your iPad. Finally, click Start All. You can now enjoy your edited video on the iPad.

apple-ipad-air-4-wondershare-uniconverter-step-3
Wondershare UniConverter
  • Directly convert videos to MP4, AVI, MKV, and other 1,000 formats without quality loss at 30X faster speed.
  • Convert videos to devices such as iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Android phones directly.
  • Edit videos with advanced video editing functions, like trimming, cropping, adding watermarks, subtitles, etc.
  • Download/record videos from YouTube and other 10,000+ video sharing sites.
  • Burn videos to DVD or Blu-ray disc to play with your DVD player.
  • Support additional functions like Video Compress, VR Converter, GIF Maker, Fix Video Metadata, etc.
You May Also Like
Useful Resources

UniConverter

Your Complete Video Toolbox