Of the two iPads, the 8th-generation iPad is essentially the iPad 7th-generation with updated design and specifications, whereas the iPad Air 4 is more of a fresh release that features a new design along with new internals. Here’s a closer look at the specifications of the iPad Air 4th-generation, and its comparison with the 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd-generation).
iPad Air 4th-gen vs iPad Pro (11-inch): Design
To start with, the all-new iPad Air 4th-generation takes design inspiration from the iPad Pro, which features a boxy design with shredded bezels all around that offers a modern look to the iPad and gets rid of the chunky head and chin. This change also brings along the inclusion of the TouchID sensor in the power button, since there is no room on the front to house the home button. When turned around, the two iPads share a different camera housing and setup. While the iPad Pro has a dual-camera array, housed within a square module, the iPad Air 4th-generation has a single shooter on the rear. In terms of colorway, the iPad Pro comes in two colors: Silver and Space Gray. On the other hand, the iPad Air 4th-generation offers three new color options in addition to the two regular ones, which include Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
iPad Air 4 vs iPad Pro (11-inch): Display
Upfront, the all-new iPad Air 4th-generation has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with Apple’s True Tone technology. The display offers a 2360×1640 screen resolution and 500 nits of brightness. On the other hand, the iPad Pro 11-inch features an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and ProMotion technology. The addition of ProMotion technology allows the iPad Pro to dynamically adjust the refresh rate of the display between 60Hz and 120Hz. Besides, the Pro model also comes with a slightly brighter display, one that comes in at 600 nits.
iPad Air 2020 vs iPad Pro 11: Performance
Talking about one of the crucial elements when it comes to choosing an iPad, the latest offering from Apple, the iPad Air 4, runs on the all-new A14 Bionic chip. The A14 is the newest chipset from Apple that will power the upcoming iPhones, slated to launch in the coming weeks. And it marks its first appearance with the new iPad Air. The processor is built on the 5nm process and includes a total of 11.8 billion transistors. It incorporates a 16-core Neural Engine, 6-core CPU, and 4-core GPU, and promises to offer 11 trillion operations per second. The iPad Pro 11-inch, on the other hand, runs on the A12Z Bionic chip, which was introduced earlier this year with the new iPad Pro lineup. The chip comes with Neural Engine and an embedded M12 coprocessor. Moreover, it includes an 8-core GPU, as opposed to 4-core on the new iPad Air.
iPad Air 4 vs iPad Pro 11: Camera
In the camera department, as already mentioned, the iPad Air 4th-generation comes with a single camera on the rear, which is a 12MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. On the other hand, the 11-inch iPad Pro sports a dual-camera array, with a 12MP primary sensor and a 10MP ultra-wide-angle-lens with an f/2.4 aperture. In addition, it also features a LiDAR scanner, housed within the camera module, that aids with better depth mapping for improved scene recognition. Moving to the front, the two models share the same 7MP camera. However, the one on the iPad Air 4th-generation does not offer features like portrait mode, portrait lighting, and Animoji & Memoji.
Miscellaneous
As for other specifications, the iPad Air 4th-generation and 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd-generation) have a few differences. For instance, the iPad Air incorporates the TouchID sensor within the power button on the top, whereas the Pro uses FaceID for authentication. Unlike the iPad Pro, which features four speakers, the Air comes with only two speakers (in the landscape mode). Besides these differences, the two models also share a few similarities. For instance, both models come with a USB Type-C port and provide support for a smart connector. They support Apple Pencil (2nd-generation), Magic keyboard, and Smart keyboard folio. In terms of battery life, Apple promise up to 10 hours of battery usage on a single charge on both models.
Apple iPad Air 4th-generation: Pricing and Availability
The all-new iPad Air 4th-generation comes in two storage configurations: 64GB and 256GB, with Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi+Cellular connectivity options. The Wi-Fi-only model comes in at $599 and $749, respectively, whereas the Wi-Fi+Cellular is priced at $729 and $879, respectively. In comparison, the iPad Pro starts at $799 (128GB, Wi-Fi) and goes all the way up to $1299 (1TB, Wi-Fi). The Wi-Fi+Cellular starts at $949 (128GB), with the top variant coming in at $1449 (1TB). As for the India pricing, the iPad Air 4th-generation will be available at a starting price of Rs 54,900 for the Wi-Fi-only model and Rs 66,900 for the Wi-Fi+Cellular. On the other hand, the 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd-generation) currently retails starting at Rs 71,900 (Wi-Fi) and Rs 85,900 (Wi-Fi+Cellular).
