2025 iPad 11 vs iPad Air M1: Price, specs, features compared

Apple’s 2025 iPad 11 is Apple’s new budget tablet. The most important downside for it’s that the 2022 iPad Air is nearly all the time a greater product for about the identical cash. Here is how the 2 examine.

In our review of the 2025 iPad 11, we concluded that the majority customers available in the market for a brand new iPad are higher served with the M1 iPad Air, versus the 2025 iPad 11. It seems if you publish a evaluation of a brand new product, and say {that a} product from a couple of years in the past is a greater deal total, there is a demand for extra detailed data than a passing comment or two.

And, in that evaluation, Managing Editor Mike Wuerthele famous that the 2025 iPad brings the worth finish of Apple’s pill spectrum consistent with the remainder, so far as design goes.

As a mannequin replaced by M2 and M3-based variants, the primary Apple Silicon iPad Air, utilizing the M1 chip is clearly not new. Apple solely has it within the refurb store.

Even so, there is a compelling argument for getting the older M1 iPad Air as an alternative of the most recent 2025 iPad 11. Right here is the breakdown between the previous iPad Air and the brand new iPad 11.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Specs

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Bodily Look

It is honest to say that there’s a distinct stage of similarity between the 2 fashions being in contrast right here. Externally, they appear the identical, full with the edge-to-edge show, the development of the again, and button layouts.

Each depend on aluminum for the enclosure, which is trendy and flat-sided, utilizing Apple’s present design language. The again appears fairly related too, with using one solitary digicam and no expanded bump part.

Each even have Contact ID embedded within the high button, dealing with biometric safety duties.

For those who look fastidiously, there are some variations, however they’re small.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Contact ID is situated within the high button on each fashions.

Externally, the simplest to identify is the front-facing digicam. Whereas it’s on a brief aspect on the iPad Air, meant for portrait orientation utilization in calls, the iPad as an alternative has it on an extended edge, making it extra helpful when utilized in calls in a panorama orientation.

In terms of bodily dimensions, the brand new iPad is ever so marginally larger than the M1 iPad Air. The three-year-old mannequin has a footprint of 9.74 inches by 7.02 inches, whereas the iPad 11 is a smidgeon bigger at 9.79 inches by 7.02 inches.

You are not likely going to note this, until you actively measure the 2 fashions.

Thickness, nevertheless, is extra simply noticed, with the M1 iPad Air at 0.24 inches versus 0.28 inches for the iPad 11. The iPad Air is close to sufficient 15% thinner than the newer mannequin.

There’s additionally a tiny bit extra heft within the new mannequin. Whereas the M1 iPad Air is 1.02 kilos in each its Wi-Fi and Mobile varieties, the iPad 11 is 1.05 kilos for the Wi-Fi mannequin, 1.06 kilos for Mobile.

Once more, these measurement and weight variations are unlikely to be thought of as main sufficient to matter to customers, since they’re extraordinarily minor.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Shows

In terms of the screens, the acute similarity between the fashions continues to be a factor.

Each fashions have what’s known as a Liquid Retina show, referring to Apple’s LED backlighting system and rounded corners of the display screen. There isn’t any distinction in brightness, as every can handle as much as 500 nits of brightness for SDR content material.

The resolutions are additionally similar, with each at 2,360 by 1,640 pixels and a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch apiece.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Apple says the screens are 11 inches and 10.9 inches respectively.

What could possibly be thought of a giant distinction is the quoted measurement of every, with the iPad Air mentioned by Apple to have a ten.9-inch show, whereas the iPad 11 has an 11-inch display screen. The issue is, it isn’t 11 inches.

Apple’s technical specs for the iPad 11 discloses that it has rounded corners, and that when measured diagonally as traditional, the display screen measurement is basically 10.86 inches.

In impact, Apple is rounding up what it calls the display screen measurement.

There are nonetheless technological variations, with the iPad 11 having sRGB colour protection whereas the iPad Air boasts P3 huge colour. Each do have True Tone assist and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, however the iPad Air’s additionally acquired an antireflective coating and is absolutely laminated.

As for Apple Pencil assist, the iPad 11 can deal with the USB-C Apple Pencil in addition to the first-gen Apple Pencil, when used with the USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter. The iPad Air additionally makes use of the USB-C Apple Pencil, in addition to the second-gen Apple Pencil with its double-tap characteristic.

The iPad Air has a little bit of a bonus with its display screen, however it’s a slim one.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Efficiency

A giant distinction to take into consideration is the processing of every pill. They’re totally different generations and totally different courses of pill, and that impacts the chips which might be in use.

The iPad 11 makes use of the A16 chip, which is greatest recognized for getting used within the iPhone 14 Professional and the iPhone 15. It is a chip that’s two and a half years previous.

The model of the A16 in use within the iPad Air is one with a five-core CPU, with two efficiency cores and three effectivity cores, in addition to a 16-core Neural Engine and a four-core CPU.

Over on the iPad Air, the mannequin being checked out has the M1, which has an eight-core CPU with 4 efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores, an eight-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

As a desktop-class chip with heaps extra cores, this could imply the M1iPad Air will do loads higher than the iPad 11’s A16.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Geekbench Single-core Benchmarks

The Geekbench single-core benchmark for the iPad Air with M1 places it at a rating of two,288. Nevertheless, the identical check for the iPad 11 brings up a results of 2,412, a touch higher end result.

Nevertheless, the multi-core check lands squarely within the M1’s favor, scoring 8,248 to six,202. The plain purpose for that is core counts, because the M1 merely has extra at its disposal.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Geekbench Multi-core Benchmarks

Likewise, the Metallic rating on the iPhone 14 Professional is 22,721, whereas the M1 will get 32,193. As soon as once more, we’re speaking variations in core counts right here.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Geekbench Metallic Benchmarks

This distinction may’ve been diminished a bit had Apple used the A16 from the iPhone 14 Professional, which has a six-core CPU and five-core GPU. Alas, it didn’t.

It is protected to say that there’s comparatively little distinction between the tablets in easy single-core duties. However, in the event you open the faucets with a multi-core or graphically intensive job, the M1 will do issues significantly better.

It is also price mentioning that the iPad 11 won’t be able to reap the benefits of Apple Intelligence, just because the A16 is just under the minimal specification for the options. The older iPad Air, full with the M1 chip, does assist Apple Intelligence, like all different Apple Silicon gadgets.

If you wish to get on the Apple Intelligence bandwagon, the iPad 11 just isn’t the way in which to go.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Cameras and Audio

After a diversion of distinction in efficiency, we come again to similarity once more by trying on the cameras. Each use the identical 12MP Large digicam with an f/1.8 aperture and 5x digital zoom.

Video capabilities for the cameras are similar, too, with 4K 60fps video, 30fps with prolonged dynamic vary, a 3x video zoom, and Slo-Mo at 1080p 240fps.

The story’s the identical across the entrance, with a 12MP Extremely Large digicam utilized in every, full with an f/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom out, Retina Flash, and Middle Stage assist.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Stereo audio system and USB-C are in use in each fashions.

The one variations for the cameras is using Sensible HDR 4 for Pictures within the iPad 11 versus Sensible HDR 3 for Pictures within the iPad Air, and the place of the entrance digicam to be higher used for landscape-orientation video calls.

Audio is supplied by panorama stereo audio system on each fashions, whereas a pair of microphones deal with audio pickup duties.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Connectivity and Battery

For connectivity, each fashions reap the benefits of USB-C for bodily charging and for knowledge. The port is identical on each, situated in similar locations, with mirroring capabilities.

Each even have a Sensible Connector on the rear, which may allow you to hook the respective tablets to keyboard equipment.

For wi-fi connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi 6 on each fashions, however the newer iPad has Bluetooth 5.3 versus Bluetooth 5.0 within the iPad Air. This actually is not a serious difficulty for the overwhelming majority of makes use of and equipment.

There are two variations of every mannequin, with Wi-Fi solely and Wi-Fi + Mobile variants accessible for each. That is additionally pretty related, with 5G assist restricted to sub-6GHz bands and never the quicker mmWave connections.

The M1 iPad Air does profit from having each a SIM card slot for a bodily Nano-SIM and eSIM assist. Apple’s development of supporting solely eSIMs in new gadgets means you possibly can’t insert a bodily SIM into the iPad 11 in the US.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Capability and Pricing

The iPad 11 is obtainable by Apple in a alternative of three capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Pricing starts from $349 for the 128GB, rising to $449 for 256GB, and $649 for 512GB, with Mobile fashions costing an additional $150.

Colour-wise, there are 4 choices: Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air: Sensible Connectors hook the iPad and iPad Air as much as keyboard equipment

The iPad Air with M1 was offered in a alternative of two capacities: 64GB or 256GB. At launch, that meant you might get the bottom mannequin with out Wi-Fi for $599.

There have been additionally 5 colour choices: House Grey, Blue, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.

Nevertheless, Apple discontinued the M1 iPad Air when it was changed with the M2 mannequin, and the $599 starter worth does not apply. If you’d like one, you are going to go down the second-hand route.

Apple’s Licensed Refurbished retailer lists the fifth-gen iPad Air with M1 and Wi-Fi solely at $379 for the 64GB mannequin, $499 for the 256GB model.

With the second-hand market as it’s, you might most likely decide up an identical or higher worth for the M1 iPad Air from different retailers. However, the comparative pricing right here exhibits they’re pretty shut.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – Is newer higher?

It’s totally simple to say that the iPad 11 of 2025 and the three-year-old M1 iPad Air are fairly related tablets. The overwhelming majority of exterior or connectivity options are both similar or very shut with marginal alterations.

The variations that come into play are principally inner. Except for the modernization of storage capability ranges and the marginally higher show, the place the M1 iPad Air excels is with the M1 itself.

Certain, for basic searching or low-performance duties, the iPad 11 and iPad Air might be in the identical ballpark. However in the event you push them, the M1 will beat the A16 any day, particularly the neutered model used right here.

With the comparatively little distinction in refurbished pricing of the M1 iPad Air versus the model new iPad 11, there’s arguably sufficient modifications to warrant a second take a look at the older iPad Air as a possible buy. If efficiency is vital and you may look previous shopping for a used mannequin, it is laborious to not advocate the M1 iPad Air as the higher possibility.

The iPad 11 will nonetheless be the entry-level possibility for almost all of customers. The M1 iPad Air is simply higher in almost each regard.

2025 iPad 11 vs M1 iPad Air – The place to purchase

Apple’s iPad 11 is on sale now, with each mannequin eligible for unique pricing at Apple Premier Accomplice Expercom if you shop through this activation link. Simply search for the particular AppleInsider worth above the Add to Cart button on Expercom’s product pages.

Amazon and B&H are additionally operating gross sales on the 2025 fashions. You’ll be able to examine costs throughout these retailers and extra in our iPad 11 Price Guide — and discover the best iPad deals throughout Apple’s whole lineup in our devoted roundup.

Apple, in the meantime, has Licensed Refurbished M1 iPad Airs accessible, with prices from $379. Finest Purchase can be operating a clearance sale on M2 fashions in new situation, delivering up to $100 off at press time. And for the most recent fashions, store the best M3 iPad Air prices in our Value Comparability Information.