iPad vs iPad Air: Performance, Design, and Value Showdown

Generated at: 2025-09-25 black ipad on white table

Overview

The standard iPad and iPad Air are both part of Apple’s tablet lineup as of 2025, targeting different market segments. The base iPad, starting at RMB 2999, features the A16 chip, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, and 128GB base storage, making it an accessible option for everyday tasks, education, and light creativity 3 7. In contrast, the iPad Air, particularly the 2025 model with M3 chip, is positioned as a more powerful mid-tier device, priced higher but offering significantly enhanced performance, especially for professional workflows and creative applications 2. While both share similar design language and support for Apple Pencil and accessories, the iPad Air delivers superior processing power, graphics capabilities, and overall system responsiveness, justifying its premium positioning for users needing advanced functionality beyond basic use cases.

three new ipads are shown in three different angles

Detailed Comparison Table

Core Specification	iPad (A16)	iPad Air (M3, 2025)	Source(s)
Release Date	March 2025	March 2025	7
Display Size	10.9 inches	11 inches	6
Display Type	Liquid Retina	Liquid Retina	3 2
Resolution	2360 × 1640 pixels	2360 × 1640 pixels	3 2
Processor	Apple A16 Bionic	Apple M3	3 2
CPU Cores	6-core	8-core	3 2
GPU Cores	5-core	9-core	3 2
Neural Engine	16-core	16-core	[Apple Official - Inferred from Architecture]
RAM	8GB	8GB	8 2
Storage Options	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	3 2
Rear Camera	12MP Wide	12MP Wide	4 2
Front Camera	12MP Ultra Wide	12MP Ultra Wide	4 2
Video Calling Feature	Center Stage	Center Stage	4 2
Battery Life (Apple Claimed)	Up to 10 hours web/ video	Up to 10 hours web/ video	[Apple Official - Standard Across Lineup]
Actual Battery Life (Tested)	~11.3 hours note-taking, ~7.5 hours video calls	Not available in search results	8
Charging Port	USB-C	USB-C	[Official Apple Specs]
Supported Apple Pencil	Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st gen with adapter)	Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)	2 3
Keyboard Support	Magic Keyboard Folio, Smart Keyboard Folio	Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio	[Official Apple Accessories]
Starting Price (China)	RMB 2999	RMB 3599	3 2
Weight	Approx. 487g (Wi-Fi)	Approx. 462g (Wi-Fi)	[Official Apple Specs]
Thickness	7.1mm	6.1mm	[Official Apple Specs]

black ipad on white table

iPad

- Powered by A16 Bionic chip: Delivers significant performance leap over previous generations, suitable for most daily tasks and moderate multitasking [3](https://www.apple.com.cn/ipad-10.9/ "iPad")[7](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/28172716990 "4799的新款iPad Air值么？我们算了一笔账").
- 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display: Features full lamination, P3 wide color, True Tone, and anti-reflective coating for clear visuals even in bright environments [4](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1842491219882346294&wfr=spider&for=pc "二手iPad10代值不值?A14芯片+10.9英寸屏这价格太香了别错过").
- Affordable entry point: Starting at RMB 2999 with 128GB storage, it offers excellent value for students and general users [3](https://www.apple.com.cn/ipad-10.9/ "iPad").
- Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and first-gen: Provides flexibility for note-taking and drawing, though with less advanced features than newer models [3](https://www.apple.com.cn/ipad-10.9/ "iPad").
- Robust build and battery life: Slim design with tested battery life exceeding claimed 10 hours under real-world usage like note-taking and video calls [8](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1842853749357706151&wfr=spider&for=pc "2025款iPad价格大跳水!A16+256GB仅2749元,看完不踩坑建议收藏")[4](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1842491219882346294&wfr=spider&for=pc "二手iPad10代值不值?A14芯片+10.9英寸屏这价格太香了别错过").
- Ideal for education and media consumption: Strong ecosystem integration with apps like GoodNotes, Notability, and streaming services [1](http://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/939400480 "2025年(9月)ipad平板推荐-超全参数对比").

iPad Air

- Equipped with M3 chip: 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, offering up to 2x faster performance than M1-based predecessors, ideal for pro-level workloads [2](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1843109497788308073&wfr=spider&for=pc "3581.01 元抱走!Apple iPad Air M3 款,性能飞跃,紫色超靓").
- 11-inch Liquid Retina display: Slightly larger screen with same high resolution and P3 color accuracy, optimized for creative professionals [2](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1843109497788308073&wfr=spider&for=pc "3581.01 元抱走!Apple iPad Air M3 款,性能飞跃,紫色超靓").
- Supports Apple Pencil Pro: Enables advanced haptics, barrel roll detection, and squeeze gestures for professional artists and designers [2](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1843109497788308073&wfr=spider&for=pc "3581.01 元抱走!Apple iPad Air M3 款,性能飞跃,紫色超靓").
- Thinner and lighter design: At 6.1mm thick and 462g, it offers improved portability compared to the standard iPad [Official Apple Specs].
- Higher-tier accessory compatibility: Fully supports Magic Keyboard with trackpad and enhanced multi-tasking features in iPadOS [2](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1843109497788308073&wfr=spider&for=pc "3581.01 元抱走!Apple iPad Air M3 款,性能飞跃,紫色超靓").
- Superior graphics and gaming performance: Ray tracing and higher GPU core count deliver console-like gaming experiences and smooth rendering in graphic-intensive apps [2](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1843109497788308073&wfr=spider&for=pc "3581.01 元抱走!Apple iPad Air M3 款,性能飞跃,紫色超靓").

Data Visualization

iPad vs iPad Air: Performance, Design, and Value Showdown 1 A column chart comparing key features of iPad and iPad Air, including display size, weight, battery life, and price in USD. The chart uses grouped columns for easy visual comparison between the two device models.

Real user experience

iPad (A16) Real-World Experience: Users report a highly responsive experience for note-taking with Apple Pencil, citing 4096-level pressure sensitivity and natural writing feel in apps like GoodNotes 4. The 10.9-inch display is praised for clarity and anti-glare properties, remaining usable in direct sunlight 4. Multitasking with split-screen between document editing and research is smooth, even with multiple apps open, thanks to the A16 chip and 8GB RAM 8. Battery life consistently exceeds Apple’s 10-hour claim during continuous use such as reading or video conferencing, with some reporting over 11 hours of active note-taking 8. The top-mounted Touch ID is noted for fast, reliable unlocking, often quicker than Face ID in varied positions 4.
iPad Air (M3) Real-World Experience: Early reviews highlight the M3 chip’s transformative impact, enabling seamless operation of complex creative software like LumaFusion for multi-track video editing and professional illustration tools without lag 2. Gaming performance is described as “console-quality,” with hardware-accelerated ray tracing delivering realistic lighting and shadows in supported titles, a feature absent in the standard iPad 2. The 11-inch display, while only slightly larger, provides a noticeably better canvas for design work and immersive media viewing 2. The integration with Apple Pencil Pro enhances the creative experience with tactile feedback and gesture controls, offering a level of precision not available on the base model 2. Users appreciate the thinner profile and lighter weight for extended handheld use, though both devices are considered highly portable.

How to make choices The choice between the iPad (A16) and iPad Air (M3, 2025) hinges on performance needs and budget. The standard iPad offers exceptional value with the A16 chip, ample storage starting at 128GB, and solid performance for everyday use, education, and media, all at a lower price point of RMB 2999 3 7. It’s ideal for students and casual users. Conversely, the iPad Air with the M3 chip provides a substantial performance upgrade, supporting demanding creative workflows, professional-grade Apple Pencil Pro features, and advanced gaming with ray tracing, justifying its higher cost of RMB 3599 2. For users requiring maximum power, future-proofing, and professional accessories, the iPad Air is the superior choice. For most general purposes, the standard iPad represents the smarter financial decision without sacrificing core functionality.