iPad Pro Vs Air, 10th Gen, and Mini 7: Comprehensive Lineup Comparison

Apple's 2024 iPad Lineup: Comparing iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10, and iPad Mini 7:

With Apple’s newest releases, including the iPad mini 7 and the M4 iPad Pro, 2024 has brought significant updates to Apple’s iPad family. Alongside the M2 iPad Air, these tablets offer a wide range of features to cater to different users' needs. But how do these devices compare to each other in terms of performance, design, and pricing? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the similarities and differences between the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10, and iPad mini 7, helping you decide which is the best option for you.

Performance:

At the core of Apple’s 2024 iPad lineup is performance, and there’s a noticeable difference between the models.

• M4 iPad Pro: The iPad Pro is the first Apple device to feature the powerful M4 chip, marking a significant leap in performance. Apple claims the M4 offers a 50% faster CPU and a 4x faster GPU compared to the M2 chip, along with enhanced memory bandwidth, jumping from 100GB/s to 120GB/s. Additionally, the M4 chip includes a media engine with hardware-accelerated support for 8K video in formats like H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, making it a strong option for professional users working with high-resolution media.
  
  With 38 trillion operations per second via the M4 Neural Engine, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the iPad Pro stands as the ultimate powerhouse for those in video editing, graphic design, or other intensive workflows. Models with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage offer 8GB of RAM, while the 1TB and 2TB versions include 16GB of RAM for even more robust multitasking capabilities.

	M4 iPad Pro	M2 iPad Air	iPad 10	iPad mini 7
Chip	M4	M2	A14 Bionic	A17 Pro
CPU	9/10-core	8-core	6-core	6-core
GPU	10-core	10-core	4-core	5-core
Neural Engine	16-core	16-core	16-core	16-core
Storage	Up to 2TB	Up to 1TB	Up to 256GB	Up to 512GB
Ram	8 or 16GB	8GB	4GB	8GB
Thunderbolt/USB 4	Yes	-	-	-
USB-C	-	3.1 Gen 2	USB-C 2	USB-C 3
Cellular	5G (sub-6 Hz)	5G (sub-6 Hz)	5G (sub-6 Hz)	5G (sub-6 Hz)
Apple Intelligence	Yes	Yes	-	Yes

• M2 iPad Air: For 2024, the M2 iPad Air is a strong mid-tier option, powered by the M2 chip. This chip delivers enough power for most tasks, including light video editing and gaming, without being overkill for casual users. The M2 Air now comes in two size options for the first time, offering flexibility depending on your preference for portability or screen real estate.

• iPad mini 7: The mini 7 is built for those who prefer a compact device but don’t want to compromise on power. It features the A17 Pro chip, which enhances performance for everyday tasks and even moderate gaming or creative work. The A17 Pro also supports Apple’s advanced AI-based technologies, including Apple Intelligence, making it a capable option for those who want a smaller device without sacrificing functionality.

• iPad 10: Sitting at the lower end of the performance spectrum, the iPad 10 still offers reliable power with the A14 chip, a generation behind the iPad mini 7. While it won’t keep up with the performance of the M4 or M2, it’s still perfectly capable for casual users who need a solid tablet for web browsing, content consumption, and light work.
  

Display:

The display quality is another key area where the iPad models differ.

• M4 iPad Pro: One of the standout features of the M4 iPad Pro is its Ultra Retina XDR Display, a major upgrade from the M2 iPad Air and the rest of the lineup. It’s the first iPad to utilize Tandem OLED technology, offering brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and more accurate color representation. With up to 1000 nits of brightness for SDR content and 1600 nits for HDR, the Pro delivers incredible visuals, particularly for professional creatives. You also have the option to add a nano-texture glass for reduced glare.

	M4 iPad Pro	M2 iPad Air	iPad 10	iPad mini 7
Display	11″ or 13″ OLED	10.86″ or 12.9″ LED	10.9″ LED	8.3″ LED
Resolution	2420 x 1668 / 2752 x 2064	2360 x 1640 / 2732 x 2048	2360 x 1640	2266 x 1488
PPI	264	264	264	326
Display brightness	1000 nits SDR, 1000 nits max full screen XDR, 1600 nits peak (HDR only)	500/600 nits brightness for SDR	500 nits brightness for SDR	500 nits brightness for SDR
Fully laminated display	Yes	Yes	-	Yes
Apple Pencil Hover	Yes	Yes	-	Yes

• M2 iPad Air: The Air features a Liquid Retina Display that, while not as advanced as the Pro’s OLED display, still offers impressive quality. It supports P3 wide color, True Tone, and Apple Pencil Hover, making it a great choice for most users who don't require the Pro's level of brightness or contrast.

• iPad mini 7: The mini 7 shares many of the same display features as the Air, though its smaller size might not be as ideal for those who need a larger workspace. Still, for reading, casual work, or travel, its Liquid Retina Display performs exceptionally well.

• iPad 10: The iPad 10 comes with a more basic LED Liquid Retina Display, offering solid quality but lacking the advanced features found in the Pro or Air models. It’s bright enough for most uses but won’t offer the same depth of color or contrast as the higher-end options.

Design, Dimensions, and Colors:

Apple continues to refine the design of its iPads, making them slimmer and lighter than ever.

• M4 iPad Pro: Apple boasts that the M4 iPad Pro is the “thinnest product it has ever created,” with the 11-inch model measuring just 5.1mm thick and the 13-inch model at 5.3mm. It’s also remarkably light, weighing less than a pound for the 11-inch version. Additionally, the M4 Pro comes in a new Space Black finish, replacing Space Gray, with silver as the second option.
  
• M2 iPad Air: The Air continues to live up to its name with a lightweight design, although it’s no longer the thinnest tablet in Apple’s lineup. It’s available in four colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Blue, and Purple, giving it a more playful and versatile look.

• iPad mini 7: The mini is the lightest and most portable of the bunch, ideal for those who want a tablet they can easily carry around. It’s available in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue.
  
• iPad 10: The iPad 10 offers a slightly bulkier build compared to the others, but it still has a sleek design with fun color options like Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow.

	11″ M4 iPad Pro	11″ M2 iPad Air	13″ M4 iPad Pro	13″ M2 iPad Air	10.9″ iPad 10	8.3″ iPad mini 7
Height	9.83 inches	9.74 inches	11.09 inches	11.04 inches	9.79 inches	7.69 inches
Width	6.99 inches	7.02 inches	8.48 inches	8.46 inches	7.07 inches	5.3 inches
Depth	0.21 inch	0.24 inch	0.20 inch	0.24 inch	0.28 inch	0.25 inch
Weight	446 grams	462 grams	582 grams	618 grams	477 grams	293 grams

Connectivity and Accessories:

The iPad Pro and Air are designed to work with the latest Apple accessories, including the new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, both of which enhance productivity and creativity. The iPad mini 7 supports the Apple Pencil Pro or USB-C, while the iPad 10 works exclusively with the Apple Pencil USB-C.

	M4 iPad Pro	M2 iPad Air	iPad 10	iPad mini 7
Apple Pencil Pro support	Yes	Yes	-	Yes
Magic Keyboard support	Yes	Yes	-	Yes
SIM	eSIM only	eSIM only	eSIM and nano-SIM	eSIM only
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.3
USB-C	USB 4 (40 Gbps)	USB 3 (10 Gbps)	USB 2 (480 Gbps)	USB 3 (10 Gbps)

A key difference with the Pro is the inclusion of Thunderbolt connectivity, providing faster data transfers and support for external displays. However, Apple has dropped mmWave 5G from all of its 2024 models, opting for standard 5G radios instead. All models now only feature eSIM, with no physical nano-SIM slot.

Battery Life:

Battery life remains consistent across the entire 2024 iPad lineup:

Up to 10 hours of web or video use on WiFi

Up to 9 hours of online usage with cellular.

These figures are comparable to previous iPad generations, meaning you’ll still get a full day of use with any of the models.

Storage and Pricing:

Storage options vary across the lineup. The M4 iPad Pro starts at 256GB and goes up to 2TB, while the M2 iPad Air starts at 128GB and tops out at 1TB. The iPad mini 7 also sees a boost in storage, and the iPad 10 offers more limited options.

Cameras, Video, and Audio:

The M4 iPad Pro features a 12MP wide rear camera with a LiDAR Scanner for enhanced AR experiences. Interestingly, Apple has dropped the 10MP ultra-wide camera from the Pro, making its camera system more in line with the M2 iPad Air. On the front, the iPad Pro includes a 12MP ultra-wide lens with Center Stage support, now centered on the landscape edge for better video calls.

The iPad mini 7 and iPad 10 also include 12MP rear cameras but lack the advanced features of the Pro models.

Buyer’s Guide:

• M4 iPad Pro: Ideal for professionals or power users who need top-tier performance, a stunning display, and don’t mind paying a premium for the best.

• M2 iPad Air: A great middle ground, offering many of the Pro’s features at a lower price point, perfect for creative professionals or casual users who want more power than the iPad 10.
  
  
• iPad mini 7: Best for those who prioritize portability but still want solid performance. The small form factor makes it great for travel or reading.

• iPad 10: An affordable option that offers great value for casual users, students, or kids. It’s not as powerful as the other models, but it gets the job done for light to medium tasks.

With so many options, there’s a 2024 iPad for everyone. Whether you're looking for top-of-the-line power or a more budget-friendly option, Apple's latest lineup has you covered.