Head-to-head

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) vs Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) vs Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) vs OnePlus Pad 3

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)

8.8 $749

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5)

9.0 $1,499

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)

7.9 $449

OnePlus Pad 3

8.4 $699

Verdict

Apple

For the vast majority of people, this is the right iPad: the M4 is the second-fastest tablet chip going, it takes the same Pencil Pro and keyboard as the Pro, and it costs far less. You give up OLED, 120Hz, and Face ID — worth it unless you're a creative pro or watch in the dark.

Apple

The best screen and fastest chip in any tablet make this the one to buy if you edit video, draw professionally, or want a device that stays fast for years. But iPadOS still can't fully use the M5, so most people should save the money and get the Air.

Apple

At $449 with 128GB, a fine tablet for casual users, students, and kids: quick enough for nearly everything, with years of iPadOS updates. The Air is now $300 more, not the $150 it once was, which strengthens this one's case. Buy it as a companion device, not a main one.

OnePlus

The best-value big Android tablet: the fastest Android chip, a 13.2-inch 144Hz screen, eight speakers, and two-day battery for far less than Samsung's Ultra or an iPad Pro. You give up OLED, any biometric unlock, and Samsung's update length — pen and keyboard cost extra.

Best for

Apple

you want one tablet for school, work, notes, drawing, and streaming, and you'd rather put the Pro's price difference toward storage or accessories

Apple

you edit video or photos, draw or design professionally, or want one tablet powerful enough to still feel fast in five or six years

Apple

you want a dependable, affordable iPad for browsing, streaming, school, and notes, and you don't need a premium screen or Apple's AI features

OnePlus

you want the fastest Android tablet and a big high-refresh screen for media and typing, and you'd rather not pay Samsung or Apple flagship prices

Avoid if

Apple

you watch a lot of HDR video in the dark, want the smoothest possible 120Hz scrolling, or need the longest battery for all-day untethered use

Apple

you mostly stream, read, browse, and take notes — you'll pay a steep premium for performance iPadOS won't let you use

Apple

you look at the screen all day, watch a lot of HDR video, or want the Apple Pencil Pro, a laminated display, or Apple Intelligence

OnePlus

you want OLED contrast, a fingerprint or face unlock, the longest update support, or a best-in-class stylus for serious drawing

Score breakdown

value

Apple

9.0

Apple

6.5

Apple

9.5

OnePlus

9.0

battery

Apple

8.0

Apple

8.5

Apple

8.5

OnePlus

9.0

display

Apple

8.0

Apple

10.0

Apple

6.5

OnePlus

8.5

software

Apple

9.5

Apple

9.5

Apple

9.0

OnePlus

7.5

accessories

Apple

9.0

Apple

9.5

Apple

6.5

OnePlus

7.0

performance

Apple

9.0

Apple

10.0

Apple

7.5

OnePlus

9.0

Specs

iPadOS 26 with Apple Intelligence

iPadOS 26

OxygenOS 15 / Android 15 (3 OS updates, security to 2031)

RAM

12GB

12GB (16GB on 1TB/2TB)

6GB

12GB or 16GB

Chip

Apple M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)

Apple M5 (9-core CPU; 10-core on 1TB+)

Apple A16 (5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Adreno 830

Colors

Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight

Space Black, Silver

Blue, Pink, Yellow, Silver

Storm Blue

Stylus

Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)

Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st gen)

OnePlus Stylo 2 (sold separately)

Weight

464g (11-inch, Wi-Fi)

579g (Wi-Fi)

477g (Wi-Fi)

675g

Battery

All-day mixed use; weaker than the OLED Pro under heavy load

38.99Wh, up to 10 hours web/video

28.9Wh, all-day

12,140mAh, 80W charging

Cameras

12MP wide rear, 12MP Center Stage front

12MP wide + LiDAR rear, 12MP Center Stage front

12MP wide rear (4K60), 12MP Center Stage front

13MP rear, 8MP front

Display

11-inch Liquid Retina LCD (laminated, P3, True Tone)

13-inch tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR

10.9-inch Liquid Retina LCD (non-laminated)

13.2-inch LTPS LCD, Dolby Vision

Storage

128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB

128GB / 256GB / 512GB

256GB or 512GB (UFS 4.0)

Keyboard

Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (sold separately)

Magic Keyboard (sold separately)

—

Smart Keyboard (sold separately)

Security

Touch ID (top button)

—

Touch ID (top button)

None (no fingerprint or face unlock)

Wireless

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 5G

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 5G

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 (no cellular)

Thickness

6.1mm

5.1mm

7mm

6.0mm

Resolution

2360 x 1640 (264 ppi)

2752 x 2064 (264 ppi)

2360 x 1640 (264 ppi)

3392 x 2400 (315 ppi)

Refresh rate

60Hz (no ProMotion)

ProMotion 10-120Hz

60Hz

144Hz adaptive

Ports

—

Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB-C)

USB-C (USB 2.0 speeds)

—

Peak brightness

—

1000 nits SDR/HDR, 1600 nits peak HDR

500 nits (no HDR)

600 nits (900 nits HBM)

—

No Apple Intelligence support

—

Speakers

—

8 (4 woofers + 4 tweeters)

Buy →Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) Apple	Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5) Apple	Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) Apple	OnePlus Pad 3 OnePlus
Score	8.8	9.0	7.9	8.4
Price	$749	$1,499	$449	$699
Verdict	For the vast majority of people, this is the right iPad: the M4 is the second-fastest tablet chip going, it takes the same Pencil Pro and keyboard as the Pro, and it costs far less. You give up OLED, 120Hz, and Face ID — worth it unless you're a creative pro or watch in the dark.	The best screen and fastest chip in any tablet make this the one to buy if you edit video, draw professionally, or want a device that stays fast for years. But iPadOS still can't fully use the M5, so most people should save the money and get the Air.	At $449 with 128GB, a fine tablet for casual users, students, and kids: quick enough for nearly everything, with years of iPadOS updates. The Air is now $300 more, not the $150 it once was, which strengthens this one's case. Buy it as a companion device, not a main one.	The best-value big Android tablet: the fastest Android chip, a 13.2-inch 144Hz screen, eight speakers, and two-day battery for far less than Samsung's Ultra or an iPad Pro. You give up OLED, any biometric unlock, and Samsung's update length — pen and keyboard cost extra.
Best for	you want one tablet for school, work, notes, drawing, and streaming, and you'd rather put the Pro's price difference toward storage or accessories	you edit video or photos, draw or design professionally, or want one tablet powerful enough to still feel fast in five or six years	you want a dependable, affordable iPad for browsing, streaming, school, and notes, and you don't need a premium screen or Apple's AI features	you want the fastest Android tablet and a big high-refresh screen for media and typing, and you'd rather not pay Samsung or Apple flagship prices
Avoid if	you watch a lot of HDR video in the dark, want the smoothest possible 120Hz scrolling, or need the longest battery for all-day untethered use	you mostly stream, read, browse, and take notes — you'll pay a steep premium for performance iPadOS won't let you use	you look at the screen all day, watch a lot of HDR video, or want the Apple Pencil Pro, a laminated display, or Apple Intelligence	you want OLED contrast, a fingerprint or face unlock, the longest update support, or a best-in-class stylus for serious drawing
Score breakdown
value	9.0	6.5	9.5	9.0
battery	8.0	8.5	8.5	9.0
display	8.0	10.0	6.5	8.5
software	9.5	9.5	9.0	7.5
accessories	9.0	9.5	6.5	7.0
performance	9.0	10.0	7.5	9.0
Specs
OS	iPadOS 26 with Apple Intelligence	iPadOS 26	iPadOS 26	OxygenOS 15 / Android 15 (3 OS updates, security to 2031)
RAM	12GB	12GB (16GB on 1TB/2TB)	6GB	12GB or 16GB
Chip	Apple M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)	Apple M5 (9-core CPU; 10-core on 1TB+)	Apple A16 (5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Adreno 830
Colors	Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight	Space Black, Silver	Blue, Pink, Yellow, Silver	Storm Blue
Stylus	Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)	Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C)	Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st gen)	OnePlus Stylo 2 (sold separately)
Weight	464g (11-inch, Wi-Fi)	579g (Wi-Fi)	477g (Wi-Fi)	675g
Battery	All-day mixed use; weaker than the OLED Pro under heavy load	38.99Wh, up to 10 hours web/video	28.9Wh, all-day	12,140mAh, 80W charging
Cameras	12MP wide rear, 12MP Center Stage front	12MP wide + LiDAR rear, 12MP Center Stage front	12MP wide rear (4K60), 12MP Center Stage front	13MP rear, 8MP front
Display	11-inch Liquid Retina LCD (laminated, P3, True Tone)	13-inch tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR	10.9-inch Liquid Retina LCD (non-laminated)	13.2-inch LTPS LCD, Dolby Vision
Storage	128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB	256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB	128GB / 256GB / 512GB	256GB or 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Keyboard	Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (sold separately)	Magic Keyboard (sold separately)	—	Smart Keyboard (sold separately)
Security	Touch ID (top button)	—	Touch ID (top button)	None (no fingerprint or face unlock)
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 5G	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 5G	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 5G	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 (no cellular)
Thickness	6.1mm	5.1mm	7mm	6.0mm
Resolution	2360 x 1640 (264 ppi)	2752 x 2064 (264 ppi)	2360 x 1640 (264 ppi)	3392 x 2400 (315 ppi)
Refresh rate	60Hz (no ProMotion)	ProMotion 10-120Hz	60Hz	144Hz adaptive
Ports	—	Thunderbolt / USB 4 (USB-C)	USB-C (USB 2.0 speeds)	—
Peak brightness	—	1000 nits SDR/HDR, 1600 nits peak HDR	500 nits (no HDR)	600 nits (900 nits HBM)
AI	—	—	No Apple Intelligence support	—
Speakers	—	—	—	8 (4 woofers + 4 tweeters)
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

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