iPad Air 3 (2019, A12 series) vs iPad Pro (2021, M1 series)

The iPad Air 2019, released in March 2019, and the iPad Pro 2021, launched in April/May 2021, represent different tiers within Apple's tablet lineup. While both devices operate on the iPadOS platform, the iPad Pro 2021 introduces a significantly more powerful internal architecture, a more advanced display, and an enhanced camera system, positioning it for more demanding tasks. Opting for a quality-assured refurbished model of either device offers an eco-friendly alternative for consumers.

When considering the longevity of these tablets, several factors come into play, including their release timelines, software support, and repairability.

• Software Support: The iPad Air 2019, featuring an A12 series processor, continues to receive iPadOS updates, including iPadOS 17. Apple typically provides 5-7 years of major feature updates, followed by additional years of security updates. The iPad Pro 2021, with its more advanced processor, is expected to receive software support for a longer duration due to its newer release and more powerful hardware.
• Repairability: Both the iPad Air 2019 and iPad Pro 2021 present challenges for repair due to their construction. The iPad Air 2019 received a low repairability score, primarily because of the extensive use of adhesive and the difficulty in replacing components like the battery. While newer iPad Pro models have shown some incremental improvements in repairability, such as modular USB-C ports, accessing internal components, especially the battery, often still requires navigating a fragile, glued-down display, making repairs complex and risky.
• Practical Lifespan: Users can generally expect several years of functional use from either device. The iPad Pro 2021's more powerful internal components provide greater headroom for future software and demanding applications, potentially extending its practical lifespan for power users compared to the iPad Air 2019.

The performance capabilities of these two iPads differ significantly, impacting their suitability for various tasks, from everyday use to professional workflows.

• Processing Power: The iPad Air 2019 offers solid performance for general tasks such as web browsing, media consumption, and light productivity applications, handling these with responsiveness. The iPad Pro 2021, however, delivers a substantial leap in processing power, enabling it to manage highly demanding applications, complex multitasking, and professional creative tasks like video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering with remarkable fluidity.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: The iPad Air 2019 typically comes with 3GB of internal memory, which is sufficient for standard multitasking but may show limitations with numerous demanding applications open simultaneously. The iPad Pro 2021 features significantly more internal memory, with configurations offering 8GB or 16GB, allowing for seamless transitions between multiple intensive applications and handling large files more efficiently.
• Storage Options: The iPad Air 2019 is available with 64GB or 256GB of internal storage. The iPad Pro 2021 provides a wider range of storage capacities, starting from 128GB and extending up to 2TB, catering to users with extensive storage needs for large projects, media libraries, or numerous applications.
• Battery Behavior: Both devices are designed to provide approximately 10 hours of web browsing on a single charge. Actual battery life will vary based on usage patterns, such as continuous video playback, intensive gaming, or demanding professional applications.

The visual experience on these two tablets presents notable differences, particularly concerning display technology, refresh rates, and brightness levels.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The iPad Air 2019 features a 10.5-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD, providing clear visuals and accurate colors for everyday viewing. The 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 also uses a Liquid Retina IPS LCD, but the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 model elevates the experience with a Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display. This advanced technology offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, especially noticeable when viewing HDR content. Both devices offer sharp resolutions, with the Air 2019 at 2224 x 1668 pixels and the 11-inch Pro 2021 at 2388 x 1668 pixels, resulting in a consistent pixel density for crisp text and images.
• Refresh Rate: The iPad Air 2019 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. In contrast, the iPad Pro 2021 models incorporate ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This results in noticeably smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a more responsive feel during tasks like drawing with a stylus or playing fast-paced games.
• Brightness Levels: The iPad Air 2019 achieves a peak brightness of 500 nits, which is suitable for most indoor and outdoor conditions. The 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 offers a higher peak brightness of 600 nits. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021 further enhances this with up to 1000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness and 1600 nits peak brightness for HDR content, making it exceptionally well-suited for bright environments and professional HDR workflows.

The camera and audio capabilities of these two iPads cater to different user expectations, with the Pro model offering a more comprehensive and advanced experience.

• Camera System: The iPad Air 2019 features a single 8 MP wide camera on the rear, suitable for basic photography and document scanning. Its front camera is a 7 MP sensor. The iPad Pro 2021, however, boasts a more versatile camera setup, including a 12 MP wide lens, a 10 MP ultrawide lens, and a LiDAR scanner on the rear, enabling more advanced photography, augmented reality applications, and improved depth sensing. The front camera on the iPad Pro 2021 is a 12 MP ultrawide sensor, which supports the Center Stage feature, automatically keeping subjects in frame during video calls.
• Photography and Video Quality: While the iPad Air 2019 can record 1080p video, the iPad Pro 2021 offers enhanced video recording capabilities, including 4K video at higher frame rates, providing more detail and flexibility for video creators. The Pro's advanced camera system also performs better in low-light conditions and offers a wider range of photographic features.
• Audio Experience: The iPad Air 2019 provides stereo speakers for media consumption. The iPad Pro 2021 elevates the audio experience with a four-speaker system, delivering richer, more immersive sound, which is beneficial for watching movies, listening to music, or participating in video conferences. The microphones on the iPad Pro 2021 are also enhanced for clearer audio capture during calls and recordings.