Apple fell in love with iPad lovers in 2018 with the aesthetic renovation of its ‘Pro’ range. It even managed to hook those who were not very faithful to these tablets. The ‘all screen’ design and the latest hardware accompanied by an increasingly powerful iPadOS make these teams candidates to leave computers aside in many cases. However, the iPad Air 2020 has called into question the existence of the 11-inch ‘Pro’ model. Is the latter doomed to disappear? We analyze it.
Explanatory note: this IS NOT A COMPARISON between the two models, but rather an analysis of the reason why we believe that one of these two teams is in a complex situation as far as market niche is concerned.
Aesthetically they are alike, although not in all
Leaving the 12.9-inch iPad Pro out of the equation, with a size more than a differential with the ‘Air’, we observe that Apple’s most powerful 11-inch model seems at first glance an iPad Air or vice versa. It really is not like that at all, since there are certain differences such as the 120 Hz refresh rate in favor of the ‘Pro’ that clearly differentiates it from the 60 Hz of the ‘Air’.
Also the screen size is different, since the ‘Pro’ model reaches 11 inches while the cheapest model stays at 10.9. It is not a huge difference, but it is perceived by looking side by side, since in this case you can see that the edges are a little thicker in the ‘Air’ model.
In the field of cameras, we find a double lens with flash in the iPad Pro 2020, although the 2018 one only has a lens with flash that looks too similar to what is incorporated by the iPad Air. In colors we do see very subtle differences with the green, blue and pink of the ‘Air’ model, but its silver and space gray colors are identical to the only two colors of the ‘Pro’. But ultimately they are all more or less salvageable differences that make both can seem at least twin brothers.
And in terms of performance?
Once the aesthetic issue is overcome, which happens extremely quickly, is when you start to handle the iPad and check to what extent your tablet is capable. In this there is no doubt, the A12X and A12Z of the iPad Pro 2018 and 2020 is superior to the A14 Bionic of the iPad Air. In this case it is somewhat misleading due to the number assigned to each one, but numerous tests have shown it.
However, there is something to highlight about the iPad Air as well and that is that for practical purposes it is more than enough for most users. Those who are used to doing heavier executions on their iPad will opt for the ‘Pro’ model for obvious reasons, but another large number of users that this majority assumes is likely not to need so much raw power in any case, since with the other iPad they can opt for a very wide range of possibilities. To all this must be added that both computers will have an identical software useful life, having iPadOS updates for a while.
A price difference, short?
Both devices can be found at different prices to each other with specific offers in different stores, so there really is no single and exact difference between them. If we look at the official Apple website we see that they separate 230 euros in their base capacities. This price difference can be large, small or fair depending on the economic capacity and perception of each one, so we are not going to judge it in this sense.
Always opting for savings, the iPad Air is really worth it. Although we have touched on the differences between the two devices, the truth is that in more specific terms there is not a clear superiority of the ‘Pro’ model that makes it worthwhile. In fact, as we have previously highlighted, a majority of the public will be able to opt for the ‘Air’ model without giving up anything with their iPad, since they will have the same possibilities.
Their coexistence is somewhat confusing
The set of the previous sections lets us see that in the end the coexistence between both devices in the catalog becomes at least strange. At the beginning we discarded the 12.9-inch model because in the end we did find notable differences between them, even if only by size. Few people will have doubts between an ‘Air’ and a ‘Pro’ of 12.9, given that whoever wants the latter is basically and simply because it has a larger size.
The fact that both the iPad Pro 11 model and the iPad Air also share accessories such as the Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard makes them even more similar. Therefore, today the most expensive model is a bit in a no-man’s-land, so our bets are inclined to Apple considering two options: erase the 11-inch iPad Pro from the map by enhancing the 12.9- inch or that make a new revolution that this time if it takes this device away from the new and powerful iPad Air.
We could be a few months away from finding out, since it is rumored that the iPad Pro 2021 will arrive in the month of March. It will be then when we discover if there is any change other than the mini LED screen technology that these teams will carry. And in case that is the only difference, it will be necessary to analyze if it is a change so big as to distinguish the market niche of these with the ‘Air’.