People ask me all the time: "Why would I get an iPad Air when there's the iPad Pro?"
Good question. And honestly? 80% of the time, the Air wins.
Here's why.
The specs that make Pro fanboys cry
Processor: iPad Air M1 vs iPad Pro M2
Yes, the Pro has an M2. It's 10-15% faster.
Will you feel it? No.
The M1 handles all of this just as fast:
- Affinity Photo (even with 50 layers)
- Procreate (even 4K animation)
- Final Cut Pro
- Safari with 200 tabs
There's only one app where you'd see a difference: DaVinci Resolve (8K color work).
Verdict: It's a lab score, not real life.
Screen: THIS is the difference
iPad Air M1:
- Liquid Retina display (anti-glare)
- 10.9" or 12.9"
- ProMotion 60Hz
- 2360x1668 or 2732x2048
iPad Pro M2:
- Liquid Retina XDR display (mini-LED HDR)
- 11" or 12.9"
- ProMotion 120Hz
- 2388x1668 or 2732x2048
Honestly? Unless you watch pro HDR content (commercial films, etc.), the difference is invisible.
ProMotion 120Hz vs 60Hz? That one is real. But it's about scrolling, not about apps.
Front Ultra Wide camera: Air vs Pro
iPad Air: 12MP Ultra Wide (good for FaceTime)
iPad Pro: 12MP Ultra Wide + eye tracking (zooms during a call)
Eye tracking is cool, but totally useless for 99% of people.
Magic Keyboard
iPad Air: Not included (sold separately, ~1,500 DH)
iPad Pro: Not included either
They're equal. So it's not an argument.
Price: here, the Air crushes it
| Model | New | Pre-owned Grade A (Relab) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Air M1 10.9" | 5,500 DH | 3,500-4,000 DH |
| iPad Pro 11" M2 | 7,500 DH | 5,000-5,500 DH |
| Difference | 2,000 DH | 1,500 DH |
You pay 40% more for... what? A 120Hz screen and 10-15% more performance that you won't feel.
Pre-owned? The iPad Air is a steal.
Who should buy the iPad Air
✅ You draw with Procreate (the Air screen is enough)
✅ You edit photos (Lightroom, Affinity)
✅ You watch Netflix/YouTube
✅ You read PDFs and take notes
✅ You do "normal" video creation (not 8K)
✅ You want to make video calls
✅ You have a budget and you're smart
Who should buy the iPad Pro
❌ You edit commercial films in 8K HDR
❌ You need the mini-LED screen for a professional reason
❌ You constantly watch Dolby Vision content (Netflix)
❌ You do professional color grading
❌ You have lots of money and zero problem losing some
Seriously, it's that short.
The iPad Air models we really recommend
iPad Air M1 10.9" (2024)
Pre-owned price at Relab: 4,000-4,500 DH
It's the sweet spot. Perfect tablet size. Capable processor. Good-enough screen.
Best for:
- Students
- Creative people (drawing, design)
- People on the move
iPad Air M1 12.9" (2024)
Pre-owned price at Relab: 4,500-5,000 DH
It's for people who want a laptop and a tablet in 1.
Best for:
- Pro illustrators (Procreate)
- Video editors (YouTube editing)
- People replacing a laptop
The real problem with the iPad Pro that Apple hides
The XDR screen drains a lot of battery.
The tests: "The Pro lasts 10h"
The reality: "The Pro lasts 6-7h under heavy load"
The Air? 9-10h easily.
Doesn't matter to you? OK. But it does matter.
Questions we get
"What if I need to move up to a Pro later?"
You sell the Air and get back 60-70% of what you paid.
Difference in investment: 1,500 DH at most.
It's no big deal.
"How long until the Air becomes obsolete?"
The M1 is 3 years old. It's still running. 10 years is realistic.
iOS 18 will run on M1. iOS 19 probably will too.
You're safe.
"But I want 120Hz for scrolling..."
Try a 60Hz. Seriously. After 2 days, you forget about it.
It's like the difference between 30fps and 60fps on a console. Nice-to-have, not mandatory.
Real prices in 2026 (Morocco)
| Model | Condition | Relab | New | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air M1 10.9" | Grade A | 4,000 | 5,500 | 27% |
| Air M1 12.9" | Grade A | 4,500 | 6,500 | 31% |
| Pro M2 11" | Grade A | 5,500 | 7,500 | 27% |
| Pro M2 12.9" | Grade A | 6,000 | 8,500 | 29% |
The blunt truth
A pre-owned iPad Air = the best tablet decision in 2026.
You save 1,500+ DH.
You get 95% of the performance.
You sleep well with the 1-year warranty.
iPad Pro? For ultra-specific cases.