IPad (A16) Vs IPad Air (2025) Which Apple Slate Is Best For You

TechRadar

iPad (A16) vs iPad Air (2025)

Transcript

00:00Apple's ushered in two iPads so far in 2025, the new iPad Air with M3, available in an 11-inch

00:09or a 13-inch size, and the updated entry-level model, the exclusively 11-inch iPad A16.

00:15However, don't let Apple's chipset naming conventions distract you.

00:19Yes, the iPad Air is more than a good bit powerful than the iPad A16,

00:24but not everything lies in performance.

00:26So, let's run through a quick versus of the new iPads to help you decide which is the right one for you.

00:34Both the iPad Air M3 and the iPad A16 sport stunning, gorgeous designs that are mostly crafted out of matte aluminum.

00:42They're sleek and both come in fun colors.

00:44Both are available in 11-inch sizes, which is what we'll mostly be comparing here.

00:48But it is worth noting that if you're looking for a big-screened iPad,

00:51you're best served considering the 13-inch iPad Air or the 13-inch iPad Pro.

00:57The iPad A16 is available in pink, yellow, blue, or silver,

01:01while the iPad Air is available in purple, blue, starlight, or space gray.

01:05Again, both have a fun range of colors, and it's a slick, clean design with only the Apple logo on the back.

01:10No more pesky iPad or iPad Air name.

01:13You'll also find the same layout for buttons.

01:14Power button with Touch ID on the short side, volume rocker on the long side, and a single USB-C port.

01:21That port is faster on the iPad Air, which makes it more of a pro device, though.

01:25Both models do feature stereo speakers, but you get better sound from the four speakers on the Air versus the standard iPads, too.

01:34Same-size screens, but a coating can make the difference.

01:37Both the iPad Air and iPad A16 have 11-inch displays, which are technically 10.9-inch liquid retina displays.

01:44The Air is a step up, though, offering support for the P3-wide color gamut as well as Apple's own True Tone tech.

01:50Most importantly, though, the iPad Air has an anti-reflective coating,

01:53which makes it much more usable outdoors on a sunny day or inside under strong fluorescent lights.

01:59That's something the iPad A16 simply can't match, as it doesn't have that coating and shows almost all reflections.

02:06Reflections and coating aside, both are great for work and play, though the iPad Air can pack a bit more of a punch.

02:11I enjoyed streaming videos, playing games, taking FaceTime calls, and even doing creative tasks on both.

02:19Now, the iPad Air is easily the more powerful of the two.

02:23It crushed on performance tasks and came in super close to the performance of the M4 iPad Pro.

02:28The question ultimately becomes what you want to do with your iPad, though.

02:32If you're just looking for productivity in play, like browsing the web, sending emails, and using web apps,

02:37you'll have no issue with the A16 chip inside that iPad.

02:41It could even handle some more basic, less intensive photo or video editing.

02:46It does run Final Cut Pro with some limitations.

02:50And I also got away with gaming on it.

02:51If you're looking for a laptop replacement, though, or an iPad that doesn't show any slowdowns whatsoever,

02:57and you plan on investing in a Magic Keyboard as well,

03:00the case is a bit clearer on going for the iPad Air with M3.

03:04It's a powerhouse that really handled anything we threw at it.

03:07The iPad Air also supports Apple intelligence, which the iPad A16 does not.

03:12So if Genmoji, image, playground, and writing tools are important to you,

03:15as well as the eventual arrival of the AI-infused Siri, you'll want to go with this model.

03:22The Apple Pencil experience is workable and fine, but a bit clunky on the iPad A16.

03:27Like the 10th generation iPad that it replaces, this iPad supports two Apple Pencils.

03:33First is the Apple Pencil USB-C, and this one will magnetically attach to the side, but doesn't wirelessly charge.

03:39So when it needs a charge, you take a USB-C cable, plug one end into power, like the iPad itself,

03:43and the other end into the Apple Pencil. That's clunky but easy.

03:47However, the first generation Apple Pencil is also supported, and to charge it, you'll need a dongle,

03:52USB-C to lightning, to charge it, and it won't attach to the side.

03:56The iPad Air, on the other hand, works with the Apple Pencil USB-C, and it attaches to the side,

04:01but charging also needs to be done with that cable.

04:03So that's where support for the Apple Pencil Pro is really, really nice.

04:07It attaches to the side of the iPad Air, and will recharge itself wirelessly, so it's always ready.

04:12You also get pressure sensitivity, hover support, and the ability to squeeze it to access menus within iPadOS.

04:21So let's talk about which is right for you.

04:23That's a quick look at the entry-level iPad A16 versus the 11-inch iPad Air with M3.

04:28Both are excellent tablets, but if you're just after an iPad for streaming content, productivity,

04:33and some light gaming or even creative tasks, the iPad A16 makes a lot of sense.

04:37Otherwise, the iPad Air reigns supreme, especially if you need power for more advanced tasks,

04:42like photo or video editing, better gaming, or if you want to dive into note-taking or drawing with an Apple Pencil.

04:49In that case, I'd recommend the iPad Air.

04:52Remember, the iPad A16 starts at $349, and the iPad Air starts at $599.

04:57Luckily, both come with 128 gigs of storage.

05:00And if you need more details on either, check out our full video reviews and written reviews on TechRadar.

05:05The iPad Air is a little bit easier for you to find the iPad Air.

05:07And if you need more details on TechRadar.

05:09And you can also check out what's up on 9-10, and then you can see the iPad Air.

05:10The iPad Air.

05:11The iPad Air.

05:12The iPad Air.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended