Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) vs Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro): specs comparison
How the Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) (2025 tablet) and the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) (2024 tablet) differ, worked out only from the values on each maker’s official spec page. No prices, ratings or benchmark scores.
Key differences
- Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) is the newer model: it launched in 2025, Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) in 2024.
- Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) has the larger battery: 28.93 Wh vs 19.3 Wh for Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro).
- Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)'s screen is sharper: 326 ppi vs 264 ppi.
- Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) offers more storage: up to 1 TB vs up to 512 GB.
- Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) is lighter: 293 g to 297 g vs 460 g for Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3), at least 163 g less.
- They use different chips: the M3 in the Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3), the A17 Pro in the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro).
Who should pick which
- Pick the Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) if you want the newer model (2025), the larger 28.93 Wh battery and more storage (up to 1 TB).
- Pick the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) if you want a sharper 326 ppi screen and the lighter build (293 g to 297 g).
Full specifications side by side
| Spec | Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2025 | 2024 |
| Display | Liquid Retina display, 2360 x 1640 at 264 ppi, P3 wide colour, True Tone, 500 nits | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 2266 x 1488 at 326 ppi, True Tone, 500 nits |
| Processor | Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | A17 Pro with 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores), 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| RAM | 8GB | Not stated |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB |
| Rear camera | 12 MP Wide (f/1.8), 4K video | 12 MP Wide (f/1.8), 4K video |
| Front camera | 12 MP Center Stage (f/2.0), 1080p video | 12 MP Center Stage (f/2.4), 1080p video |
| Battery | 28.93 Wh lithium-polymer; up to 10 hours web browsing or video on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web browsing on mobile data | 19.3 Wh lithium-polymer; up to 10 hours web browsing or video on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours web browsing on mobile data |
| Charging | Power adapter or USB-C connection to a computer; USB-C supports DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) | Power adapter or USB-C connection to a computer; USB-C supports DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) |
| Operating system | iPadOS | iPadOS |
| Weight | 460 g | Wi-Fi: 293 g; Wi-Fi + Cellular: 297 g |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm |
| 5G | Yes, Wi-Fi + Cellular models (5G sub-6GHz with 4x4 MIMO, Gigabit LTE) | Yes, Wi-Fi + Cellular models (5G sub-6GHz with 4x4 MIMO, Gigabit LTE) |
| SIM | eSIM only (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) | eSIM only (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) |
| Source | Official specs · checked 2026-10-28 | Official specs · checked 2026-10-28 |
Questions
What is the difference between Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) and Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)?
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) is the newer model: it launched in 2025, Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) in 2024. Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) has the larger battery: 28.93 Wh vs 19.3 Wh for Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro). Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)'s screen is sharper: 326 ppi vs 264 ppi.
Which is lighter, Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) or Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)?
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) is lighter: 293 g to 297 g vs 460 g for Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3), at least 163 g less.
Which is newer, Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) or Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)?
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M3) is the newer model: it launched in 2025, Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) in 2024.
Every difference above is calculated from the two spec tables, which are copied from Apple’s official pages. A spec that only one page states is not compared. Variants and options differ by region, so confirm on the official page before you buy. Spotted a difference? Report a correction.