Two of the most interesting Apple products currently available are the 2021 iPad Pro and MacBook Air. While these are extremely different devices in almost every aspect, they also share a strong bond in that they’re both powered by Apple’s M1 chipset. This means that the heart of the MacBook Air and iPad Pro is basically the same, with the key differences coming from the hardware and software surrounding it.
In the case of the MacBook Air, it’s about the most traditional laptop Apple sells. It isn’t a 2-in-1, there’s no touchscreen, and it doesn’t have a Touch Bar. It’s a basic, simple laptop, but an outstanding laptop at that. Then there’s the 2021 iPad Pro. It’s the most powerful and technically impressive iPad Apple has ever created, and it’s targeted right at pro users. What’s interesting is that both products have very similar price tags — $999 for the MacBook Air and $1099 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. For someone looking to spend around a thousand dollars on a new M1 Apple machine, which is ultimately the better buy?
With the M1 MacBook Air, it’s pretty obvious what people are getting. This is the most affordable Mac that Apple currently sells, making it the go-to choice for the average shopper. It has a thin and lightweight design, a reliable keyboard, a large trackpad, and a 13.3-inch LCD display that looks great for just about any workflow. The M1 chip is also a massive improvement over Intel CPUs from previous generations, making the MacBook Air lightning-fast and super-efficient — touting up to 15 hours of battery life with regular use. Outside of that, it delivers the regular macOS experience people are familiar with. All previous Mac apps work with the M1 MacBook Air with ease, not to mention that it can also run many iPad and iPhone apps for the first time. It’s the most capable MacBook Air Apple has ever created, and at just $999 for the model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, it’s also a surprisingly good value.
The iPad Pro Is Worse Value But More Flexible
![2021 iPad Pro Vs. MacBook Air: Best M1 Buy Around ,000?](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ipad-pro-magic-keyboard-ipados-wallpaper.jpg)
By comparison, the 2021 iPad Pro is a worse value in almost every way. The 12.9-inch $1099 model comes with only 128GB of storage, with shoppers needing to spend $1199 if they want the same 256GB similar to the MacBook Air. If someone wants to add an official keyboard accessory, that’s another $199 or $349 depending on which model they choose. That brings the iPad Pro up to at least $1,298 just to get it in a similar form factor compared to the MacBook Air. No one would argue that the 2021 iPad Pro is a good deal, but the fact remains that it’s a more functional device for certain workflows. If someone really needs a touchscreen for the apps they use, that’s something they just can’t get on the MacBook. If a user wants a keyboard for one task but needs to get rid of it for the next, the iPad lets them do that. Furthermore, when paired with the Apple Pencil, the 2021 iPad Pro turns into one of the best writing/drawing tablets money can buy.
There are also some key hardware advantages to the 2021 iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch model has an XDR display, which uses Mini-LED technology for a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and up to 1600 nits of peak brightness. Combine that with the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, and the iPad Pro is the undisputed champ for anyone that needs the highest-quality display possible. The iPad Pro also comes in a cellular configuration, allowing users to connect to 5G networks for internet access anywhere they go.
As such, the MacBook Air and 2021 iPad Pro end up being best suited for very different groups of people — even though they’re powered by the same M1 chip. For most people, the MacBook Air is the better purchase. It has a familiar form factor, excellent performance, and is a good all-around purchase at $999. The 2021 iPad Pro ends up costing well above $1000 after buying the accessories required to take full advantage of it, but with those things, it becomes a much more flexible computer. It can be used like a traditional laptop, tablet, drawing slate, and more. And since it has the M1 chip, it does everything with blistering speed. So long as someone is buying the M1 device that suits their specific needs, that’s all that matters.