Apple
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)
Best for: Everyday use on a budget
Maker's list price £429 · source
Check price at Apple 3 more stores belowfirst productApple iPad 11-inch (A16) vs Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)Tablets compared: specs, who each suits, and where to buy
Updated 15 October 2026 · Specs from Apple's official pages
Pick the iPad (A16) for streaming, browsing, note-taking and schoolwork at the lowest price; pick the iPad Air (M4) if you want Apple Pencil Pro support, a laminated anti-reflective screen and M-series performance for creative apps.
Apple
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
Best for: Drawing, editing and multitasking
Maker's list price £749 · source
Check price at Apple 3 more stores belowsecond productStore links may earn us a commission. It never changes your price or the order stores appear in.
Specs side by side
Only the specs that matter for this decision, read from each manufacturer's spec page.
SpecApple iPad 11-inch (A16)Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
Display11-inch Liquid Retina, 2360x1640, 500 nits11-inch Liquid Retina, 2360x1640, 500 nits, fully laminated, anti-reflective, P3
ChipA16M4 (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU)
Memory—12GB unified memory
Base storage128GB128GB
Apple PencilApple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st gen)Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), hover
Cameras12MP Wide rear; 12MP Center Stage landscape front12MP Wide rear; 12MP Center Stage landscape front
ConnectorUSB-C (USB 2, up to 480Mb/s)USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s)
Touch IDIn top buttonIn top button
Weight (Wi-Fi)477g464g
Sources: Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) · Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
Where to buy
Stores that sell each one. Prices move daily, so each button opens the store's own page.
StoreiPad 11-inch (A16)iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
Store links may earn us a commission. It never changes your price or the order stores appear in.
Strengths and trade-offs
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16)
- £320 cheaper than the 11-inch iPad Air at Apple's UK prices
- Same 11-inch 2360x1640 resolution and 500-nit brightness as the Air
- Same 128GB starting storage and 12MP cameras
- No Apple Pencil Pro support
- USB-C limited to USB 2 speeds
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4)
- M4 chip with 12GB unified memory
- Works with Apple Pencil Pro, including hover
- Fully laminated, anti-reflective display with P3 wide colour
- Costs £320 more than the iPad for the same 128GB starting storage
- Same 12MP cameras as the cheaper iPad
How to choose
The questions that decide it, in the order most people should ask them.
Be honest about what you'll use it for
For video, web, email and light schoolwork, the A16 iPad handles everything. The Air's M4 earns its price in drawing, photo and video editing, and heavy multitasking.
Check which Apple Pencil you need
Only the Air supports Apple Pencil Pro, which adds hover. The iPad works with Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the 1st-generation Pencil.
Look at the screen, not just the size
Both are 11 inches with the same resolution and brightness. The Air's screen is fully laminated, anti-reflective and covers the P3 colour range, which matters most for artists and photo editors.
Price the storage you need
Both start at 128GB. Moving up a storage tier costs extra on either model, so price the configuration you'll actually buy before comparing.
Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) vs Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — common questions
Is the iPad Air worth £320 more than the iPad?
Only if you need its extras: the M4 chip, Apple Pencil Pro support, a laminated anti-reflective screen and faster USB-C. For streaming, browsing and schoolwork, the standard iPad covers the same basics.
Do the iPad and iPad Air have the same screen size?
Yes, at the 11-inch size compared here. Apple also sells a 13-inch iPad Air from £949, which the standard iPad doesn't come in.
Which chip is in the current iPad Air?
The current iPad Air uses the M4 chip, with an 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU and 12GB of unified memory. The standard iPad uses the A16.
Do both have Touch ID?
Yes. Both models have Touch ID in the top button. Neither has Face ID.
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