Should i buy ipad air m4 or ipad pro m5 Which one is good for longterm
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iPad Pro M5 release date 2025 2026
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iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro M4 comparison 2025 longterm value
Good news - the iPad Pro M5 is real and launched in October 2025. Here's a full breakdown to help you decide:
iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro M5 - Which is Better Long-Term?
What's Currently Available (as of July 2026)
| Feature | iPad Air M4 | iPad Pro M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 | Apple M5 |
| Display | Liquid Retina LCD (11" / 13") | Ultra Retina XDR OLED (11" / 13") |
| Face ID | No (Touch ID side button) | Yes |
| Starting Price | ~$599 | ~$999 |
| Storage | Up to 1TB | Up to 2TB |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pencil Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Magic Keyboard | Yes | Yes |
For Long-Term Use: iPad Pro M5 Wins (if budget allows)
Why the Pro M5 is better long-term:
- Newer chip - The M5 is one generation ahead of the M4. It will receive software support and performance headroom for longer.
- OLED display - Significantly better contrast, true blacks, and brightness. This is a major quality-of-life difference you notice every day.
- More RAM and storage ceiling - Pro models have more memory, which matters as iPadOS gets more demanding over years.
- Face ID - More secure and faster unlocking.
- Apple tends to support Pro models slightly longer than Air models in terms of OS updates.
Why iPad Air M4 still makes sense:
- Price - $400 cheaper at base. That's a significant saving.
- Performance is nearly identical for everyday use - Web, streaming, email, light photo/video editing, the M4 Air handles everything comfortably.
- The M4 is still an extremely capable chip - it won't feel slow for 4-5 years minimum.
- Lighter - slightly easier to hold for long reading or browsing sessions.
My Recommendation
- Buy iPad Pro M5 if you: do video editing, 3D/graphics work, use it as a laptop replacement, want the best display available, or plan to keep it for 6+ years.
- Buy iPad Air M4 if you: use it for browsing, reading, streaming, note-taking, or light productivity - and want to save $400. It's genuinely excellent value and still has years of life in it.
For pure long-term value, the Pro M5 edges ahead because of the newer chip and OLED display. But the Air M4 is not a bad choice - it delivers around 85-90% of the Pro experience at a much lower price. The "best" pick depends on your use case and budget.
How long do you typically keep tablets before upgrading?
I'm an AI, so I don't personally own or use tablets! But I can tell you what most people do:
Typical tablet upgrade cycles:
- Average user: 4-5 years before upgrading
- Power users / professionals: 2-3 years
- Casual users (browsing, streaming): 5-7 years, sometimes longer
For iPads specifically, Apple supports them with software updates for around 6-7 years from release. So both the Air M4 and Pro M5 should comfortably last until at least 2031-2032 before feeling truly outdated.
The most common reasons people upgrade are:
- Battery degrades significantly (usually after 3-4 years of heavy use)
- The device gets dropped off the latest iPadOS update
- A compelling new feature comes out (like when OLED iPads launched)
- Performance feels sluggish for newer apps
Given that context - if you're planning to keep whichever iPad for 5+ years, the Pro M5's newer chip and better display make it the stronger pick. If you upgrade every 3-4 years, the Air M4 is plenty capable and saves you real money.
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