Apple
iPad A16 vs iPad Air 11 M3
Device summary
Apple
iPad Air 11 M3
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Starting price | $349 | $599 |
| Display size | 10.9-inch | 11-inch |
| Dimensions | 179.5 mm × 248.6 mm × 7.0 mm | 178.5 mm × 247.6 mm × 6.1 mm |
| Weight | 477 g | 460 g |
| Front material | — | — |
| Back material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Liquid Retina IPS | Liquid Retina IPS |
| Resolution | 2360 × 1640 | 2360 × 1640 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple A16 | Apple M3 |
| CPU | 5-core CPU | 8-core CPU |
| GPU | 4-core GPU | 10-core GPU |
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8 | Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8 |
| Front cameras | Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 | Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 |
| Video recording | 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps | 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G) | Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G) |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| USB | USB-C | USB-C |
| NFC | No | No |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | None published | None published |
Basic information
Release year
- iPad A16
- 2025
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 2025
Starting price
- iPad A16
- $349
- iPad Air 11 M3
- $599
Display size
- iPad A16
- 10.9-inch
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 11-inch
Dimensions
- iPad A16
- 179.5 mm × 248.6 mm × 7.0 mm
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 178.5 mm × 247.6 mm × 6.1 mm
Weight
- iPad A16
- 477 g
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 460 g
Front material
- iPad A16
- —
- iPad Air 11 M3
- —
Back material
- iPad A16
- Aluminum
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Aluminum
Display
Display technology
- iPad A16
- Liquid Retina IPS
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Liquid Retina IPS
Resolution
- iPad A16
- 2360 × 1640
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 2360 × 1640
Refresh rate
- iPad A16
- 60 Hz
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 60 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPad A16
- 500 nits
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 500 nits
Protection
- iPad A16
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chipset
- iPad A16
- Apple A16
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Apple M3
CPU
- iPad A16
- 5-core CPU
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 8-core CPU
GPU
- iPad A16
- 4-core GPU
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 10-core GPU
RAM
- iPad A16
- 6 GB
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 8 GB
Storage
- iPad A16
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- iPad A16
- No
- iPad Air 11 M3
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- iPad A16
- Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8
Front cameras
- iPad A16
- Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4
Video recording
- iPad A16
- 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
- iPad Air 11 M3
- 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPad A16
- Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)
Wi‑Fi
- iPad A16
- Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
- iPad A16
- Bluetooth 5.2
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Bluetooth 5.3
USB
- iPad A16
- USB-C
- iPad Air 11 M3
- USB-C
NFC
- iPad A16
- No
- iPad Air 11 M3
- No
eSIM
- iPad A16
- Yes
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Yes
Build & durability
Frame
- iPad A16
- Aluminum
- iPad Air 11 M3
- Aluminum
Ingress protection
- iPad A16
- None published
- iPad Air 11 M3
- None published
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
iPad Air 11 M3
17 g lighter
Thickness
iPad Air 11 M3
0.9 mm thinner
Height
iPad A16
1 mm taller · minor difference
Width
iPad A16
1 mm wider · minor difference
User Experience Summary
iPad A16
Strengths
- Best entry pricing with 128 GB base in Apple’s lineup
- Snappy A16 for everyday browsing and schoolwork
- Ideal shared family or student tablet role
Compromises
- Non-laminated display gap hurts Pencil feel for serious styluses
- No Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Intelligence
- Magic Keyboard Folio pricing undermines value story
iPad Air 11 M3
Strengths
- Portable 11-inch size with excellent handheld comfort
- Reliable all-day battery for typical study and media use
- M3 silicon and 8GB RAM for multi-year software confidence
Compromises
- Incremental upgrade over M2 Air with same display and accessories
- 60Hz LCD — common criticism versus Pro tablets
- Older Magic Keyboard design without Pro-style updates