Apple
iPad Air 13 M4 vs Pad 3
Device summary
OnePlus
Pad 3
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Starting price | $799 | $700 |
| Display size | 13-inch | 13.2-inch |
| Dimensions | 214.9 mm × 280.6 mm × 6.1 mm | 209.7 mm × 289.6 mm × 6.0 mm |
| Weight | 616 g | 675 g |
| Front material | — | — |
| Back material | Aluminum | Aluminum unibody |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Liquid Retina IPS | LTPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2732 × 2048 | 3392 × 2400 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | 900 nits |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | — |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 8 GB, 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB | 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8 | Wide · 13 MP |
| Front cameras | Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4 | Front · 8 MP |
| Video recording | 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps | 4K@30fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Typical capacity | — | 12140 mAh |
| Wired charging | — | 80 W |
| Charging standard | — | Up to 80W charging |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G) | — |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi‑Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| USB | USB-C | USB‑C 3.2 Gen 1 |
| NFC | No | — |
| eSIM | Yes | — |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum | — |
| Ingress protection | None published | — |
Basic information
Release year
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 2026
- Pad 3
- 2025
Starting price
- iPad Air 13 M4
- $799
- Pad 3
- $700
Display size
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 13-inch
- Pad 3
- 13.2-inch
Dimensions
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 214.9 mm × 280.6 mm × 6.1 mm
- Pad 3
- 209.7 mm × 289.6 mm × 6.0 mm
Weight
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 616 g
- Pad 3
- 675 g
Front material
- iPad Air 13 M4
- —
- Pad 3
- —
Back material
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Aluminum
- Pad 3
- Aluminum unibody
Display
Display technology
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Liquid Retina IPS
- Pad 3
- LTPS LCD
Resolution
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 2732 × 2048
- Pad 3
- 3392 × 2400
Refresh rate
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 60 Hz
- Pad 3
- 144 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 500 nits
- Pad 3
- 900 nits
Protection
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- Pad 3
- —
Performance
Chipset
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Apple M4
- Pad 3
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 8 GB, 16 GB
- Pad 3
- 12 GB
Storage
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
- Pad 3
- 256 GB
Expandable storage
- iPad Air 13 M4
- No
- Pad 3
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Wide · 12 MP · ƒ/1.8
- Pad 3
- Wide · 13 MP
Front cameras
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Landscape · 12 MP · ƒ/2.4
- Pad 3
- Front · 8 MP
Video recording
- iPad Air 13 M4
- 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
- Pad 3
- 4K@30fps
Battery & charging
Typical capacity
- iPad Air 13 M4
- —
- Pad 3
- 12140 mAh
Wired charging
- iPad Air 13 M4
- —
- Pad 3
- 80 W
Charging standard
- iPad Air 13 M4
- —
- Pad 3
- Up to 80W charging
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Wi‑Fi, Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)
- Pad 3
- —
Wi‑Fi
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- Pad 3
- Wi‑Fi 7
Bluetooth
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Pad 3
- Bluetooth 5.4
USB
- iPad Air 13 M4
- USB-C
- Pad 3
- USB‑C 3.2 Gen 1
NFC
- iPad Air 13 M4
- No
- Pad 3
- —
eSIM
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Yes
- Pad 3
- —
Build & durability
Frame
- iPad Air 13 M4
- Aluminum
- Pad 3
- —
Ingress protection
- iPad Air 13 M4
- None published
- Pad 3
- —
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
iPad Air 13 M4
59 g lighter
Height
Pad 3
9 mm taller
Width
iPad Air 13 M4
5.2 mm wider
Thickness
Very similar thickness
User Experience Summary
iPad Air 13 M4
Strengths
- Large 13-inch canvas for productivity and Pencil work
- Excellent all-day battery for typical desk and study routines
- M4 silicon and 12GB RAM for heavier multitasking and software longevity
Compromises
- Incremental upgrade over 13-inch M3 Air with same display and accessories
- 60Hz LCD more noticeable on a large panel versus Pro tablets
- Keyboard-plus-tablet cost approaches laptop territory without macOS depth
Pad 3
Strengths
- Snapdragon 8 Elite daily and gaming headroom
- 80W charging on large 12140 mAh cell
- 144 Hz 13.2-inch LCD with eight-speaker media
Compromises
- Wi-Fi only globally — no LTE SKU
- Keyboard and Stylo 2 sold separately
- LCD versus OLED flagships at similar prices