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. If someone wants to add an official keyboard accessory, that's another $199 or $349 depending on which model they choose. 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.
The iPad Pro Is Worse Value But More Flexibleīy comparison, the 2021 iPad Pro is a worse value in almost every way. 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. 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. Outside of that, it delivers the regular macOS experience people are familiar with.
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. 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. This is the most affordable Mac that Apple currently sells, making it the go-to choice for the average shopper. With the M1 MacBook Air, it's pretty obvious what people are getting. Related: Apple Execs Say No iPad & Mac Conflict, Both Just The Best For someone looking to spend around a thousand dollars on a new M1 Apple machine, which is ultimately the better buy? 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. It's the most powerful and technically impressive iPad Apple has ever created, and it's targeted right at pro users. It's a basic, simple laptop, but an outstanding laptop at that. It isn't a 2-in-1, there's no touchscreen, and it doesn't have a Touch Bar. In the case of the MacBook Air, it's about the most traditional laptop Apple sells.
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. 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.
Two of the most interesting Appleproducts currently available are the 2021 iPad Pro and MacBook Air.