Between the iPad Air 11 M3 and Pad 6S Pro 12.4, the iPad Air 11 M3 comes out ahead in weight, while the Pad 6S Pro 12.4 wins on refresh rate / storage. Overall, the iPad Air 11 M3 scores 50 and the Pad 6S Pro 12.4 scores 63.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 13.2 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the iPad Air 11 M3 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight.
Pick the Pad 6S Pro 12.4 if the display is what you stare at all day — refresh rate, brightness, or sharpness is where the difference will be most visible. Its strongest claims are refresh rate, storage, peak brightness, among others.
Both ship with comparable stylus support, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 wins
- ▲Weight — 130.00 g less. 460 vs 590.
Why Xiaomi - Pad 6S Pro 12.4 wins
- ▲Refresh rate — 140.00% more. 144 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- ▲Storage — 100.00% more. 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- ▲Peak brightness — 80.00% more. 900 nits vs 500 nits.
- ▲RAM — 50.00% more. 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- ▲Screen size — 12.73% more. 12.4 " vs 11 ".
Spec comparison
Display
| Spec | Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 | Xiaomi - Pad 6S Pro 12.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 11 " | 12.4 "lead |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 60 Hz | 144 Hzlead |
| Panelⓘ | LCD | LCD |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 500 nits | 900 nitslead |
Performance
Design
| Spec | Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 | Xiaomi - Pad 6S Pro 12.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 460 glead | 590 g |
| Stylus support | true | true |
| Cellular | truelead | false |
| OS | iPadOS | Androidlead |
Spec-level deep dives
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