Between the iPad (11th gen) and iPad Air 11 M3, the iPad (11th gen) comes out ahead in several specs, while the iPad Air 11 M3 wins on ram and weight. Overall, the iPad (11th gen) scores 48.3 and the iPad Air 11 M3 scores 50 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (48.3 vs 50). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
The iPad (11th gen) doesn't pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the iPad Air 11 M3 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are ram, weight.
Both ship with comparable screen size, storage, refresh rate, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Why Apple - iPad (11th gen) wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 wins
- ▲RAM — 33.33% more. 8 GB vs 6 GB.
- ▲Weight — 17.00 g less. 460 vs 477.
Spec comparison
Display
| Spec | Apple - iPad (11th gen) | Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 11 " | 11 " |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Panelⓘ | LCD | LCD |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 500 nits | 500 nits |
Performance
Design
| Spec | Apple - iPad (11th gen) | Apple - iPad Air 11 M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 477 g | 460 glead |
| Stylus support | true | true |
| Cellular | true | true |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.