Highlights

• 11-inch iPad Air is heavier than the 11-inch iPad Pro.
• 13-inch iPad Air also surpasses the Pro model in weight and thickness.
• iPad Air’s branding traditionally associated with lightness and thinness.
• New iPad Air contradicts the ‘Air’ branding by being less portable than the Pro models.

If Apple adds the word ‘Air’ to a product, the expectation from customers is that it should be very light and very thin.

That is definitely not the case with the latest iPads.

Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models are actually heavier and thicker than their equivalent iPad Pro models.

iPad Air is No Longer the Lightest

Spec charts provided by Apple itself show the 11-inch iPad Air at 1.02 pounds, while the 11-inch iPad Pro is slightly lighter at 0.98 pounds.

The difference is a bit larger in the bigger sizes, as the 13-inch iPad Air weighs 1.36 pounds, while the 13-inch iPad Pro weighs 1.28 pounds.

It’s not all about weight; the iPad Pro models are also thinner than the new iPad Air devices.

As the tech giant unveiled the product, it positioned the iPad Air as a mid-range offering that brings some pro-level features to mainstream users, but at a more affordable level than the high-end iPad Pro.

However, this very positioning defies the claim since the ‘Air’ branding had always been associated with exceptional portability and thinness.

While the Air moniker still carries the connotation of being lightweight for Apple’s MacBook line, the same cannot be said for the new iPad Air devices.

This leaves more questions as to whether the tech giant is consistent with its naming conventions for its products.

Why Call it the iPad Air Then?

If the ‘Air’ is no longer the thinnest and lightest iPad, perhaps Apple might have done better just calling these new models the 11th generation iPadand kept the 10th gen as the budget offering, as the company tends to do with iPhones.

The variance in weight and thickness may be inconsequential for many users, but it does continue to challenge the very principle behind the ‘Air’ branding.

Apple’s marketing team could have come up with a better name to indicate a mid-range iPad—one that sacrifices a bit of portability compared to the Pro models.

Apple’s product lineup will continue to expand with various configurations.

Clear and consistent naming conventions will become increasingly important to help customers understand what they are purchasing.

The new iPad Air models, although packed with impressive features, seem to contradict the core essence of the ‘Air’ branding that Apple has cultivated over the years.

Full iPad Pro Dimensions

Full iPad Air Dimensions

FAQs

How does the weight of the new iPad Air compare to the iPad Pro?

The new 11-inch iPad Air weighs slightly more at 1.02 pounds compared to the 11-inch iPad Pro at 0.98 pounds, and the 13-inch model shows a similar trend with the Air weighing more than the Pro.

What has been the traditional expectation from Apple’s ‘Air’ branding?

Traditionally, Apple’s ‘Air’ branding has been synonymous with products that are exceptionally light and thin, a standard that the new iPad Air models do not meet when compared to the iPad Pro versions.

Why might Apple’s naming convention for the new iPad Air be considered misleading?

Given that the new iPad Air models are heavier and thicker than the Pro models, the use of ‘Air’ in their naming might confuse customers who associate the term with superior portability and lightness.

What implications does the weight difference have for users choosing between the iPad Air and iPad Pro?

Users looking for the lightest and thinnest iPad might prefer the iPad Pro over the Air, contrary to the expectations set by the ‘Air’ branding which traditionally indicated the lightest option.

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