For the first time, Apple offers the iPad Air in two sizes. So, you may choose depending on your use case and budget. But how do you know which iPad Air size is right for you? Don’t worry; we’ll help you make an informed decision.

You would expect the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models to look identical besides the screen size. However, that’s not entirely the case, as they both have different aspect ratios.

The 13-inch iPad Air hasa 4:3 aspect ratio, whereas the 11-inch one is closer to 3:2. If you put them side by side, you’ll immediately notice that the 11-inch iPad Air is narrower proportionally compared to the 13-inch model. Therefore, when you use it in landscape orientation for watching movies, the black bars won’t be as prominent as on the 13-inch model.

The aspect ratio difference makes the 13-inch iPad Air appear a lot larger when you put it next to the 11-inch model. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like the size difference is just 2 inches.

The 13-inch iPad Air with a 4:3 aspect ratio offers a bigger canvas for digital artists who plan to draw or sketch with an Apple Pencil. It’s ever so slightly wider than an A4-sized paper. Most artists would feel cramped for space on the smaller 11-inch iPad Air.

The 11-inch iPad Air weighs just 1.02 pounds, whereas the 13-inch model weighs 1.36 pounds. This means that the 11-inch iPad Air would be a lot less fatiguing if you’re someone who holds the tablet with one hand rather than using it with a Magic Keyboard or Smart Folio case.

Also, thanks to the smaller footprint, the 11-inch iPad Air should have no trouble fitting in your bags or laptop sleeves. Therefore, if you’re someone who travels regularly, you may want to lean toward the 11-inch model for its portability.

It’s worth noting that the iPad Air isn’t the lightest full-sized iPad you can buy. The 11-inch 2024 iPad Pro weighs just 0.98 pounds and is even thinner at 5.3 mm.The 2024 iPad Pro models also offer better hardwareto match their price tags.

If you look atApple’s iPad Air spec sheet, you’ll see that the company claims 500 nits of peak SDR brightness for the 11-inch model. In comparison, the 13-inch model can go up to 600 nits, making it 20% brighter.

Therefore, if you plan to use your iPad Air outdoors, go for the bigger 13-inch model, as it would offer slightly better visibility while reading text, watching videos, or scrolling through social media.

For most people, the deciding factor is the price. And as you may have expected, the smaller iPad Air is more affordable. However, the price difference between the two models is $200.

So, unless you really think you’d make use of that bigger display, I highly recommend getting the 11-inch iPad Air for $599.

Besides the differences mentioned above, the11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air offer the same set of features. And unlike the 2022 iPad Pro lineup, you’re not getting an inferior display with the smaller model.