Apple iPad Air M2 13-inch vs Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4
The Verdict
Apple's iPad Air M2 and Xiaomi's Pad 6S Pro target different priorities in the premium tablet space. The iPad Air excels with its larger 13-inch display, superior color accuracy through Liquid Retina technology, and the proven M2 chip that handles creative workflows exceptionally well. iPadOS 17 provides seamless integration across Apple's ecosystem. However, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro delivers more raw specifications for $100 less. Its 12.4-inch display packs a 144Hz refresh rate versus the iPad's 60Hz, making scrolling noticeably smoother. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor matches M2 performance in most tasks, while its 10000 mAh battery with 120W fast charging significantly outlasts the iPad Air's 10-hour rating. Camera specs favor Xiaomi with a 50MP rear sensor, though the iPad's 12MP setup produces better photos in practice. Storage starts at 256GB on the Xiaomi compared to 128GB on Apple. For creative professionals and Apple ecosystem users, the iPad Air remains the better choice due to superior software and display quality. Budget-conscious users wanting better specs, faster refresh rates, and faster charging should choose the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPad Air M2 13-inch if…
- →Large 13-inch display at a more affordable price than iPad Pro
- →Powerful Apple M2 chip handles demanding apps with ease
- →Landscape front camera ideal for video calls
Buy the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 if…
- →Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
- →Large 12.4-inch 3K 144Hz display
- →Very fast 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air M2 13-inch
Pros
- Large 13-inch display at a more affordable price than iPad Pro
- Powerful Apple M2 chip handles demanding apps with ease
- Landscape front camera ideal for video calls
- Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
- Wi-Fi 6E for fast wireless connectivity
Cons
- 60Hz display lacks ProMotion smoothness
- LCD panel is less vivid than the Pro's OLED
- Heavier than the 13-inch iPad Pro M4
- USB-C is not Thunderbolt
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4
Pros
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
- Large 12.4-inch 3K 144Hz display
- Very fast 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Premium metal build under 600 g
- High-resolution 50 MP rear and 32 MP front cameras
Cons
- No cellular variant
- No microSD card slot
- MIUI/HyperOS software can feel cluttered
- Limited official global availability
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPad Air M2 13-inch | Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iPadOS 17 | HyperOS (Android 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 617 g (Wi-Fi) | 590 g |
| Dimensions | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm | 278.7 x 191.6 x 6.3 mm |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours web on Wi-Fi | 120W HyperCharge wired, 50W wireless |
| Capacity | — | 10000 mAh |
| Cameras | ||
| Rear | 12 MP wide | 50 MP main + 2 MP depth |
| Front camera | 12 MP ultrawide (landscape) | 32 MP |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13 inches | 12.4 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina LED-backlit IPS | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2732 x 2048 | 3048 x 2032 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 144Hz |
| Storage | ||
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5X |
| Chipset | Apple M2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10 Gbps) | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Cellular | ||
| Stylus Support | ||
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in tablets, see all Apple products or all Xiaomi products. View full details for the Apple iPad Air M2 13-inch or the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4.
