True Tone technology is a feature that adjusts the display's white balance to match the ambient light, providing a more natural viewing experience. Both the iPad Air and iPad Pro support True Tone for their displays, which helps in maintaining color accuracy and comfort in various lighting conditions[2][5]. However, there is a distinction in how True Tone is implemented between these devices, primarily in terms of display technology and additional features.
Display Technology and Features:
- iPad Air: The iPad Air uses a Liquid Retina display with True Tone support. It offers a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 500 nits for the 11-inch model and 600 nits for the 13-inch model[6]. While the display is clear and comfortable for daily use, it lacks the advanced features found in the iPad Pro.
- iPad Pro: The iPad Pro, on the other hand, features more advanced display technologies. It includes a Tandem OLED display in newer models, offering higher brightness (up to 1,000 nits for SDR and 1,600 nits for HDR content) and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate[6]. This results in a smoother and more vibrant visual experience, especially beneficial for gaming and professional applications.
True Tone Flash Comparison:
- iPad Air: The iPad Air does not have a True Tone flash for its camera. This feature is absent despite the device's other improvements, such as the M2 chip[1].
- iPad Pro: The iPad Pro models have an Adaptive True Tone flash, which provides better lighting in low-light conditions. This feature has been a standard on iPad Pro models for several years[1].
In summary, while both the iPad Air and iPad Pro support True Tone for their displays, the iPad Pro offers superior display technology and features, including a higher refresh rate and brighter screen. Additionally, the iPad Pro includes an Adaptive True Tone flash, which is not available on the iPad Air.
Citations:[1] https://appleosophy.com/2024/05/11/ipad-air-m2-still-lacks-true-tone-flash/
[2] https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-apple-true-tone-display/
[3] https://www.phonearena.com/reviews/ipad-air-m3-vs-ipad-pro-m4_id7053
[4] https://www.zdnet.com/article/ipad-air-2022-vs-ipad-pro-2022/
[5] https://irepart.com/blogs/articles/understanding-true-tone
[6] https://www.acasis.com/blogs/news/ipad-pro-2024-vs-ipad-air-2024-how-to-choose
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaRCdX_1Jwo
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/j3x4q1/true_tone_on_or_off/
[9] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11546490
[10] https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2022/04/ipad-air-vs-ipad-pro/
[11] https://www.theverge.com/24091213/apple-ipad-air-2024-pro-specs-comparison