The iPad Air M3 and the iPad Pro M3 do not exist in the same generation, as the iPad Pro models currently available are with the M4 chip, not M3. However, we can compare the battery life of the iPad Air M3 with the iPad Pro M4, as these are the latest models available.
The iPad Air M3 offers up to 10 hours of battery life when using Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours when using cellular data. This is typical for general usage such as web browsing, watching videos, or using apps that are not overly demanding[2].
In contrast, the iPad Pro M4 also provides up to 10 hours of battery life when surfing the web or watching videos over Wi-Fi, and up to 9 hours when using cellular data. However, the iPad Pro M4's battery life can be affected more significantly by demanding tasks like gaming or video editing due to its more powerful M4 chip[6][9].
Both devices are designed for all-day use, but the iPad Pro M4 might have a slight edge in terms of power efficiency during heavy tasks due to its more advanced chip. However, actual battery performance can vary based on usage patterns and settings.
It's worth noting that there is no iPad Pro M3 model currently available; the latest iPad Pro models use the M4 chip. Therefore, any comparison involving an "iPad Pro M3" would be speculative or based on older models.
Citations:[1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-introduces-ipad-air-with-powerful-m3-chip-and-new-magic-keyboard/
[2] https://www.simplymac.com/ipad/ipad-air-technical-specifications
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRCUCYoX8po
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1dnabxb/macbook_air_m3_or_ipad_pro_13_inch/
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1eogqh8/new_macbook_air_m3_battery_life_67_hours/
[6] https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad-pro/
[7] https://techtoro.io/blog/ipad-pro-m4-vs-macbook-air-m3/
[8] https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs/
[9] https://www.macworld.com/article/2369843/m4-ipad-pro-1tb-review.html
[10] https://www.pcmag.com/comparisons/2024-ipad-air-vs-ipad-pro-which-tablet-should-you-buy
[11] https://support.apple.com/en-us/111979
[12] https://www.phonearena.com/reviews/ipad-air-m3-vs-ipad-pro-m4_id7053
[13] https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/ipad-pro-vs-macbook-air