what is the big differences of the 2?
what one would hold up better in the long run?
I am trying to make the same decision myself (well, actually I already decided).
Apple has a good comparison tool here, with the new iPad Pro just announced:
https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/#mn_p
But, to highlight the differences:
- The new Pro uses the M1 processor, the Air uses the A14. Both are based on the same design, though I think that the M1 has some more graphical power. Both are very powerful and will be useful for years.
- The Pro has better cameras, both front and back
- It's possible that Apple will announce some software features for the Pro that will not be available on the Air in a future update of iPad OS, but I really doubt that this is likely.
- The cellular Pro model has 5G and LTE while the Air is LTE.
- The display of the 11" Pro and the Air are essentially the same. The Pro is slightly bigger (about 0.1" diagonal) and can be slightly brighter, and also supports what Apple calls "Pro-Motion", which means that Apple Pencil interactions and scrolling should seem smoother.
- Storage configurations are a little different. The Air comes in 64 GB and 256 GB only, while the Pro is 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. The models with 256 GB and less have 8 GB of RAM, while the higher-storage models have 16 GB of RAM. Apple doesn't say how much RAM the Air has, but I believe that I've read that it is 4 GB. (This is one of the reasons why I think it ay be possible for the Pro to have some more powerful features in the future, such as perhaps windowed multi-tasking.)
- The price of the Pro at the same storage config (256 GB) is $150 higher for WiFi only and $220 higher for Cellular (which is what I am going to get myself). Higher cost difference of cellular because of 5G probably.