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Tablet Comparison

Apple iPad Air vs Huawei MediaPad M5 8 Comparison

A detailed, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tablet.
Apple iPad Air
Apple
Apple iPad Air
9.0 / 10
Compass Score
From 46 critic reviews
Full review →
Huawei MediaPad M5 8
Huawei
Huawei MediaPad M5 8
8.0 / 10
Compass Score
From 14 critic reviews
Full review →
Verdict

Pros & cons

iPad Air

+
Good
+ Fast performance
+ High-quality design
+ MIMO support
+ Beautiful display
+ Plenty of model options
−
Not
− Price
− Lack of Touch ID
− Mediocre camera

MediaPad M5 8

If you’re looking for a tablet for more than the occasional video or web browsing session, the Huawei offers iPad-like performance in a familiar Android format.Β 

+
Good
+ Bright, colorful display
+ Snappy performance
+ All-day battery life
+ Quick Charge support
+ Stereo speakers
+ microSD support
−
Not
− Weak cameras
− No 3.5mm headphone jack
− Lots of bloatware
Spec data

How they compare

iPad Air
MediaPad M5 8
Price (MSRP)
β€”
Price (MSRP)
β€”
OS
iOS
OS
Android
Processor
Apple A7 Dual core
Processor
HiSilicon Kirin 960 Octa core
Camera zoom
β€”
Camera zoom
β€”
Battery life
β€”
Battery life
β€”
Wired charging
β€”
Wired charging
β€”
Wireless charging
β€”
Wireless charging
β€”
Display
Color
Display
Color
Software support
β€”
Software support
β€”
Repairability
β€”
Repairability
β€”
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
316g (11.1 oz)
Fingerprint
No
Fingerprint
Yes
Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.
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Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale
iPad Air
9.4" × 6.6"
MediaPad M5 8
8.4" × 4.9"
Thickness · to scale
iPad Air
0.3"
MediaPad M5 8
0.3"
Height
9.4" (239 mm)
Height
8.4" (212.6 mm)
Width
6.6" (168 mm)
Width
4.9" (124.8 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7 mm)
Depth
0.3" (7.3 mm)
Weight
478g (16.9 oz)
Weight
316g (11.1 oz)
Screen
9.7"
Screen
8.4"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

iPad Air vs MediaPad M5 8: FAQ

Which is better, the iPad Air or MediaPad M5 8?
Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPad Air earns a Compass Score of 9.0 compared to 8.0 for the MediaPad M5 8. That 1-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.

Specifications sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases. Last updated October 2026. Suggest a correction →