Apple has launched the 2024 iPad Air with an upgraded M2 chip, a bigger 13-inch model becoming a member of the 11-inch mannequin, Apple Pencil Pro compatibility, and extra. Be part of alongside for every thing that’s new and improved for the M2 iPad Air vs M1 iPad Air.
The 2022 iPad Air 5 with M1 blurred the road between the mid and high-end iPads, giving an incentive to purchase the Air that began at $200 (or more) under the $799 11-inch iPad Professional.
And now the 2024 M2 iPad Air lineup (sixth gen) has arrived which affords much more selection and energy than the M1 iPad Air. Let’s dig in 😁.
M2 iPad Air vs M1 iPad Air
Efficiency
The primary efficiency improve comes from the M2 chip within the new iPad Air. That delivers as much as a 15% sooner CPU, 25% sooner GPU, 40% sooner Neural Engine, and a 2x enhance in reminiscence bandwidth from 50GB/s to 100GB/s.
Factoring in all of these efficiency enhancements, Apple says the M2 iPad Air is “almost” 50% sooner than the M1 iPad Air.
M2 iPad Air | M1 iPad Air | |
Chip | M2 | M1 |
CPU cores | 8 | 8 |
GPU cores | 10 | 8 |
Neural cores | 16 | 16 |
Storage | 128GB – 1TB | 64 or 256GB |
RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
Reminiscence bandwidth | 100GB/s | 50GB/s |
Mobile | 5G (no mmWave) | 5G (no mmWave) |
Show
With the M2 iPad Air display screen, you’re getting an 11″ or 13″ Liquid Retina show with True Tone and P3 large colour. Each shows are absolutely laminated and have Apple’s anti-reflective coating.
Technically the shows measure 10.86 and 12.9 inches.
General specs are the identical between the M2 iPad Air shows and the M1 iPad Air – besides the brand new fashions characteristic Apple Pencil Hover assist and the 13″ iPad Air is barely brighter.
13″ M2 iPad Air | 11″ M2 iPad Air | 10.9″ M1 iPad Air | |
Show | 13″ (12.9) | 11″ (10.86) | 10.9″ (10.86) |
Decision | 2732 x 2048 | 2360 x 1640 | 2360 x 1640 |
PPI (pixels per inch) | 264 | 264 | 264 |
Show brightness | 600 nits | 500 nits | 500 nits |
True Tone | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
P3 large colour | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
LED-backlit | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
ProMotion (120Hz) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Anti-reflective coating | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Liquid Retina Show | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Apple Pencil Hover | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
One characteristic you miss out on with the brand new iPad Air vs iPad Professional is ProMotion (refresh as much as 120Hz).
Connectivity and equipment
The 2024 M2 iPad Air works with all the identical fashionable Apple equipment. That features the brand new Apple Pencil Professional, Magic Keyboard, and Smart Folio.
Just like the M1 iPad Air, the M2 iPad Air makes use of Contact ID versus the iPad Professional that makes use of Face ID.
M2 iPad Air | M1 iPad Air | |
Apple Pencil Professional | ✅ | ❌ |
Apple Pencil USB-C | ✅ | ✅ |
Apple Pencil 2 | ❌ | ✅ |
Magic Keyboard assist | ✅ | ✅ |
5G | ✅ (no mmWave) | ✅ (no mmWave) |
WiFi 6 | – | ✅ |
WiFi 6E | ✅ | ❌ |
Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
USB-C | ✅ 3.1 Gen 2 | ✅ 3.1 Gen 2 |
Thunderbolt | ❌ | ❌ |
Contact ID | ✅ | ✅ |
Face ID | ❌ | ❌ |
Two different enhancements are WiFi 6E assist and Bluetooth 5.3.
Splash of colour
If the colour of your subsequent pill is necessary, you’ve received 4 choices with the iPad Air. It is available in house grey, starlight, purple, and blue.
For these counting, that’s one much less choice than the M1 iPad Air which was made in pink alongside the above colorways.
In the meantime, the iPad Professional solely is available in house black and silver.
iPad Professional vs iPad Air battery life
Each the brand new M2 iPad Air fashions have the identical battery life as one another and the M1 iPad Air:
- 10 hours of net or video use on WiFi
- 9 hours of net use with mobile
Storage and value
The 11″ M2 iPad Air is similar value because the M1 at launch however with double the storage. Or with the 256GB fashions, it’s $50 much less.
The M2 iPad Air fashions provide storage as much as 1TB as an alternative of topping out at 256GB, so naturally, pricing on the upper finish is above what the M1 iPad Air fashions maxed out at.
13″ M2 iPad Air | 11″ M2 iPad Air | 10.9″ M1 iPad Air | |
64GB WiFi | – | – | $599 |
64GB + cell | – | – | $749 |
128GB WiFi | $799 | $599 | – |
128GB + cell | $949 | $749 | – |
256GB WiFi | $899 | $699 | $749 |
256GB + cell | $1,049 | $849 | $899 |
512GB WiFi | $1,099 | $899 | – |
512GB + cell | $1,249 | $1,049 | – |
1TB WiFi | $1,299 | $1,099 | – |
1TB + cell | $1,449 | $1,249 | – |
Dimensions and weight
The 11″ M2 iPad Air is an identical in measurement and weight to the M1 model. However right here’s how the brand new 11 and 13″ fashions evaluate in weight and dimensions:
Mockingly, the brand new iPad Professional fashions are thinner and lighter than the corresponding M2 iPad Air gadgets. Nevertheless, the 2024 iPad Air fashions are nonetheless very transportable and lightweight.
Cameras
You get the identical rear single digicam with the M2 iPad Air because the M1 iPad Air. That’s a 12MP large lens with 4K video recording, Good HDR 4, and extra.
The primary change with the M2 iPad Air is switching to a landscape-oriented 12MP extremely large entrance digicam.
One bonus with the 13″ M2 iPad Air is the stereo audio system provide 2x bass in comparison with the smaller M2 iPad Air and M1 iPad Air.
M2 iPad Air | M1 iPad Air | |
12MP large lens | ✅ | ✅ |
Good HDR 4 | ✅ | ❌ |
Good HDR 3 | – | ✅ |
4K video | ✅ | ✅ |
Prolonged dynamic vary | ✅ | ✅ |
Slo-mo video | ✅ | ✅ |
Extremely large 12MP entrance digicam | ✅ (panorama) | ✅ (portrait) |
Heart Stage auto-tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
Cinematic video stabilization | ✅ | ✅ |
2x zoom out | ✅ | ✅ |
Panorama stereo audio system | ✅ | ✅ |
2 microphones | ✅ | ✅ |
M2 iPad Air vs M1 iPad Air conclusion
Why purchase the M2 iPad Air?
For those who’re tempted by the bigger 13″ show, elevated storage measurement, or sooner efficiency of the M2, the brand new iPad might be match.
The M2 iPad Professional is on the market at Apple and shortly at Amazon, Finest Purchase, and extra.
Why purchase M1 iPad Air? (Or hold what you’ve gotten)
Contemplating every thing you’re getting, the M1 iPad Air is a superb selection for individuals with mild to medium workflows or informal use. Usually accessible at a reduction, it’s received most of the nice options of the fashionable M2 iPad Air/Professional and the identical design.
Learn extra 9to5Mac in-depth comparisons:
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.