Apple has unveiled the new iPad Air alongside the iPad Pro. It’s the successor to the iPad Air (5th generation) that launched in March 2022, and it comes with an updated chip, hardware improvements, and new features. If you are planning to upgrade to the latest iPad Air 2024 or opting to get the previous generation iPad Air 2022, the following post will explain the differences between them and help you decide which one to buy.
iPad Air 2024 vs 2022: Specifications
You can check out the complete technical specifications of the 2024 iPad Air and 2022 iPad Air below.
Specifications 2022 iPad Air 2024 iPad Air Display 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina Display Resolution 2360 x 1640 pixels 2360 x 1640 pixels (11-inch), 2732 x 2048 pixels (13-inch) Brightness 500 nits 500 nits (11-inch), 600 nits (13-inch) Dimensions 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (11-inch), 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm (13-inch) Weight 462 grams 462 grams (11-inch), 618 grams (13-inch) Processor Apple M1 with 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Apple M2 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Storage 64GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB RAM 8GB 8GB Main Camera 12MP wide, ƒ/1.8 aperture, 5x digital zoom, Smart HDR 3 12MP Wide, f/1.8 aperture, 5x digital zoom, Smart HDR 4 Front Camera 12MP ultra-wide, 122° field of view,ƒ/2.4 aperture, Retina Flash Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide, f/2.4 aperture, Retina Flash with True Tone Battery 28.6‐watt‐hour, Up to 10 hours of web and video 28.93‐watt‐hour (11-inch), 36.59‐watt‐hour (13-inch), Up to 10 hours of web and video Connectivity 5G NR, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Nano-SIM, eSIM 5G (sub-6 GHz, NR), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, eSIM Apple Pencil Supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation), Apple Pencil (USB‑C) Supports Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB‑C), Apple Pencil hover Sensors Touch ID, 3-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensor Touch ID, 3-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensor Colors Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Grey In the Box USB‑C Charge Cable, 20W USB‑C Power Adapter USB‑C Charge Cable, 20W USB‑C Power Adapter Pricing Starts at $599 Starts at $599 (11-inch), $799 (13-inch)
iPad Air 2024 vs 2022: Display
Apple’s older iPad Air came in a single size, i.e., with a 10.9-inch display. The iPad Air 6th generation is available in two different sizes – a standard 11-inch version and a larger 13-inch version. Both models retain the Liquid Retina Display from their predecessor, with the new panel offering up to 600 nits brightness.
The 11-inch model has a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, the same as that of the 5th gen version. The 13-inch iPad Air model has a 2732 x 2048 pixels resolution. You don’t get anything fancy like a Liquid Retina mini-LED display or ProMotion variable refresh rates like you do with the Pro models.
Dimensions and Design
Apple’s latest iPad Air features the same boxy design with 100% recycled aluminum enclosure, flat edges, and rounded corners. The overall design language imitates the older model, with volume buttons and Touch ID at the top (in portrait orientation). It has a
The 11-inch version of the 2024 iPad Air has the same dimensions as that of the previous iPad Air. It measures at 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inch) and weighs around 461 grams. The larger 13-inch model comes in at 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.24 inch). This puts it in the same ballpark as the 12.9-inch 2022 iPad Pro.
iPad Air 2024 vs 2022: Hardware
With a gap of over two years, performance is where the 2024 iPad Air offers significant improvements over the 2022 model. The latest version is powered by Apple’s M2 chipset, which is 18 percent faster in terms of multithreaded performance (CPU). The M2 chip also comes with two more GPU cores than M1, offering up to 25 percent better graphics performance. Apple says the new iPad Air with M2 chip is 50% faster than the iPad Air with M1 chip.
The upgrade to M2 also signifies improvements to the Neural Engine. This version can process 40 percent additional operations than M1, offering a total of 15.8 trillion operations per second.
The newer models come with the same RAM as the previous version, but you get a handful of storage options. You can get the 11-inch and 13-inch 2024 iPad Air in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB versions.
The only other notable changes in hardware come in the form of connectivity. The new models feature Bluetooth 5.3, that consumes less power and offers longer range over Bluetooth 5.0 on the 5th generation iPad Air. Apple has also replaced the Wi-Fi module with Wi-Fi 6E support. This allows users to connect to 6GHz Wi-Fi networks, something the Wi-Fi 6 module didn’t offer before.
Main and Front-Facing Camera
The new iPad Air models come with what Apple calls a Landscape Front-Facing Camera. Instead of being located at the top in portrait view (like on the previous model), the 2024 version carries the front selfie camera along the landscape edge, making it more convenient for video calls in landscape orientation. This setup is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with f/2.4 aperture, and it’s identical to the camera unit on the iPad Air 5th gen.
Moving to the back, the 2024 iPad Air retains the same main camera module from the 2022 model. It features a 12 MP wide-angle camera with f/1.8 aperture at the back and a 12 MP ultrawide f/2.4 camera on the front. It supports 4K video recording at up to 60 fps, Slow‑motion video support at up to 240 fps, and Cinematic video stabilization.
iPad Air 2024 vs 2022: Battery
Apple says the 11-inch 2024 iPad has a 28.93‐watt‐hour battery, that lasts up to 10 hours when surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching videos. This is similar to the battery life of the 28.6‐watt‐hour unit present on the 2022 iPad Air. Being the bigger model, the new 13-inch iPad Air features a larger 36.59‐watt‐hour battery, but it offers the same battery life as its smaller sibling.
Software Support
Apple’s 2022 iPad Air came running iPadOS 15.4 out of the box, but they currently run on iPadOS 17.4. The 2024 iPad Air models come running iPadOS 17.4 out of the box with at least 6 years of iPadOS updates. That’s two more years than the 2022 model’s remaining 4 years of support.
iPad Air 2024 vs 2022: Pricing
When Apple launched the 2022 iPad Air, it had the same launch price as the 4th gen iPad Air. The new 11-inch 2024 iPad Air also starts at $599 like its predecessor. The 13-inch iPad Air, on the other hand, is available for $799. The addition of a larger version can offer users options at different price points, putting it in close competition with the 11-inch iPad Pro.
Should You Buy the new 2024 iPad Air?
With the Apple M2 chip, the new iPad Air is definitely the best powerful but affordable iPad to get at this time. It’s 50% faster than the 2022 iPad Air with M1 chip, which is a significant performance bump for anyone with a heavy workflow, constant content creation, or for those who engage in graphics-intensive games.
However, it isn’t a compelling upgrade for people who already owns the iPad Air 5th gen since the rest of the hardware including the display, camera, and battery remain the same. But if you’re upgrading from a much older iPad, the 2024 iPad Air is worth taking a look.
