Contents
execs and cons
- Extra base storage for a similar value because the earlier mannequin
- Reasonably priced giant display screen possibility (13 inches)
- Sooner Apple Silicon M2
- Digicam placement is extra pure
- Thicker and heavier than the iPad Professional
- No Face ID unlock
- No headphone jack
- 60Hz refresh price show
Extra buying choices
ZDNET Shopping for Ideas
With a conveyable really feel and elevated storage within the base, the versatile iPad Air (2024) balances efficiency and value. It is highly effective sufficient for many tablet-based use instances, akin to multi-app looking, watching motion pictures and TV reveals, and making video calls, and prices a whole bunch of {dollars} lower than the Professional mannequin and different flagship Android tablets.
Additionally: iPad Professional (2024) overview: Apple’s most superior pill just isn’t a MacBook, and I am okay with that
That mentioned, whereas this iPad Air actually would not outperform the iPad Professional (it should not), it would not considerably outshine the earlier Air mannequin or different cheaper iPads. However if you’d like a light-weight, large-screen iPad with most of Apple’s fixes, this 12 months’s mannequin often is the most affordable alternative for customers.
Specs
| iPad air 11 inch | iPad air 13 inch | |
| beginning value | $599 | $799 |
| Present | Liquid retina show | Liquid retina show |
| Weight | 462 grams (16.3 ounces) | 617 grams (21.8 ounces) |
| Processor | Apple M2 chip | Apple M2 chip |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | As much as 10 hours, Li-Po 28.93 Wh | As much as 10 hours, Li-Po 36.59Wh |
| Digicam | Primary 12MP | Entrance 12MP | Primary 12MP | Entrance 12MP |
How I examined the iPad Air (2024)
I have been testing the iPad Air each day for the previous week and a half, utilizing numerous productiveness apps for writing and dealing, looking, gaming, and extra. Benchmark testing included efficiency comparisons with an older iPad (Eighth technology) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely. My overview unit is the 11-inch mannequin, though Apple can be promoting a bigger 13-inch measurement this 12 months. It helps that Apple has saved the specs on each configurations largely the identical, together with the processor, RAM and storage, rated battery life, and cameras.
What are the very best options of the iPad Air (2024)?
Double the storage for a similar value as the most recent mannequin: The iPad Air (2024) has 4 storage capacities, from 128 GB to 1 TB for the 11- and 13-inch fashions. The 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage prices $599, the identical value because the previous-generation 10.9-inch mannequin with half the storage, 64GB.
Doubling the storage of the bottom mannequin is sufficient for some consumers so as to add the brand new iPad Air to their purchasing carts. Add to that each one the additional options that include the most recent mannequin, together with a front-facing digital camera that is now centered on the longer aspect of the pill, an M2 processor, and extra, and you have got one in every of, if not the very best. , worth tablets in the marketplace.
A sooner M2 chip is a plus for every type of customers: The brand new iPad Air has an M2 chip, an improve from the M1 within the fifth-generation mannequin. How a lot better is it? Apple says the M2 chip offers the brand new iPad Air 50% sooner efficiency than the earlier M1 mannequin and thrice sooner than the A13 Bionic mannequin.
Additionally: Apple iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): Which mannequin do you have to purchase?
Whereas I haven’t got an M1 mannequin to check these claims, I do have two older Eighth-generation iPads in my home, each of which felt noticeably much less snappy and responsive after I transitioned to the iPad Air final week. Clearly, the iPad 2024 outperforms the older A12 Bionic chip in benchmark exams, however take a look at the way it stacks up towards Samsung’s flagship. Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely Pill.
| Geekbench 6 scores | SC CPU Comparability | MC CPU Comparability | GPU benchmark |
| iPad Air (2024) | 2622 | 10007 | 41771 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Extremely | 2081 | 5601 | 9481 |
| Eighth technology iPad | 1330 | 2788 | 8998 |
For reference, the Samsung is a $1,200 14-inch pill powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Along with outperforming the Extremely pill in benchmarks, I discovered the iPad Air to be way more dependable in each day use and constant than Samsung’s.
Whereas I just like the Tab S9 Extremely’s versatility as a piece gadget and leisure pill, the iPad Air is way snappier and fewer susceptible to random bugs (i.e. crashing apps, connectivity points, and general efficiency), particularly when utilizing purposes like CapCut. for fast video edits and Photoshop for photographs.
Giant display screen possibility for the primary time: Apple sells a 13-inch iPad Air for the primary time. It is naturally heavier than the 11-inch mannequin (about 5 ounces), however gives extra display screen actual property for improved productiveness and content material consumption.
Additionally: I’ve used each iPad because the first one. For the brand new 2024 fashions, that is my buying recommendation.
Contemplating the 13-inch iPad Air begins at $799, it is an efficient and comparatively inexpensive possibility for school college students and dealing professionals. Nonetheless, I want the 11-inch mannequin for its portability. That is the entire level of an “Air” gadget, proper?
What I want to see within the subsequent mannequin.
An actual iPad “Air”: Apple missed the mark with the “Air” moniker for this 12 months’s iPad, as the most recent iPad Air is heavier and thicker than the brand new iPad Professional.
It is not that the corporate hasn’t stayed true to the scale and weight of the iPad Air relative to earlier variations, however that is how Apple devoted most, if not all, of its efforts to creating the dearer iPad Professional lighter and thinner this 12 months, leaving the iPad Air within the mud.
Additionally: The true potential of the iPad Professional M4 might be realized at WWDC, and AI could have lots to do with it
At 462 grams, the most recent 11-inch iPad Air weighs nearly the identical as its predecessor, which was 461 grams and 10.9 inches. The 2022 and 2024 fashions are additionally 6.1 mm (0.24 in) thick. Apple did not make the iPad Air thinner or lighter this time round, which is disappointing contemplating how thinner the Professional mannequin has change into. Maybe “Air” simply represents having the important options now, simply as that applies to the MacBook line.
Face ID Unlock: It seems like a damaged report, however the fact is that many iPad Air customers need this characteristic, however Apple hasn’t added it to the mannequin but. Whereas this can be a minor concern, particularly with the very correct fingerprint reader constructed into the aspect energy button, it’s a matter of comfort.
You possibly can arrange Contact ID with each fingers so you do not have to increase the identical hand each time you should unlock it, however I want to carry up my pill and have it acknowledge my face to unlock it seamlessly.
Last thought
After attempting the final iPad air, the principle motive to improve from a earlier mannequin is the bigger 13-inch measurement possibility. What was as soon as a advantage of the iPad Professional has now been lowered to a pricing degree that’s way more inexpensive.
I additionally really feel assured in recommending current customers, together with those that personal the 2022 mannequin, to carry off on upgrading. Apart from the bigger display screen configuration, there isn’t any generational distinction between this 12 months’s iPad and the one from two years in the past.