The last time Apple updated its iPad Air series was in 2022, introducing the 5th generation of its mid-range tablet and one of the best tablets on the market. After two years, it is said that the technology giant has prepared the next edition for us, the iPad Air (2024).
However, this year there is a twist, as leaks point to two iPad Air models in 2024, the regular 11-inch iPad Air and a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air variant. The probability of this rumor being true is quite high, as the mid-range iPad series would fit perfectly alongside the more expensive and premium iPad Pro models, of which we are also rumored to see a new generation in 2024.
So, without further ado, let’s see what exactly will be different with the iPad Air (2024) and how it will compare to the 2022 fifth-generation iPad Air.
Differences between iPad Air 6 (2024) and iPad Air 5 (2022):
| iPad Air 6 (2024) | iPad Air 5 (2022) |
|---|---|
| It comes in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. | It only comes in 11 inches |
| Larger screen and longer battery life thanks to the 12.9″ model | No 12.9″ model |
| Apple M2 chipset (18% faster CPU, 35% faster GPU) | Apple M1 chipset |
| Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 |
Design and size
Some minor design changes and a new size option.
Design and size are two of the main areas in which Apple is said to make changes with the new generation of the iPad Air (2024). For starters, there’s the aforementioned 12.9-inch iPad Air, which will be roughly 12.9 inches or a similar size to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
The regular iPad Air (2024) will likely still have the same dimensions as the iPad Air (2022), which are 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches). The weight probably won’t change much either, so we expect it to be around 462g.
The dimensions of the 12.9″ iPad Air, on the other hand, should be somewhere in the range of 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.05 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches), which is the size of the 2022 12.9-inch iPad Pro. That said, we expect it to weigh less than the Pro model. Since the 11-inch iPad Air weighs about 5g less than the 11-inch Pro model, we expect the Larger iPad Air weighs around 677g.
As for the design, rumors have hinted that Apple could finally move the front camera to the side, rather than placing it in the top bezel as it has done with previous generations. This should make it more comfortable to make video calls while holding the tablet horizontally, which is the orientation most people tend to use their tablet in.
Show differences
Speaking of displays, we don’t expect Apple to include anything crazy like the Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED LCD panel found on the Pro models. There hasn’t even been news about a higher screen refresh rate, so it’s safe to say that we will see the same 60 Hz on the 11-inch iPad Air (2024) and the 12.9-inch iPad Air.
In other words, the only difference between the new iPad Air and the 2022 model would be the iPad Air’s larger 12.9″ screen. This may seem insignificant since there would be no real upgrade to the screen technology, but having the Tption to get a larger iPad without the need to pay the premium price for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a welcome one in our book.
Performance and software
Better connectivity and a more capable chipset
Besides the design and size, performance is the other part of the iPad Air (2024) that we expect to be a major improvement over the iPad Air (2022). This is because, at least according to the leaks, the new models will receive Apple’s M2 chipset, which is advertised as having an 18% faster CPU and a 35% faster GPU.
This is no small improvement in terms of performance and will allow some more demanding applications to run faster, such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, for example. Unfortunately, the M2 chip does not come with hardware acceleration for ray tracing, unlike the M3 chip that is said to come with the new iPad Pro (2024) models.
On the software side, you can expect the same minimum 6 years of iPadOS updates and security patches. The 11-inch iPad Air (2024) and 12.9-inch iPad Air will come with the latest version of iPadOS 17. We are currently on iPadOS 17.4.
The 2024 iPad Air tablets will most likely also come with updated hardware for better connectivity. We expect support for Bluetooth 5.3 versus 5.0, which means connections to Bluetooth devices will be more stable (especially over longer distances), and using Bluetooth will consume less battery since 5.3 is more energy efficient.
There’s also a good chance that Apple will update the Wi-Fi module to support Wi-Fe 6E (compared to Wi-Fi 6 on the 2022 iPad Air). This would allow the new iPad Air models to connect to 6GHz Wi-Fi networks, which can be noticeably faster compared to the alternatives.
Camera
From vertical to horizontal
The iPad Air (2022) comes with a single camera on the back, it has 12MP and an aperture of /1.8. It’s nothing impressive, especially when placed next to the iPhone’s recent cameras, but it does the job of taking quick snapshots. So far, we expect the iPad Air (2024) to come with the same camera (including the larger model).
The iPad Air 2022’s 12MP ultra-wide front camera is arguably the most important, given that we’re talking about a tablet. Apple intends to make some changes to this one, as we mentioned above, moving it from the top bezel to one of the side bezels. In addition to making it more comfortable to make video calls while holding the tablet horizontally, this will also help you stay focused on the frame.
Aside from the selfie position, no other improvements have been rumored to either of the iPad Air (2024)’s two cameras. In other words, the main camera should be able to record 4K video at 60 FPS and 1080p at 240 FPS, just like the 2022 iPad Air. The same goes for the front camera, which can record video at 1080p 60 FPS and comes with Detection of face.
Audio and haptic quality
Haptics aren’t as important on iPads, so Apple doesn’t pay much attention to the internal vibration motor or any software features related to haptic feedback. That being said, the speakers inside a tablet are of utmost importance as most users purchase one specifically to enjoy watching movies, TV shows, and videos.
The iPad Air 2022 has pretty good speakers, but unlike the Pro models which have four, it only comes with two. This isn’t likely to change with the iPad Air (2024), but there’s a chance Apple will update the controllers with more powerful ones, hopefully ones that have a little more oomph than the last generation’s.
Battery life and charging
Bigger body = bigger battery
The 11-inch iPad Air (2024) will likely maintain the same 7,606 mAh battery size as the 2022 iPad Air, but the new 12.9-inch iPad Air will have a larger battery capacity. If logic serves, we would venture to guess that the battery will be close to that of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is 10758 mAh.
As for charging, there hasn’t been any news of any updates, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that Apple decides to at least give the 12.9″ iPad Air faster charging to alleviate some of that extra charging time that comes with a larger battery.
Specification Comparison
| iPad Air 12.9 inch | 11-inch iPad Air 6 (2024) | iPad Air 5 (2022) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.6mm, 677g | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm, 462g | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm, 462g |
| Screen | 12.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD 2048 x 2732 pixels 60Hz screen refresh rate |
10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD 1640 x 2360 pixels 60Hz screen refresh rate |
10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD 1640 x 2360 pixels 60Hz screen refresh rate |
| Processor | M2 (5nm) | M2 (5nm) | M1 (5nm) |
| RAM, storage | 8/64GB 8/128GB |
8/64GB 8/128GB |
8/64GB 8/128GB |
| Cameras | 12MP wide camera (main), f/1.8 12MP ultra-wide front camera, f/2.4, 122˚ field of view |
12MP wide camera (main), f/1.8 12MP ultra-wide front camera, f/2.4, 122˚ field of view |
12MP wide camera (main), f/1.8 12MP ultra-wide front camera, f/2.4, 122˚ field of view |
| Battery | 10,758 mAh | 7606mAh | 7606mAh |
| Charging | USB-C More than 30W wired |
USB-C More than 20W wired |
USB-C More than 20W wired |
Summary
In short, the main difference between the 2024 edition of the iPad Air and the previous 2022 generation is the new 12.9-inch iPad Air with its larger screen and battery. There’s also a performance upgrade in the form of Apple’s M2 chip, which will replace the M1 that came with the 2022 iPad Air.
However, what would make the new iPad Air models even more exciting would be some upgrades to the display or speakers, as both are integral parts of a great tablet user experience. Stay tuned for more information as we wait for Apple’s official announcement.
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