Buying an iPad is a really confusing proposition in 2024, due to the number of different models out there and the sometimes vague differences between them. The iPad Air is a prime example. It’s a tablet with a powerful M2 processor, but it lacks the pro features of the iPad Pro. This puts it in a strange middle ground between the iPad and the iPad Pro, which will likely lead some people to pass on the iPad Air in favor of one of the other models. This is a shame, because the iPad Air is the better tablet for most people.
While the iPad Air uses the M2 processor, rather than the M4 chip in the latest iPad Pro, it’s still an extremely powerful portable processor that makes it one of the best devices for watching TV shows or reading. Plus, the $599 entry price puts it within reach of the regular iPad, which still has the same processor as the iPhone 12. Either way, the iPad Air turns out to be the better iPad model and really justifies discontinuing the base iPad.
Apple iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) review
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Design
True to its name, the iPad Air is an incredibly thin device, coming in at just 0.24 inches thick — thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Interestingly, though, it’s actually thicker than the iPad Pro, which measures 0.20 inches thick. It’s not a huge difference, but technically the iPad Air is no longer the thinnest iPad, which is just weird. The extra 0.04 inches isn’t noticeable, though, and this is still an extremely sleek device.
At the top of the iPad Air is the power button, which has a fingerprint reader built into it for TouchID. That means it doesn’t support FaceID like the iPad Pro does, but that turns out to be a huge plus. The number of times I use the tablet in portrait mode, playing games like Marvel Snap or reading comics is astronomical, and scanning my fingerprint is way more convenient than turning the tablet on its side for a minute so it can scan my face.
The fingerprint sensor is accompanied by two speaker grilles at the top, which are paired with two more at the bottom, next to the USB-C port. This is a little misleading, because the iPad Air only has two speakers, one at the top and one at the bottom. The speakers sound incredible, though, and while the iPad Air’s built-in speakers aren’t going to compete much with competent headphones, they’re still great for watching shows in your downtime.
On the back, you’ll find a camera, and it looks absolutely quaint by 2024 standards. It’s a single lens with a flash sensor. And while it still sticks out from the back of the device, it’s not as big a camera bump as you get on other mobile devices these days. I wish Apple would get rid of the rear camera or just commit to a lower-end shooter that can sit flush with the chassis. It’s not like the camera is any good (more on that later), and being able to lay the iPad Air flat on a table without a case would be great. Remember when phones and tablets could just lay flat on a surface? Those were the days.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Display
While the iPad Air doesn’t have the same Tandem OLED display as the iPad Pro that came out at the same time, the 2048p IPS display is extremely good. It features the same P3 color gamut support as its more expensive sibling, and can still output 600 nits of brightness. That’s not quite enough to watch a dark show outdoors on a sunny day, but it’s still more than bright enough to enjoy your shows indoors. It does struggle some in dark scenes, like any IPS display, especially in bright lighting.
Indoors, though, the iPad Air’s display is incredible. I took the tablet on a recent trip to Los Angeles, and when I was watching The Acolyte in my hotel room, I was stunned by the vivid colors and smooth motion this screen can achieve. It still doesn’t have the brightness of an OLED panel, but it’s an incredible display for watching movies on the go, especially if you opt for the 13-inch model Apple sent over for review.
The iPad Air also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, and the two devices combine to be one of the best ways to take notes on the go. The display is very responsive, though it doesn’t support Apple’s ProMotion technology, and it can keep up with me as I write. It’s not exactly accurate at translating my writing to text, though, but that’s probably more due to my handwriting than anything else.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Camera
The iPad Air has a 12MP rear camera. It’s not an impressive camera, but the iPad Air isn’t a device that’s meant to take vivid photos all the time. I use it a lot when taking notes, as the native Notes app lets you snap a photo and instantly place it into the current document. It’s an awesome feature, but every time I tried to capture something in a low-light environment, all I got was a pixelated mess.
It’s nice that the iPad Air has a camera, but don’t expect it to come anywhere close to the one on your phone.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024): Specs and performance
While the M2 chip that powers the iPad Air is old technology at this point, it’s still pretty powerful for a tablet. However, compared to the M4 in the last iPad Pro that launched at the same time, this tablet struggles a bit, but the iPad Air is still an affordable alternative that will be more than enough for most people.
In Geekbench, which measures raw CPU performance, the iPad Air’s M2 scores a respectable 9,660 for multi-core performance. That’s more than enough for most people, but compared to the iPad Pro’s M4, at 14,636, you can see where the extra money goes for Apple’s creative powerhouse. Gaming benchmarks tell the same story, with the iPad Air scoring 2,007 points in GFXBench’s Aztec Ruins (High Tier) test, compared to the iPad Pro’s 3,861 points.
It doesn’t help that the 8GB of RAM that accompanies the M2 is a little lackluster and could really hold back the tablet’s ability for creative tasks like video editing. However, the tablet isn’t really designed for creative people.
With iPadOS being so optimized, you won’t run into any situations where you’re limited on memory if you’re using your device for web browsing or light media consumption.
In the two weeks I’ve spent with the iPad Air, I’ve been surprised by how quickly it responds, even after hours of playing Zenless Zone Zero. Frame rates for the hot new gacha game are incredibly stable, though I can definitely tell the tablet has its work cut out for it, with the amount of heat radiating through the chassis and display. I would recommend purchasing a case for the iPad, simply because the thinness of the device can make it incredibly warm in your hands after a while. Plus, it’s an expensive device, and you’ll want to protect it.
Shopping Guide
The iPad Air is available now, starting at $599 for the 11-inch model or $799 for the 13-inch model. Like every other iPad, though, you can configure it with more storage; the 13-inch model starts at $1,449 for the 1TB cellular model.
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