In this comparison we pit the 2024 iPad Air against the 2022 iPad Air to find out what all the differences are.
The iPad Air is one of the most interesting tablets on the market due to its good design, the power of its processors and iPadOS, the best operating system for tablets that exists. With the arrival of the new iPad Air from 2024 with the M2 chip, everything changes again and Apple’s tablet is updated to continue being a best-seller.
The previous iPad Air was already a very interesting option and that is why we have started to compare it with the new model. In this comparative we are going to analyze all the differences between the iPad Air 2024 with M2 and the iPad Air 2022 with M1 chip. That there are more than they seem.
What are the main differences between the iPad Air 2024 and the iPad Air 2022
Although it may seem like a minor update, since there are not many design changes at first glance, The 2024 iPad Air introduces up to 9 important differences Compared to the previous generation of the year 2022:
- New M2 chip. According to Apple, the iPad Air M2 is almost 50% faster than the iPad Air with the M1 chip.
- New screen sizes: 11 and 13 inches. The 2024 iPad Air arrives in a new larger size.
- Changing the position of the front camera. It is now positioned to join the iPad in landscape.
- Greater internal storage. The new model starts at 128 GB and with 1 TB options.
- More Wi-Fi network speed. The iPad Air 2024 incorporates Wi-Fi6E
- Smart HDR 4 for photos. A small improvement when taking photos.
- Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro. iPad Air 2024 supports Apple Pencil Pro, not Apple Pencil 2.
- different colors. A touch up in the colors, the pink color disappears.
- Lowest starting price. The iPad Air M1 cost 769 euros and the iPad Air M2 starts at 699 euros.
Technical specifications table: iPad Air 2024 vs iPad Air 2022
iPad Air 2024 | iPad Air 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | eleven”: 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61cm 13″: 28.06 x 21.49 x 0.61cm |
24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61cm |
Weight | 462g | 461g |
Colors | Space Grey, Star White, Purple and Blue | Space Grey, Star White, Pink, Purple and Blue |
Screen | 11″ or 13″ Liquid Retina | 10.9″ Liquid Retina |
Screen technologies | True Tone, Wide color gamut (P3), Full lamination, Anti-reflective film | True Tone, Wide color gamut (P3), Full lamination, Anti-reflective film |
maximum brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
Resolution | eleven”: 2,360 by 1,640 pixels at 264 p/p 13″: 2,732 by 2,048 pixels at 264 p/p |
2,360 by 1,640 pixels at 264 p/p |
Processor | M2 | M1 |
RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
OS | iPadOS 17 | iPadOS 17 |
Storage | 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB | 64 and 256 GB |
Rear camera | 12MP | 12MP |
Front camera | Ultra wide angle 12 Mpx horizontally | 12 Mpx ultra wide angle |
Audio | Horizontal stereo speakers | Horizontal stereo speakers |
Battery | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
Main sensors | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 2 |
Smart Connector | Yeah | Yeah |
Others | USB-C, Wi-Fi 6E, 5G, Magic Keyboard compatible, Apple Pencil floating pointer, 100GB/s memory bandwidth, eSIM | USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, 5G, compatible with Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, eSIM and Nano SIM |
Official price | From 699 euros | From 769 euros |
iPad Air 2024 with larger screen
This is without a doubt one of the most relevant changes of the new generation of iPad Air 2024. Apple has decided to introduce a large model that reaches 13 inchesa diagonal that until now has only been present in the most expensive iPad Pro model.
With this decision, as happens in the MacBook Air range, Apple offers a large iPad at a more moderate price. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a very expensive device and now we saurians have an option to get a large iPad at a lower price, since this model costs less than 949 euros.
M2 chip vs M1 chip
Another important difference since according to Apple the arrival of the M2 chip, along with the improvement in memory bandwidth, makes the iPad Air 2024 is up to 50% faster and more powerful than iPad Air 2022 which used the M1 chip.
It is an important difference, but it must be taken into account that You will only achieve these performance improvements in very specific cases, such as editing a video or loading a heavy game. The overall performance of the device will remain similar.
Change in front camera and storage
These two changes may seem small but they are a much-needed evolution. Apple has realized that The iPad is a device that is used more horizontally like a computer than vertically like an iPhone and has changed the position of the front camera so that it is now positioned in the upper frame when using the iPad in landscape mode. If you make video calls often with the iPad, it’s a change you’ll appreciate.
In addition, the iPad Air improves significantly in terms of internal storage options. Not only has doubled the capacity of the initial iPad Air, going from 64 to 128 GBApple now also offers versions with 512 GB and 1 TB capacity, so we have a much more complete range.
Is it better to buy the iPad Air 2024 or the iPad Air 2022?
If you are considering purchasing an iPad Air, there are two options on the table: the new e 2024 model with the M2 chip and the previous model with the M1 chip. And choosing one or the other is not going to be an easy decision.
Personally I think that if you are going to opt for the small model, 11 or 10.9 inches, It is probably more advisable to opt for the iPad Air with M1 chip. On a day-to-day basis you will hardly notice differences in performance and it is an iPad that you will be able to find cheaper than the new 2024 model. Unless one of the new features that we have analyzed previously is very important to you.
However, if you like big screens and are going to use the iPad Air to work, either with a keyboard or with the Apple Pencil, The most interesting thing would be to opt for the 2024 13-inch iPad Air. You get all the improvements of this model in a very large size.
Is the iPad Air 2024 recommended if I already have the iPad Air 2022?
If you have an iPad Air with the M1 chip, There doesn’t seem to be much reason to upgrade to the new version.. You have an iPad with a great design and plenty of power. The only clear reason to upgrade to the new version is if you want or need a larger screen. If you opt for the 13-inch iPad Air, the update would be recommended.