With the 2024 upgrade to the iPad Air and the discontinuation of the iPad (9th generation), the iPad vs. iPad Air battle is now between Apple’s entry-level iPad 2022 and the iPad Air M2. Which one should you buy in 2024?
Good to know: before you upgrade your iPad this year, you may want to decide whether it’s worth getting an iPad with cellular service.
Content
- Overview: iPad 2022 vs. iPad Air M2
- Design and Display
- Performance
- Accessories
- Connectivity
- Price
- Verdict: iPad (10th generation) vs. iPad Air M2
Overview: iPad 2022 vs. iPad Air M2
Apple upgraded the iPad Air for the first time since 2022, completely skipping 2023. As it stands, the iPad 2022 (10th generation) and the 11-inch iPad Air M2 are the cheapest models on either side of the comparison. There’s also a new 13-inch iPad Air model with a higher resolution and bigger battery. Before we compare these two models on various parameters, let’s glance at what’s under the hood.
| Tech Specs | iPad 2022 (10th generation) | 11-inch iPad Air M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 10.9-inch (2,360 x 1,640) Liquid Retina IPS | 11-inch (2,360 x 1,640) Liquid Retina LED |
| Processor | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple M2 |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB LPDDDR5 |
| Rear Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Front-Facing Camera | 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage (landscape) | 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage (landscape) |
| Battery and Charging | 28.6 Wh, 20W charger included | 28.93 Wh, 20W charger included |
| Apple Pencil Support | First-generation & USB-C | Pro & USB-C |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Authentication | Touch ID (on power button) | Touch ID (on power button) and Face ID |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Weight | 1.05 lbs | 1.02 lbs |
| Price | Starting at $349 | Starting at $599 |
Source: Apple
The 2022 iPad refresh brought the entry-level iPad closer than ever to the modern iPad design, with smaller bezels and plenty of color options. It also gave it a significant bump in the processor, display, and audio departments. However, the Apple Pencil support is still limited to the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil (USB-C). The asking price starts at $349, a $120 increase from the discontinued 9th generation iPad that retailed for $229.
Image source:
Unsplash
The iPad Air M2, on the other hand, is a more incremental upgrade to the previous iPad Air. Apart from the jump from the Apple M1 to the newer Apple M2 chip, support for the latest Apple Pencil Pro, and additional storage in the base model at the same price, there’s very little to differentiate the latest iPad Air from the previous one. It has a nearly identical design, display, memory, and ports to the previous-gen iPad Air.
Image source:
Flickr
With the specs out of the way, let’s dissect which of these two new entrants in the iPad lineup is the better choice for you in 2024.
Design and Display
At first glance, it’s relatively difficult to tell the iPad (10th generation) and iPad Air M2 apart, as they share the same 11-inch design and flat edges of Apple’s premium iPads. You can, however, notice that the iPad’s bezels are marginally bigger, and it weighs slightly more, too. These aren’t significant differences by any means.
The display quality is also identical on both iPads. The 2,360 x 1,640 resolution Liquid Retina display on each is bright and sharp, with the only difference being the anti-reflective coating on the iPad Air’s screen.
Image source:
Unsplash
The two iPads are identical even in the camera department. Both models feature a 12MP front camera on the side, which is a welcome improvement on the iPad Air. (The 2022 iPad Air had it on the shorter edge.)
The charging port on both is USB-C, with both models sporting similar charging speeds. More similarities are seen in both models: stereo speakers, identical rear cameras, and Touch ID authentication. Face ID is missing from the entry-level iPad.
Winner: Draw
Good to know: if you’re purchasing a new iPad for an aging parent or grandparent, set it up for senior use before gifting it.
Performance
This is where Apple has decided to keep the two models geared toward different users. While the 2022 iPad is powered by the A14 Bionic chip and 4GB RAM, the 2024 iPad Air M2 gets the Apple M2 silicon (the same processor used in several MacBooks and iMacs) with 8GB RAM.
Although the A14 Bionic is more than capable of handling tasks like streaming video content, Web browsing, taking notes, and drawing art, it doesn’t perform as well as the more powerful M2 chip (30% faster than M1) on the iPad Air. More demanding workloads, like photo and video editing, high-performance gaming, and full-fledged office tasks, are better suited to the iPad Air.
Image source:
Apple
This is not to say that the 2022 iPad will feel slow or old when running demanding games or using it as a laptop. But the iPad Air will eliminate the few times that the entry-level iPad may start to show its limitations.
As for the battery life, both models feature the same battery capacity and charging speeds. You won’t see a big difference in battery life in similar scenarios.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Accessories
If using the Apple Pencil to create art is essential to you, the iPad Air M2 may be the better choice. The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is supported by both models, but the iPad Air M2 also supports the latest Apple Pencil Pro. This creates several quality-of-life issues. While the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is affordable and does the job when it comes to note-taking, precise navigation, and digital art, the Apple Pencil Pro is on another level.
Image source:
Unsplash
The new Apple Pencil Pro has pressure sensitivity and onboard touch, squeeze, and gyro controls. It also docks and charges magnetically, unlike the Apple Pencil (USB-C). With Apple’s most advanced stylus yet, you can better control the app you’re in, easily switch between apps, and sketch far more advanced creations. It can also be located via Find My.
The Apple Pencil (USB-C) doesn’t support magnetic charging, pressure sensitivity, the double-tap shortcut, or engraving support.
The removal of support for the 2nd generation Apple Pencil from the latest iPad Air will surely be missed, as it was a great alternative to the costlier Apple Pencil Pro, while offering much of the same functionality.
Moving on to the keyboard support, the 2022 iPad and 2022 iPad Air are, again, quite similar. The Magic Keyboard Folio on the 2022 iPad has a keyboard and trackpad, making it just as functional as the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air, one of the best iPad keyboards available.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Tip: control your iPad and Mac with a single keyboard and mouse using Universal Control.
Connectivity
This feature applies only to cellular models, but it still deserves a mention, especially for users who prefer uninterrupted Internet connectivity. Both the 2022 iPad and the 2024 iPad Air M2 get 5G support in their cellular models, in addition to 4G LTE. You’ll have to spend more for these models, but it can be worth it if you value the features enough.
Image source:
Unsplash
Apple has added Wi-Fi 6E support on the new iPad Air, whereas the iPad (10th generation) supports the Wi-Fi 6 standard that’s considerably better than Wi-Fi 5. In terms of Bluetooth support, the iPad Air M2 barely edges out the 2022 iPad by providing Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.2 in the latter.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Tip: if you don’t want to shell out big bucks for Apple-branded headphones, check out these outstanding AirPods alternatives.
Price
It all comes down to the price. The iPad Air represents the best of both worlds at Apple, where you can get most of the iPad Pro model’s features, without spending a grand. The 2022 iPad, though, is a thin-bezel, modern-looking tablet with a great display and enough performance for most tasks.
Image source:
Apple
You need to decide whether the $250 premium for the latest iPad Air M2 over the 2022 iPad is worth it for your usage scenario. If you feel the differences are significant enough, then spending more on the Air can be a worthwhile decision.
Winner: iPad (10th generation)
Verdict: iPad (10th generation) vs. iPad Air M2
With the new iPad Air M2, you’re getting a faster chip, additional RAM, and a much better Apple Pencil experience. You can also be more confident about replacing your laptop with an iPad (to an extent), due to its superior specs. Additionally, this model is ready for the AI features that are coming with iPadOS 18.
In contrast, if all you want from your iPad is a smooth and reliable experience for regular daily use cases, the 2022 10th-Gen iPad is a great option and will save you around $250 (or more during a promotion). Whether it’s basic editing, creating digital art, or even playing games, the entry-level iPad won’t disappoint.
For many users, the disappointing Apple Pencil experience on the 2022 iPad alone would be enough to make the jump to the Air. Users can even buy the previous-gen iPad Air over the latest iPad, if they can find it. It features the powerful Apple M1 chip and support for the more affordable 2nd generation Apple Pencil.
Winner: iPad Air M2
Image credit: Apple
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Tanveer Singh
After a 7-year corporate stint, Tanveer found his love for writing and tech too much to resist. An MBA in Marketing and the owner of a PC building business, he writes on PC hardware, technology, video games, and Windows. When not scouring the web for ideas, he can be found building PCs, watching anime, or playing Smash Karts on his RTX 3080 (sigh).
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