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The new iPad Pro may be taking all the limelight of Apple’s 2024 iPad range — but spare some time for the very impressive iPad Air 2024.
The new Air model — the first new release since March 2022 — adds some heft to the range.
It arrives in 11-inch and (for the first time) 13-inch sizes, is powered by the M2 chip, offers a landscape-orientated Ultra Wide 12MP front camera, and has plenty of other enhancements that make it easy to purchase for new or existing Apple users without hurting the bank as much as its older brother.
Unveiled on May 7, 2024, let’s take a look at all the features, specs, and prices of the latest and greatest iPad Air.
Key Takeaways
- The Apple iPad Air 20204 starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model
- It is available for pre-order now and is available in-store on May 15.
- The beating heart of the iPad Air 6 is Apple’s M2 Chip.
- Also known as the iPad Air 6th generation, it is superficially similar to previous generations, but there is plenty going on under the hood.
When Will the iPad Air 6 Come Out?
Release Date: May 15, 2024
After months of whispers, we now know the first time you can hold a 2024 iPad Air is May 15.
The two Apple Air models were announced?on Apple’s website and on the company’s YouTube channel, where you can watch a replay of the announcement.
iPad Air 6 Specs & Features
M2 Chip, Enhanced CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine
The new 13-inch Apple Air is a break from previous generations and the two flavors of Air — amid plenty of color choices — are a leap forward from the 2022 model under the hood.
As Apple calls it, the Air is ‘supercharged’ by the M2 chip, including a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine — opening the door for on-device artificial intelligence tasks.
Both models of the iPad Air have an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, with M2 delivering a huge leap in performance for those upgrading from previous-generation iPad Air models.
Apple rates the iPad Air as nearly 50 percent faster than the previous iPad Air with M1 and calls it a powerhouse for creating content, playing games, video playback, and, of course, meetings and video calls.
Speaking of video calls, for the first time, the camera is located on the horizontal edge of the iPad Air — making much more sense in 2024.
AI Integration
The new iPad Air features a 16-core Neural Engine that is 40 percent faster than the M1, which Apple says will allow on-device machine learning.
How this plays out will need to wait for road tests, but Apple promises intelligent iPadOS features such as “Visual Look Up”, “Subject Lift”, or “Live Text”
Visual Look Up allows you to search the world around you via camera or by using AI to scan images, Subject Lift allows AI to identify and manipulate subjects within an image or video, and Live Text allows you to ‘grab’ text from an image.
While these features have existed in various forms elsewhere, we expect developers and Apple to increase the power of AI within the Air as time passes.
That said, Apple pointed to the ecosystem of apps that include advanced AI features that will benefit from the increased processing power on the Air, such as using Auto Enhance in Photomator or analyzing athletic performance in Onform.
iPad Air Storage
128GB – 2TB
Starting from 128GB, the Air is available in four sizes, including 256GB, 512GB, and then a maximum of 1TB — which should be handy for heavy workloads or long flights!
New Accessories
Along with all-day battery life?and a revamped (but still LCD-based) Liquid Retina display, Apple also launched the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air.
iPad Air Colors
Purple and Blue join Starlight and Space Grey
The new iPad Air is available in new Blue and Purple finishes, along with Starlight and Space Grey — a step up from its Pro cousin which launches with Silver and Space Black.
iPad Air Prices
Starting at $599 (11-inch), $799 (13-inch)
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 for the Wi-Fi model and $749 for the Wi-Fi and Cellular model.
The 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799 for the Wi-Fi model and $949 for the Wi-Fi and Cellular model.
iPad Air 6 vs. iPad Pro 2024: Which One Should You Go For?
The need for an iPad Air upgrade is becoming increasingly apparent as two years have passed since its last refresh, leaving its current specifications somewhat dated.
This gap has led to confusion among consumers, who often find it challenging to distinguish between the iPad Air and the Pro models, frequently opting for the more economical Air version.
However, this choice has limitations, notably the current base model’s mere 64GB of storage and underwhelming battery life.
These constraints significantly limit the device’s utility for downloading entertainment for travel, engaging in gaming, or managing substantial work files and editing tasks.
The existence of such a constrained model raises questions about its place in the lineup, underlining the pressing need for an update that addresses these shortcomings and redefines iPad Air’s value proposition in a highly competitive market.
Should I Upgrade to the iPad Air 6?
Choosing to upgrade to the iPad Air 6 depends on your current iPad version and unique requirements.
If you’re holding onto an older tablet that is starting to slow down, the iPad Air 6, with its larger display option, increased storage options, and faster M2 chip, seems like an obvious next step.
But the big question is whether these enhancements are compelling enough reasons for you to upgrade. For some, these improvements will significantly impact their daily usage, making the iPad Air 6 an attractive upgrade.
The Bottom Line
The iPad Air 6 makes a compelling case for an upgrade, even for those on the most recent 2022 iPad Air.
The extra screen space of the 13-inch is welcome, particularly if your budget will not stretch to the Pro model. The potential unlocking of AI features is likely to really start to get noticed from this device onwards.
While the device is away from being in everyone’s hands, we think this is a worthy re-invention of the ever-popular Air range.
