Apple has updated the iPad Air for 2024 at an event which Apple CEO Tim Cook described as the “Biggest day for iPad”. The new iPad Pro comes in two sizes: 11 inch and 13 inch, features the M2 chip, and much more.
iPad Air M2 release date
Apple unveiled two new iPad Air models at an event on May 7, 2024. Pre-orders started immediately following the event and the new products will ship on Wednesday May 15.
iPad Air M2 latest software
The iPad Air ships with iPadOS 17.5, but there’s a newer build of iPadOS 17.5 available to download as soon as you take it out of the box. The build number is 21F84.
The release notes are identical to iOS 17.5, with the following addition specific to the 2024 iPads:
Document scanning is improved on the new iPad Air and iPad Pro.
The new 2024 iPad Air and Pro both feature a new “adaptive True Tone flash” feature. The camera function uses AI to identify if it’s primarily a document in view, and then takes multiple images with the adaptive flash, stitching them together in a way that removes the shadow and creates a clear scan.
iPad Air M2 Prices
The new 11-inch iPad Air for 2024 starts at $599/£599. The new 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799/£799.
The new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air will be available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations.
For education, the new 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 and the 13-inch model starts at $749. U.K. education prices to be confirmed.
iPad Air M2 Design
Apple
This is the first time Apple has added an additional size to the iPad Air lineup. The iPad Air will now be available in 11-inch and 13-inch configurations.
Apple described the new 13-inch model as offering 30 percent more screen real estate than the 11-inch model.
Both models will feature the same screen technology. A Liquid Retina display with anti-reflective screen coating; True Tone technology; high brightness; and support for P3 wide color. Only the 2024 M4 iPad Pro gets the new Ultra Retina XDR display.
The new iPad Air comes in new colors: Blue and Purple, along with Starlight and Space Gray of the previous generation.
iPad Air M2 Specs
Apple
The new iPad Air models feature the M2 chip, with its faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine compared to the M1 in the previous generation. Apple says that the new chip means the iPad Air is “nearly 50 percent faster than the previous iPad Air with M1 for a wide range of productivity and creative tasks.” The M2 also improves on the AI capabilities, with a 16-core Neural Engine that is 40 percent faster than the M1, according to Apple.
When Apple announced the iPad Air, it stated that the M2 chip had a 10-core GPU in its press release. On June 3, it was discovered that Apple corrected the iPad Air’s specifications on the product page with a 9-core GPU.
Elsewhere, the iPad Air now has WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Apple Pencil Pro support. Like all iPad Airs, it’s rated for 10 hours of battery life.
iPad Air M2 Hardware
Apple
Like the 2024 iPad Pro (and the 2022 iPad) the front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera with Center Stage is now located along the landscape edge. This is a better position for FaceTime and other video calling apps.
You’ll also get twice the storage as the previous model (128GB vs 64GB) and more storage options (512GB, 1TB). The speakers have also improved, according to Apple, with the 13-inch model delivering “even better sound quality with double the bass.” Otherwise, the M2 model is the same as the M2, with sub-6 GHz 5G, USB-C, Touch ID in the top button, and two microphones.
Author: Karen Haslam, Managing Editor, Macworld
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.