Buying an iPad is a really confusing affair in 2024, due to the number of different models out there and the sometimes unclear differences between them. The iPad Air is a prime example. This is a tablet with a powerful M2 processor, but it lacks the pro features of the iPad Pro. This makes it sit in an odd middle ground between the iPad and the iPad Pro, which will probably make some people skip the iPad Air for one of the other models. It’s a shame, because the iPad Air is the best tablet for most people.
While the iPad Air is using the M2 processor, instead of the M4 chip in the latest iPad Pro, it’s still an incredibly powerful laptop processor that makes it one of the best devices for watching TV shows or reading. Plus, the entry-level price of $599 puts it within reach of the regular iPad, which is still rocking the same processor as the iPhone 12. Either way, the iPad Air looks to be the best iPad model and really makes a case for just discontinuing the basic iPad.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Design
True to its name, the iPad Air is an ultra-slim device, measuring just 0.24 inches thick, which is thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Surprisingly, though, it’s actually thicker than the iPad Pro, which is 0.20 inches thick. It’s not a world of difference, but the iPad Air is technically no longer the thinnest iPad, which it just is strange. The extra 0.04 inches isn’t noticeable, though, and it’s still an incredibly slick piece of hardware.
At the top of the iPad Air is the power button, which has a built-in fingerprint reader for TouchID. This means it doesn’t support FaceID like the iPad Pro, but it turns out to be a big win. Every time I use the tablet in portrait mode, playing games like Marvel Snap or reading comics is astronomical and the fingerprint scan is much more convenient than turning the tablet on its side for a minute so it can scan the face mine.
The fingerprint sensor is accompanied by two speaker grilles at the top, which are paired with two more below by the USB-C port. This is a bit misleading, because the iPad Air only has two speakers, one on the top and one on the bottom. The speakers sound incredible, though, and while the iPad Air’s built-in speakers won’t give much competition to competent headphones, they’re still great for watching shows during your down time.
Around the back, you’ll find a camera and it looks absolutely weird by the standards of 2024. 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 of a camera as other mobile devices these days. I wish Apple would either get rid of the rear camera or just commit to a low-end shooter that could be flush with the chassis. It’s not that the camera is good – more on that later – and being able to lay the iPad Air flat on a table without a case would be fantastic. Remember when phones and tablets could be laid flat on a surface? Those were the days.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Display
While the iPad Air doesn’t have the same OLED Tandem 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 pump out 600 nits of brightness. That’s not enough to watch a dark show outside on a sunny day, but it’s still more than bright enough to enjoy your shows indoors. It struggles a bit in dark scenes, like any IPS display, especially in bright lighting.
Indoors, however, the iPad Air’s display is outstanding. I brought the tablet on a recent trip to LA, and when I was watching The Acolyte in my hotel room, I was blown away by the vivid colors and smooth motion this screen can produce. It still doesn’t have the brilliance of an OLED panel, but this is an incredible screen for watching movies on the go, especially if you go with the 13-inch model that Apple sent for review.
iPad Air is also compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro, and the two devices combine to be one of the best ways to take notes on the go. The screen is extremely responsive, even if it doesn’t support Apple’s ProMotion technology, and can actually keep up with me as I type. Although, it’s not exactly accurate in translating my handwriting to text, but that probably depends on my writing more than anything.
iPad Air (13-inch, 2024) – Camera
iPad Air has a camera, and it is a 12 MP rear resolution. It’s not exactly an impressive camera, but the iPad Air isn’t a device that’s really meant to take vivid photos all the time. I use it a lot when I’m taking notes, as the original notes app will let you take a picture and put it right into your current document. It’s a great feature, but whenever 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 strictly come close to taking pictures 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 on the latest iPad Pro that was released around the same time, this tablet struggles, but the iPad Air is still an affordable alternative that will be good enough for most people.
On Geekbench, which measures raw CPU performance, the M2 on the iPad Air scores a respectable 9660 for its multi-core performance. That’s more than enough juice for most people, but compared to the iPad Pro’s 14,636-point M4, you can see where the extra cash goes to Apple’s creative powerhouse. Gaming benchmarks tell the same story, with the iPad Air scoring 2,007 points in the GFXBench Aztec Ruins (High Tier) test, compared to 3,861 points scored by the iPad Pro.
It doesn’t help that the 8GB of RAM that comes with the M2 is a bit weak and can hold the tablet back for creative tasks like video editing. However, the tablet is not designed for creators.
As optimized as iPadOS is, you won’t run into any situations where you’re running out of memory if you’re using it for light web browsing or media consumption.
In the two weeks I’ve spent with the iPad Air, I’ve been concerned about how responsive it is, even after several hours of Zenless Zone Zero gaming. The frames for the new gacha heat are incredibly durable, although I can safely say that the tablet didn’t work for it, with the amount of heat that radiates through the chassis and screen. I would recommend getting a case for the iPad, just because the thinness of the device can make it extremely hot in your hands after a while. Plus, it’s an expensive device and you’ll want to protect it.