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Apple refreshes the iPad Air with new display size, powerful M2 chip, 5G, and more
The iPad Air series is one of Apple’s most popular tablets, offering some of the best specs outside of the iPad Pro. Apple has just launched the iPad Air 6, now available in two display sizes and with the more powerful M2 chip, bringing more of the iPad Pro functionality to the Air crowd.
Apple iPad Air 6 with M2: Release date, price, and availability
The iPad Air 6, which Apple refers to as the iPad Air (M2), comes in two display sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch. Further, both the display sizes of the iPad Air (M2) are available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plus Cellular (5G) models, giving us an expansive lineup of iPad Airs.
Pricing for 11-inch iPad Air (M2)
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Wi-Fi): $599
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (256GB, Wi-Fi): $699
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (512GB, Wi-Fi): $899
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (1TB, Wi-Fi): $1,099
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Cellular 5G): $749
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (256GB, Cellular 5G): $849
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (512GB, Cellular 5G): $1,049
- 11-inch iPad Air M2 (1TB, Cellular 5G): $1,249
Pricing for 13-inch iPad Air (M2)
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Wi-Fi): $799
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (256GB, Wi-Fi): $899
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (512GB, Wi-Fi): $1,099
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (1TB, Wi-Fi): $1,299
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Cellular 5G): $949
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (256GB, Cellular 5G): $1,049
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (512GB, Cellular 5G): $1,249
- 13-inch iPad Air M2 (1TB, Cellular 5G): $1,449
As you can see from the above, the iPad Air M2 starts at $599 and can go all the way up to $1,449 for the biggest model with the most storage and 5G.
The iPad Air M2 launched on May 7, 2024. It is available to pre-order immediately, and shipping will begin on May 15, 2024.
Apple iPad Air 6 with M2: Changes, new features and specifications
The iPad Air (M2) has the same design as the outgoing iPad Air 5, which was launched in March 2022. What is new here is that Apple has introduced an all-new 13-inch variant and has shifted the front camera from the portrait edge to the landscape edge.
iPad Air M2: Colors
The new iPad Air M2 is available in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray colors. All four colors are available across both display sizes, all storage variants and in both Wi-Fi and Cellular models.
Display
Apple has not mentioned any specific changes to the display on the iPad Air (M2), apart from launching an all-new 13-inch variant. Both models feature the Liquid Retina design, an anti-reflective screen coating, True Tone tech for accuracy, high brightness, and support for the P3 color gamut for wider displayed colors.
The larger display variant is perfect for users who want more screen real estate, especially if you work often in apps like Freeform or really enjoy Split View on iPadOS.
Cameras and speaker
Another big change to the iPad Air (M2) is that the 12MP front-facing camera is now located on the tablet’s landscape edge. The camera also features Center Stage, Apple’s tech that keeps everyone automatically centered in the camera’s field of view.
On the back, the iPad Air (M2) features a 12MP shooter that can shoot 4K video and 240fps slo-mo (likely at a lower resolution). The iPad Air also features dual microphones for minimizing distracting background noise when recording.
Further, the iPad Air now features landscape stereo speakers with Spatial Audio. The bigger 13-inch iPad Air (M2) features even better speakers than the 11-inch model, with double the bass.
Performance upgrades with the M2
Another notable upgrade on the iPad Air (M2) is the jump from the outgoing Apple M1 SoC to the M2 chip. Apple claims that the M2 chip offers a 15% faster CPU, a 25% faster GPU, and a 40% faster neural engine than the M1. These are good upgrades on paper, and if you managed to push the previous-gen iPad Air to its generous limits, you’ll appreciate the even more headroom on this tablet. The faster neural engine will be appreciated by users who have come to rely on AI tasks as you now get significantly better AI performance on the iPad Air (M2).
Connectivity upgrades: Wi-Fi 6E and 5G
The iPad Air (M2) now features Wi-Fi 6E, so you can take advantage of faster Wi-Fi speeds on compatible local networks.
Apple is also upgrading the Cellular variant of the iPad Air to 5G. Further, the physical SIM slot has been removed, meaning that consumers have to use an eSIM on the iPad Air (M2) to connect to a cellular network.
iPad Air (M2): Accessories
The iPad Air (M2) supports the new Apple Pencil Pro in addition to the regular Apple Pencil (USB-C). It also has the hover functionality that was previously restricted to Pro iPads.
The iPad Air (M2) also works with the Magic Keyboard. There is also a new Smart Folio case for the iPad Air that attaches magnetically and now supports multiple viewing angles. The Smart Folio case is available in Charcoal Gray, Light Violet, Denim, and Sage colors to complement the colors of the iPad Air. It costs $79 for the 11-inch iPad Air and $99 for the 13-inch iPad Air.
How do you like the new iPad Air? Let us know in the comments below!