iPad Air gets a faster processor and a supersized 13-inch option
Malcolm OwenThe 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air
Apple's iPad Air has been given a long-awaited update, with a new size option offered alongside the usual spec bump upgrade.
The sixth generation of iPad Air is now a reality, arriving approximately two years after Apple's last update to the product line. The new generation also goes beyond a typical product update, with Apple bringing out new sizes of iPad Air for consumers to try.
Taking a leaf from the iPad Pro range, the iPad Air is now offered in two distinct sizes. The previous 10.9-inch iPad Air's screen has been upgraded to a full 11 inches, meanwhile a second model offers a much larger 13-inch workspace.
For resolutions, the 11-inch is 2,360 by 1,640, while the 13-inch is 2,732 by 2,048 pixels. While gaining the iPad Pro sizing, the iPad Air remains on its current Liquid Retina display technology, complete with LED backlighting.
There is Wide Color (P3) support and True Tone. While the 11-inch manages 500 nits of brightness, the 13-inch can go up to 600 nits.
The FaceTime camera has been shifted over to a landscape orientation, complete with a 12-megapixel sensor and ultra-wide viewing angle. There are landscape stereo speakers too, with double the bass than the previous model in the 13-inch version.
On the back is a 12-megapixel wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 5x digital zoom, and Autofocus with Focus Pixels. It's capable of 4K 60fps recording, a 240fps 1080p Slo-mo video, and cinematic video stabilization.
For 2024, Apple is continuing its use of the M-series chips in the iPad Air, shifting from the M1 to the M2. In terms of performance, it's approximately 15% faster for CPU performance, with its 10-core GPU also providing a performance boost of 25%, with the 16-core Neural Engine being 40% faster.
The construction of the iPad Air continues to borrow elements from the iPad Pro lineup, with flat edges and an industrial appearance overall. Touch ID continues to be used, located on a side button out of view.
The 11-inch model has a 28.93-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, with the 13-inch using a 36.59-watt-hour version. Both can last up to 10 hours for web surfing and watching video on Wi-Fi, though cellular models go for up to 9 hours of web surfing on cellular.
Shipping next week and available now, the new iPad Air with Wi-Fi start from $599 for the 128GB capacity 11-inch model, $799 for the 13-inch. Cellular versions start from $749 for the 11-inch iPad Air, $949 for the 13-inch iPad Air.
There are also 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacity options, and a choice of four colors available: Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray.
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
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7 Comments
More and more "trickle down" tech. Choices are great, and today's update is very welcome. The lineup is much more clear, and the pricing attractive at each level - and that will get better over the coming months as the sales hit.
Really interested in what WWDC will say about padOS now. While all the glamour is all at the top end, I really do hope they continue to work on making iPad easy to use for basic needs. Please add a "gramma mode" to turn off all the complex gestures. Or hey, if all that is built-in already (and hidden in various places) someone can offer a script for us family members that are the designated IT bitches when the call comes, "this damn thing is broken! I can't print any of my email anymore!"
The Air price needs to start $/£100 lower.
Or they should have increased base storage to 256.
Same old complaint.
With the improved base storage, M2 and landscape camera (finally), the new iPad Air is a great value.