Apple Says iPad Air Performance Details Are Accurate Despite 9-Core GPU Mistake

Though Apple mistakenly listed the M2 chip in the iPad Air as having a 10-core GPU instead of a 9-core GPU, the performance claims that it shared during the ‌iPad Air‌ launch and in marketing materials are accurate.

m2 iPad Air Horizontal Feature Orange
In a statement provided to 9to5Mac, Apple said that the details it shared on the ‌iPad Air‌'s performance were always based on a 9-core GPU.

We are updating Apple.com to correct the core count for the M2 iPad Air. All performance claims for the M2 iPad Air are accurate and based on a 9-core GPU.

Apple's website says that the ‌M2‌ chip is "nearly 50 percent faster than the previous generation," and that it specifically has "25 percent faster graphics."

Apple recently updated its technical specifications website for the ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Air‌ to state that the device has a 9-core GPU. Prior to the update, it listed a 10-core GPU. The prior-generation iPad Pro had a 10-core GPU, so it is a surprise that the ‌iPad Air‌ version is limited to a 9-core GPU.

Other ‌M2‌ chip specifications have not changed. The ‌iPad Air‌ has an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, along with 8GB RAM and a 16-core Neural Engine.

Because it took Apple several days to correct the chip error on its website, some users may have purchased the ‌iPad Air‌ believing it had a 10-core GPU. The two week return period has expired for those who bought on launch day, but customers would have a good argument for a return exception.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

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Top Rated Comments

JPack Avatar
12 months ago
Of course it's the "same" performance when Apple delivers fewer GPU cores.

But when Apple charges $50 for an extra core, they'll tell you it's much faster. ?
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aknabi Avatar
12 months ago
I couldn’t core less
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
12 months ago
Nothing to see here
Buy with confidence


-Tim
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
12 months ago

They really use the iPads to get rid of chips that are unwanted. That’s why they are so overpowered. They get chips that were designed for something else, but since it works and allows Apple to get basically free SoC instead of tossing them in a landfill, why not.
Sounds great!
Let's toss some into an updated Apple TV!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
12 months ago
That's why the ad that crushed everything was for the Pro. The Air didn't have enough processing power for that.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kay_Ess Avatar
12 months ago
Sorry but why would this matter so much if the performance claims are still the same? No one buys an iPad because they want to make direct use of GPU cores. If you do buy an iPad because of performance reasons, you do it based on benchmarks or performance claims or whatever and that hasn’t changed, right?

Is it extremely dumb and does it show bad hierarchy in the company? Sure. But a reason to return your iPad or to file a claim? Not to my non-US brain at least, no offense.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)