iPad Air 2022 vs. iPad Air 2024 Buyer's Guide: 19 Differences Compared
Apple's new iPad Airs arrive almost a year and a half after the previous models, offering almost 20 changes and upgrades.
The 2022 iPad Air was a minor upgrade that added features such as the M1 chip and a 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage. The 2024 refresh is more substantial, headlining with a larger size option for the first time, bringing it in line with devices like the iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, which are available in two sizes.
The 2022 iPad Air models have now been discontinued by Apple, but they may still be found refurbished and with third-party resellers for lower prices. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to buy the 2022 iPad Air or the new 2024 models.
The iPad Airs from 2022 and 2024 share most of their key features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the older model to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to clearly see all the differences that the new iPad Air brings to the table.
| iPad Air (2022) |
iPad Air (2024) |
| 10.9-inch display |
11- or 13-inch display |
| M1 chip (5nm, N5) |
M2 chip (5nm enhanced, N5P) |
| 3.2GHz CPU clock speed |
3.49GHz CPU clock speed |
| 8-core GPU |
9-core GPU |
| 68.25GB/s memory bandwidth |
100GB/s memory bandwidth |
| Neural Engine |
40% faster Neural Engine |
| Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC |
Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW |
| Video decode engine |
Higher-bandwidth video decode engine |
|
ProRes encode and decode engine |
| Image signal processor (ISP) |
"New" image signal processor (ISP) |
| Smart HDR 3 |
Smart HDR 4 |
| 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera |
Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera |
| Wi-Fi 6 connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity |
| Physical SIM card slot |
eSIM only |
|
Apple Pencil hover |
| Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) |
Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro |
| Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad and Smart Keyboard Folio |
Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad |
| 64GB or 256GB storage |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage |
| Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue |
Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue |
The most important part of the new iPad Air is the larger display size option, which provides a way for customers who don't need features like ProMotion and a LiDAR scanner to obtain a bigger screen that's better for productivity and content consumption at a lower price point. Beyond this larger new model, the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover and Apple Pencil Pro support, and landscape front-facing camera are valuable improvements. That being said, it is certainly not essential to upgrade from the previous model to the new iPad Air. Unless you have an entry-level iPad or an iPad Air from before 2020, or explicitly want a 13-inch model, it is likely not worth upgrading.
Popular Stories
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle.
Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines.
According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option.
Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator.
The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far.
Size
Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce.
In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing."
TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch.
The key announcements include:
New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January.
"Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light.
The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users.
UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring
The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...
