technical sheet, price and opinion on the sixth generation (11″ and 13″, 2024)

Design: always successful

The iPad Air 2024 looks exactly like the two models from previous years, with a clean body and new colors On the menu. As a choice, customers can opt for space gray iPad Air, starlight iPad Air, blue iPad Air and purple iPad Air.

The dimensions are as follows, according to the official specification for the 11-inch iPad Air (sixth generation):

• Length 24.76 centimeters
• Width 17.85 cm
• Thickness 6.1 millimeters
• 462 g (Wi-Fi version and Wi-Fi + Cellular version)

And here are the dimensions of the 13-inch iPad Air:

• Length 28.06 centimeters
• Width 21.49 centimeters
• Thickness 6.1 millimeters
• 617 g (Wi-Fi version) or 618 g (Wi-Fi + Cellular version)

Operating system (iPadOS)

iPad Airs 2024 runs the iPadOS 17 operating system, which is very complete and allows for many uses, from multitasking to gaming to direct email reading. The Mac experience is obviously more professional and iPad Pro M4 they are equipped with significant additional options, but in relatively different niches.

Apple doesn’t specify how long its iPad Air 2024 will be compatible with future iPadOS updates, but as a general rule it takes almost six years.

Our opinion on the screens

iPad Air M2 is available in two sizes. The first therefore offers an eleven-inch panel very similar to that of fifth generation iPad Air, published about two years earlier. The second is more imposing, with no less than thirteen inches on the clock. This is the first time that the iPad Air is so large that it matches the size of the iPad Pro.

Both screens are of very good quality, according to most of the tests we have been able to consult or transfer so far. Some, however, regret that there is no ProMotion refresh rate of one hundred and twenty frames per second on the front.

M2 chip: a significant improvement for the iPad Air

Apple’s iPad Airs are powered by a processor M2. Those familiar with Apple will recognize this as an outdated processor, as it was released before the M3, although it was available when those new tablets arrived. Apple probably wanted to further differentiate the iPad Air from the iPad Pro here. We will appreciate it for visual comfort.

Despite everything, the M2 remains very efficient and offers top results. At full power, for basic tasks, no slowdown is expected.

iPad Air M2 camera

The front camera of the 2024 iPad Air is installed at the widest edge device, i.e. a more ergonomic look for remote work. This sensor offers users twelve megapixel wide-angle definition with an f/2.4 aperture to capture maximum light. Stabilization is also included, for calls that take place in difficult conditions. Which is not necessarily uncommon with a portable format such as a touchscreen tablet.

On the back, the iPad Air M2s is also entitled to twelve megapixels, but not in the ultra-wide angle. The manufacturer offers an extended dynamic range for video up to thirty frames per second, which is not negligible. The 3x zoom can also be activated while recording, which could come in handy when capturing family memories or during a real estate agent’s tour of an apartment.

Connectivity and charging

Apple decided to switch toUSB-C It’s been a few years for tablets, and the iPad Air M2 is no exception to the rule. However, there is no wireless charging here. But the manufacturer guarantees only up to ten hours of battery life, which drastically reduces the mobile capabilities of the device. Durability is the same whether with the small or large model, according to Cupertino. But the battery is apparently not removable, as always with this brand, which does not make it easy to change in case of problems.

Wireless audio and networks

Like the camera, The speakers for the iPad Air are also arranged lengthwise, for an even more immersive experience during streaming sessions. The manufacturer does not offer a jack socket, but it is possible to pair wireless headphones or headphones with Bluetooth. The keyboards, for their part, are paired via the smart connector on the back of the iPad Air M2. This little port, however, is not compatible with the latest Magic Keyboard, at least not yet.

How to unlock iPad Air?

iPad Air is equipped with technology Touch ID. This is a fingerprint sensor installed just below the home button, located on the edge of the tablet. This biometric unlocking solution works very well, and often better than the competition, in our opinion. On the other hand, Apple has not decided to integrate Face ID into its iPad Air. Not on the eleven-inch model, not even on the most expensive one. It’s hard to understand why, especially at this price, since the device is already relatively expensive compared to third-party brand alternatives. They often have facial recognition, for example with Windows Hello.

iPad Air 2024 prices

The eleven-inch iPad Air is available from 719 euros only with Wi-Fi or 889 euros with 5G compatibility (eSIM only). Count on €969 for the 13-inch iPad Air with minimal storage capacity, compared to €1,139 for the 4G version.

It is not possible to rent an iPad Air from Apple, as the company only offers this service in the United States. However, note that many third-party services offer alternatives, including Grover and Fnac in France.

Can you use the Apple Pencil with the iPad Air M2?

Absolutely, just not all models are created equal here. Therefore, only the Apple Pencil Pro and styluses with a USB-C port are currently compatible with the iPad Air M2. This is not the case for the first generation, or even for the second.

iPad Air is also compatible with other brands of smart pens, such as Logitech.

Storage capacities offered

The iPad Air M2s is available with 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB internal storage. This space cannot be expanded with a memory card, but a USB-C reader can of course do the trick with a dedicated button.

Apple is also offering five gigabytes of cloud storage to all buyers of the new iPad Air, regardless of its size. This is a good alternative to the lack of an SD card slot, but it quickly becomes quite expensive when you have to pay a subscription above this capacity. However, this will quickly become necessary given the quality of photos that the iPad Air M2 can take.

Our opinion on the iPad Air M2 data sheet

The iPad Air M2’s data sheet is undoubtedly top quality, despite the lack of the latest generation of processors and some disappointments such as incompatibility with older models of the same brand of stylus. But the tablet remains versatile and will be appreciated for long-term entertainment as well as for editing files on the fly.