Test of the 11-inch iPad Air M2: a solid but uninteresting mid-range

Best prices today: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024)

$569

The biggest innovation in this year’s iPad Air is the new larger screen option: if you want (and can afford the upgrade), you can opt for a 13-inch screen. However, Apple sent us the 11-inch model for testing. This one came fully equipped with 1TB of storage and cellular connectivity, for which you’ll have to pay a list price of $1,249.

In addition to the iPad, we also received a Smart Folio for testing, which Apple has slightly redesigned and now allows a larger tilt angle and a Magic Keyboard. This is the older Magic Keyboard model, which is now only compatible with the iPad Air, not the M4 version of the iPad Pro.

The keyboard holds the iPad magnetically and serves as protection when closed. In addition to the keyboard, it also has a relatively small trackpad and a USB-C port that can be used to charge the iPad Air. What is Air Magic Keyboard doesn’t

Still, and this is a little frustrating, both 11-inch Magic Keyboards cost the same (rather steep) price of $299. And if you own a 13-inch Air or Pro, you’ll have to pay $349. We think a lower price for Air’s Magic Keyboard would be more appropriate.

iPad Air M2 11 inches: screen

Nothing has changed with the screen compared to the previous model with the M1 chip. Apple may have started referring to an “11-inch screen” as opposed to the 10.9 inches in the 4th and 5th generation Airs, but that’s a misleading approximation: in fact, it’s the same screen 10.9 inches (with a resolution of 2360 x 1640). resolution at a pixel density of 264 ppi) as in 2020 and 2022.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

Brightness also remains at 500 nits. It’s a shame that the 11-inch model does not benefit from a screen with 600 nits brightness, like the 13-inch iPad Air M2. This would be a plus for outdoor use.

Another difference between the big and small iPad Air M2 is in the technical specifications of the speakers. Apple refers to “landscape stereo speakers with 2x bass” for the large version, while the small version lacks this dual bass. However, we cannot compare the sound quality due to the lack of a 13-inch test device.

iPad AIr M2 11-inch: design

The dimensions and weight of the 11-inch iPad Air M2 have not changed compared to the iPad Air M1. The range of color finishes also remains largely the same – you can choose between Space Grey, Starlight, Purple and Blue – but Blue and Purple are now slightly brighter and Pink is no longer available.

In addition to these lighter colors, the Air M2 also differs from its predecessor in the position of the front camera. This has shifted to the long edge, just as it did on the 10th generation iPad in 2022 and this year’s M4 iPad Pro. This is a smart change that significantly improves video chats.

In other respects, the front camera has been changed slightly, but not radically. You still get a single wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel sensor; the aperture increased in size from f/2.4 to f/2. The camera supports Apple’s Center Stage feature so you always stay in focus and centered in the frame, even when you move from side to side (within reason). However, we noticed some slight distortions during FaceTime testing.

Both the front and rear cameras now support Smart HDR 4 for photos, an upgrade from Smart HDR 3 on the previous model, which should make shooting in difficult lighting conditions easier. This assumes you use your iPad for regular camera work, which seems unlikely. Still, this camera is very useful for scanning documents.

Peter Ahrnstedt

Peter Ahrnstedt

Peter Ahrnstedt

Another new feature compared to the previous model is found in the battery settings. You can view the number of charge cycles, the date the battery was manufactured, and the date it was first used. You can also stipulate that the battery should only be 80% charged; This is intended to extend the life of the device. However, according to Apple, the battery is still charged to 100% from time to time to determine its condition and current capacity.

iPad Air M2 11-inch: processor and specifications

Unsurprisingly, upgrading from an M1 chip to an M2 chip was noticeable in our test results. The Air M2 recorded CPU scores of 2,617 for single-core and 10,074 for multi-core in Geekbench 6.3, numbers that are in the same range as the iPad Pro M2 and significantly higher than those of the iPad Air M1. The same can be said of the Air M2’s excellent GPU (Metal) score of 41,902.

Thomas Armbruester

Thomas Armbruester

Thomas Armbruester

That doesn’t mean the Air lives up to the latest Pro in every department. Unlike the Pro M2, for example, the Air M2’s media engine does not support ProRes and ProRes RAW, according to Apple. This function is probably still reserved for iPad Pros.

In our 3DMark Wildlife Extreme test, the Air recorded a score of 6,443, which is again comparable to the iPad Pro M2. The M2 is therefore well equipped for all tasks.

Keep in mind that the M1 Air was already pretty fast. In fact, in everyday use, away from the most CPU-intensive applications, you probably won’t notice the difference between the M1 and M2 models. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should look to buy the older model at a discounted price.

For one thing, Apple has reduced the price of the base version of the iPad Air by $70 from its predecessor and is charging a list price of just (or maybe that should be “just”) $599 for the cheapest M2. And secondly, the entry-level version of the Air now comes with 128GB of memory, while the M1 model started with a measly 64GB. That aside from the new Air giving you a better positioned front camera, higher storage options at the high end and, of course, better longevity of the M2 chip: it may not be noticeably faster than the M1 at the moment, but it will be better able to handle the most demanding applications of the years to come.

In other words, you’ll need to find a great deal to make it worth buying an iPad Air M1 at this point.

Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E are also new, bringing the iPad Air M2 up to par with the iPad Pro and Apple’s Mac line. If you purchase a version with cellular connectivity, like our review sample, keep in mind that you will need to order an eSim from your provider, as there is no longer a slot for a physical SIM card.

Should you buy an 11-inch iPad Air M2?

The lower entry-level price, increased base memory capacity of 128GB, and long-edge front camera are all nice upgrades for this generation of Air. The fact that the iPad also received the next chip, the M2, is also welcome. However, it would have been nice if the 11-inch iPad Air’s screen was as bright as its big brother’s.

Best price currently: iPad Air 11-inch M2

$569