The 2022 iPad Air (M1) and the 2024 iPad Air (M2) are both common on the used and refurbished market, and they look almost the same. The 2024 model’s changes are mostly inside: a newer chip, a second screen size, a better-placed front camera and support for Apple Pencil Pro.
Apple has released two more iPad Airs since then, the M3 in March 2025 and the M4 in March 2026. This guide compares all four, so you can decide whether an older model is still the better buy.
Quick answer
- For the lowest price on a basic iPad: the 2022 M1 iPad Air is still capable. It runs iPadOS 26 and supports Apple Intelligence.
- For Apple Pencil Pro or a 13-inch screen: you need the 2024 M2 model or newer.
- If you’re buying new: the M4 iPad Air costs the same as the M2 did at launch ($599 for 11-inch, $799 for 13-inch). It has 12GB of memory instead of 8GB.
iPad Air 2022 vs 2024: what changed
- Screen size: The 2022 model comes in one 10.9-inch size. The 2024 model comes in 11-inch and 13-inch versions.
- Chip: The 2022 model has the M1, with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU. The 2024 model has the M2, with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU.
- Memory bandwidth: It rises from 68.25GB/s to 100GB/s. Both models have 8GB of RAM.
- Front camera: On the 2024 model it moved to the long (landscape) edge, so you’re centered on video calls when the iPad is in a keyboard case.
- Apple Pencil: The 2022 model works with the 2nd-gen and USB-C Apple Pencil. The 2024 model works with Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Pencil, but not the 2nd gen. Our Apple Pencil settings guide explains what each model can do.
- Wireless: It goes from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth goes from 5.0 to 5.3.
- Cellular: The 2022 cellular models take a physical SIM as well as an eSIM. The 2024 cellular models are eSIM only.
- Storage: The 2022 model offers 64GB or 256GB. The 2024 model offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB.
- Colors: Pink was dropped. The 2024 model comes in space gray, starlight, purple and blue.
The 13-inch 2024 model’s screen is brighter (600 nits vs 500). All of these models use an LCD screen. If you want OLED, you need an iPad Pro.
Every iPad Air since 2022, compared
| 2022 (M1) | 2024 (M2) | 2025 (M3) | 2026 (M4) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | March 2022 | May 2024 | March 2025 | March 2026 |
| Sizes | 10.9-inch | 11 and 13-inch | 11 and 13-inch | 11 and 13-inch |
| CPU / GPU | 8-core / 8-core | 8-core / 9-core | 8-core / 9-core | 8-core / 9-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB |
| Memory bandwidth | 68.25GB/s | 100GB/s | 100GB/s | 120GB/s |
| Front camera position | Short edge | Landscape edge | Landscape edge | Landscape edge |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6 / 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6E / 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E / 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7 / 6 |
| Apple Pencil | 2nd gen, USB-C | Pro, USB-C | Pro, USB-C | Pro, USB-C |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB | 128GB to 1TB | 128GB to 1TB | 128GB to 1TB |
| Launch price (11-inch, Wi-Fi) | $599 | $599 | $599 | $599 |
Apple first listed the M2 iPad Air with a 10-core GPU, then corrected it to 9 cores. Some spec sheets still show 10. The M3 adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the GPU. Apple says the M4 is up to 30% faster than the M3 and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1. The M4 also has Apple’s own N1 wireless chip and, on cellular models, the C1X modem.
Which one should you buy?
The 2022 M1 iPad Air is the budget pick. It handles browsing, streaming, notes and light photo editing without trouble. Its 8GB of RAM meets Apple Intelligence’s requirement. The trade-offs are the older 2nd-gen Pencil, a small 64GB base model, and the front camera on the short edge.
The 2024 M2 iPad Air is the value sweet spot if you find one used or refurbished. It gets you the 13-inch option, Apple Pencil Pro support and the landscape camera for much less than a new model.
The 2026 M4 iPad Air is the one to buy new. Its extra 4GB of RAM is the upgrade most likely to matter over the years you’ll keep it, as on-device AI features get heavier.
If you’re choosing between a used M2 and a new M4, look at the price gap. The chips feel similar in everyday use. The M4’s real advantages are the extra memory, the newer wireless and a fresh battery.
iPad Air vs the regular iPad
If you are also looking at the cheaper base iPad, the gap is bigger than the price suggests. The current base iPad (A16, released March 2025) starts at $349 with 128GB, but it does not support Apple Intelligence or Apple Pencil Pro, and its display is not laminated, so there is a visible gap between the glass and the screen. Every iPad Air since 2022 supports Apple Intelligence. A new base iPad with Apple Intelligence support has been widely reported, but it has not launched at the time of writing.
iPad Air FAQ
What is the difference between the iPad Air 2024 and 2022?
The 2024 model moves from the M1 to the M2 chip, adds a 13-inch size, moves the front camera to the landscape edge, supports Apple Pencil Pro instead of the 2nd-gen Pencil, and starts at 128GB instead of 64GB.
What colors does the iPad Air 2024 come in?
Space gray, starlight, purple and blue. The pink option from the 2022 model was dropped.
What generation is the iPad Air 2024?
Apple now names iPad Air models by chip rather than generation. The 2024 model is the iPad Air with M2, often called the 6th generation.
MacReview verdict
The jump from 2022 to 2024 is worth it if you want the bigger screen, the Pencil Pro, or a front camera that works properly in landscape. If none of those matter to you, a 2022 M1 iPad Air at the right price is still a good iPad. If you’re paying full price, skip both and buy the M4.
