Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) vs Apple iPad Air (5th generation)

The short verdict

iPad Air (5th generation) edges it on score

The iPad Air (5th generation) leads overall; pick the iPad Air 11-inch (M2) if its strengths below matter more to you.

iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

8.9

iPad Air (5th generation)

9.0

Choose the iPad Air 11-inch (M2) if

Students and creatives who want portability and Pencil Pro support

Full specs →

Choose the iPad Air (5th generation) if

Used-market buyers who want M1 speed and Apple Pencil support at a fraction of a new Air's price.

Full specs →

At a glance

Key differences

Measured differences only. Ties and tiny gaps are left out.

Full specs

Side-by-side specifications

Display1 difference

Screen size

11"

10.9"

Performance3 differences

Chipset

Apple M2

Apple M1

GPU

9-core GPU

8-core GPU

Gpu cores

9-core GPU

8-core GPU

Battery & Charging1 difference

Capacity

Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video, Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network

28.6 Wh

Memory1 difference

Storage

128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

64GB, 256GB

Connectivity3 differences

Wi‑Fi

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO 5

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps

Bluetooth

5.3

5.0

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO 5

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO · speeds up to 1.2 Gbps

Body1 difference

Weight

462 g

461 g

Design1 difference

Weights

1.02 pounds (462 grams), 1.02 pounds (462 grams)

1.02 pounds (461 grams), 1.02 pounds (462 grams)

Where to buy

Specs verified against manufacturer data. Prices in USD before tax; we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Community

Which would you buy?

One vote per person. Results appear after you vote.

iPad Air 11-inch (M2) vs iPad Air (5th generation)

iPad Air (5th generation) edges it on score

Key differences

Side-by-side specifications

Which would you buy?