This iPad Air 2024 vs. iPad Air 2022 face-off will help you determine whether the new sixth-gen model, announced at the May 7 “Let Loose” event, is worth the upgrade.
For Apple enthusiasts drawn to the company’s hallmark blend of sleek design and robust performance, deciding between the two isn’t easy. With two new sizes for the first time we’ve broken it all down, comparing the old with the new to make your decision a little easier.
iPad Air 6 vs iPad Air 5: Size and Design
Credit: Apple
The iPad Air 5 retained the design language introduced with its predecessor, featuring a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2360 x 1640 resolution. The device sports a thin and light structure, measuring 6.1 mm thick and weighing about one pound, making it highly portable yet sturdy.
iPad Air 5 colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue
iPad Air 6 colors: New Blue & Purple, Space Gray, Starlight
In contrast, the iPad Air 6 will come in two sizes for the first time: 11-inch and 13-inch. With a 2732×2048, the 13-inch size will add “30 percent more screen real estate” according to Apple. On top of that, the device features the same Liquid Retina, this time with a front-facing landscape camera that Apple says will make video calling even easier.
iPad Air 5: 10.9-inch display (1.02 pounds); 12MP-wide camera
iPad Air 6 11-in: 10.9-inch display (1.02 pounds); 12MP-wide camera
iPad Air 6 13-in: 12.9-inch display (1.36 pounds); 12MP-wide camera
iPad Air 6 vs iPad Air 5: Price
The iPad Air 5, launched in March 2022, was introduced at a starting price of $599 for the base model with 64GB of storage. This pricing was consistent with Apple’s strategy of maintaining a mid-range price point for the Air series, offering a balance between affordability and high-end features.
The iPad Air 2024 will launch at $599, with the 13-inch version starting at $799. On top of that, the 6th generation device will also include a 1TB version for the first time.
iPad Air 6 (64GB + WiFI) – $599 / $799
iPad Air 6 (128GB + WiFI) – $699 / $899
iPad Air 6 (256GB + WiFI) – $899 / $1,099
iPad Air 6 (1TB + WiFI) – $1,099 / $1,299
iPad Air 6 (64GB + WiFI + Celluar) – $749 / $949
iPad Air 6 (128GB + WiFI + Celluar) – $849 / $1,049
iPad Air 6 (256GB + WiFI + Celluar) – $1,049 / $1,249
iPad Air 6 (1TB + WiFI + Celluar) – $1,249 / $1,449
For the moment being, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the 5th gen version on the Apple store, but across retailers, it seems the device has received a price drop. For example, you can grab the iPad Air 5 for $499 at Best Buy down from its original $599 price.
iPad Air 6 vs iPad Air 5: Performance
Credit: Apple
Powered by the Apple M1 chip, the iPad Air 5 represented during its release a significant leap in performance compared to its predecessors, aligning it with the more powerful iPad Pro models. This chipset substantially boosted CPU and GPU performance, ensuring smooth multitasking and high-end gaming capabilities. However, the M1 chip is now close to four years old.
While still capable, the 2024 version will only be upgraded to the M2 chip. However, this is still a hefty upgrade for the Air, as it’s always been considered the budget-friendly version. The M2 is nothing to scoff at, and it will give the Air three times the performance of its predecessor and 50 percent faster as well.
You can pre-order the new iPad Air today, with Apple planning to ship it out sometime next week.
