Equipped with the ever-valiant M2 chip, the 2024 edition of the iPad Air seduces with its many qualities and its great versatility. There remain a few annoying flaws, starting with its price, which is still elitist.
Last May, Apple renewed two ranges of iPad: the Pro models equipped with a new Apple Silicon M4 chip (read our test), and the Air models now powered by the M2 chip which equipped the iPad Pros of the previous range ( you follow ?). And for this sixth generation of iPad Air, Apple is also introducing a new screen diagonal. These tablets are now available in 13-inch and 11-inch formats (which we are testing here) just like the iPad Pro.
However, apart from the look, the similarities between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro end there. Apple has reserved its greatest technological advances for its premium model. Which does not prevent the iPad Air from shining in most of the areas to which it is assigned and from maintaining its status as a comfortable and pleasant tablet to use as long as you are not satisfied with it to do everything. Because as with all other iPads, the iPad Air’s biggest problem is iPadOS. We were able to test the iPad Air M2 (2024) for several weeks, here is our verdict.
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iPad Air M2 (2024): an unchanged design
Despite its name and what it suggests, the iPad Air is no longer the thinnest and lightest iPad. And it’s the iPad Pro M4 that steals its place. In question, the presence of an LCD panel which requires backlighting on the iPad Air compared to an Oled panel on the Pro model. However, this new iPad Air still retains a nice finesse that many competing Android tablets can envy with its 6.1 mm thickness and its contained weight of 462 g.
The overall look remains true to tradition. We benefit from a recycled aluminum chassis with very careful finishes with very flat edges and rounded corners. The back of the device is flanked by a single photo module without a flash.
The upper edge houses the power button with a TouchID sensor for fingerprint unlocking. The True Depth camera (FaceID) remains reserved for iPad Pros. The webcam migrates, as for the Pro models, towards the side border to offer better shooting when the iPad is held horizontally. It is on this side that the new Apple Pencil Pro (optional at 149 euros) is magnetized to recharge. Note that this new iPad Air also comes with the Apple Pencil 2 but only the USB-C model.
Apple does not mention IP certification for this iPad Air. It will therefore be better to keep it away from dust and sources of humidity.
iPad Air M2 (2024): a still stunning LCD screen
No mini or Oled on this iPad Air M2 but an LCD panel. Rest assured, this technology has not said its last word. This is not a discount panel (at iPad prices, that would be frowned upon) but a model that is truly eye-catching. We benefit from a definition of 2360 x 1640 pixels for a resolution of 264 ppi. It remains comfortable even if you can find better in the Android world (at Xiaomi especially with the Pad 6S Pro) for less money. Apple indicates a maximum brightness of 500 nits (SDR) which seems correct to us. We were never penalized by ambient light even outdoors.
However, we noted that despite the presence of an anti-reflective treatment and an oleophobic coating supposed to resist fingerprints, Apple still had a long way to go to achieve an acceptable result. After a few dozen minutes of use, it is clear that the screen is covered with traces visible in the slightest ray of sunlight.
Finally, Apple is also shy about refreshing the screen. Where the competition mainly adopts panels that easily climb to 90 or 120Hz, we must be content here with a maximum rate of 60 Hz. The ease of the M2 chip for running games with remarkable fluidity is therefore limited by this choice. Damage.
iPad Air M2 (2024): a still very powerful chip
Data sheet of the tested configuration
| Screen size | 11 inches |
| Screen definition | 2360 x 1640 pixels |
| Screen technology | IPS LCD |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| SoC | Apple Silicon M2 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Photo sensors (back) | 12 MP |
| Photo sensor (selfie) | 12 MP |
| Video | Up to 4K at 60 fps |
| WiFi/Bluetooth | 6E/5.3 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes |
| Facial recognition | No |
| Battery | 28.9 Wh |
| System | iPadOS 17.4 |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm |
| Weight | 462g |
Under the hood of this iPad Air 2024 we find an in-house Apple Silicon M2 chip. The same one that was responsible for animating the previous batch of iPad Pro. In other words, this new iPad Air can feel itself growing wings and you can ask it anything. Games (unfortunately limited to 60 frames per second due to the LCD screen) but also demanding applications such as video editing, sound processing, image creation or retouching… nothing scares it. It therefore goes without saying that for everyday uses such as web surfing, email management, video streaming and small occasional games, this engine is oversized. But this also allows us to look to the future with peace of mind with a chip capable of easily running future apps and of course being comfortable with the new functions linked to artificial intelligence (Apple Intelligence) unveiled on June 10 latest and which will be in place in iPadOS 18.
With our usual range of benchmarks, the iPad Air armed with its M2 chip does not disappoint. Obviously, considering the performance of the new M4 chip which powers the Pro models, the gap is widening. But this iPad doesn’t have the same ambitions either.
Completely decent performance, also much higher than what the most affordable iPad still on the shelves offers, the iPad 10th generation. If you want to benefit from a tablet that does not slow down and offers remarkable fluidity for occasionally tackling arduous tasks, you should turn to the iPad Air M2.
Good point also, Apple finally doubles the storage space on the first model without increasing prices by going from 64 GB to 128. On the other hand, as soon as we want to extend this capacity a little more (remember that the iPad does not does not have a slot to accommodate a microSD memory card), it’s a bit of a cold shower. No less than 130 euros extra to have 256 GB of storage. It’s very, very expensive to pay.
iPad Air M2 (2024): the limits of iPadOS
We had already mentioned this during the test of the iPad Pro M4 and we confirm our feelings with this iPad Air. iPadOS remains the biggest handicap of this tablet. We could have hoped for a redesign with iPadOS 18 planned for the fall but that will not be the case. Ergonomics as we know it today is poorly suited to very comfortable use of the tablet when it comes to working with it (read our article). Even if you add a Magic Keyboard (349 euros all the same!), the account is not there. We quickly get confused when it comes to handling windows and apps in full screen. It’s complicated, we get annoyed, we get lost. Working with an iPad remains a challenge. Damage. It remains to be seen to what extent the integration of artificial intelligence at the start of the school year will improve the way the iPad is used.
iPad Air M2 (2024): convincing autonomy
As with the iPad Pro (and the others), Apple simply indicates a battery life of 10 hours for this iPad Air M2. With our HD streaming reading test on Netflix with screen brightness set to 50%, our iPad lasted a little over 15 hours before giving up. It’s not bad and bodes well for being able to easily hold the length to keep busy during long journeys for example. The M2 chip is certainly no stranger to this good score with its very good energy management for this type of task.
On the other hand, enthusiasm wanes when it comes to recharging the device. Be patient and get your hands on a suitable charger (there is none in the box). With our 100W Anker charger, it took us over two hours to go from 0 to 100 battery charge. It’s way too long.
iPad Air M2 (2024): a truly versatile tablet
In the iPad range, the iPad Air occupies a well-defined place. It remains technically a notch below the Pro model and is much more efficient than the classic iPad. This year especially widens the gap with the latter. The contributions of the M2 chip are undeniable from the point of view of performance and autonomy. We only regret a few missteps. If we still accept the presence of a very good LCD screen, the choice of limiting the refresh rate to 60 Hz is undeniably frustrating, especially when it comes to gaming. The M2 chip has power to spare but the screen capabilities cut it short. We also deplore recharging that is still so slow even if the autonomy does not disappoint. Not everyone necessarily has two hours to recharge their iPad before heading out on the road. Finally, iPadOS still weighs down the experience, but this remark applies to all Apple tablets.
Also, the iPad Air M2 presents itself as a high-performance tablet for those looking for a little power. She can carry out complex tasks without batting an eyelid. The fact remains that its price still remains very high with an entry ticket set at 719 euros all the same for the Wi-Fi – 128 GB version. The price rises to 1519 euros for the 11-inch format version which is the best armed. a 5G connection and 1 TB of storage space. At this price, it will be better to equip yourself with an external SSD to benefit from more storage at a more affordable price. As for the 13-inch model, it costs at least 919 euros for the version with 128 GB of storage. Elite prices, in the Apple tradition, but which do not seem to discourage aficionados of the brand.
