Tablets · Model guide · Maker specs
iPad Air (M2)
Get iPad Air (M2) used or refurbished for a cheaper 11- or 13-inch Air with Apple Pencil Pro; new, it's two generations behind the current M4 Air.
Product images
iPad Air (M2), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get iPad Air (M2) used or refurbished for a cheaper 11- or 13-inch Air with Apple Pencil Pro; new, it's two generations behind the current M4 Air. It has the M2 chip with 8GB of memory, Touch ID, a USB 3 port, Wi-Fi 6E and landscape stereo speakers. If you own one, skip the M3, which kept 8GB and Wi-Fi 6E; the M4 is the real upgrade.
Who it is for
- Bargain hunters who want Apple Pencil Pro without paying for a new Air.
- Students who want a laptop-style setup for less. It takes the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air through the Smart Connector, and Touch ID in the top button handles unlocking.
- Anyone who wants a big screen for video on a budget: the 13-inch model has a 2732 × 2048 panel at 600 nits and landscape stereo speakers.
Who should skip it
- New-tablet buyers. For the same launch prices, the M4 Air brings 12GB of memory and Apple's N1 and C1X radios.
- Anyone after Pro hardware: tandem OLED, four speakers, Face ID, LiDAR and Thunderbolt all belong to iPad Pro.
- People who want a compact tablet: the 11-inch is 462 grams, and Apple's small iPad is 8.3 inches.
What sets it apart
- The first iPad Air in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, launched at $599 and $799.
- Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) support, hover included.
- USB-C rated at 10Gb/s (USB 3), with enough output for a 6K monitor at 60Hz.
Caveats
- Every model has 8GB of memory. If a listing for an iPad Air says 12GB, it's describing the M4.
- Neither Apple Pencil nor the Magic Keyboard comes in the box; budget for them on top of the tablet.
Key specs
In the same order on every tablet page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 11-inch model: 10.86 inches diagonal; 13-inch model: sold as 13-inch | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specsApple measures the diagonal as a rectangle, and the corners are rounded. |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Display resolution | 11-inch: 2360 × 1640 at 264 ppi; 13-inch: 2732 × 2048 at 264 ppi | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 11-inch: 500 nits; 13-inch: 600 nits | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specsApple's ratings. |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Sold size(s) | 11-inch and 13-inch | Apple Newsroom, 7 May 2024 |
| Dimensions | 11-inch: 247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm; 13-inch: 280.6 × 214.9 × 6.1 mm | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Weight | 11-inch: 462 g (Wi-Fi and cellular); 13-inch: 617 g Wi-Fi, 618 g cellular | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Finishes | Blue; Purple; Starlight; Space Gray | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Chip / processor | M2: 8-core CPU (4P+4E), 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specsThe CPU has 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB in every model | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| On-device storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB; no microSD | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Pencil / stylus | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with hover; neither is in the box | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Keyboard / cover | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (sold separately); attaches by Smart Connector | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Microphones | Two microphones for calls, video and audio recording | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular models: 5G (sub-6GHz, 4x4 MIMO); Gigabit LTE; eSIM only; band list for models A2899 and A2903 in the 11-inch tech specs. Wi-Fi models have no cellular. | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO, simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Ports / expansion | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector; Smart Connector | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage, ƒ/2.0; 1080p video | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Battery | 11-inch 28.93Wh; 13-inch 36.59Wh. Up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web or video; up to 9 hours of web on cellular | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Charging | 20W USB-C power adapter and 1m USB-C cable in the box; also charges from a computer's USB-C port | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Location / GNSS | Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon on every model; GPS/GNSS on cellular models | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| US launch price | 11-inch Wi-Fi $599; 13-inch Wi-Fi $799 (US launch, May 2024) | Apple Newsroom, 15 May 2024 |
| Price band | Older Air ($599–$799+ at US launch, before Pencil and keyboard) | Based on Apple's launch prices |
| Announced | 7 May 2024 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 7 May 2024; in stores from 15 May 2024. Followed by iPad Air (M3) on 4 March 2025 and iPad Air (M4) on 2 March 2026. | Apple Newsroom, May 2024; later iPad Air announcements |
iPad Air (M2) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| First 13-inch iPad Air | Yes: the 13-inch size arrived with this model in May 2024, and the M3 and M4 kept it | Apple Newsroom, 7 May 2024 |
| In the box | iPad Air; USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
| Apple Intelligence | Built in, with region and language limits | Apple iPad Air (M2) tech specs |
Two generations later
The M2 Air arrived on 7 May 2024, the same day as iPad Pro (M4), and it was the first Air to come in two sizes. Apple has since replaced it twice without changing the sizes or the launch prices:
| Spec | iPad Air (M2) | iPad Air (M3) | iPad Air (M4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | 7 May 2024 | 4 March 2025 | 2 March 2026 |
| Sizes | 11-inch and 13-inch | Same | Same |
| Chip and memory | M2, 8GB | M3, 8GB | M4, 12GB |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | N1: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread |
| Cellular modem | 5G eSIM | 5G eSIM | C1X |
| US Wi-Fi launch price | $599 or $799 | $599 or $799 | $599 or $799 |
iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Air (M3) compares the first two in detail. The single-size M1 model before the M2 is iPad Air (5th generation).
The first 13-inch Air
The 13-inch panel, 2732 × 2048 at 600 nits, was new to the Air with this model. The 11-inch is 2360 × 1640 at 500 nits and measures 10.86 inches diagonally. Both are 264 ppi IPS Liquid Retina screens with True Tone and P3 color.
In the hand, the 11-inch is 462 grams in either version and the 13-inch is 617 grams, or 618 with cellular. Both are 6.1mm thin.
Pencil, cameras and sound
Hover works with either Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C): the screen picks up the tip just above the glass, and both Pencils sit on the magnetic connector.
The back camera is a 12MP Wide at ƒ/1.8 that films 4K at up to 60 fps. On the front, a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage sits on the landscape edge and records 1080p. Sound comes from landscape stereo speakers, with two microphones for calls. Cellular models connect over 5G with an eSIM and are the only ones with GPS.
Battery
The batteries are 28.93Wh in the 11-inch and 36.59Wh in the 13-inch, and Apple gives both sizes the same rating: 10 hours of browsing or video on Wi-Fi, 9 hours of browsing on cellular. A 20W charger and a 1m cable come with it.
Price
The Wi-Fi models launched at $599 (11-inch) and $799 (13-inch) in May 2024. A used or refurbished M2 makes sense only well below what a new M4 costs. Used prices vary a lot, so compare before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple unveils the redesigned 11-inch and all-new 13-inch iPad Air with M2 — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — The redesigned iPad Air and new iPad Pro are available today — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 11-inch (M2) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 13-inch (M2) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy iPad Air (M2) or iPad Air (M3)?
Let the price decide. The M3 kept the M2's 8GB of memory, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and both screen sizes, so the chip is the main difference.
Does iPad Air (M2) work with Apple Pencil Pro?
Yes, with hover, and Apple Pencil (USB-C) works too.
Is iPad Air (M2) the same size as the M3 and M4?
Yes. All three come in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, and all are 6.1mm thick.
Can iPad Air (M2) run Apple Intelligence?
Yes, with limits on which regions and languages get it.
Official product page: iPad Air (M2). Tech specs: iPad Air (M2) specs.