New iPads have arrived, but which one should you buy?
Apple has finally updated its higher-end iPad lineup, with new Air and Pro models. The upgrades include new processors, display sizes, and colors, as well as an ultra-thin chassis design for the premium models. But which one should you choose to get the best value for money?
Here’s our comparison guide to the iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4) models that launched in 2024. Design & build quality Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024)
The Air was given a design overhaul one generation ago in the iPad Air (2022), so it’s not surprising that much of the construction looks familiar on the latest model. Obviously, the most noticeable difference is that the Air now comes in a choice of 11-inch and 13-inch variants.
Specifications are pretty much identical for both, with the larger model making use of the extra real estate to include a 2x bass response in the stereo speakers, but that’s about it.
Dimensions work out as follows:
11-inch iPad Air (M2): 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches (247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm); 1.02 pounds (462g)
13-inch iPad Air (M2): 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 inches (280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm); 1.36 pounds (617g)
There are new color schemes, with the Air available in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, or Blue. But perhaps the most useful upgrade (at least in terms of design) is that the FaceTime camera has been repositioned on the longer edge of the iPad, creating a landscape orientation that makes far more sense than the previous portrait one. The Air still doesn’t get Face ID, however, so the Touch ID sensor in the power button will be how you unlock the device and make payments.
The baseline storage has finally been upgraded to something sensible, plus Apple has added higher capacity options too. Here are the different amounts available:
128GB
256GB
512GB
1TB Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4, 2024)
On the iPad Pro (M4), meanwhile, the design advances are more profound. Yes, it’s still an aluminum rectangle, but Apple’s engineers have worked hard to make this not only the thinnest iPad they’ve ever created, but the thinnest Apple product ever made! Yes, even slimmer than the iPod nano. Crazy.
Here are the dimensions for the two new iPad Pro models:
11-inch iPad Pro (M4): 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches (249.7 x 177.5 x 5.3 mm); 0.98 pounds (444g)
13-inch iPad Pro (M4): 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches (281.6 x 215.5 x 5.1 mm); 1.28 pounds (579g)
So, for the first time, the iPad Pros are now lighter than the iPad Airs. Maybe Apple needs to rethink the names of its iPads going forward?
Whereas the iPad Air (M2) has twin stereo speakers, the Pro models double this with a four-speaker array. They also employ a landscape FaceTime camera, but Apple bestows Face ID on its Pro models, making it even easier to log in.
Color schemes are simpler on the Pros, with only Space Black or Silver to choose from, while storage options come in the following flavors:
256GB
512GB
1TB
2TB
All Pro and Air models, in compliance with EU law, come with USB-C charging ports, although the Pro versions have upgraded Thunderbolt / USB 4 capabilities. Apple also announced a new Apple Pencil Pro, which works with both the Air and Pro models; the new Air and Pro are also both compatible with the Apple Pencil (USB-C). There’s a new Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4), while the existing Magic Keyboard works with the iPad Air (M2) devices. Display
Apple has been hard at work on the new Ultra Retina XDR displays for the Pro models. They feature a revolutionary new design that combines two OLED panels layered up to create something the company is calling a Tandem OLED display.
