Apple refreshed the iPad Air in May 2024 with the M4 chip, a landscape front camera, and Apple Intelligence. The M2 Air from 2022 is still a capable, well-priced device — refurbished units sell for $399-449 while the M4 starts at $599. The $150-200 gap is real, and whether it's worth it depends on what you actually do with a tablet.
iPad Air M4
The M4 Air is the smarter buy for anyone purchasing new; M2 owners should hold unless the landscape camera or Apple Intelligence features address a specific need.
Specs Comparison
| Spec | iPad Air M4 | iPad Air 11" M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 | Apple M2 |
| CPU Cores | 9-core (4P + 5E) | 8-core (4P + 4E) |
| GPU Cores | 10-core | 8-core |
| Neural Engine | 38 TOPS | 15.8 TOPS |
| Front Camera | 12MP landscape orientation | 12MP portrait orientation |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Price (new/refurb) | $599 new | $399-449 refurb |
What's New in the M4 vs M2 iPad Air
The M4 chip is roughly 40% faster than M2 in CPU benchmarks and 60% faster in GPU tasks. More meaningfully, the M4 brings a 10-core GPU (up from 8-core) and Apple's updated Neural Engine at 38 TOPS — enabling the full Apple Intelligence suite including on-device writing tools and image generation.
The landscape front camera is the other headliner. The M2 Air had a portrait-orientation front camera on the long edge — placing it off-center in landscape mode, the natural tablet orientation for video calls. The M4 moves the camera to the landscape edge, fixing a persistent annoyance for iPad users who prop their tablet in a keyboard case.
What Stayed the Same
Both models use the same 11" Liquid Retina IPS display at 2360×1640, 264 ppi, 500 nits. Neither has ProMotion — 60Hz refresh rate across the board. The chassis dimensions are nearly identical and the M2's accessories (Magic Keyboard, Smart Folio) don't fit the M4.
USB-C speeds are the same (USB 3.2 Gen 2 on both). Storage starts at 128GB on both. Both support the same first-generation Apple Pencil Pro (with the adapter on M2) or the Apple Pencil 2.
iPad Air M4 Strengths
- M4 chip with 10-core GPU and Apple Intelligence support
- Landscape front camera — centered for video calls in keyboard-case use
- Newer silicon: better-positioned for future software demands
- 40% faster CPU, 60% faster GPU than M2
iPad Air 11" M2 Strengths
- Available for $399-449 refurbished — $150+ less than M4 new
- M2 handles every everyday task without slowing down
- Good software longevity through at least iPadOS 22 (~2028)
iPad Air M4 Weaknesses
- Same 60Hz display — no ProMotion at this price
- $599 new vs $399-449 refurbished M2
iPad Air 11" M2 Weaknesses
- Portrait-orientation front camera awkward in landscape mode
- M2 chip won't support future on-device Apple Intelligence features
- Older accessories (Magic Keyboard) not compatible with M4 Air
Best For
- iPad Air M4: New buyers, remote workers who use video calls in keyboard-case landscape, Apple Intelligence users
- iPad Air M2: Budget-conscious buyers, M2 owners already satisfied with their device, light tablet users
FAQ
Does the iPad Air M2 support Apple Intelligence?
The iPad Air M2 does not support Apple Intelligence. Apple requires an A17 Pro or M-series chip from 2024 or later. The M2 chip from 2022 is not supported. The iPad Air M4 does support Apple Intelligence.
Is the landscape camera on the M4 Air a big deal?
For anyone who uses their iPad with a keyboard case or Magic Keyboard, yes — the camera is now centered on the long edge, matching how most people hold the iPad during calls. For solo-use without a keyboard, the difference is minor.