Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) wins — The Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) wins for most buyers with faster M2 performance, Apple Intelligence support, and modern …
Scores: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) 8.5/10 · Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (M1) 7/10
The Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) wins for most buyers with faster M2 performance, Apple Intelligence support, and modern camera layout per CNET and MacRumors reviews. The M1 model remains viable for basic tasks at a lower price but trails in future-proofing. Choose M2 if you want the latest features; pick M1 only if saving $100+ matters more than speed.
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) lists at $599 while Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (M1) lists at $499 — Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (M1) undercuts Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) by $100 (20%).
| Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) | Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (M1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 11-inch Liquid Retina, 2360x1640, 500 nits | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, 2360x1640, 500 nits |
| Chip | Apple M2 | Apple M1 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 64GB / 256GB |
Our pick: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2). It edges out the alternative on m2 chip delivers up to 50% faster cpu performance than m1 (per geekbench 6). That said, Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (M1) still wins on m1 chip handles multitasking and light creative work well — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.