Apple iPad Air 11" M4 vs Apple iPad Air 11" M2
Apple iPad Air
Verdict: The M4 Air is the better buy for anyone purchasing new; M2 Air owners should only upgrade if the landscape camera or M4 performance gaps affect their actual usage.
How we scored it
Spec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial review
Our methodology
Winner: Apple iPad Air 11" M4
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Apple iPad Air 11" M4 | Apple iPad Air 11" M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 (3nm) | Apple M2 (5nm) |
| Neural Engine | 38 TOPS | 15.8 TOPS |
| Display | 11" Liquid Retina IPS, 500 nits | 11" Liquid Retina IPS, 500 nits |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Base Storage | 128GB | 64GB |
| Front Camera Position | Landscape edge | Portrait edge |
Apple iPad Air 11" M4
What works
- Landscape front camera — correct position for keyboard/stand video calls
- M4 chip: 45% faster single-core than M2, 38 TOPS Neural Engine
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) vs M2's Gen 1 (5Gbps) for file transfers
What doesn't
- $599 base — $150-200 more than refurbished M2
- Display upgrade is nil — same IPS LCD panel as M2
- Chassis is visually and physically identical to M2
Apple iPad Air 11" M2
What works
- Available refurbished for $399-449 — $150-200 less than M4
- Identical display, same chassis, same weight
- Still supports Apple Intelligence (8GB RAM, M2 chip qualifies)
What doesn't
- Portrait-edge front camera is poorly positioned for landscape video calls
- M2 Neural Engine at 15.8 TOPS may fall short of future Apple Intelligence requirements
- USB Gen 1 (5Gbps) is slower for large file transfers to external storage
Bottom line
Our pick: Apple iPad Air 11" M4.
View full comparison on GoodPickr
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