Apple has just presented the new iPad Air 2024. For the first time, the tablet is available in two sizes – and that is not the only thing that has changed. Find out what’s new about the iPad Air 2024!
Read more after the ad
iPad Air 2024 (6th generation)
After a year of iPad drought (not one new iPad will be released in 2023), the Apple Store has two brand new tablets. They were announced on Tuesday afternoon during an Apple event.
The iPad Air 2024 succeeds the fifth generation iPad Air and is immediately available for purchase. It is not a rigorous upgrade, but the Air has been improved on several fronts. Also nice: the starting price is a lot lower than before, while you get more storage in return. Below we take you through the changes of the sixth generation iPad Air.
Two sizes: 11 and 13 inches
If you want the largest iPad, you no longer have to get a Pro. As usual, there is an 11-inch version, but the iPad Air 2024 is also available in a 13-inch version. This means that the larger iPad Air has the same size as the most expensive iPad Pro 2024. The larger Air offers 30 percent more screen space than its smaller brother.
buying tip
Other than the screen size, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air are virtually identical. There is a difference in terms of sound quality: the larger iPad has twice as much bass.
Design
There are no major design changes. Once again, the iPad Air has an aluminum body with flat, rounded edges that wrap around the screen. The black edges of the iPad Air have always been slightly wider than their Pro brother – and that is still the case.
As with its predecessor, the iPad Air is available in a range of pastel colours. In addition to space gray (a kind of black) and starlight (almost white), you can choose from a version in blue or purple.
Camera iPad Air 2024
There are hardly any external changes, although the selfie camera has been given a new purpose. If you lay the iPad Air on its side (which most of us will typically do), the camera will be at the top center of the iPad, rather than on the side. This way you are centered in the screen when FaceTiming, instead of awkwardly on the side.
The iPad Air still only has one camera (wide angle) on the back. Rumors were about a new camera island, but the design looks the same as before. The camera specs have also remained unfortunately the same. You can take selfies using a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and take photos or films on the back with a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens.
New M2 chip
Apple has – of course – also strengthened the iPad Air with a more powerful chip. The iPad Air 2024 is powered by an M2 processor. The chip was first released in 2022, and is almost two years old. For even more muscle, make the leap to the iPad Pro, which features the newer M4.
The question is whether you need that power. The iPad Air 2022 with M1 was also powerful, and with the M2 it has become 50% faster, according to Apple. It is striking that Apple repeatedly emphasizes that it is a powerful device for AI, so the company seems to be hinting at new AI features in iOS 18.
Other innovations
The iPad Air 2024 supports the new Apple Pencil Pro. The stylus has been improved in several respects compared to its predecessor. For example, it has a hover function and pressure and tilt sensitivity.
The iPad Air has also been updated with Bluetooth 5.3, which contributes to a better connection with Bluetooth accessories and a more energy efficient battery. Wi-Fi 6E is also present, which allows the tablet to connect to faster 6GHz WiFi networks.
iPad Air 2024: prices
Perhaps the best thing of all is the price of the iPad Air 2024. Previously, you paid 790 euros for the 11-inch iPad Air in the Netherlands. Now that is 719 euros. And you get more storage in return: 128 instead of 64 GB. You can expand this to 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB.
The larger 13-inch version costs 250 euros more. Exactly how much you pay for the iPad Air depends on the storage you choose, the screen size and whether or not Cellular (mobile data) is available.
Price 11-inch iPad Air
- 11-inch iPad Air 2024 (128 GB): €719
- 11-inch iPad Air 2024 (256 GB): €849
- 11-inch iPad Air 2024 (512 GB): €1099
- 11-inch iPad Air 2024 (1TB): €1349
Price 13-inch iPad Air
- 13-inch iPad Air 2024 (128 GB): €969
- 13-inch iPad Air 2024 (256 GB): €1099
- 13-inch iPad Air 2024 (512 GB): €1349
- 13-inch iPad Air 2024 (1TB): €1599
The iPad Air is immediately available for purchase via the online Apple Store. The device will be available in stores and delivered to your home from Wednesday, May 15.
