by Hartley Charlton
With the same design, display size, camera system and more, the entry-level iPad is now a formidable competitor to the iPad Air at a significantly lower price of $349. With $250 between the two iPad lines, how different are they and which one should you buy?
After the end of support for iPad ninth generation, Apple has reduced the price of iPad 10th generation. from 449 to 349 dollars. This means that iPad 10th generation; now $250 less than the starting price of the iPad Air at 599 dollars. which Apple just released.
The 10th generation model completes the transformation of the iPad the product line became flat, with square edges, no home button, and a full-screen design with rounded corners. With the exact same display size and identical features such as the top Touch ID button, USB-C port and 5G connectivity, many potential customers may now consider purchasing a standard iPad instead of iPad Air – but there are more differences between the devices than meets the eye.
The M2 chip and double the memory make the iPad Air much more powerful than iPad 10th generation. Combined with a more advanced display in two size options, support for Apple Pencil pointing and the Apple Pencil Pro, thinner and lighter design, and even a different selection of color options, many users still have good reasons to prefer the iPad Air.
So should you consider purchasing an iPad 10th generation? to save money, or you need an iPad Air instead of? This breakdown allows you to clearly see all the differences between the two devices.
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| iPad (10th generation, 2022) | iPad Air (Sixth generation, 2024) |
|---|---|
| 10.9″ display | 11″ or 13″ display |
| sRGB color | P3 wide color |
| Fully laminated display | |
| Anti-glare coating | |
| A14 Bionic chip | M2 chip |
| 6-core processor | 8-core processor |
| 4-core graphics processor | 10-core GPU |
| Media Engine H.264 and HEVC hardware acceleration Video decoding mechanism Video encoding module |
|
| 4 GB memory | 8 GB memory |
| Smart HDR 3 for photos | Smart HDR 4 for photos |
| Connect to Wi-Fi 6 | Connect to Wi-Fi 6E |
| Apple Pencil hover | |
| Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (first generation) | Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro |
| Magic Keyboard Folio support | Magic Keyboard support |
| 7mm depth | Depth 6.1 mm |
| From US$349 | From US$599 |
| Weight 477 grams | Weight 462 or 617 grams |
| Available in silver, pink, blue and yellow | Available in colors “space gray”, “starlight”, blue and purple |
| 64 GB or 256 GB memory | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB of memory |
| From US$349 | From US$599 |
The key difference between the devices is their chips and memory capacity, so if you plan to use your iPad for more complex tasks such as 3D graphic design, advanced photo editing and gaming, iPad Air would be the best choice for sure. M2 The chip's dedicated media engine is also particularly useful for video editing and supports Stage Manager, Apple's multitasking system for the iPad.
Display iPad The 10th generation does not have a wide range of P3 colors, full lamination and anti-reflective coating. While these aspects aren't likely to be the main reasons for preferring the iPad Air, they're worth keeping in mind when trying to justify upgrading to the more expensive $250 device. iPad Air is also available in an all-new 13-inch size option that's better suited for multitasking and using the device as a laptop replacement, but that increases the price difference to $450—more than the cost of the 10th generation. ;iPad myself.
iPad Air it's slightly thinner and lighter, with differences so subtle they won't matter to most buyers, but the more muted tones of its color options may make it more or less attractive depending on your personal preferences.
&zwnj ; Apple Pencil Support is also key. While iPad 10th generation; supports Apple Pencil first generation, Apple Pencil USB-C is a better choice due to easier charging. However, it lacks advanced features like pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and barrel rotation that you get with the iPad Air Apple Pencil Professional support. People planning to use Apple Pencil For tasks such as note-taking and illustration, it is undoubtedly much more convenient to use the iPad Air, which supports both Apple Pencil with USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro.
Although both devices support external keyboards, they have different advantages. Magic Keyboard Folio on iPad The 10th generation is best suited for those who type on tables, those who prefer function keys, and those who want to easily detach the keyboard but keep the iPad put on the surface, and the Magic Keyboard iPad Air better suited for lap typists and those who need a backlight.
Theoretically, the iPad Air represents a more attractive overall package with M2 chip, 4 GB of additional memory, dedicated media engine, Stage Manager for multitasking, an improved display and a much better Apple Pencil Experience, but in practice, users with basic requirements are unlikely to notice a huge difference between the devices. Unless you have a particular need for additional features of the iPad Air or the ability to increase screen size, it might be worth saving $250 and buying an iPad 10th generation.
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