Apple’s iPad Air has long occupied the perfect middle ground, offering a taste of pro features without the flagship price. With the introduction of the M2 chip, this latest generation blurs the line further, posing a compelling question for creatives and power users alike. It’s a device that feels both familiar and fundamentally more capable.
The M2 iPad Air is an exercise in potent refinement. At its heart is the Apple M2 chip, the same silicon that powered MacBook Air models just a generation ago. This brings a significant performance uplift over the already-fast M1, translating to snappier multitasking with Stage Manager, faster video exports in LumaFusion, and smoother performance in demanding games. While this level of power might feel like overkill for browsing and streaming, it provides a substantial runway for future app development and ensures the device will feel fast for years to come. The base storage has also, thankfully, been doubled to 128GB, correcting a major pain point of its predecessor and making the entry-level model a much more viable option.
From the outside, the design is virtually indistinguishable from the previous two generations. It’s a testament to the original design’s excellence that it still feels modern and premium, with its flat-sided aluminum chassis and thin bezels. The big news this year is the addition of a larger 13-inch model, giving users a choice between portability and a more expansive canvas for the first time in the Air lineup. A subtle but hugely significant change is the relocation of the front-facing camera to the landscape edge. It’s a simple move that fundamentally improves the video conferencing experience, finally placing you in the center of the frame when the iPad is docked in a keyboard case.
Where the Air still clearly delineates itself from the Pro line is the display. It’s a great Liquid Retina IPS panel—bright, color-accurate, and sharp—but it remains locked at a 60Hz refresh rate. In a world where 120Hz ProMotion has been an iPad Pro feature for years, its absence here is keenly felt, especially when scrolling or using the Apple Pencil. Speaking of the Pencil, the M2 Air gains support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, inheriting clever features like barrel roll and the squeeze gesture. This adds a layer of creative capability that brings it closer than ever to being a true “Pro” substitute for digital artists who can live without the superior display.
Ultimately, the M2 iPad Air solidifies its position as the default iPad for most people who want more than the basics. It’s a beautifully built tablet with laptop-class performance, a more practical camera placement, and welcome support for Apple’s latest creative tool. However, the 60Hz display remains a deliberate compromise to protect the Pro’s territory. This is the iPad for the ambitious student, the digital artist, or the professional who needs a powerful and versatile companion but doesn’t require the absolute bleeding-edge display technology—and associated cost—of the iPad Pro.
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Apple M2 iPad Air Quick Summary
Key Scores:
-
Value:
85% -
Design:
93% -
Performance:
94% -
Quality:
92% -
Popularity:
88%
Top Pros
- ✅ The M2 chip delivers exceptional performance for demanding applications.
- ✅ A new 13-inch model offers an expansive canvas option.
- ✅ The landscape front camera greatly improves video call experiences.
- …
Key Cons
- ❌ The display is limited to a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
- ❌ Its design feels premium but is unchanged from previous generations.
- ❌ The price is high for a tablet without a ProMotion display.
