iPad Air 11″ M2 256GB – Space Gray

The iPad Air 11 M2 2024 runs on the Apple M2 processor with Apple GPU (10-core graphics) GPU. The iPad has 8 RAM, 256 GB of internal storage which is not expandable. The iPad Air 11 (2024) has an 11.0-inch, 1640 x 2360 pixels IPS display with a pixel density of 261 ppi. Coming to cameras, it has a 12 MP rear camera and a 12 MP front camera for selfies. It has a USB Type-C port for data syncing and charging. There is a fingerprint sensor present on the iPad Air 11 (2024) as well, along with a magnetic field sensor (compass), gyroscope sensor, and accelerometer sensor. It has a single SIM slot with support for 4G LTE and Wi-Fi too. The iPad Air 11 (2024) runs on iPadOS 17.4 and all this is powered by a 28.93 Wh battery. It measures 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (height x width x thickness) with a total weight of 462 grams including battery.

Design

The visual design of the iPad Air 11 (2024) remains quite similar to its predecessor. Its dimensions and weight are nearly unchanged.  Consequently, the device’s screen-to-front ratio of 80.9% leaves room for improvement. For comparison, the Galaxy Tab S9 boasts a higher ratio of over 83%.

The iPad Air 6 features a unibody construction made from recycled aluminium, contributing to its solid build quality. The matte aluminium finish resists fingerprints, and the tablet maintains its integrity against twisting. However, it lacks an IP certification for water and dust resistance.

Display

The iPad Air 11 (2024)’s IPS display exhibits excellent calibration. The differences from reference colours are hardly noticeable to the naked eye, and users can achieve optimal colour reproduction without using the “True Tone” setting. The iPadOS does not provide individual colour profiles, and colour temperature adjustments are limited to the “Night Shift” feature. The display boasts a contrast ratio of around 1,300:1, thanks to its solid black value of 0.4 cd/m², which is quite respectable. The IPS panel demonstrates strong viewing angle stability with no noticeable colour shifts.

Outdoors, the iPad Air 11 (2024) performs well despite its relatively low brightness, aided by its anti-reflective coating. However, readability in direct sunlight remains challenging, so avoiding reflections on the glass surface is advisable, even with its specialized display treatment. The iPad Air 11 (2024) boasts a capacitive touchscreen that responds to touch inputs with impressive immediacy. This model features a laminated panel, enhancing the tablet’s responsiveness and overall user experience. However, the built-in LCD supports a 60 Hz refresh rate.

Apple Pencil Integration

The iPad Air 11 (2024) supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the new Apple Pencil Pro. The Apple Pencil Pro has advanced features, including a gyroscope to determine orientation relative to the screen, which enhances the use of non-uniformly shaped and wide brushes when drawing. Additionally, it has a pressure sensor to detect when the pen’s case gets pressed.

Biometric Security

For biometric security, the iPad Air 11 (2024) relies on Touch ID, located in the on/off button, rather than the more advanced 3D facial recognition (Face ID) found in Pro models. The Touch ID sensor is highly reliable but requires the screen to be activated from standby mode before use, making it a slightly less seamless experience compared to Face ID. Overall, the iPad Air 11 (2024) offers a responsive and efficient touchscreen experience with the added benefits of Apple Pencil support.

Performance

The iPad Air 11 (2024) performs excellently, featuring Apple’s M2 chipset. This upgrade marks a significant improvement over the M1 found in its predecessor.

As a result, the passively cooled iPad Air 11 (2024) is more powerful than most laptops in this price range. The new iPad Air also shows an impressive increase in GPU performance compared to its predecessor, with up to a 23% improvement in GFXBench tests.

Software

The 6th-generation Apple iPad Air 11 comes pre-installed with iPadOS 17.5. While Apple hasn’t provided official details on this model’s duration of update support, historical trends suggest a positive outlook.  The iPad Air line typically enjoys a robust update cycle, with past models receiving support for many years.

For instance, the iPad Air 5th Gen 2022 is still receiving updates. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the iPad Air 11 (2024) will receive updates for at least five to six years, ensuring that users benefit from new features and security enhancements well into the future.

Connectivity and Communication

The tablet features a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port, which supports transfer speeds up to 10 Gbit/s and allows video output to a monitor. However, the included cable only supports USB 2.0. For DisplayPort output via USB-C, it can handle up to 6K resolution (6,016 x 3,384 pixels) at 60 Hz. The 2024 iPad Air introduces Bluetooth 5.3, an upgrade from its predecessor. However, it still lacks NFC and a UWB chip. The tablet is compatible with the first-generation Magic Keyboard, which attaches magnetically via the “Smart Connector” on the back. Additionally, it has a magnetic surface on the right side for connecting and charging the Apple Pencil Pro.

The Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) now supports Wi-Fi 6E, allowing it to utilize the 6 GHz band for WLAN. When tested with our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router, the tablet achieved impressive, though fluctuating, download speeds of up to 1,300 Mbit/s. However, upload speeds were significantly lower and inconsistent.

The Wi-Fi module in the iPad Air 11 (2024) does not support 5G connectivity or satellite-based location services. For those needing cellular connectivity, an optional Wi-Fi + Cellular model supports a wide range of frequencies, including 5G. This model exclusively uses eSIMs, which no longer accommodate nano SIM cards. Even in the Wi-Fi-only version, users benefit from a digital compass and iBeacon micro-location for essential location services.

Camera

The 2024 iPad Air 11 presents noteworthy updates compared to its predecessor. The front camera remains a 12MP sensor with an f/2.4 aperture, providing solid image quality. A significant improvement is the relocation of the front camera to the long side of the tablet, a more practical placement for a device of this size.

This change enhances the user experience, especially for landscape orientation, which is more common for larger tablets. Additionally, the “Center Stage” feature uses software to keep recognized faces within the frame, adding a dynamic touch to video calls. The rear camera retains its 12MP sensor with autofocus from the iPad Air 5, continuing to meet the needs of most tablet users.

While photos taken with this lens are generally satisfactory, the camera’s reliance on artificial sharpening and colour reproduction leaves room for improvement. Controlled lighting tests revealed some deviations in colour accuracy and white balance as measured by the ColorChecker passport. The rear camera supports UHD quality at 60fps for video recording, although the front-facing camera does not support 4K recording. This limitation might be a drawback for users looking to leverage the front camera for high-resolution video content.

Optional Accessories

Apple offers various accessories for the iPad Air 6, including cases and power supplies. Additionally, the new Pencil Pro can be purchased separately. For a more comprehensive setup, the first-generation Magic Keyboard is available.

Games

Thanks to its powerful GPU, the Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) is highly suitable for mobile gaming from the App Store. In tests with the graphically demanding fantasy action role-playing game Genshin Impact and the shooter PUBG Mobile, both games ran smoothly in high-detail settings. The large display significantly enhances the gaming experience.

However, high frame rate (HFR) gaming enthusiasts should know that the 60 Hz screen only supports up to 60fps. For instance, while Genshin Impact could run at 120fps with high details, it is capped at 60fps. PUBG Mobile, on the other hand, supports the maximum UHD setting.

Speakers

Although the iPad Air 11 (2024) features four speaker openings, it only houses two speakers.

Nonetheless, the audio quality is impressive, offering clear mids and highs and some bass. The tablet’s maximum volume reaches around 73 dB, decent but not exceptionally loud.

The iPad Air 6 supports Bluetooth 5.3 and wired connections via USB-C for those who prefer headphones. However, the device mainly supports the AAC codec, so you should consider codec compatibility when choosing headphones or speakers.

Power Management

Power Consumption

The 2024 iPad Air features a slightly larger battery, increasing from 28.6 to 28.93 watt-hours. Despite this, it only supports charging at a maximum rate of 20 watts via its USB port.

It remains efficient in idle mode, drawing less than 5 watts, which is relatively low for a device of its calibre.

Runtimes

The iPad Air 11 (2024) delivers commendable battery life. A practical screen brightness of 150 cd/m² achieves around 11.5 hours in a WLAN test. When the WLAN is turned off and playing a video on a loop, it lasts up to 13 hours.