iPad 10 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Is the $250 Difference Worth It? (2024)

FAQs

IPad 10 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Is the $250 Difference Worth It? ›

Unless you have specific need for the ‌iPad Air‌'s added features or its larger display size option, it may be worth saving the $250 and buying the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌.

Its processor is newer and more powerful than what comes in the base ninth-gen iPad, which means it will keep its performance longer and will likely have a little bit longer software support. The Air's screen is also nicer to look at and use than the standard iPad's, and the accessory situation is much better.

The iPad Air is generally far more powerful than the normal iPad, and that's especially true of the latest generation and its M2 chipset. But you'll likely only notice that performance difference if you engage in heavy-duty tasks such as video editing – the iPad 10 is perfectly fast enough for day-to-day jobs.

The new iPad Air

This is likely the best upgrade choice for most people. As Apple describes it, the iPad Air family is designed to bring features introduced in the iPad Pro to a lower price point.

Take a look at the iPad and the iPad Air side by side, and you'll soon spot the most glaring difference: The price. The iPad starts at $349, while the Air will set you back $599 for its cheapest model.

While the answer truly depends on the particular model and its intended use, you can reasonably expect an iPad to last 4-7 years. Generally speaking, the iPad is a very dependable mobile computer, and the only notable wear item is the battery.

Should You Buy an iPad Air? The iPad Air is Apple's mid-range tablet, offering many key iPad features like two display sizes, Touch ID, M2 chip performance, and a range of color options at prices starting at $599. Refreshed in May 2024, the iPad Air is brand new and at the beginning of its product cycle.

With the exact same display size and identical features like a Touch ID top button, USB-C port, and 5G connectivity, many prospective customers may now be considering a purchase of the standard ‌iPad‌ instead of the ‌iPad Air‌ – but there are more differences between the devices than immediately meets the eye.

Pretty sure the air in iPad air refers to the laminated (i think) screen, meaning there's no space, or air, between the screen and the display. It does make a difference for artists. I have a pro m2 now, but before i upgraded from an air 2 to an ipad 8, and for me, the gap between screen and display was noticeable.

The iPad (10th generation) (also referred to as the iPad 10.9-inch) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the successor to the ninth-generation iPad. It was announced on October 18, 2022, and was released on October 26, 2022. Apple Inc.

Is the new iPad Air 2024 worth it? ›

iPad Air (2024) review: Apple's M2 tablet is even better than my $1,200 Android. The new iPad Air may be an iterative upgrade on paper, but several features make it still the tablet most people should buy.

Upgrading from an older iPad Air to the M2 iPad Air

And again you have to ask yourself whether you really need the new features from Apple Pencil Pro for drawing. In my review of the M1 iPad Air 2022, I would recommend people get the refurbished iPad Pro because the price difference isn't huge (less than USD 100).

The iPad Air has a 10.9-inch display, with an anti-reflective coating, a wider color range and a fully laminated display. That's an upgrade over the 10.9-inch tenth-generation iPad, but a bigger difference still exists between the Air and the 11-inch Pro.

The iPad Air's superior processor becomes more useful for demanding workloads, like photo or video editing. To be sure, the iPad can run the same professional-grade apps the iPad Air can, like Photoshop or LumaFusion, but the iPad Air works noticeably faster for heavier duties.

Cons: Expensive compared to other iPad models, Android tablets, and even many full featured Mac and Windows notebooks. iPadOS, although improving with each version, still is somewhat awkward and hamstrung for professional and productivity use.

So, should you get the iPad Air or the iPad Pro? Each device got an update in May 2024, so either way, you're looking at the most modern versions of the iPad. The Pro is obviously more powerful and offers more features, but the Air is a bit more affordable, so it really depends on what you're looking for.

You should choose the iPad Air for college if:

You're looking for an all-in-one iPad that's strong enough to replace your laptop as your primary device. You plan to take intensive notes and prefer the convenience of the Apple Pencil 2 or Pro.

The basic, standard iPad is the iPad most people I know buy, and the one I most frequently recommend. Maybe that's because they're for families or kids. However, in the past year or so, the model I typically pick up to use is the 11-inch M1 iPad Air for its great combo of high-end speed at a not-too-outrageous price.