Apple iPad Air 11″ (M2) vs Apple iPad Air 11″ (M3)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiPad Air 11″ (M2) | AppleiPad Air 11″ (M3) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 2024 | March 2025 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 10.86″ | 10.86″ |
| Resolution | 2360 × 1640 | 2360 × 1640 |
| Sharpness | 265 pixels per inch | 265 pixels per inch |
| Panel | LCD | LCD |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Display type | Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit IPS LCD; sold as 11-inch, 10.86 inches diagonally as a rectangle | Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit IPS LCD; sold as 11-inch, 10.86 inches measured diagonally as a rectangle |
| Pixel density | 264 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Display features | 60Hz refresh (Notebookcheck); wide colour (P3); True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Wide colour (P3); True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Performance | ||
| Chip | M2 | M3 |
| Memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB (better) |
| CPU | 8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores | 8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores |
| GPU | 9-core GPU per Apple's corrected specifications; Media Engine with hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC, video encode and decode | 9-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing; Media Engine with hardware-accelerated 8K HEVC, 4K H.264, ProRes and ProRes RAW, AV1 decode |
| AI engine | 16-core Neural Engine | 16-core Neural Engine |
| Cameras | ||
| Rear camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Ultra wide camera | None | None |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; five-element lens; autofocus with Focus Pixels; up to 5x digital zoom; Smart HDR 4; panorama up to 63MP | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8, five-element lens, autofocus with Focus Pixels, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4 |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/2.0; Smart HDR 4; Retina Flash with True Tone; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps | Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/2.0 |
| Video recording | 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation; HEVC and H.264 | 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p) |
| Battery and connections | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Battery capacity | 28.93 Wh | 28.93 Wh |
| Mobile data option | Yes | Yes |
| Stylus | Supported, sold separately | Supported, sold separately |
| Keyboard made for it | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life detail | Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data | Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data |
| Charging | Via USB-C power adapter or computer; power adapter not included in the UK box; Apple does not specify maximum charging power | Via USB-C power adapter (not included) or computer |
| USB-C | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 up to 10Gb/s; one external display up to 6K at 60Hz | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); one external display up to 6K at 60Hz |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Mobile network | Optional 5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO and Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; eSIM only, no physical SIM; GPS/GNSS on cellular models; both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models weigh 462g | 5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO; eSIM only |
| Stylus support | Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), sold separately; Apple Pencil hover; magnetic pairing and charging for Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil hover |
| Keyboards | Magic Keyboard, available in black or white; Smart Connector; sold separately | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (white) |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 462 g | 460 g (better) |
| Thickness | 6.1 mm | 6.1 mm |
| Height × width | 247.6 × 178.5 mm | 247.6 × 178.5 mm |
| Operating system | iPadOS | iPadOS |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Touch ID in the top button |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers with Spatial Audio | Landscape stereo speakers |
| Microphones | Dual microphones | Dual microphones |
| Sensors | Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass | Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor |
| Materials | Enclosure made with 100% recycled aluminium | 100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure |
| Colours | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Grey | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Grey |
| Software at launch | iPadOS 17 | iPadOS 18 |
| In the box | iPad Air, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m) | iPad Air, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m) |
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