iPad Air (2025) vs. iPad Air (2022): should you consider upgrading?

      A new iPad Air has just been released. The iPad Air (2025) is quite similar to the iPad Air (2024), but how does it stack up against the iPad Air (2022)? If you're contemplating an upgrade, we have the details you need.

      **iPad Air (2025) vs iPad Air (2022): specifications**

      **iPad Air (2025)**

      **iPad Air (2022)**

      **Size**

      11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches

      13-inch: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 inches

      10.9-inch only: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches

      **Weight**

      11-inch: 1.01 pounds for both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular

      13-inch: 1.36 pounds for both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular

      1.02 pounds

      **Screen size and resolution**

      11-inch: Liquid Retina Display with 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 ppi

      13-inch: Liquid Retina Display with a 2732 x 2048 resolution at 264 ppi

      10.9-inch: Liquid Retina Display with 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 ppi

      **SDR Brightness**

      11-inch: 500 nits max

      13-inch: 600 nits max

      SDR brightness: 500 nits max

      **Operating system**

      iPadOS 18

      Apple is expected to provide up to five years of software updates (to iPadOS 23)

      Shipped with iPadOS 15.4

      Assuming Apple will provide at least five more years of software updates, it should support until iPadOS 20

      **Processor**

      Apple M3

      8-core CPU

      9-core GPU

      16-core Neural Engine

      Hardware-accelerated ray tracing

      100GB/s memory bandwidth

      8GB RAM

      Enhanced media engine

      Apple M1

      8-core CPU

      8-core GPU

      16-core Neural Engine

      8GB RAM

      Media engine

      **Storage**

      128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

      64GB, 256GB

      **Cameras**

      12MP Wide camera (rear)

      12MP Landscape Center Stage camera (front)

      12MP Wide camera (rear)

      12MP Ultra Wide camera (front)

      **Battery life**

      Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or video playback

      Up to nine hours of web surfing on a cellular data network

      Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or video playback

      Up to nine hours of web surfing on a cellular data network

      **Apple Pencil support**

      Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C

      Supports Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

      **Colors**

      Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight

      Space Gray, Green, Pink, Purple, Starlight

      **Price (at launch)**

      11-inch:

      From $599 (Wi-Fi only)

      From $749 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

      13-inch:

      From $799 (Wi-Fi only)

      From $949 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

      From $599 (Wi-Fi only)

      From $749 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

      **Review**

      Coming soon

      iPad Air (2022)

      **iPad Air (2025) vs. iPad Air (2022): design and display**

      Fionna Agomuoh / Digital Trends

      A major change Apple implemented between the iPad Air (2022) and the iPad Air (2024) was the introduction of a 13-inch model alongside the standard version, which increased from 10.9 inches in the iPad Air (2022) to 11 inches in the 2024 version. For the iPad Air (2025), Apple continues to offer 13 and 11-inch screen sizes.

      Both the iPad Air (2025) and the iPad Air (2022) utilize Liquid Retina display technology, featuring True Tone, P3 wide color support, and an anti-reflective coating. However, the 13-inch variant has a brighter display with a maximum brightness of 600 nits, versus 500 nits for the 11-inch model.

      In terms of design, the iPad Air (2025) retains the familiar thin-bezel and flat-edge look characteristic of the iPad Air lineup. This year's model comes in Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight.

      **iPad Air (2025) vs. iPad Air (2022): performance**

      Fionna Agomuoh / Digital Trends

      On the performance front, the iPad Air (2025) features the M