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iPad Air Q&A
Update Published October 26, 2022
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What are all the differences between the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2? Which should I buy?
Please note that the original iPad and iPad Air 2 both have been discontinued. This Q&A has been updated with the latest iOS support info and other details and can be of particular use if you are buying or selling either model on the used market.
There are a number of differences between the original iPad Air models -- the iPad Air (Wi-Fi Only), iPad Air (Wi-Fi/Cellular), and iPad Air (Wi-Fi/TD-LTE/Cellular - China) -- and the iPad Air 2 models -- the iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi Only) and iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular).
Some of these differences are apparent immediately whereas other differences are internal, but just as important, if not more so. The two lines have some similarities, also, and the similarities are well worth reviewing, too.
External Design Differences
The original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 models are both 9.4 inches tall and 6.6 inches wide when held in portrait (vertical) orientation, but the iPad Air 2 is slightly thinner (0.24 of an inch compared to 0.29 of an inch) and lighter (just slightly under a pound compared to just slightly over a pound).
In hands-on testing, EveryiPad.com found the size and weight difference to be noticeable when both are side-by-side, but this difference alone is unlikely to matter to most users and certainly the difference is far more modest than it is between the original iPad Air and the iPad 4th Gen it replaced.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air - Left, iPad Air 2 - Right)
In the photos above, the icon-less "Touch ID" fingerprint-capable home button (right) is the tell-tale sign of the iPad Air 2, but there are a number of other external design differences, as well.
Perhaps most notably, the iPad Air 2 design no longer sports the thin "toggle" switch on the right side of the original iPad Air and earlier models that allows one to choose between "Rotation Lock" or "Mute" functionality in software and quickly deploy either with the switch in favor of all software based control of these functions.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air 2 Color Options - Silver, Gold & Space Gray)
The original iPad Air is offered with either a white front and a silver colored back or a black front and a "Space Gray" back, but the iPad Air 2 also adds a white front and a gold colored back to these earlier options.
Although Apple makes no mention of it, the iPad Air 2 additionally is quite a bit louder than the original iPad Air. Both lines have dual speakers, but as first discovered by iFixit, the iPad Air 2 is packing completely different speakers behind its revised bottom grilles (with one row of fourteen larger holes instead of two rows of twenty smaller ones for each speaker).
Both models also have dual microphones and a "Lightning" port for power and connecting to a Mac or Windows PC, if desired.
Display Differences
Although both the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 models have an IPS LED-backlit 9.7-inch 2048x1536 (264 ppi) "Retina" display, the iPad Air 2 display is fully-laminated -- so the glass cover, touch-sensitive digitizer layer, and LCD are a single piece -- and it also has an antireflective coating that Apple says "reduces glare by 56 percent" compared to the display in the original iPad Air.
Apple also claims that the iPad Air 2 display provides "enhanced contrast and richer, more vibrant colors" but in hands-on evaluation, EveryiPad.com found the two displays to look essentially the same apart from the helpfully reduced glare on the iPad Air 2.
The well regarded iLounge mostly concurs, but in testing of multiple devices, the publication also interestingly discovered:
We noticed something a little strange when comparing different iPad Air 2s to different iPad Airs. One of our editors saw what appeared to be a sharper display in the iPad Air 2 than the iPad Air -- sharper words underneath the Home Screen icons, and a slightly higher contrast between dark and light colors. Another editor saw no difference in sharpness. We believe that the difference comes from Apple's use of two different types of screens in the original iPad Air, some IGZO and some not; the iPad Air 2's screen will therefore look a little "different" compared to some Airs, but not others.
In a detailed technical evaluation of the displays, the always excellent AnandTech reported that there was not "too much of a difference" in terms of display characteristics, but the iPad Air 2 display generally was a bit better. However, the original iPad Air display provided slightly better maximum brightness, black levels, and saturation accuracy with the iPad Air 2 display faring better on other tests.
Ultimately, the display in both lines is excellent, with the antiglare coating on the iPad Air 2 the noticeable difference.
Camera Differences
The iPad Air and iPad Air 2 both have dual cameras -- one front and one back -- but there are noticeable differences between them.
The front-facing "FaceTime HD" cameras are similar on both models and have 1.2 megapixel sensors capable of shooting both still photos and video up to 720p. However, the FaceTime HD camera on the iPad Air 2 models provide better low light performance courtesy of a "larger f/2.2 aperture that lets in 81 percent more light" in addition to "an all-new sensor and larger pixels."
The rear-facing "iSight" camera is significantly better on the iPad Air 2 line. Both have an f/2.4 aperture and can shoot both still photos and 30 FPS 1080p video, but the original iPad Air only has a 5 megapixel sensor whereas the iPad Air 2 has an 8 megapixel sensor. Apple also notes that the iPad Air 2 iSight camera has "improved face-detection technology" and "better noise reduction" in addition to support for "burst mode" photos and "slo-mo video" functionality.
Internal Differences
The original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 models have substantial internal differences.
As first determined by AnandTech, the original iPad Air models have a dual core 1.4 GHz Apple A7 processor, an M7 motion coprocessor, a PVR G6430 graphics processor, 1 GB of RAM, and originally were offered with 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB of storage. Currently, the original iPad Air only is available with 16 GB or 32 GB of storage new from Apple, but all capacities remain available on the secondary market, of course.
On the other hand, as first reported by PassMark and confirmed by AnandTech, the iPad Air 2 models have a faster 1.5 GHz, three core, Apple A8X processor, an M8 motion coprocessor, an Apple/PVR GXA6850 graphics processor, 2 GB of RAM, and can be configured with 16 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB (but not 32 GB) of storage.
Both models have an accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope, ambient light sensor, and digital compass, but the iPad Air 2 models add a barometer, as well.
Identification Differences
At the initial time of introduction, it is quick to differentiate between the iPad Air 2 and the original iPad Air models because the iPad Air 2 has a icon-less "Touch ID" home button.
However, as it is not possible to visually differentiate between the different cellular capable original iPad Air models and subsequent iPad Air models no doubt will look similar, visual identification is not a good long-term method for differentiation.
Instead, one of the best methods for external identification is via Model Number. Model numbers are provided in tiny type toward the bottom of the back of each iPad.
Specifically, the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 model numbers are the following:
iPad |
Model Number |
These iPad models can be differentiated by other identifiers as well, such as the Order Number, which can be located by selecting the Settings app and pressing General > About and scrolling down to what is specified as "Model" within the iOS. For example, the Wi-Fi only configuration of the original iPad Air in silver with 16 GB of storage is MD788LL/A.
To pinpoint an exact iPad by a variety of different identifiers -- including its Serial Number -- please refer to EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iLookup feature.
Connectivity & Battery Life Differences
Both the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 support Bluetooth 4.0 and the cellular capable models from both lines also support A-GPS, as well, whereas the Wi-Fi only models do not.
However, the original iPad Air models only support dual stream 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi (MIMO) whereas the iPad Air 2 adds support for faster 802.11ac (HT80 with MIMO). The cellular capable iPad Air 2 model -- the iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular) (A1567) also includes support for more LTE bands than its predecessor.
Officially, the battery life of both lines is the same, as well. When using Wi-Fi, all of these models support a maximum of ten hours of runtime, but the cellular data capable models only support a maximum of nine hours of runtime when using cellular connectivity. However, the original iPad Air has a larger battery (32.4 Whr compared to just 27.3 Whr for the iPad Air 2) and in real-world use, the older model tends to eke out a bit more runtime.
Specific mobile data connectivity for the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 include:
| iPad Air | Model Number |
GSM EDGE |
UMTS/HSPA+ DC-HSDPA |
CDMA EV-DO |
LTE Bands 4G |
| Original (Wi-Fi Only) | A1474 | None | None | None | None |
| Original (Wi-Fi/Cellular) | A1475 | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz | 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz | 800, 1900 MHz | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 |
| Original (Wi-Fi/Cellular - China) | A1476 | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz | 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz, TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A) | None | 38, 39 (TD-LTE) |
| 2 (Wi-Fi Only) | A1566 | None | None | None | None |
| 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular) | A1567 | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz | 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz | 800, 1900 MHz | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
With the exception of the original iPad Air (Wi-Fi/TD-LTE - China) (A1476), which is sold only in mainland China and intended for use on China Mobile, the cellular capable models all ship, or shipped, unlocked and can be used on any carrier that provides a compatible Nano SIM card and that supports the underlying cellular technology. Nevertheless, even if the device is compatible, some companies may require activation or configuration before the iPad will work on their network.
In the US and UK, if purchased from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller -- like site sponsor Adorama -- the cellular capable iPad Air 2 also shipped with a new "Apple SIM" that is designed to support multiple carriers via a single Apple-issued Nano SIM card, but in practice it has a frustrating list of limitations imposed by some carriers.
iOS Support Differences
The original iPad Air models first shipped with iOS 7.0.3 whereas the iPad Air 2 models first shipped with iOS 8.1 and cannot support earlier versions of the iOS.
Running iOS 7, the original iPad is fully supported with the exception of the "Panorama" and "Filters in Camera" photographic features and fully supported by iOS 8 with the exception of the "Health" and "Apple Pay" features. Interestingly, the first release of iOS 8 did not support Panorama on the original iPad Air, but Apple quietly added Panorama support with iOS 8.0.2.
The iPad Air 2 is fully supported by iOS 8 as well as iOS 9 with the exception of the "Health" functionality. It also supports Apple Pay, but only for apps and not for use within retail stores. The original iPad Air, on the other hand, supports Transit as well as the "Slide Over" and "Picture-in-Picture" multitasking functionality, but it does not support the more substantial "Split View" multitasking option.
The original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 both are supported by iOS 10, but neither support the minor "Raise to Wake" or Ride-Booking features.
The original iPad Air and iPad Air 2 both are supported by iOS 11 and iOS 12, but only the iPad Air 2 is supported by iOS 13 (iPadOS), iPadOS 14, and iPadOS 15.
Neither of these devices support iPadOS 16 or later versions of the iPadOS, including the current version of the operating system.The iPad Air 2 fully supports iOS 13 with the exception of the Adjust Portrait Lighting and "High-Key Mono" photography features as well as the modest AR features of Motion Capture and People Occlusion.
The iPad Air 2 is supported by the current version of iPadOS 14, but does not support a number of advanced features (ARKit Depth API and Location Anchors, AR RealityKit Video Textures, Spatial Audio via AirPods Pro and On-Device Dictation).
Finally, when running iPadOS 15, the iPad Air 2 does not support a significant number of advanced features (Spatial Audio, Portrait Mode, 3D Landmarks, Interactive Globe, Live Text in Photos, Live Text Translation, and Visual Look Up as well as Universal Control).
Pricing Differences
As initially shipped, the original iPad Air was offered at the following price points in the United States:
| Original iPad Air Capacity: | 16 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Price with Wi-Fi: | US$499 | US$599 | US$699 | US$799 |
| Original Price with Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$629 | US$729 | US$829 | US$929 |
On October 16, 2014, Apple discontinued the 64 GB and 128 GB configurations of the original iPad Air and cut the price of the remaining configurations accordingly:
| Final iPad Air Capacity: | 16 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Price with Wi-Fi: | US$399 | US$449 | -- | -- |
| Final Price with Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$529 | US$579 | -- | -- |
On March 21, 2016, Apple discontinued the original iPad Air altogether.
The iPad Air 2
was introduced at slightly different price points -- effectively reducing the relative value of the entry-level model and increasing the relative value of the higher-end models. The 64 GB model provides three times the storage of the entry-level model for only 20% more money:
| Original iPad Air 2 Capacity: | 16 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Price w/ Wi-Fi: | US$499 | -- | US$599 | US$699 |
| Original Price w/ Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$629 | -- | US$729 | US$829 |
On March 21, 2016, Apple discontinued the 128 GB option for the iPad Air 2 and cut the price of the remaining configurations by US$100 each:
| Early 2016 iPad Air 2 Capacity: | 16 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early 2016 Price w/ Wi-Fi: | US$399 | -- | US$499 | -- |
| Early 2016 Price w/ Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | US$529 | -- | US$629 | -- |
On September 7, 2016, Apple introduced a new 32 GB configuration of the iPad Air 2 and re-introduced the 128 GB option:
| Late 2016 iPad Air 2 Capacity: | 16 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late 2016 Price with Wi-Fi: | -- | US$399 | -- | US$499 |
| Late 2016 Price with Wi-Fi, Cellular & A-GPS: | -- | US$529 | -- | US$629 |
On March 21, 2017, Apple discontinued the iPad Air 2.
For original pricing details in dozens of other countries, please refer to the iPad specs page for the device of interest as well as EveryiPad.com's Global Original Prices section.
Comparison Chart
The major differences between the original iPad Air and the iPad Air 2 are summarized below:
 Original iPad Air |
 iPad Air 2 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Display Size: | 9.7" | 9.7" |
| Resolution: | 2048x1536 (264 ppi) | 2048x1536 (264 ppi) |
| Display Surface: | Glossy | Antiglare |
| Display Construction: | Glass/Digitizer/LCD | Fully-Laminated |
| Processor Speed: | 1.4 GHz | 1.5 GHz |
| Processor Cores: | Two | Three |
| Processor Type: | Apple A7 | Apple A8X |
| Motion Coprocessor: | Apple M7 | Apple M8 |
| Video Processor: | PVR G6430 | Apple/PVR GXA6850 |
| RAM: | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage Options: | 16, 32, 64, 128 GB | 16, 32, 64, 128 GB |
| Data Networks: | Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi & Cellular Data | Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi & Cellular Data |
| Wi-Fi Support: | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11/a/b/g/n/ac |
| MIMO Support: | Yes | Yes (HT80) |
| LTE Bands: | Many (14) | Many (20) |
| Barometer: | No | Yes |
| Front Camera: | 720p, 1.2 MP, f/2.4 | 720p, 1.2 MP, f/2.2 |
| Rear Camera: | 1080p, 5 MP, f/2.4 | 1080p, 8 MP, f/2.4 |
| Panorama Support: | Yes (iOS 8.0.2+) | Yes |
| Burst Mode Photos: | No | Yes |
| Slo-Mo Video: | No | Yes |
| A-GPS: | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Touch ID: | No | Yes |
| Side Switch: | Yes | No |
| Apple SIM: | No | Yes |
| Battery Whr: | 32.4 Whr | 27.3 Whr |
| Color Options: | Silver/Gray | Silver/Gold/Gray |
| Original iOS: | iOS 7.0.3 | iOS 8.1 |
| Maximum iOS: | iOS 12 | iPadOS 15 |
| Slide Over (iOS 9): | Yes | Yes |
| Split View (iOS 9): | No | Yes |
| Apple Pay: | No | Limited |
| Dimensions (In): | 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.29 | 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.24 |
| Weight (Lbs): | 1.0, 1.05 | 0.96, 0.98 |
| Model Numbers: | A1474/A1475/A1476 | A1566/A1567 |
| Original Price (US): | US$499-US$929 | US$499-US$829 |
So, should I buy an iPad Air or an iPad Air 2 model?
Just compared to one another (and ignoring newer iPad models), most users should buy an iPad Air 2. Although both devices are high quality, the iPad Air 2 models most notably provide (1) support for later versions of the iPadOS (but not the current version), (2) an antireflective screen, (3) faster performance and twice the RAM, (4) better cameras, (5) faster Wi-Fi, and (6) the cellular capable model has expanded LTE support, as well. The even thinner and lighter housing and Touch ID sensor are welcomed improvements also and you may like the gold color option, too.
Because neither device still support the current version of the iPadOS, app support will continue to wane and most users now will be better served with an iPad that supports a newer, ideally current, version of the operating system. However, for someone with a tight budget and modest needs, the iPad Air 2 may remain usable for a while longer.
If you consider an original iPad Air and there is a specific app that you want to use, it would be a good idea to make sure that the current version of the app will still work with iOS 12.
iPad Air Purchase & Sale Options
There are many companies that sell iPad devices. However, purchasing from a solid business with extensive Apple knowledge -- and after sales support -- will provide the best experience and save you money and time, too.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad Air models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad (new or old alike).
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