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iPad Air Q&A
Update Published April 21, 2025
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Which iPad Air models support cellular networking? What are the differences between the cellular networking on each model? Which iPad Air models use which type of SIM? Nano? Apple SIM? eSIM?
Each iPad Air series, from the original to the current line, have at least one model that supports cellular networking. However, models from different generations, and even within generations, have different capabilities.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Cellular iPad Air 3 Models)
Physically, it is possible to tell that an iPad Air model supports some kind of cellular networking if it has a plastic panel or an antenna line on the back toward the top of the case, but this is not sufficient to determine the generation or the specific wireless capabilities.
Cellular Capable iPad Air Models
The Model Number is the easiest way to establish the precise iPad Air model; externally displayed toward the bottom on the back of each device:
iPad Air |
Model No |
If an iPad Air is not listed above, it does not support cellular networking, but it rather is a Wi-Fi only model.
To track down a specific iPad Air by a variety of different identifiers, please refer to the Ultimate iLookup feature.
iPad Air Cellular Differences
Cellular-equipped iPad Air models support a variety of different technologies and bands:
iPad Air |
Model |
4G LTE |
Other |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 | UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA CDMA EV-DO A & B |
||
| 38, 39 | UMTS (WCDMA)/HSPA+/ DC-HSDPA TD-SCDMA |
||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA TD-SCDMA CDMA EV-DO A & B |
||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA |
The cellular capable iPad Air 5 models added 5G support for the first time. They still support the older UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) standard, as well:
iPad Air |
Model |
4G LTE |
5G NR |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
Compared to the iPad Air 5 models, the cellular capable iPad Air M2 models have slightly different 4G LTE (drops band 46) and 5G support (adds bands n14, n26, n71, n75, and n76). The iPad Air M3 models have the same capabilites:
iPad Air |
Model |
4G LTE |
5G NR |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 |
iPad Air SIM Types
Prior to the introduction of the iPad Air M2 models in 2024, which only have eSIM support, cellular-equipped iPad Air models have a Nano SIM card slot:
- iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular) - A1567
- iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA/NZ/AU) - A2153
- iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global) - A2123
- iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA) - A2324
- iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global) - A2072
- iPad Air 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell) - A2589
Except for models sold only in mainland China, the cellular capable iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, iPad Air 4, and iPad Air 5 models support a physical Apple SIM as well.
With the exception of the China-only iPad Air 3 (A2154), iPad Air 4 (A2325), and iPad Air 5 (A2591), iPad Air 3 and later models have an "eSIM" integrated or "embedded" in the device, too. The iPad Air M2 and iPad Air M3 models, regardless of the location sold, only support eSIM.
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