What are the "pros and cons" of the iPad Air M2 and iPad Air M3? Is one the iPad for me?

Only you can decide if a used iPad Air M2 or new iPad Air M3 is right for your needs.

However, an independent and objective "pros and cons" can help you make a solid choice.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air M2 with Apple Pencil Pro)

There are six iPad Air M2 models. Three with 11" displays -- the iPad Air M2 11" (Wi-Fi Only), M2 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell), and M2 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell China) -- and three with 13" displays -- the iPad Air M2 13" (Wi-Fi Only), M2 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell), and M2 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell China).

There also are six iPad Air M3 models which replaced the iPad Air M2 models. Three with 11" displays -- the iPad Air M3 11" (Wi-Fi Only), M3 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell), and M3 11" (Wi-Fi+Cell China) -- and three with 13" displays -- the iPad Air M3 13" (Wi-Fi Only), M3 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell), and M3 13" (Wi-Fi+Cell China).

If you would prefer a more detailed take, EveryiPad.com also provides an in-depth comparison of the iPad Air M2 and iPad Air M3 models. The tl;dr version is that these models are essentially the same except that the iPad Air M3 uses a newer processor and is around 17% faster.

For those who would like a quick rundown, this summary should be ideal:

Pros:

• Attractive and thin design with flat, easy-to-hold sides.
• Bright, high-resolution 11" and 13" "Liquid Retina" display options.
• Reasonably fast (more than twice as fast as the cheaper "regular" iPad in multicore tasks released at the same time; the iPad Air M2 is only 25% or so slower in multicore tasks and the iPad Air M3 is only about 13% slower than the much more expensive iPad Pro M4).
• Solid battery life.
• Higher capacity storage options than earlier iPad Air models (up to 1 TB).
• System-wide mirroring support.
• Support for 5G on cellular-equipped models in addition to Wi-Fi 6E.
• Logical landscape (horizontal) front camera and helpful Center Stage automatically tracks and zooms for better video conferencing.
• USB-C.
• Touch ID support is cleverly integrated in the power button.
• Support for the well-designed Apple Pencil Pro.
• Many earlier Apple Magic Keyboards are compatible (11" model options are shared by the iPad Air 4 and iPad Air 5 whereas the 13" model options are shared by the iPad Pro 5 12.9" and iPad Pro 6 12.9").

Cons:

• Screens are relatively low quality by today's standards (not OLED, no ProMotion).
• The battery is not intended to be replaced and self-replacement is more difficult than it needs to be (at least it has interior pull tabs, though).
• Internal storage cannot be upgraded.
• No SD card slot.
• Shooting photos and video with such a physically large device is awkward.
• USB-C is relatively slow compared to Thunderbolt.
• No bundled headphones (a particularly miserly omission given the price of the device).
• Not backwards compatible with the Apple Pencil 2.

So, is the iPad Air M2 or iPad Air M3 right for me?

The previous iPad Air M2 and current iPad Air M3 are excellent tablets; either likely hits the right balance of price and performance for most users. The iPad Air M2 is an even better value now on the used market.

For those on a tight budget or who have very basic needs, the entry-level "regular" iPad models might be fine, but these iPad Air models provide a much faster, much more modern tablet for a starting price of an extra US$250 or so (starting at US$599) and likely will last much longer in day-to-day use. The "ultimate" high-end iPad Pro models, on the other hand, have a starting price of another US$400 (starting at US$999) and really are quite expensive for most users.

These iPad Air models are ideal for anyone who finds the regular iPad too slow or out-of-date and the high-end iPad Pro too expensive. The iPad Air M2 and iPad Air M3 provide a great deal of value in an attractive package.

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.

Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.