Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) vs Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
This comparison puts the Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) and Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) side by side — two tablets measured against the same 43-spec sheet, with every meaningful gap scored and explained. On our weighted VS Score the Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) finishes ahead, 100 to 93 — a solid lead.
The single biggest measurable gap is weight: 460 g vs 462 g.
Tap a category to see which one wins it.
Design
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)43
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) wins Design
Display
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
Performance
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
Battery
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
Cameras
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
Productivity & connectivity
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
Sensors
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
This category is a tie
100Points
93Points
Where the Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) beats the Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
2 g less weight ?460 g vs 462 g
Where the Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) beats the Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
There is no single answer — it depends on what you will actually use it for. Match your priority to the pick below.
Best for designApple iPad Air 11 (2025) takes the category 100 to 43 — driven by weight (460 g vs 462 g).
The safe all-rounderApple iPad Air 11 (2025) wins more of the categories that carry real weight, topping the overall VS Score at 100.
What matters to you?
Drag the sliders to weight each category and re-rank the products to suit your priorities.
Design
Display
Performance
Battery
Cameras
Productivity & connectivity
Sensors
Your ranking
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)Your pick100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)Your pick94
Score breakdown
Design
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)43
Decided by weight (460 g vs 462 g).
Display
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
Performance
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
Battery
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
Cameras
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
Productivity & connectivity
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
Sensors
Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)100
Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)100
How the VS Score works — and what it can’t tell you
Every measurable spec is scored relative to this matchup: the best value here earns 100%, the worst 0%, and everything between scales linearly. Each spec then counts according to an editorial weight that reflects real-world impact — a battery-capacity gap moves the score far more than a colour-options list. The category scores above are the weighted results inside each group, and the overall VS Score rolls all of them together; the evidence line under each category names the specs that actually decided it.
Unknown values are never estimated. A spec a product doesn’t report simply drops out of that product’s scoring — it isn’t penalised with a guess — and a spec only one side reports can never produce a “win”. The trade-off is honest but real: a thinner spec sheet means a score built on fewer data points, which is why the completeness figures are disclosed under About this data.
Most importantly: a spec-sheet lead is not the same as a better product. Megapixels, gigahertz and benchmark points describe capacity, not experience — image processing, software optimisation, thermals, haptics and ergonomics decide how a device actually feels, and no table captures reliability or long-term support quality. Treat the scores as a structured summary of what can be measured, read the caveats under each key difference, and use the weight tuner to re-rank the comparison by what matters to you.
Design
Weight ?
460 g
462 g
A lighter tablet is more comfortable to hold.
Thickness ?
6.1 mm
6.1 mm
A thinner tablet is easier to carry.
Build material ?
Glass front
Glass front
The frame and back materials of the device.
Biometric unlock ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Unlock with a fingerprint or face scan.
Colors ?
Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, Blue
Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, Blue
The colour options the tablet is sold in.
Display
Screen size ?
11 "
11 "
A larger screen is better for media and productivity.
Resolution ?
2,360 px
2,360 px
The vertical pixel count; higher is sharper.
Pixel density ?
264 ppi
264 ppi
More pixels per inch produce crisper text and images.
Refresh rate ?
60 Hz
60 Hz
A higher refresh rate produces smoother motion and scrolling.
Peak brightness ?
500 nits
500 nits
Higher peak brightness is easier to read in bright light.
Panel type ?
Liquid Retina IPS LCD
Liquid Retina IPS LCD
The underlying panel technology (e.g. OLED, IPS).
OLED display ?
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
OLED panels offer deeper blacks and better contrast than LCD.
Laminated display ?
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
A laminated screen reduces glare and stylus parallax.
Contrast ratio ?
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2025))
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2024))
The ratio between the brightest white and darkest black.
Performance
Chipset ?
Apple M3
Apple M2
The system-on-chip that powers the device.
RAM ?
8 GB
8 GB
More RAM keeps more apps running smoothly at once.
Internal storage ?
128 GB
128 GB
More storage holds more apps, media and files.
Storage type ?
NVMe
NVMe
The storage standard (e.g. UFS 4.0); newer is faster.
Expandable storage (microSD) ?
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Storage can be expanded with a memory card.
AnTuTu benchmark ?
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2025))
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2024))
A synthetic score estimating overall performance.
Geekbench multi-core ?
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2025))
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2024))
Multi-core CPU benchmark score; higher is faster.
Geekbench single-core ?
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2025))
? Unknown (Apple iPad Air 11 (2024))
Single-core CPU benchmark score; higher is faster.
RAM type ?
LPDDR5X
LPDDR5X
The memory standard (e.g. LPDDR5X); newer is faster.
Battery
Battery capacity ?
7,606 mAh
7,606 mAh
A larger battery generally lasts longer between charges.
Battery life ?
10 h
10 h
Estimated hours of mixed use on a charge.
Wired charging ?
28.93 W
28.93 W
Higher wattage charges the battery faster.
USB-C ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
A reversible, widely compatible charging and data port.
Battery type ?
Li-Po
Li-Po
The battery chemistry (e.g. Li-Po, Li-Ion).
Cameras
Rear camera ?
12 MP
12 MP
A higher megapixel count can capture more detail.
Front camera ?
12 MP
12 MP
A higher resolution front camera improves video calls.
Records 4K video ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Captures high-resolution 4K footage.
Front camera aperture ?
2 f/
2 f/
A lower f-number lets in more light for video calls.
Productivity & connectivity
Stylus support ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Works with an active stylus for notes and drawing.
Keyboard support ?
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Pairs with a dedicated keyboard accessory.
5G support ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Connects to fast 5G mobile networks on the go.
Wi-Fi standard ?
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E
The Wi-Fi generation supported; later is faster.
Stereo speakers ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Multiple speakers deliver richer, more immersive sound.
Bluetooth version ?
5.3
5.3
A newer Bluetooth version improves range and efficiency.
NFC ?
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✗Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Enables contactless pairing and payments.
Operating system ?
iPadOS 18.3.2
iPadOS 17.4
The software platform the device runs.
Sensors
Accelerometer ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Detects motion and orientation for auto-rotate.
Gyroscope ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
Senses rotation for gaming and photography.
Compass ?
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2025)
✓Apple iPad Air 11 (2024)
A magnetometer for navigation and maps.
About this data
Specifications are compiled from each manufacturer’s official spec sheet, cross-checked against trusted specification databases, and normalised into one schema so identical things are compared identically.
Specifications last verified July 5, 2026.
Data completeness: Apple iPad Air 11 (2025) 91% and Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) 91% of the 43 specs in this category. Anything we could not verify is shown as Unknown — never estimated — and is excluded from all scores.
Prices and availability come from live retailer feeds via our shopping partners and refresh throughout the day; a missing price means no partner currently lists the product, not that it is discontinued.
Want the full picture? Our editorial guidelines explain how we research products, weight the scores and stay independent.
Spotted an error in a spec? Tell us and we will correct the sheet.