Score the M1 iPad Air for Less and Get AI-Packed Performance

Looking for a Cheaper iPad with Apple Intelligence? Try the M1 iPad Air

Apple has introduced two new iPads: the iPad Air with the M3 chip and an updated entry-level iPad 11 with the A16 chip. While the cheaper iPad 11 is faster with 50% more speed and 6GB of RAM, it still doesn't support Apple Intelligence features.

For those looking for a more affordable iPad with full AI capabilities, the M1 iPad Air from 2022 is recommended. Here are its key advantages over the new iPad 11:

• Thinner and Lighter: The M1 iPad Air is 6.1 mm thick and weighs 461 grams, compared to 7 mm and 477 grams for the iPad 11.
• Better Display: It features a wide P3 color gamut and an anti-reflective coating, while the iPad 11 has a limited sRGB display with non-laminated glass.
• Faster Chip and Better Graphics: The M1 chip, with its 8-core CPU and GPU, outperforms the A16's 5-core CPU and 4-core GPU by around 30% in benchmarks.
• More RAM: 8GB of RAM on the M1 iPad Air supports better multitasking and AI tasks.
• Stage Manager Support: The M1 iPad Air can run multiple app windows simultaneously and connect to an external monitor, features not supported by the iPad 11.
• Apple Intelligence Support: Full access to Apple's latest AI features.
• Apple Pencil 2 Support: More advanced features compared to the USB-C Apple Pencil for iPad 11.
• USB-C 3.1 Port: Faster data transfer speeds (up to 10 Gbps) compared to the iPad 11’s USB-C 2.0 port (480 Mbps).

The only advantage of the iPad 11 is its higher starting storage capacity (128GB vs. 64GB). The refurbished M1 iPad Air starts at $379 and includes Apple's 1-year warranty.