iPad Air (5th generation)

Brings Apple M1 desktop-class silicon with 8GB unified memory, 5G cellular, and Center Stage video calling to the mid-tier iPad Air enclosure.

Generation delta

What changed?

Apple M1 chip
8-core CPU (4 high-performance Firestorm cores and 4 high-efficiency Icestorm cores), 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 8GB of unified memory with 68.25 GB/s bandwidth; delivers up to 60 percent faster CPU performance and up to 2x faster graphics performance over iPad Air 4.
Silicon
12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage
Upgraded front camera with a 122° field of view; automatically pans and zooms using machine learning to keep users centered during video calls.
Camera
5G cellular connectivity
Sub-6 GHz 5G support on cellular models delivering wireless data speeds up to 3.5 Gbps in ideal conditions.
Connectivity
2x faster USB-C port
USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface delivering data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps (doubling the 5 Gbps throughput of iPad Air 4) and supporting external video output up to 6K resolution at 60Hz (including the Apple Pro Display XDR).
Display
New color palette
Introduced Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and a new Blue finish.
Product

10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (LED-backlit IPS, 2360-by-1640 resolution at 264 ppi, 5…
10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (LED-backlit IPS, 2360-by-1640 resolution at 264 ppi, 500 nits brightness, P3 wide color gamut, True Tone, fully laminated with anti-reflective coating).
Display
Top-button Touch ID capacitive biometric sensor
Top-button Touch ID capacitive biometric sensor.
Sensors
Apple Pencil (2nd generation) magnetic wireless charging and pairing along the top edge
Apple Pencil (2nd generation) magnetic wireless charging and pairing along the top edge.
Connectivity
Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio compatibility via the rear Smart Connector
Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio compatibility via the rear Smart Connector.
Ports
6.1 mm aluminum unibody enclosure weighing 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (Cellular)
6.1 mm aluminum unibody enclosure weighing 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (Cellular).
Connectivity
28.6-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery providing up to 10 hours of web sur…
28.6-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery providing up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi.
Connectivity

Technology DNA

First Apple-designed chip family for Mac, introduced in 2020.

Square-sensor front camera system introduced on 2025 iPhone generation.

High-density display branding introduced on iPhone 4 and later expanded across product families.

Fingerprint authentication introduced on iPhone 5s.

Canonical predecessor