Apple iPad Air (5th generation) vs Apple iPad (10th generation)
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) ($237) vs Apple iPad (10th generation) ($272) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right tablet.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Apple iPad Air (5th generation) | Apple iPad (10th generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $237 | $272 |
| Weight | 461g | 477g |
| Chip | M1 | A14 Bionic |
| Display | 10.9" Liquid Retina, 60Hz | 10.9" Liquid Retina, edge-to-edge |
| Ports | USB-C | — |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil (2nd generation) | 1st generation Apple Pencil, via adapter |
| Audio | Landscape stereo speakers | — |
| Weight | 461g (Wi-Fi, Apple published) | 477g (Apple published, Wi-Fi) |
| Port | — | USB-C |
| TouchID | — | Moved to top button |
Pros & Cons
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
- M1 for around two hundred dollars
- 461g and a laminated display
- USB-C
- Still fully supported by iPadOS
- 60Hz
- Only 64GB on the base model, which is tight
- Second-generation Pencil, not Pencil Pro
- Single rear camera
Apple iPad (10th generation)
- USB-C, first base iPad to drop Lightning
- Edge-to-edge display matches the iPad Air's modern look
- A14 chip is a real step up from the 9th gen's A13
- Landscape stereo speakers, better for video and games
- Still only supports the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, and needs a USB-C adapter to charge it
- No ProMotion or laminated display like the Air/Pro
- 477g, barely lighter than the 9th gen despite the redesign
- Costs meaningfully more than the 9th gen used for a smaller feature gap than the redesign suggests
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) is the better value at $237. Both are part of our curated tablet index — tap through to check current pricing.
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