iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Which is best in 2024?

The iPad 10 vs iPad Air debate has become a hot topic of discussion among tech enthusiasts since Apple revamped its current tablet lineup. Upon the discontinuation of the ninth-generation iPad, the tech giant has slashed the price of the 10th-generation ‌iPad, making it an appealing buy. Meanwhile, the Air lineup has been updated to the Apple M2 chip and is now available in two screen sizes.

Choosing one over the other can be tricky, as they come with the same design, display size, and camera systems. However, some differences set them apart from each other. This article compares both devices to help you make an informed decision.

Note: This article is purely subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Specs

There are some differences between both Apple tablets' hardware configurations (Image via Apple)

Let’s start our comparison by checking out the core configurations of the tablets for a rough idea of their capabilities:

Specifications	iPad 10	iPad Air
Screen size	10.9-inch	11-inch and 13-inch
Display technology	Liquid retina	Liquid retina
Processor	A14	M2
Rear camera	12MP	12MP
Front camera	Landscape 12MP	Landscape 12MP
Touch ID	Yes	Yes
Connectivity	WiFi 6, 5G, Bluetooth 5.2	WiFi 6E, 5G, Bluetooth 5.3
Storage	Upto 256GB	Upto 1TB
Size	248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm	247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm for 11-inch \|\| 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1 mm for 13-inch
Weight	481g	462g and 618g
RAM	N/A	8GB
Battery	Up to 10 hours of web browsing or watching video	Up to 10 hours of web browsing or watching video
Price	Starts at $349	Starts at $599

On paper, the two devices seem almost identical. “Almost,” because there are a few changes that set them apart.

First, the processor. The Air model is powered by an M2 processor compared to its counterpart's A14. The M-series chip has two extra CPU cores and five extra GPU cores.

With that said, the Air model offers a storage capacity of up to 1TB, whereas its competitor is limited to 256GB. The other difference is in the pricing. There is a $250 price gap between their base models.

iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Performance

There is a huge prowess gap in the models (Image via Apple)

The performance of a device is based on multiple aspects. As seen above, there is dissimilarity in the chips and the amount of memory of both tabs. Based on the on-paper specifications, it is safe to assume that the iPad Air is way more powerful than the iPad 10.

To get more insights into the iPad 10 vs iPad Air battle, I have compiled some synthetic test results of the processors of both devices. Data is sourced from the CPU-Monkey website.

Tests	M2	A14
Geekbench 5 (Single-core)	1874 (+17%)	1590
Geekbench 5 (Multi-core)	8853 (+108%)	4247
Geekbench 6 (Single-core)	2596 (+25%)	2072
Geekbench 6 (Multi-core)	10062 (+114%)	4689
iGPU - FP32	3550 (+373%)	749
NPU	15.8 (+43%)	11

The results are as expected. The M2 chip outperforms its competitor in every test by a huge margin.

That said, you will get around 10 hours of video playback on both tablets.

iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Design and display

The new iPad Air and 10th-gen iPad look very similar (Image via Apple)

Although the Air model (11-inch) is marginally thinner and lighter, both tablets look very similar. The biggest difference is the color options in which these machines are available. Besides that, there is nothing much that differentiates them in terms of design. However, the Air model is also available in a 13-inch screen size.

Talking about the screen, both use a Liquid Retina display with LED backlit and IPS technology. They have the same resolution and SDR brightness level (the 13-inch variant of the iPad Air has slightly better numbers). But not everything is the same. The Air model's display has some additional features like P3 wide color, full lamination, and an anti-reflective coating.

iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Accessories

Being a little old, the iPad 10 doesn't support the latest accessories (Image via Apple)

Most people use iPads with additional accessories. The iPad 10 supports the first-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ (USB‑C), which lacks advanced features like pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and barrel roll that you will get with the Apple Pencil Pro. Moreover, it also supports Magic Keyboard Folio.

The new iPad Air also supports Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro. So, if you want to leverage the latest accessories, the Air model will be an ideal choice.

iPad 10 vs iPad Air: Final verdict

The iPad Air is an exceptional all-around package. You get more power, more storage, and support for the latest accessories. It is a good choice if you want to run heavy applications like video editing software or modern games. However, it is expensive.

If you need a decent device for your day-to-day tasks that involve media playback or casual gaming, I would recommend choosing the iPad 10.