iPad Air (M2) in 2026: the iPad most people should actually buy
M2 performance, two sizes, Apple Pencil Pro support: everything the Pro does that you will really use, for far less. It covers the essentials Unless you specifically need the OLED display or ProMotion, the M2 iPad Air does the job: the same accessory support as the Pro, a choice of 11 or 13 inches, and a chip that will not be a bottleneck for years. What you give up A 60Hz LCD instead of a 120Hz tandem-OLED, a single rear camera, and slightly less polish in the speakers and build. For the price gap, most people will not care. Who it’s for Buy it if you want a capable iPad for browsing, media, notes and light creative work. Skip it if you do colour-critical work or want the smoothest possible scrolling and pen latency. Alternatives worth a look iPad (11th gen), cheaper still, fine for basics. iPad Pro (M4), only if you need the display. The verdict: The sensible iPad, and the default recommendation. Sources Apple Newsroom