The Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) and iPad Air 13 (2024) had been introduced a month in the past with one key improve over the 2022 Air – the Apple M2 chipset changed the M1. Nevertheless, it seems that M2 shouldn’t be fairly what we initially thought and what Apple initially introduced.
The specs web page on apple.com lists a 9-core GPU, whereas the press launch printed on Might 7 nonetheless reads that the “M2 chip brings one other large increase in efficiency to iPad Air, that includes a sooner 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU”.
Particulars on iPad Air’s M2 chip from apple.com
Certainly, GFXBench Wild Life Excessive Limitless, for instance, the iPad Air 2024 will get a 6.2K rating, whereas a MacBook Air with an M2 chip will get both 5.7K or 6.8K, relying on the precise M2 model.
In case you missed it, the M2-powered MacBook Air comes with both an 8-core or a 10-core GPU (the latter being a $100 improve), therefore the 2 totally different scores.
And notice that there was no 9-core possibility, a minimum of not till now. The scores of the iPad Air fall proper in the midst of the 8 and 10-core MacBooks, so it very a lot appears to be like like a 9-core GPU moderately than a typo on the specs web page. After all, the comparability between iPadOS and macOS shouldn’t be excellent, however it seems that the unique press launch had it incorrect.
For what it’s value, we don’t suppose that this can have a big affect on efficiency. The 11″ and 13″ shows on the brand new Airs nonetheless run at solely 60Hz, so even the 9-core GPU won’t be used to its full potential. That stated, Apple ought to tackle the scenario and clear issues up.
The 2024 iPad Professionals had been introduced on the identical day as the 2 Airs. For those who purchase a Professional with 256GB or 512GB, you get an Apple M4 with a 9-core CPU (notice: CPU, not GPU). However in the event you get a 1TB or 2TB slate, you get an M4 with a 10-core CPU (and double the RAM).
This isn’t the case with the Airs – you get the identical M2 chip, no matter how a lot storage you pay for. Nevertheless, it’s notable that Apple and TSMC nonetheless should depend on binning, even for such an previous design (the M2 launched in 2022 utilizing the TSMC N5P node).