# IPad Air (1st generation)

The iPad Air (retrospectively referred to unofficially as the iPad Air 1 or original iPad Air) is a tablet developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 22, 2013, and was released on November 1, 2013. Part of the iPad line of tablet computers, the iPad Air features a thinner design than its predecessors, with similarities to the contemporaneous iPad Mini 2.
The iPad Air's successor, the iPad Air 2, was announced on October 16, 2014, and released on October 22, 2014, however, the 64 GB and 128 GB variants were discontinued, and later the 16 GB and 32 GB on March 21, 2016, after the announcement of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

## Features
### Software

The iPad Air launched with iOS 7, introducing a major aesthetic redesign of the operating system, departing from skeuomorphic elements from iOS 6, such as green felt in Game Center, wood in Newsstand, and leather in Calendar, in favor of flat, colorful design. Jonathan Ive, the designer of iOS 7's new elements, described the update as "bringing order to complexity", highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes.
It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS.
The iPad Air comes with several applications, including the Safari web browser, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes Store, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts. The iPad Air can optionally sync content and other data with a Mac or Windows computer using iTunes. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speakers and microphone to place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The device has a dictation application. This enables users to speak and the iPad types what they say on the screen. An Internet connection is required, as the speech is processed by Apple servers. Apple also began including its iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband) and iWork (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) apps with the device.
iOS 8 was released in 2014, alongside iPad Mini 3 and iPhone 6. iOS 8 introduced a variety of new features, including Continuity and Health (Apple)
iOS 9 was released in 2015. A major focus for the iPad was the introduction of three new multitasking features The Air supported two of these features, called Slide Over and Picture in Picture. Slide Over allows a user to "slide" a second app in from the side of the screen in a smaller window, and have it display information alongside the initial app. Picture in Picture allows a user to watch a video in a small, resizable, moveable window while remaining in another app. The third feature, dubbed Split View (which allows the user to run two apps simultaneously in a 50/50 view), was not supported by the device.
iOS 10 was released in 2016. iOS 10 brought new features, such as support for the AirPods.
iOS 11 was released in 2017. iOS 11 redesigned the control center, along with other new features.
In June 2019, Apple announced that it would drop support for the iPad Air with the release of iPadOS 13 in September 2019. The iPad Air is supported to iOS 12, with the latest 12.5.7 update released on January 23, 2023.

### Design

The iPad Air marked the first major design change for the iPad since the iPad 2; it has a thinner design that is 7.5 millimeters thick and has a smaller screen bezel similar to the iPad Mini. Apple reduced the overall volume for the iPad Air by using thinner components resulting in a 22% reduction in weight over the iPad 2. It retains the same 9.7-inch screen as the previous iPad model. The new front-facing camera is capable of video in 720p HD, includes face detection, and backside illumination. The rear camera received an upgrade as well; now being called the iSight camera, in addition to the same functions as the front camera it also contains a 5 MP CMOS, hybrid IR filter and a fixed ƒ/2.4 aperture. The device was available in space gray and silver colors.
As with previous generations, Apple continued to use recyclable materials. The enclosure of the iPad Air was milled from a solid block of aluminum making it 100% recyclable. The iPad Air is also free of the harmful materials BFRs and PVC.

### Hardware

The iPad Air inherits most of the same hardware components from the iPhone 5S, such as its Apple A7 system-on-chip and Apple M7 motion processor. The A7 present in the iPad Air is slightly different however, in that it does not use a PoP design which stacks the RAM on top of the SoC. It also features a metal heat spreader to compensate for the slightly faster clock speed and to provide better thermal management. The Air also includes a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera (iSight), a FaceTime HD front-facing camera, support for 802.11n, and an estimated 10 hours of battery life. It boots faster than any previous iPad model.
As with all previous generations of iPhone and iPad hardware, there are four buttons and one switch on the iPad Air. With the device in its portrait orientation, these are: a "home" button on the face of the device under the display that returns the user to the home screen, a wake/sleep button on the top edge of the device, and two buttons on the upper right side of the device performing volume up/down functions, under which is a switch whose function varies according to device settings, functioning either to switch the device into or out of silent mode or to lock/unlock the orientation of the screen. It uses the same home button that was built in previous iPad models and therefore does not include a fingerprint scanner.
In addition, the WiFi only version weighs 469 grams while the cellular model weighs 478 grams – over 25% lighter than their respective predecessors. The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.
The iPad Air was available with 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB of internal flash memory, with no expansion option. Apple also sells a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos. As of the announcement of the iPad Pro 9.7-Inch on March 21, 2016, the iPad Air was discontinued.
All models can connect to a wireless LAN and offer dual band Wi-Fi support. The tablet is also manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network. The iPad Air (and the iPad Mini 2) cellular model comes in two variants, both of which support nano-SIMs, quad-band GSM, penta-band UMTS, and dual-band CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and B. Additionally, one variant also supports LTE bands 1–5, 7, 8, 13, 17–20, 25 and 26 while the other variant supports LTE bands 1–3, 5, 7, 8, 18–20 and TD-LTE bands 38, 39 and 40. Apple's ability to handle many different bands in one device allowed it to offer, for the first time, a single iPad variant which supports all the cellular bands and technologies deployed by all the major North American wireless providers at the time of the device's introduction.
The audio playback of the iPad Air is in stereo with two speakers located on either side of the Lightning connector.

## Reception
### Critical reception

The iPad Air received mainly positive reviews. Writing for AnandTech, Anand Lal Shimpi writes that the iPad Air "feels like a true successor to the iPad 4," praising it for its reduced weight and size. Shimpi further states that the Air "hits a balance of features, design and ergonomics that I don't think we've ever seen in the iPad." UK Editor-in-Chief of TechRadar, Patrick Goss, gave the iPad Air a positive review, giving praise to the A7 chip and camera upgrades, as well as the crisp and colorful display. He concludes by stating: "It's hard to put into words how much Apple has improved the iPad, offering a stunning level of detail and power with a build quality that's unrivalled." Christina Bonnington of Wired awarded the Air a rating of 8 out of 10, calling the performance "outstanding" and noting that high-definition video streams and gaming animations are "smooth and stutter free." She also praised the loading speeds of Safari, the web browser.
Bonnington criticized the speakers for being slightly muddled. Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak criticized the focus on decreasing size and weight rather than increasing storage space and stated that he did not want an iPad Air as it did not fit his personal needs. Dave Smith of the International Business Times wrote that while the device was nice, it did not bring anything new to the iPad. Smith strongly criticized the lack of a fingerprint reader, and noted that the updates, such as the increased speed and the decreased size and weight, were only slight improvements.

### Commercial reception

The launch date for the iPad Air did not see as large of a turnout as usual for Apple products; however, this was expected by analysts due to the delayed release of the iPad Mini 2. The iPad Air sold out in Hong Kong just 2 hours after becoming available online.

## Other models
### Support

| Legend: | Obsolete | Vintage | Unsupported | Discontinued | Current | Upcoming |
| Model | Announced | Released with | Release date | Discontinued | Final supported OS | Release date | Support lifespan |
| iPad Air (1st generation) | October 22, 2013 | iOS 7.0.3 | November 1, 2013 | March 21, 2016 | iOS 12.5.7 | January 23, 2023 | 9 years, 2 months |
| iPad Air 2 | October 16, 2014 | iOS 8.1 | October 22, 2014 | March 21, 2017 | iPadOS 15.8.3 | July 29, 2024 | 9 years, 9 months |
| iPad Air (3rd generation) | March 18, 2019 | iOS 12.2 | March 18, 2019 | September 15, 2020 | iPadOS 18.3.1 | February 10, 2025 | 5 years, 10 months |
| iPad Air (4th generation) | September 15, 2020 | iPadOS 14.1 | October 23, 2020 | March 8, 2022 | iPadOS 18.3.1 | February 10, 2025 | 4 years, 4 months |
| iPad Air (5th generation) | March 8, 2022 | iPadOS 15.4 | March 18, 2022 | May 7, 2024 | iPadOS 18.3.1 | February 10, 2025 | 2 years, 10 months |
| iPad Air (6th generation) | May 7, 2024 | iPadOS 17.5 | May 15, 2024 | Current | iPadOS 18.3.1 | February 10, 2025 | 8 months |
| Models | iOS version | iOS version | iOS version | iOS version | iOS version | iOS version | iPadOS version | iPadOS version | iPadOS version | iPadOS version | iPadOS version | iPadOS version |
| Models | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 1st | 7.0.3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | — | 8.1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | 12.1.4 | | | | | | |
| 4th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14.1 | | | | |
| 5th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15.4 | | | |
| 6th | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17.5 | |

### Models

| Model | Model | iPad Air | iPad Air 2 | iPad Air (3rd generation) | iPad Air (4th generation) | iPad Air (5th generation) | iPad Air (6th generation) | iPad Air (6th generation) |
| OS | Initial | iOS 7.0.3 | iOS 8.1 | iOS 12.1.4 | iPad OS 14.1 | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS 17.5 | iPadOS 17.5 |
| OS | Highest supported | iOS 12.5.7 | iPadOS 15.8.3 | iPadOS 18.2 | iPadOS 18.2 | iPadOS 18.2 | iPadOS 18.2 | iPadOS 18.2 |
| Model Number | Model Number | A1474 (Wi-Fi) A1475 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) A1476 (Wi-Fi + Cellular TD-LTE) | A1566 (Wi-Fi) A1567 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) | A2152 (Wi-Fi) A2123, A2153 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) A2154 (Wi-Fi + Cellular, China model) | A2316 (Wi-Fi) A2324, A2072 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) A2325 (Wi-Fi + Cellular, China model) | A2588 (Wi-Fi) A2589, A2591 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) | 11-inch: A2902 (Wi-Fi) A2903 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) A2904 (Wi-Fi + Cellular (China model) | 13-inch: A2898 (Wi-Fi) A2899 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) A2900 (Wi-Fi + Cellular (China model) |
| Model Identifier(s) | Model Identifier(s) | iPad4,1 (Wi-Fi) iPad4,2 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) iPad4,3 (Wi-Fi + Cellular TD-LTE) | iPad5,3 (Wi-Fi) iPad5,4 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) | iPad11,3 (Wi-Fi) iPad11,4 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) & (Wi-Fi + Cellular, China model) | iPad13,1 (Wi-Fi) iPad13,2 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) & (Wi-Fi + Cellular, China model) | iPad13,3 (Wi-Fi) iPad13,4 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) & (Wi-Fi + Cellular, China model) | | |
| Announcement date | Announcement date | October 22, 2013 | October 16, 2014 | March 18, 2019 | September 15, 2020 | March 8, 2022 | May 7, 2024 | May 7, 2024 |
| Release date | Release date | November 1, 2013 | 16, 64, 128 GB: October 22, 2014 32 GB and 128 GB re-released: September 7, 2016 | March 18, 2019 | October 23, 2020 | March 18, 2022 | May 15, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
| Discontinued | Discontinued | 64, 128 GB: October 16, 2014 16, 32 GB: March 21, 2016 | 128 GB: March 21, 2016 16, 64 GB: September 7, 2016 32, 128 GB (re-released): March 21, 2017 | September 15, 2020 | March 8, 2022 | May 7, 2024 | Current | Current |
| Launch price | Launch price | Wi-Fi models 16 GB $499 32 GB $599 64 GB $699 128 GB $799 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 16 GB $629 32 GB $729 64 GB $829 128 GB $929 | Wi-Fi models 16 GB $499 64 GB $599 128 GB $699 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 16 GB $629 64 GB $729 128 GB $829 | Wi-Fi models 64 GB $499 256 GB $649 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 64 GB $629 256 GB $779 | Wi-Fi models 64 GB $599 256 GB $749 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 64 GB $729 256 GB $879 | Wi-Fi models 64 GB $599 256 GB $749 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 64 GB $729 256 GB $879 | Wi-Fi models 128 GB $599 256 GB $699 512 GB $899 1 TB $1099 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 128 GB $749 256 GB $849 512 GB $1049 1 TB $1249 | Wi-Fi models 128 GB $799 256 GB $899 512 GB $1099 1 TB $1299 Wi-Fi + Cellular models 128 GB $949 256 GB $1049 512 GB $1249 1 TB $1449 |
| SoC | Name | Apple A7 | Apple A8X | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple M1 | Apple M2 | Apple M2 |
| SoC | Motion coprocessor | Apple M7 | Apple M8 | Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A14 Bionic | Apple M1 | Apple M2 | Apple M2 |
| SoC | CPU | 1.4 GHz dual-core Apple Cyclone | 1.5 GHz tri-core Apple Typhoon | 2.49 GHz 6-core (Dual-core Vortex + quad-core Tempest) | 3.10 GHz 6-core (Dual-core Firestorm + quad-core Icestorm) | 3.20 GHz 8-core (quad-core Firestorm + quad-core Icestorm) | 3.49 GHz (quad-core Avalanche) + 2.42 GHz (quad-core Blizzard) | 3.49 GHz (quad-core Avalanche) + 2.42 GHz (quad-core Blizzard) |
| SoC | GPU | Quad-core PowerVR G6430 | Octa-core PowerVR GXA6850 | Apple designed quad-core | Apple designed quad-core | Apple designed octa-core | Apple designed octa-core | Apple designed octa-core |
| SoC | Memory | 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM | 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM | 3 GB LPDDR4X RAM | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | Storage | 16, 32, 64, or 128 GB | 16, 64, or 128 GB | 64 or 256 GB | 64 or 256 GB | 64 or 256 GB | 128, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB | 128, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB |
| Display | Display | 9.7 inches (250 mm) with a 4:3 aspect ratio, multi-touch display with LED backlighting and a fingerprint and scratch-resistant coating | Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating | 10.5 inches (270 mm), Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating, Wide color display (P3), True Tone display | 10.9 inches (280 mm), Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating, Wide color display (P3), True Tone display | 10.9 inches (280 mm), Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating, Wide color display (P3), True Tone display | 11 inches (280 mm), Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating, Wide color display (P3), True Tone display | 13 inches (330 mm), Additionally: Fully laminated display, Antireflective coating, Wide color display (P3), True Tone display |
| Display | Display | 2048×1536 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2048×1536 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2224×1668 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2360×1640 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2360×1640 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2360×1640 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) | 2732×2048 pixels at 264 ppi (Retina Display) |
| Camera | Back | 5 MP, ƒ/2.4 still 1080p HD 30 fps and 5× digital zoom video | 8 MP, ƒ/2.4 still 1080p HD 30 fps and 3× digital zoom video | 8 MP, ƒ/2.4 still 1080p HD 30 fps and 3× digital zoom video | 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 still 4K 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p HD 25/30/60 fps | 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 still 4K 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p HD 25/30/60 fps | 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 still 4K 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p HD 25/30/60 fps | 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 still 4K 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p HD 25/30/60 fps |
| Camera | Front | 1.2 MP, ƒ/2.2 still, 720p video | 1.2 MP, ƒ/2.2 still, 720p video | 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 still, 1080p video | 7 MP, ƒ/2.2 still, 1080p video | 12 MP, ƒ/2.4 still, 1080p video | 12 MP, ƒ/2.0 still, 1080p video | 12 MP, ƒ/2.0 still, 1080p video |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 4 | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Wireless | Cellular | 3G transitional LTE on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE and 5G on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE and 5G on Cellular model | 3G transitional LTE and 5G on Cellular model |
| Wireless | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Geolocation | Wi-Fi models | Wi-Fi, Apple location databases | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation |
| Geolocation | Wi-Fi + cellular models | Assisted GPS, Apple databases, Cellular network, GLONASS | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation | Additionally: iBeacon microlocation |
| Sensors | Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Magnetometer Gyroscope Barometer |
| Battery | Battery | 3.73 V 32.9 Wh (8,820 mAh) | 3.76 V 27.62 Wh (7,340 mAh) | 30.2 Wh | 28.6 Wh | 28.6 Wh | 28.93 Wh | 36.59 Wh |
| Dimensions | Height | 238.8 mm (9.40 in) | 238.8 mm (9.40 in) | 250.7 mm (9.87 in) | 247.4 mm (9.74 in) | 247.6 mm (9.75 in) | 247.6 mm (9.75 in) | 280.6 mm (11.05 in) |
| Dimensions | Width | 167.6 mm (6.60 in) | 167.6 mm (6.60 in) | 174.0 mm (6.85 in) | 178.3 mm (7.02 in) | 178.4 mm (7.02 in) | 178.5 mm (7.03 in) | 214.9 mm (8.46 in) |
| Dimensions | Depth | 7.5 mm (0.30 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) | 6.1 mm (0.24 in) |
| Weight | Wi-Fi models | 469 g (1.034 lb) | 437 g (0.963 lb) | 456 g (1.005 lb) | 458 g (1.010 lb) | 461 g (1.016 lb) | 462 grams (1.02 lb) | 617 grams (1.36 lb) |
| Weight | Wi-Fi + Cellular models | 478 g (1.054 lb) | 444 g (0.979 lb) | 464 g (1.023 lb) | 460 g (1.01 lb) | 462 g (1.019 lb) | 462 grams (1.02 lb) | 618 grams (1.36 lb) |
| Mechanical keys | Mechanical keys | Home button Sleep/Wake Volume controls Variable (mute sound and rotation lock) function switch | Home button with Touch ID Sleep/Wake Volume controls | Sleep/Wake with Touch ID Volume controls | Sleep/Wake with Touch ID Volume controls | Sleep/Wake with Touch ID Volume controls | Sleep/Wake with Touch ID Volume controls | Sleep/Wake with Touch ID Volume controls |
| Connector | Connector | Lightning Connector | Lightning Connector | Lightning Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil | No | No | 1st generation | 2nd generation | 2nd generation | Pro, USB-C | Pro, USB-C |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | Greenhouse gas emissions | 210 kg CO$_2$e | 190 kg CO$_2$e | 86 kg CO$_2$e | 88 kg CO$_2$e | 80 kg CO$_2$e | 75 kg CO$_2$e | 91 kg CO$_2$e |

## Timeline

* Timeline of iPad models vte
* See also: List of Apple Inc. products
Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.

## Explanatory notes

* 1 2 1 GB = 1 billion bytes, 1 TB = 1 trillion bytes