13-Inch iPad Air Features 20% Brighter Display Than 11-Inch iPad Air - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

13-Inch iPad Air Features 20% Brighter Display Than 11-Inch iPad Air

The new 13-inch iPad Air has a max display brightness of 600 nits, which is 20% higher than the 11-inch iPad Air, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices.

M2 iPad Air Hero Feature Purple
This means the 13-inch iPad Air's peak brightness is equal to the previous-generation iPad Pro models with the M2 chip for standard dynamic range (SDR) content, but the new iPad Pro models have brighter OLED displays that can reach up to 1,000 nits for SDR content, and up to 1,600 nits for high dynamic range (HDR) content.

Peak brightness levels (SDR) for recent iPad Pro and iPad Air models:

  • 13-inch iPad Pro (M4): 1,000 nits
  • 11-inch iPad Pro (M4): 1,000 nits
  • 12.9-inch iPad Pro (M2): 600 nits
  • 11-inch iPad Pro (M2): 600 nits
  • 13-inch iPad Air: 600 nits
  • 11-inch iPad Air (M2): 500 nits
  • 10.9-inch iPad Air (M1): 500 nits

The brightness change for the 13-inch iPad Air was spotted by Saran, who runs the tech-focused YouTube channel SaranByte.

The new iPad Air models are available to order now and launch May 15. Key new features include the M2 chip, the front camera moved to the landscape edge, Wi-Fi 6E support, Apple Pencil Pro support, and new color options.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

m3 ipad air mint

Apple Adds 36-Month Carrier Financing for Cellular iPads

Wednesday July 15, 2026 7:41 am PDT by
Apple has introduced 36-month financing for cellular iPad purchases through AT&T and Verizon, adding to the 12-month option previously available via Apple Card. The new financing, first reported by 9to5Mac, replaces Apple Card Monthly Installments as the sole route to spreading out a cellular iPad purchase. That plan paid off the balance interest-free over 12 months; the new carrier options...
M3 iPad Air

iPad Air Could Finally Be Redesigned Next Year

Friday July 31, 2026 6:00 pm PDT by
The iPad Air has looked the same since 2020, making it the longest-running design in Apple's tablet lineup. There is a reasonable case that 2027 could be when that comes to an end. Apple last gave the iPad Air a new enclosure in 2020, when the fourth-generation model introduced flat sides, an all-screen front, and Touch ID in the top button. The subsequent M1, M2, M3, and M4 updates were all ...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Thursday July 30, 2026 6:12 am PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. Labor Day is September 7 this year. The last time the holiday fell on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the last time Labor Day was on September 7 in a normal year was in ...

Top Rated Comments

29 months ago
Makes sense because the 13" is almost 20% bigger than the 11".
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
29 months ago
Which model can go the dimmes? I use my 2017 iPad Pro on minimum brightness far more than max brightness when I’m reading in bed.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
29 months ago
Would have liked for both display sizes to have similar display. Hopefully the next version will have same brightness.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
29 months ago

Makes sense because the 13" is almost 20% bigger than the 11".

The display is actually 40% larger in area. So it’s a plus overall for the 11”. ;)
That's not how it works.

"nit" measures brightness per area. So dividing by area to say the 11" is brighter is an error.

Put another way: If you set both 11" and 13" to show a max brightness white display, and you covered each display entirely except for one square inch, the square inch on the 13" would be brighter than the square inch on the 11".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
29 months ago

Makes sense because the 13" is almost 20% bigger than the 11".
The display is actually 40% larger in area. So it’s a plus overall for the 11”. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors