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iPad Air Q&A
Update Published March 26, 2022
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Which iPad Air models support cellular networking? What are the differences between the cellular networking on each model? Which iPad Air models use which type of SIM? Nano? Apple SIM? eSIM?
Each iPad Air series, from the original to the current line, have at least one model that supports cellular networking. However, models from different generations, and even within generations, have different capabilities.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Cellular iPad Air 3 Models)
Physically, it is possible to tell that an iPad Air model supports some kind of cellular networking if it has a plastic panel or an antenna line on the back toward the top of the case, but this is not sufficient to determine the generation or the specific wireless capabilities.
Cellular Capable iPad Air Models
The Model Number located toward the bottom on the back of each tablet is the easiest way to establish the precise model:
iPad Air |
Model No |
If an iPad Air is not listed above, it does not support cellular networking, but it rather is a Wi-Fi only model.
To track down a specific iPad Air by a variety of different identifiers, please refer to the Ultimate iLookup feature.
iPad Air Cellular Differences
All cellular-equipped iPad Air models support 2G GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). They otherwise are quite different.
Supported 5G, 4G LTE bands and other cellular support differences between models are as follows:
iPad Air |
Model No |
4G LTE |
Other |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 | UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA CDMA EV-DO A & B |
||
| 38, 39 | UMTS (WCDMA)/HSPA+/ DC-HSDPA TD-SCDMA |
||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA TD-SCDMA CDMA EV-DO A & B |
||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 | UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA |
The cellular capable iPad Air 5 models added 5G support for the first time. They still support the older UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) standard, as well:
iPad Air |
Model No |
4G LTE |
5G NR |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 |
iPad Air SIM Types
All cellular-equipped iPad Air models have a Nano SIM card slot. Except for models sold only in mainland China, the cellular capable iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, iPad Air 4, and iPad Air 5 models support a physical Apple SIM as well:
- iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi/Cellular) - A1567
- iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA/NZ/AU) - A2153
- iPad Air 3 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global) - A2123
- iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi+Cell US/CA) - A2324
- iPad Air 4 (Wi-Fi+Cell Global) - A2072
- iPad Air 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell) - A2589
With the exception of the China-only iPad Air 3 (A2154), iPad Air 4 (A2325), and iPad Air 5 (A2591), iPad Air 3 and later models have an "eSIM" integrated or "embedded" in the device, too.
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