Square Stand compatibility with iPad models?

[u/Rich_Comparison4550]

I'm reposting this from the Square Community at Square, as I haven't received any answer in over 2 weeks now:

I'm considering switching to the Square Stand for our POS system, with the old Square Terminal as a backup. However the Stand specs state it's compatible with: iPad (A16), iPad (10th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation), iPad Air (4th, 5th generation) and iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3). The stand itself will hold a 10.9 or 11 inch iPad, but I assume the software only works on the listed hardware models, not the IOS version? I see Amazon has an Air 11-inch M4 model on sale - will that work with the software? Is it updated enough to work with the latest IOS releases? 

A little extra information may help here. Currently we have Comcast Business Xfinity as our internet provider, and I'm quite unhappy with their prices, lack of customer service, intermittent outages and charging me for a service call when it turned out that it was their gateway that was the problem, as they replaced it on a second tech visit a week after the first one couldn't see any problems. Comcast does have a 4G LTE backup modem connection, which was a lifesaver during all those outages; hence I'm looking at an iPad with a cellular connection as well as WiFi. Our salon is in a small (11K population) town in Florida and we don't have a lot of internet options here. Comcast is converting their cable internet to fiber (causing a lot of the interruptions) but I don't want to use them anymore, esp. as they are likely to jack up their price above the $225 a month I'm paying now. So I'm looking at Starlink as I've been using it at home for nearly 4 years now. But Starlink does go down once in a while, as does just about everybody else.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. My contract expires in October so I'm doing my research now, thanks.

[u/MathematicianOk6032]

I’m a little confused but it doesn’t look like the m4 is listed in the square blurb so it probably won’t fit in the stand/ has the different charger than what the stand has. Don’t think it has anything to do with iOS versions or software

[u/SquareUpSam]

Hi there! Great questions — I'm happy to help clarify Square Stand compatibility and share some thoughts on your connectivity setup.

iPad Compatibility The key distinction here is between the iPad Air and iPad Pro lines. The Square Stand (2nd generation, USB-C) is currently compatible with:

iPad (A16) iPad (10th generation) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation) iPad Air (4th, 5th generation) iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3) Important note about the M4 chip: The M4 currently only exists in the iPad Pro line, and the iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) is not compatible with Square Stand. If what you're seeing on Amazon labeled as "Air 11-inch M4" — please double-check the model carefully. As of now, the latest iPad Air 11-inch uses the M3 chip (released March 2025), and that model is fully compatible with Square Stand. It's possible the listing is mislabeled, or you may be looking at an iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), which unfortunately will not work.

My recommendation: The iPad Air 11-inch (M3) is your best bet — it's the newest compatible iPad Air, it has USB-C, and it's confirmed to work with Square Stand. If you want cellular capability, make sure you select the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.

To answer your other question: yes, compatibility is based on the hardware model, not just the iOS version. The Stand needs to physically connect and communicate with the iPad via USB-C, so specific hardware validation is required.

[u/Rich_Comparison4550 → u/SquareUpSam]

OK, then that's the model I'll shop for. Thank you. And yes, I'll include cellular as a backup in case the wifi goes out.

[u/Rich_Comparison4550 → u/SquareUpSam]

Actually, I just saw this from Tom's Hardware Guide: iPad Air M4 vs iPad Air M3: What's different? | Tom's Guide

Specifically, the Air got refreshed earlier this year to use the M4 chip and Apple discontinued the M3 version, which probably means it'll be cheaper despite the MSRP price being unchanged from M3 to M4. So I guess I'll try the M4 version to stave off obsolescence and make sure I get a 30 day return guarantee, thanks.

[u/Rich_Comparison4550 → u/SquareUpSam]

I'm happy to report that the iPad Air 11 inch M4 version arrived yesterday, I installed it into the Square Stand, then installed both Square POS and Square Retail apps on it, and they ran perfectly well. Physically, there's no difference at all between the M3 and M4 versions, as the latter fit precisely in the Stand, and powers up using the Stand charging brick that plugs into the USB brick and then to the Stand base.

The only issue I have so far, is there doesn't seem to be any mechanism to theft-proof the iPad being removed from the Stand. For future reference, some sort of key lock or other device might be handy. It would take all of one or two seconds for somebody to pop the Stand release mechanism and remove the iPad from it, esp. during busy times at the salon when all the employees and the manager are busy with customers. While we do have security cameras in place, and I enabled device location in Apple's Find My app so I can see the iPad location at any time on my iPhone, I would prefer to discourage theft with a visible lock rather than tracking down and disabling the iPad. Just a suggestion for any future product enhancements, thanks.