Review: Apple iPad Air

This is the iPad Air 2022.

And if you think it looks

exactly like the 2020 version, you're right.

Apple kept the same design

first introduced two years ago

with a few subtle tweaks and upgrades

that aren't as obvious to the naked eye.

The more prominent upgrades are found inside,

but we'll get into all of that in a bit.

So, let's dive in.

[upbeat music]

Let's talk about what hasn't changed.

The 10.9 inch display,

which gets really bright even at 50%.

And that's coming from someone

who keeps their devices at full brightness at all times.

And slim bezels around the screen.

There's touch ID here for unlocking the iPad

and authorizing purchases with your fingerprint,

not face ID, and it's embedded

in the top power button.

As usual, there's a smart connector

to magnetically attach it to Apple's Smart Keyboard,

Magic Keyboard, or Smart Folio.

The good news is the iPad Air

has the exact same dimensions as the 2020 version.

So if you're upgrading,

you won't have to purchase new accessories

and it's called the iPad Air

and it only weighs just about a pound, which is nice.

So what's new?

The USB port on the bottom

is now twice as fast as its predecessor.

So you won't have to wait as long

when you transfer large files and photos.

The Air also comes in new color options,

like this blue along with pink, purple, and start light.

There's also the traditional space gray

if you're looking for something more muted.

The front camera has been upgraded

from a seven megapixel to a 12 megapixel

ultra-wide camera with center stage,

making it the last iPad in Apple's

entire lineup to receive the feature.

It automatically pans the camera

to keep you and others in the frame

during video calls.

It's way more useful during FaceTime calls

with large groups of people

or when you're cooking,

and you don't wanna constantly move the tablet

as you move around the kitchen.

It's not as useful for when you're sitting at your desk,

because it sometimes wiggles around

when it senses even the slightest movement,

like when I'm adjusting myself in my chair

or reaching for my coffee cup.

It can be awkward and slightly nauseating.

The big new feature here is the M1 processor inside.

That's the same chip in the iPad Pro,

MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and the 24 inch iMac.

Apple says the M1 offers 60% faster CPU performance

than the A14 in the previous iPad Air

with graphics processing that's twice as fast.

For someone like me who only uses

the iPad Air for basic tasks,

like web browsing, Word processing,

note taking, answering emails, and watching Netflix,

I didn't notice a crazy boost in performance.

Sure, apps might load a little quicker.

Scrolling might feel a bit snappier,

but it's not a groundbreaking difference.

That boost is more ideal

for content creators who use the iPad Air

for things like editing batches of raw images,

3D rendering or digital illustrating.

Mobile gamers will also enjoy

the better graphics performance too.

Apple also through in sub-6 5G connectivity.

So if you purchase the cellular model

of the iPad Air and a cellular plan,

you'll benefit from slightly faster internet connectivity.

But while the M1 chip adds a ton more power,

it's still to harness all of it.

I'd love to have more of a desktop type OS

like Mac OS here.

It would save me the exhaustion

of memorizing gestures and being picky

with the apps I wanna split the screen with.

I just feel a lot less productive

when I'm using the iPad.

It does, however, keep me from clicking

into social media apps every few seconds

because I'm just too lazy to go

through the multiple steps to open them.

But it constantly has me itching to grab my MacBook.

You'll benefit the most from the iPad Air

if you purchase the first party accessories,

like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil,

which cost $300 and $129, respectively.

While the base model iPad Air

with 64 gigabytes cost $599,

bringing you to a grand total of about $1,028.

That costs more than a MacBook Air with an M1 chip,

which starts at $999.

So you might wanna look into third party accessories

if you're looking to save money.

The Magic Keyboard, Trackpad and all

mimics the feel of a laptop,

but you have to really love iPad OS

to use this as your primary device.

And I'm not that person.

Yes, it has great performance,

long battery life, and a lightweight portable form factor.

It's also nice to be able to switch

between using it as a laptop, a notepad, and a TV.

I have been able to use it as my daily machine

for work without having to reach for my MacBook Pro.

But that doesn't mean I wasn't frustrated

navigating and using iPad OS

even with its multitasking capabilities,

like split view and slide over.

But if you're a fan of iPad OS,

and I mean a true fan,

and you feel like you can comfortably work on it

and benefit from the M1,

then it's certainly a great option.

If you just want a good tablet,

most people should stick with the $329 iPad.