Apple iPad Air 2022 review: Can Apple’s new iPad Air replace the iPad Pro and save you cash?

Apple’s newest item has had a serious power boost and many are questioning whether it’s more powerful than a pricier model. See our review.

Apple is playing a dangerous game with its refreshed iPad Air.

This tablet computer gets more than new colours for 2022: it now comes with a souped-up M1 chip, a 5G connection for the first time, and a better camera upfront.

But the real danger for Apple is just how close this new Air comes to its 11-inch Pro model in power.

With its new chip, there’s reason to question whether to buy this model rather than go Pro, especially when the price gap between devices is modest.

So should you save $200 and invest in Apple’s most fashionable tablet? Or are the upgrades too minor? This is what you need to know about the company’s latest tablet and its rivals.

SERIOUS POWER BOOST

To say Apple is obsessed with power is no understatement.

The tech giant is progressively upgrading Macs with its own chips and now iPad models are benefiting too.

Apple’s iPad Air 5th generation is compatible with the latest Apple Pencil.

This fifth generation model, which costs between $929 and $1389, is the first of its kind to get the M1 chip now used in iPad Pro and MacBook Pro devices, and it promises to speed up operations by 60 per cent.

It also doubles the graphics grunt on this tablet, which you’re likely to see in demanding applications like Adobe Lightroom and iMovie.

Another quiet improvement is in data transfer speed, which doubles in this device.

If you’re someone who connects a camera’s memory card to your tablet, for example, you’ll see your photos appear on screen a lot faster than in other models.

AIR VS PRO

The power boost in this iPad Air is making many question whether they really need to go Pro … and rightly so.

The smallest iPad Pro is only fractionally bigger than this model, with an 11-inch screen, and it also uses an M1 chip, a 5G connection, and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. Plus, it costs $270 more.

The Apple iPad Air received an M1 chip upgrade at the company's March 2022 event.

So what are the differences? While there’s nothing shabby about the Air’s display, it features a 60 hertz refresh rate rather than double that on the Pro model.

The Pro also comes with an extra rear camera, a Thunderbolt port, and up to 16GB RAM rather than 8GB.

But the thing most likely to impact your choice is storage: the new Air is only available with a 64 or 256GB capacity. If you need more storage, you’ll have to upgrade.

NEW LOOK

Purple is the new green with this iPad, just as a darker blue is the new ‘sky blue’.

The most fashionable iPad adds fresh colours to the mix in this reboot.

Its recycled aluminium shell is available in slightly different hues, replaces silver with a beige-toned ‘starlight’ and adds purple.

The Apple iPad Air features new colours.

Colours aside, Apple hasn’t pulled out a big revamp here as it did in 2020.

This model retains the Touch ID fingerprint scanner on its power button, keeps the 10.9-inch screen with medium-sized bezels, and adds just three grams.

ANYTHING MISSING?

While the iPad Air gets important upgrades, many features remain the same.

The rear camera on this device remains untouched, and the placement of the improved front-facing camera is still off to one side if you use it in landscape mode — infuriating during video calls.

Those swapping an older iPad Pro for this model will also have to learn to reach for its Touch ID button each time they open it as there’s no Face ID here.

IPAD AIR 2022 VERDICT

With more power, greater speed, a comfortable weight, and a colourful look, the new iPad Air is a shoo-in for the tablet most likely to succeed in business.

This iPad won’t win over the most demanding users or prompt upgrades from recent purchasers, but it sits right in the tablet sweet spot.

Those who upgrade to this model from a standard iPad should appreciate its speed and, in some cases, it will save potential Pro buyers a bit of cash.