- Performance. The new iPad Air now rocks an M1 chip, making it one of the most powerful portable computers of this generation. However, the overall performance is overkill, as the operating system, iPad OS, is still not taking advantage of all that power. With this exponential growth in performance, it would have been nice if Apple introduced more Pro apps such as Final Cut Pro, tuned the software for Pro users and incentivized developers to take advantage of the M1 chip. For people who love gaming, there are not enough triple-A games to harness the power of the M1 chip.
The M1 chip has 8 CPU cores, 8 graphics cores, 16 Neural Engine cores and 8GB RAM.
- Display. 10.9-inch with a resolution of 2360 by 1640 at 264 pixels per inch (ppi). The display is fully laminated with antireflective coating, true tone display, Apple pencil 2 support and a peak brightness of 500 nits.
Of course, the quality of this display is nothing close to the 12.9 inch iPad Pro’s mini-LED technology, which really enhances those deeper blacks, but it’s not far off. It also sucks that the display is only 60hz. Either way, the iPad Air’s display feels responsive and it looks good.
- Models. There is a Wi-Fi and a cellular version. Both models offer the same features, with the Cellular version having a Nano-Sim slot and support for e-SIM.
For frequent travellers, the cellular version might be worth the higher price tag, but for most people, the Wi-Fi version is the model to get. In addition, most people who would own an iPad probably already own an iPhone/smartphone, that can tether internet when Wi-Fi is not available.
- Connectivity. All models have Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Meanwhile, the Cellular model adds 5G to its connectivity which brings impressive download and upload speeds when using a sim card. 5G availability will depend on location and the carrier.
- Battery. Battery life is good, but it could be better.
- Camera. The front sports a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with center stage, which uses Apple’s AI to automatically add people into frame. The camera will automatically adjust by zooming in and out depending on how many people are in frame. The software will also compensate for distance and movement by following you. It works superbly, especially when you compare it to Samsungs Auto-framing technology. It is by far the best implementation of auto-framing software.
The rear camera has a 12 MP sensor and it can record 4K @24/25/30/60fps or 1080p @25/30/60/120/240fps with HDR. Most people don’t use it, but it’s nice to have it when it’s needed.