Pricing and Availability
The iPad Air 5 (2022) is set to release in the United States on March 18, starting at $599 for the 64GB model with Wi-Fi. It’s available in five attractive colors: Blue, Pink, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray. For those seeking more storage or 5G connectivity, there are options to consider. The 256GB model with Wi-Fi is priced at $749, and the 64GB model with both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular connectivity is also priced at $749. The top-tier model, featuring 256GB of storage and 5G connectivity, comes in at $899.
Notably, Apple has maintained the same starting price as the 2020 model, which is a positive point for budget-conscious shoppers. Comparatively, the standard iPad (2021) starts at $399 but goes up to $609 if you opt for 256GB of storage and Wi-Fi + Cellular. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, and for $899, you can get the 256GB model with Wi-Fi.
In our review, we had the opportunity to test the blue iPad Air with Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity, featuring 256GB of storage. Additionally, we tried it with the Magic Keyboard ($299) and Apple Pencil 2 ($129), both of which are sold separately.
Design
The design of the new iPad Air is sleek and elegant, much like its predecessor. Staying true to its “Air” namesake, it’s incredibly lightweight and highly portable. The absence of a headphone jack and the inclusion of just a single USB-C port might raise some concerns for some users. However, the trend in the industry is moving away from these features, focusing on wireless solutions instead.
Despite the minor concerns about build quality that some users have raised, the design maintains its thin and ultra-light characteristics, providing a pleasant user experience. The Magic Keyboard, while adding a bit of weight, doesn’t significantly affect its portability. You can easily move around with the tablet, and the absence of multiple external ports is not a major issue for a device like this.
Display
The iPad Air 2022 features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, identical to its predecessor. This display offers vibrant colors and sharp details, making content consumption a delightful experience.
While the screen could have been slightly brighter, it still delivers impressive performance. In our brightness test, the iPad Air 5 reached 484 nits with adaptive brightness off. This brightness level aligns with the standard iPad but falls short of the iPad Pro. However, it is an improvement over the last-generation iPad Air, which maxed out at 440 nits.
In our lab testing, the new iPad Air 2022’s display excelled, covering 111.8% of the sRGB color gamut and 79.2% of the DCI-P3 color space. The color accuracy is outstanding, with a Delta-E score of 0.29. These figures make the display comparable to the 11-inch iPad Pro while outperforming its predecessor.
The colors on the new iPad Air’s screen pop, and details are easy to discern. It’s an ideal device for watching videos and enjoying content from streaming services, delivering a satisfying visual experience
Performance
The most significant upgrade in the iPad Air 2022 is the inclusion of the M1 chip, the same powerful processor found in the iPad Pro 2021. The M1 chip has been a game-changer in Apple’s devices, delivering remarkable performance and power efficiency.
In our tests, the iPad Air 5 achieved an impressive score of 7,151 on the Geekbench 5 general multi-core test. This is a significant improvement over the iPad Air 4’s score of 4,262, showcasing the M1 chip’s capabilities. While it doesn’t quite match the 7,293 score of the 11-inch iPad Pro, it’s evident that the M1 chip is a force to be reckoned with, especially when compared to the older A14 Bionic chip.
The iPad Air 5 effortlessly handled multiple tasks, with no signs of lag or slowdown. Even resource-intensive applications like Genshin Impact ran smoothly, demonstrating the device’s capability to handle demanding tasks.
Audio
The iPad Air 2022’s stereo speakers deliver sound that can fill a medium-sized room. While the audio quality lacks bass and may appear somewhat thin, it’s more than adequate for most content consumption.
Movies, TV shows, and podcasts all sound great, with clear and natural-sounding voices. When it comes to music, the speakers perform well within the 60 to 75 percent volume range. At maximum volume, there is some degradation in sound quality, which is typical for tablets.
Cameras
Using a tablet to capture images may seem unconventional, but the iPad Air 5 delivers impressive image quality. The tablet features a 12MP front camera, a notable improvement over the 2020 model. It excels in both selfies and video calls, ensuring you look your best.
The 12MP rear-facing camera also produces high-quality images. The addition of an ultrawide front-facing camera and the M1 chip enables Apple’s Center Stage feature, which automatically keeps you centered in the frame during video calls.
Center Stage further enhances video calls by smoothly panning and zooming as you move around, ensuring you’re always in focus. This feature adds an interactive element to video calls and is a valuable addition to the iPad Air.
Battery Life
The iPad Air 2022 offers strong battery life, lasting about 10 hours in our tests. During personal testing, it took roughly 5 hours to drain the battery to 50 percent from a full charge. This usage included watching videos, browsing the web with multiple tabs open, and playing games.
On the Tom’s Guide Battery Test, which involves web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of screen brightness, the new iPad Air exceeded Apple’s claimed 10 hours, lasting 10 hours and 9 minutes. This performance was slightly longer than the previous iPad Air 4, which lasted 10 hours and 29 minutes.
Accessories
The Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard are optional accessories for the iPad Air, adding functionality to the device. The Magic Keyboard, in particular, transforms the iPad Air into a mini laptop, offering a comfortable typing experience and responsive trackpad.
The Apple Pencil 2 is a valuable tool for note-taking and drawing, although it comes at an additional cost. While both accessories enhance the iPad Air’s capabilities, they are relatively expensive. The Magic Keyboard, priced at $349, is an essential addition for those who want to use the iPad Air as a mini laptop. The Apple Pencil 2, at $129, provides useful functionality but could have been included with the tablet.
Touch ID Security
The iPad Air 5 retains Touch ID via a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. This method of biometric security works efficiently, particularly for Apple Pay and password management. The inclusion of Touch ID is a notable advantage for users who prefer it over Face ID.
Verdict
In summary, the iPad Air 2022 has emerged as a near-perfect tablet, hitting the sweet spot between portability and power. It excels in both content consumption and creation and comes at an accessible starting price of $599.
While the iPad Pro remains Apple’s premier tablet, offering more power and a larger screen, the iPad Air 5 provides a compelling balance between performance and affordability. It’s arguably the best tablet for most users, offering sleek design, powerful performance, and an attractive display. If you’re in the market for a new tablet, the iPad Air 2022 is certainly worth considering.
And for those who prefer non-Apple options, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is a worthy alternative with good camera capabilities, excellent battery life, and the inclusion of an S Pen stylus, although it falls slightly behind in terms of performance compared to the iPad Air.
In conclusion, the iPad Air (2022) is an impressive tablet that offers an excellent balance of performance and affordability, making it a top choice for users seeking a high-quality device for both work and play.
