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iPad Air
iPad Air: Welcome
If you're not sure which iPad model you need, the iPad Air is "the default iPad." When compared to other iPads, this one has the same processing capability as the Pro while costing significantly less and retaining Touch ID.
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iPad Air: Text
History
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In 2013, the iPad Air was released for the first time. With a 9.7-inch display, it was extremely small and light, weighing only 469 grams – nearly a quarter of a kilogram less than its predecessor, the iPad 4.
A year later, in 2014, Apple launched the iPad Air 2, a thinner and speedier tablet than its predecessor, weighing only 437 grams. Until March of 2017, the second-generation iPad was available for purchase. Despite the fact that it was a fantastic tablet, Apple was concentrating on the standard and Pro models at the time.
Surprisingly, Apple released the third-generation iPad Air in 2019, including a 10.5-inch Retina display, support for the first-generation Apple Pencil, and an updated Apple A12 Bionic CPU.
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With the fourth-generation iPad Air being introduced in October of 2020, Apple finally gave this iPad a fresh look, with a bezel-less design, five color option, while being the first product with the A14 chip and integrating the Touch ID sensor on the Side Button. This iPad generation also lacks the headphone jack and supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard, previously exclusives to the iPad Pro line.
In March of 2022, Apple unveiled its fifth-generation iPad Air. This tablet got new color options, the M1 chip from the iPad Pro and new Macs, as well as a faster USB-C port. The iPad Air 5 is the latest tablet from Apple to add Center Stage support and, alongside the iPad Pro and iPad mini, it finally brings 5G to its Cellular version.
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iPad Air Specs
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The fifth-generation iPad Air features a bezel-less 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Blue, and Starlight are the five colors available for this iPad. The M1 chip brings this tablet's power performance closer to that of the iPad Pro.
Apple has moved Touch ID from the Home Button to the Side Button, like it did with the prior model. Despite this, the tablet lacks a ProMotion display and a camera flash.
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The camera features a 12MP sensor with a /1.8 aperture, Smart HDR support, 1080p 30fps video recording, video stabilization, and other features. The front camera has been upgraded to include a 12MP Ultra-Wide lens that supports the Center Stage feature.
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​This iPad comes with 64GB or 256GB storage options and Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions. The fifth-generation iPad Air also has support for the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.
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Accessories: Magic Keyboard and second-generation Apple Pencil
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Apart from the third-generation iPad Pro (or newer), this is the first iPad to feature Magic Keyboard and the second-generation Apple Pencil. These two add-ons make the iPad Pro feel more "Pro" than the iPad mini or even the iPad base device.
The Magic Keyboard comes in black or white and has a wonderful typing experience, a trackpad that unlocks new ways to interact with iPadOS, a USB-C port for pass-through charging, and front and back protection. The Magic Keyboard features a floating cantilever design that allows you to magnetically connect the iPad Air and change it to the ideal viewing position for you.
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Comfortable backlit keys and a scissor mechanism with 1 mm travel for quiet, responsive typing.
Designed for Multi‑Touch gestures and the cursor in iPadOS.
Smooth angle adjustability delivers the perfect viewing angle.
USB-C port for charging iPad Pro and iPad Air, freeing up the port on the iPad for other accessories.
Folds into a case to provide front and back protection.
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The Apple Pencil 2 features pixel-perfect precision and industry-leading low latency, making it ideal for drawing, sketching, coloring, taking notes, and marking up PDFs, among other things. It has a flat edge that magnetically attaches to the iPad Air for automatic charging and pairing.
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The Magic Keyboard costs $299 but you can find it at a lower price at the Amazon store here. The Apple Pencil (2nd gen) costs $129 but you can find it at a lower price at the Amazon store here.
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iPadOS 15 features
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iPadOS 15 is included with the fourth-generation iPad Air. The operating system, which was previewed during the WWDC21 keynote, features a revamped Home Screen with widgets and App Library support.
FaceTime group calls can now be shown in a grid on iPadOS 15, making it simpler to view everyone. While on the phone, you can also share your screen, listen to Apple Music songs together, and watch Apple TV+, HBO Max, Disney+, and other apps.
Even while Apple made it easier to rely on multitasking features, Apple didn't introduce all the tools pro customers hoped to take full benefit of their new M1 iPad Pro in the productivity section.
On the top of the screen, there's a new multitasking menu. When you click there, you may view what Split View settings are available or just move to Slide Over with a tap.
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With all-new keyboard shortcuts and a redesigned menu bar, using an external keyboard allows users to get more done.
It will be possible to arrange the devices together and utilize the same mouse and keyboard in different Apple devices using Universal Control, which will be accessible on the Mac later.
Users can use the Apple Pencil to add a brief note with the Quick Note function. Simply slide the pencil through the bottom right corner of the screen to the middle of the screen and begin writing.
Here's where you can learn more about iOS 15.
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iPadOS 15.1 features
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Apple released iPadOS 15.1 a month after releasing iPadOS 15. More importantly, SharePlay functionality for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV has finally arrived. Unfortunately, Universal Control was not included in this updated version's features. What's more, here's what's new:
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Translate
Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) support in the Translate app and for system-wide translation
Home
New automation triggers based on the current reading of a HomeKit-enabled humidity, air quality, or light level sensor
Shortcuts
New pre-built actions let you overlay text on images or gifs, plus a new collection of games lets you pass the time with Siri
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iPadOS 15.2 features
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Five weeks after releasing iPadOS 15.1, Apple is releasing iPadOS 15.2. It brings more features that were expected to launch alongside iPadOS 15. Here are the top features of this version:
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Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music using Siri
App Privacy Report in Settings lets you see how often apps have accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts and more during the last seven days, as well as their network activity
Communication safety setting gives parents the ability to enable warnings for children when they receive or send photos that contain nudity
Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your iCloud account and personal information in the event of your death
Apple TV app: Store tab lets you browse, buy, and rent movies and TV Shows all in one place
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iPadOS 15.3 features
Six weeks after releasing iPadOS 15.2, Apple is releasing iPadOS 15.3. This update foregoes new features in favor of under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements. One of the most notable changes here is a fix for a Safari vulnerability that may have been leaking your browsing history and Google ID data to the websites you visited.
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iPadOS 15.4
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iPadOS 15.4 finally brings one of the most important features expected from iPadOS 15 and that got delayed: Universal Control. Here’s everything new with iPadOS 15.4:
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Universal Control: This feature allows you to control your Mac and iPad using the same keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Universal Control needs iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3;
New Siri voice: Siri has a fifth American voice. Apple says a member of the LGBTQ+ community recorded the voice and it’s non-binary;
More emoji: iPadOS 15.4 also brings new emoji. You can discover all of the new characters here;
Shortcuts automations: Adds support for running Personal Automations in the background without requiring a pesky banner notification.
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Pricing
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iPad Air (2022) pricing starts at $599 for the 64GB storage option with Wi-Fi only. The prices can go up to $899 with the 256GB storage option and Wi-Fi + Cellular. Here are the full prices of the fifth-generation AIr Apple sells:
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64GB with Wi-Fi: $599
64GB with Wi-Fi + Cellular: $729
256GB with Wi-Fi: $749
256GB with Wi-Fi + Cellular: $899
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Lower prices may be available from Apple’s official Amazon store.
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iPad Air Review
Overall the iPad Air is a great tablet on its own. I still think anyone looking to get a new iPad for school and productivity would probably be better off with an iPad Pro, especially if you’re going to get the pencil and the keyboard. An Air 4 with a keyboard and pencil is about $200 less than what it would be for a Pro with the keyboard and pencil. And so you must decide whether the extra features you get with the iPad Pro are worth the extra $200. If not, then the Air 4 is a great steal.
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Rumors
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Apple just released iPad Air 5. For a future update, some rumors believe Apple will bet on an OLED display for the tablet instead of LCD.
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