iPad Air 2022 in test: Pro in performance and mini in price

This is an article from our content partner "Nextpit". Here you can find the original article by Fabien Roehlinger.

Pro

• Very fast and performant
• Center Stage: Apple's new system for video calls is on board
• Super battery life
• Compatible with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard
• Fast data exchange and connectivity for external displays thanks to USB-C

Con

• It could be tight for people with a hunger for storage space
• No Face ID (but that doesn't bother me personally)

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Design and workmanship

In terms of design, Apple stays true to its line and changes: Nothing. With dimensions of 247.6 mm x 178.5 mm and 6.1 mm, the new iPad Air measures just as much as its predecessor from last year. At 462 grams, it is a barely noticeable 2 grams heavier than the 4th generation.

The corners are still rounded, the on/off button is located at the top of the narrow side, the volume buttons next to it on the long side. The front camera is still (unfortunately!) on the narrow side of the iPad For video calls, I think it would be more helpful if the camera was on the wide side.

There is a new color, though - and I have to say, I like it! The new blue replaces the green iPad that was around last year.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Display

The iPad Air's display is great. It reproduces rich colors, uses what is called True Tone technology, which is supposed to make the colors of the display so more natural.

It is the same panel that Apple used last year: A 10.9'' or 27.69 cm diagonal Liquid Retina Display that resolves with 2360 x 1640 pixels and typically has a brightness of 500 nits.

Compared to the iPad Pro, the ProMotion technology is missing, which can be used to display particularly smooth transitions during movements while saving battery power.

If you look at the two iPads, i.e. the new Air and the Pro, side by side from above, you might notice the slightly larger bezels on the Air when you take a closer look. But even the missing ProMotion should hardly be noticeable in many cases.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Features

The iPad Air 2022 is also compatible with the Magic Keyboard and the 2nd generation Apple Pencil.

I'll clarify why it in particular is so exciting in combination with its performance later in the conclusion.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Software

The new iPad Air 2022 naturally comes with the latest version of iPadOS. Currently, this is version 15.4. Anyone who has ever seen an iPad in action knows that iPadOS and its possibilities are remarkable.

Since the iPad Air has the M1 chip, the tablet should be assured of all software updates for the next 4 to 5 years as well.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Performance

In NextPit's review of the iPad Pro (2021) last year, I wrote about the M1 chip:

"Apple's first system-on-a-chip has 8 CPU cores, 8 cores for the GPU, and 16 Apple Neural Engine cores. Apple says the M1 brings a 50% performance boost and 40% better graphics performance."

Why am I rehashing almost a year-old chestnuts - even more so because these are actually meant for a completely different device? Because they sum up exactly what applies to the iPad Air as well. Apple's mid-range tablet device, the iPad Air, also gets the M1 chip, making it the fastest tablet in its price range.

In case that was perhaps too fast, here is a summary: The iPad Air now has a chipset installed, which Apple had not only installed in the iPad Pro (2021), but also in last year's MacBook Pro.

Graphics-intensive games, video editing for home use or multithreading is no problem with the new iPad Air. This makes you wonder: Why should I even buy an iPad Pro if the iPad can do so much?

By the way, it will also be fast when it comes to sparking. The iPad Air comes with a 5G antenna as well as Wi-Fi 6, which is not very widespread yet. But in terms of future-proofing, that is certainly a plus point.

A good question, which I will clarify in more detail in the conclusion. However, it should be noted that the iPad Air is only available in a 64 GB and 256 GB version. This might be too light for people with a hunger for data. However, I would like to point out at this point that it is possible to store data wonderfully and hardly noticeably with iCloud. Most of the time, iPadOS even takes over this job without you noticing: Data that is not or rarely used then remains in the cloud and does not steal valuable storage space.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Sound & camera

Apple has equipped its Air with two speakers that sound quite good for their size. Those who have already enjoyed iPad sound know what I mean. However, not much more can be said about the sound.

In contrast to the front-facing camera: Apple now also uses the 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, which is also used in the iPad Mini and iPad Pro. This also enables Center Stage - Apple's new function for video conferencing. The camera seems to always follow you and keeps the speakers in focus.

The main camera consists of only one lens with a ƒ/1.8 aperture. A 5x digital zoom is possible with it. Videos can be recorded in 1080p or 4K.

If you want to see Center Stage in action: Here we have an article on how to (de)activate Center Stage on the iPad and show the function in a video.

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): Battery

It is really astonishing what Apple now gets out of the battery. As usual, Apple refrains from giving exact mAh specifications and specifies the performance of its battery with one day. Apple specifies the battery performance with up to 10 hours for web surfing and video over Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours when using mobile data.

I can easily confirm this value. The iPad has accompanied me throughout my day for the last few days. In the evening, despite intensive use - such as writing emails or articles, surfing or watching a video - there is still some energy left. So, if you don't mainly perform computing-intensive tasks or play graphics-heavy games without connecting the tablet to an external power source, you can easily get through the day.

Final verdict

"Pro in performance and mini in price" - this is the title of my article. Apple upgrades its Air lineup mightily from a technical point of view. So much so that the differences to the iPad Pro apart from the design almost have to be searched for with a magnifying glass and the price is nevertheless oriented towards the iPad mini (price currently starts at 549 Euros).

The iPad mini (2021) in review It seems to be part of a new Apple strategy. After all, the new iPhone SE is also upgraded so much in the chipset that it is virtually on par with the iPhone 13 in terms of performance.

Why does Apple do that? Of course, the manufacturer does not give a clear answer to such a question. But this strategy makes perfect sense when you take a closer look and think about it.

The M1 chip is now more than a year old, and the iPad Pro was released at the end of May or beginning of June last year. This means that a new iPad Pro would probably also get the M2 chip soon. Thus, the Pro would be ahead again in two months.

Nevertheless, the iPad Air is a real power machine and offers everything your heart desires. So what to do if you are now hesitating between iPad Pro and iPad Air?

For whom is the iPad Pro suitable and for whom the iPad Air?

Of course, this question cannot be answered without knowing the preferences of the respective person. As a rule of thumb, however, I have found that if I have a pronounced FOMO (Fear of missing out; I know this emotion all too well myself) and thus the feeling that I have to / want to be up to date with the technical times and possibilities, I go for the iPad Pro. Likewise, if I travel a lot with the iPad for work or if it is perhaps even my main computer.

The iPad Air, on the other hand, is for anyone who wants to do more with a tablet than occasionally look at a web page or two on the couch. I'm thinking primarily of schoolchildren in advanced grades, students or people who want to do a lot with a tablet for private (but also professional) use. The iPad Air offers everything for that - and at a lower price.

The fact that Apple offers its supposedly smaller and entry-level devices the latest chips is remarkable. And sustainable! This ensures that the devices can receive updates for many years. Thus, nothing stands in the way of a service life of five years and more.