The 2022 iPad Air is a Great Tablet, But Are the Upgrades Worth It?

The iPad Air has always been one of Apple's most widely appealing tablets, and this year's model is no exception. In fact, it's arguably the best option for those who want a high-end tablet without breaking the bank. One of the things that sets the 2022 iPad Air apart from its predecessors is its camera system. Apple has upgraded the rear camera to a 12-megapixel sensor, but surprisingly, it didn't touch the front-facing camera until this year. The new 12-megapixel front-facing camera is a huge improvement over the old 7-megapixel sensor, and it's a big deal for anyone who uses their iPad for video calls or selfies.

The cameras are also positioned at the top of the screen when the iPad is in portrait mode, which can make them look a bit off to the side. This is especially noticeable when you're taking a video call, as it feels like you're staring into space. However, this isn't a huge issue for most people, and it's not something that will deter anyone from buying an iPad Air.

One of the biggest upgrades in the 2022 iPad Air is its processor. Apple has introduced the M1 chip, which is twice as fast as the previous generation. This means that the iPad Air can handle demanding tasks with ease, making it perfect for those who need a high-performance tablet. The M1 chip also supports sub-6 GHz 5G connectivity on cellular models, which is a big deal for anyone who wants to stay connected on the go.

Another exciting feature of the 2022 iPad Air is its color options. This year, Apple has introduced several new colors, including a stunning blue that's sure to turn heads. The new colors are a major improvement over the previous generation, and they add a touch of personality to an otherwise sleek and minimalist design.

However, there is one thing that might give some people pause: storage. Apple only offers two storage configurations for the 2022 iPad Air: 64 GB or 256 GB. There's no option in between, which means you'll have to choose either to go with the smaller storage capacity or shell out an extra $150 for the bigger one. This might be a problem for those who need more storage space, as it's not possible to get 128 GB of storage on this model.

Despite the lackluster upgrades, I genuinely like the 2022 iPad Air. It's a great tablet that's perfect for anyone who needs a high-performance device without breaking the bank. If you're in the market for an iPad, I would highly recommend the 2022 iPad Air. However, if you're looking for something more premium and have the budget to spare, you might want to consider the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

The biggest difference between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro is the display. The 11.3-inch iPad Pro has a mini-LED display that's perfect for multitasking, while the 10.9-inch iPad Air has a more traditional LCD screen. If you need to watch videos or browse web pages in picture-in-picture mode, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the way to go.

In terms of performance, both tablets are excellent. However, the iPad Pro feels slightly cramped due to its smaller display size. This means that if you're working on a large project or trying to multitask with multiple apps open, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro might feel more comfortable.

Ultimately, whether or not the 2022 iPad Air is worth upgrading from last year's model depends on your specific needs and budget. If you need more storage space or want the latest and greatest features, it might be worth considering an upgrade. However, if you're happy with your current tablet and don't need any major upgrades, sticking with the previous generation might be the way to go.

On the other hand, if you're in the market for a new iPad this year, I would highly recommend the 2022 iPad Air. It's a great option that offers excellent performance, a high-quality display, and a range of exciting features. Plus, it's significantly cheaper than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, making it an attractive choice for those on a budget.

Conclusion:

The 2022 iPad Air is an excellent tablet that offers a great balance of performance, price, and features. While some people might find the lackluster upgrades to be disappointing, I genuinely like this year's model and would highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a new iPad. Whether you're looking for a high-performance device or just want a great value for your money, the 2022 iPad Air is an excellent choice.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the 2022 5th generation ipad air let's review it welcome everybody to apple insider it is andrew here and you can find me on twitter at andrew underscore osu if you haven't done so already go ahead and hit subscribe and smash that notification icon so you don't miss a single video now i've been using this guy the new 5th generation 2022 ipad air and honestly i'll tell you before we even get in the review this is probably the ipad you should buy of all the ipads in the lineup this is the ipad that most people should pick up more likely even than the 11 inch ipad pro but there's a lot to talk about of course so let's go ahead and dive into this review and if it helps at all use those chapter markers down below to skip to the sections that matter most to you so let's hit the basics of the new ipad air it does have the same footprint as it did before apple hasn't changed anything there so cases for the fourth generation ipad air will work on the fifth generation ipad air and any cases on the 11 inch ipad pro will also work on the ipad air what apple did change was introduce some new colors still comes in space gray but silver has been replaced by starlight we also have pink purple and blue the blue is a wonderful new color that i'm going to show off in this video and green has gone away in favor of that purple color and that pink is more of a variation on the rose gold that we had with that fourth generation device otherwise these guys are basically the same external device there's a 12 megapixel camera around the back there are dual stereo speakers when you're listening in landscape mode and there is a front facing camera though apple did up the resolution from 7 megapixels to 12 megapixels we'll revisit the cameras just a few uh the screen is also the same it has not changed from the prior generation which means it also lacks pro motion which is found in the 11 inch ipad pro so standard 60hz refresh rate on the fifth generation ipad air display the bottom still charges up over usbc though apple has doubled the speed now now instead of being capped at 5 gigabits per second it now is capped at 10 gigs per second which means it can also power more displays so you can power up to a 6k display with the ipad air or transfer a lot of data really fast we definitely saw improved speed times with nvme based ssds such as the cal digit tuff nano plus which is one of our go to's one of the bigger things that changed with the ipad air is that apple has finally abandoned the a series processors for the ipad air and instead has moved to the m series just as it has with the ipad pros right now both the 11 and the 12.9 inch ipad pros have the m1 processor as well as several macs now the ipad air does as well so the ipad air gains the m1 processor putting it on the same level in terms of speed performance as apple's most expensive tablet that is a big deal and it means a couple things first it means if you pick up an ipad air it's going to deal with pretty much any task that you throw at it any normal day-to-day activity on the ipad air has been incredibly fast as i say here opening videos switching between tabs in safari jumping between apps everything is smooth as i could want it to be on top of that it means the ipad air is going to work really well for a long time you're going to see performance and speed for years to come and not just now here at launch finally and this is just a hope on my end apple's got something in the bag for ipad os i want to see apple really deliver something great with ipad os 16 that can more take advantage of the silicon it's put inside these tablets right now we don't have any proof that's happening i've just heard different rumors and stuff but i really hope that apple has something in store for upgraded versions of ipad os that can tap into that m1 processor much more than ipad os 15 is doing now if you're into benchmarks it scored a 1715 and the 7229 on a single one multi-core test and yeah that's basically the same thing that the 11 and 12.9 inch ipad pro scored as i mentioned the cameras got upgraded apple didn't touch the 12 megapixel sensor on the back and still lacks an ultra wide lens and lidar but the front facing camera definitely got an overhaul apple moved from that 7 megapixel to a 12 megapixel sensor so you have much more detail in the images that you take when using the front facing camera i think that is a big deal now apple continues to put the cameras right here at the top when the ipad's in portrait mode which means if you've got your ipad in landscape mode your camera is kind of off to the side and it looks a little funky because it looks like you're staring off into the ether when you're taking a video call i think a lot of people take facetime and video calls on their ipads and i kind of starting to wish that apple had moved that camera to the top of the side or the top if it's in landscape compared to the narrow end this could just be me and it really depends on how you use your ipad it's not a big deal i just always try to remember to look at the camera when i'm taking those video calls but what's improved this year is on top of that larger sensor apple has also introduced center stage to the ipad air now it has 122 degree field of view that would follow you around as you go so if you have this propped up and there's multiple people here we'll all show up on camera at the same time it's pretty great and we've used this on many many other apple products and it's just a nice thing to have here on the most widely appealing version of the ipad so here's the thing with the new version of the ipad air the 2022 ipad air is a great tablet the ipad air 5 is an awesome tablet but the features the updates aren't super impressive sounding oh sub 6 gigahertz 5g support on the cellular models twice as fast usb got an m1 processor that was in a bunch of other products before coming to the ipad these are all things that we've heard before i spent an inordinate amount of time in my written review talking about the colors of the ipad because that's one of the most exciting new things to have i will say without a doubt it is not worth upgrading from the ipad air 4 to the ipad air 5. there's just not enough there to warrant an upgrade after only a year and a half but if you are in the market for an ipad this is undoubtedly the one that i would tell you to buy even if this year's upgrades aren't super attention grabbing i think it's a better option than the ipad pro which cost a couple hundred dollars more and doesn't have huge features either some things like the pro motion display the lidar scanner millimeter wave 5g and a few other things just aren't huge reasons for people to upgrade i think the ipad pro that's the 12.9 inside is a much more reasonable ipad to buy if you're looking for something more than the ipad air the 12.9 inch ipad is great because it has a mini led display instead and it's much better for multitasking where you can watch something in picture-in-picture of two apps in split view and pull something over and slide over and it feels reasonable whereas on the 11 inch ipad pro and the 10.9 inch ipad air it feels a little cramped so to clarify most people should be buying the ipad air i genuinely like it and the upgrades this time around they're great they're just not super exciting the biggest issue with it though is storage apple only offers two storage configurations and that's either 64 gigs on the base model or chunk down another 150 dollars to go to a 256 gigabyte option there's no 128 option available and apple kind of wants you just to move up to the ipad pro but you're gonna spend a bit more whether you're looking at buying the 256 in either situation or just getting up to 128 i think it still makes more sense to stick with the ipad air i think this is an excellent tablet and it's more affordable than the ipad pros but hey that's just my opinion i want to know what you guys think what do you guys think about the new ipad air do you love it do you hate it do you wish apple had done more let me know in the comments or on twitter and your underscore osu and if you want to grab a new ipad air for yourself including in this stunning blue you can find the links for it and deals i've started to round up already in the description otherwise stay tuned we got a lot more videos heading your way youthis is the 2022 5th generation ipad air let's review it welcome everybody to apple insider it is andrew here and you can find me on twitter at andrew underscore osu if you haven't done so already go ahead and hit subscribe and smash that notification icon so you don't miss a single video now i've been using this guy the new 5th generation 2022 ipad air and honestly i'll tell you before we even get in the review this is probably the ipad you should buy of all the ipads in the lineup this is the ipad that most people should pick up more likely even than the 11 inch ipad pro but there's a lot to talk about of course so let's go ahead and dive into this review and if it helps at all use those chapter markers down below to skip to the sections that matter most to you so let's hit the basics of the new ipad air it does have the same footprint as it did before apple hasn't changed anything there so cases for the fourth generation ipad air will work on the fifth generation ipad air and any cases on the 11 inch ipad pro will also work on the ipad air what apple did change was introduce some new colors still comes in space gray but silver has been replaced by starlight we also have pink purple and blue the blue is a wonderful new color that i'm going to show off in this video and green has gone away in favor of that purple color and that pink is more of a variation on the rose gold that we had with that fourth generation device otherwise these guys are basically the same external device there's a 12 megapixel camera around the back there are dual stereo speakers when you're listening in landscape mode and there is a front facing camera though apple did up the resolution from 7 megapixels to 12 megapixels we'll revisit the cameras just a few uh the screen is also the same it has not changed from the prior generation which means it also lacks pro motion which is found in the 11 inch ipad pro so standard 60hz refresh rate on the fifth generation ipad air display the bottom still charges up over usbc though apple has doubled the speed now now instead of being capped at 5 gigabits per second it now is capped at 10 gigs per second which means it can also power more displays so you can power up to a 6k display with the ipad air or transfer a lot of data really fast we definitely saw improved speed times with nvme based ssds such as the cal digit tuff nano plus which is one of our go to's one of the bigger things that changed with the ipad air is that apple has finally abandoned the a series processors for the ipad air and instead has moved to the m series just as it has with the ipad pros right now both the 11 and the 12.9 inch ipad pros have the m1 processor as well as several macs now the ipad air does as well so the ipad air gains the m1 processor putting it on the same level in terms of speed performance as apple's most expensive tablet that is a big deal and it means a couple things first it means if you pick up an ipad air it's going to deal with pretty much any task that you throw at it any normal day-to-day activity on the ipad air has been incredibly fast as i say here opening videos switching between tabs in safari jumping between apps everything is smooth as i could want it to be on top of that it means the ipad air is going to work really well for a long time you're going to see performance and speed for years to come and not just now here at launch finally and this is just a hope on my end apple's got something in the bag for ipad os i want to see apple really deliver something great with ipad os 16 that can more take advantage of the silicon it's put inside these tablets right now we don't have any proof that's happening i've just heard different rumors and stuff but i really hope that apple has something in store for upgraded versions of ipad os that can tap into that m1 processor much more than ipad os 15 is doing now if you're into benchmarks it scored a 1715 and the 7229 on a single one multi-core test and yeah that's basically the same thing that the 11 and 12.9 inch ipad pro scored as i mentioned the cameras got upgraded apple didn't touch the 12 megapixel sensor on the back and still lacks an ultra wide lens and lidar but the front facing camera definitely got an overhaul apple moved from that 7 megapixel to a 12 megapixel sensor so you have much more detail in the images that you take when using the front facing camera i think that is a big deal now apple continues to put the cameras right here at the top when the ipad's in portrait mode which means if you've got your ipad in landscape mode your camera is kind of off to the side and it looks a little funky because it looks like you're staring off into the ether when you're taking a video call i think a lot of people take facetime and video calls on their ipads and i kind of starting to wish that apple had moved that camera to the top of the side or the top if it's in landscape compared to the narrow end this could just be me and it really depends on how you use your ipad it's not a big deal i just always try to remember to look at the camera when i'm taking those video calls but what's improved this year is on top of that larger sensor apple has also introduced center stage to the ipad air now it has 122 degree field of view that would follow you around as you go so if you have this propped up and there's multiple people here we'll all show up on camera at the same time it's pretty great and we've used this on many many other apple products and it's just a nice thing to have here on the most widely appealing version of the ipad so here's the thing with the new version of the ipad air the 2022 ipad air is a great tablet the ipad air 5 is an awesome tablet but the features the updates aren't super impressive sounding oh sub 6 gigahertz 5g support on the cellular models twice as fast usb got an m1 processor that was in a bunch of other products before coming to the ipad these are all things that we've heard before i spent an inordinate amount of time in my written review talking about the colors of the ipad because that's one of the most exciting new things to have i will say without a doubt it is not worth upgrading from the ipad air 4 to the ipad air 5. there's just not enough there to warrant an upgrade after only a year and a half but if you are in the market for an ipad this is undoubtedly the one that i would tell you to buy even if this year's upgrades aren't super attention grabbing i think it's a better option than the ipad pro which cost a couple hundred dollars more and doesn't have huge features either some things like the pro motion display the lidar scanner millimeter wave 5g and a few other things just aren't huge reasons for people to upgrade i think the ipad pro that's the 12.9 inside is a much more reasonable ipad to buy if you're looking for something more than the ipad air the 12.9 inch ipad is great because it has a mini led display instead and it's much better for multitasking where you can watch something in picture-in-picture of two apps in split view and pull something over and slide over and it feels reasonable whereas on the 11 inch ipad pro and the 10.9 inch ipad air it feels a little cramped so to clarify most people should be buying the ipad air i genuinely like it and the upgrades this time around they're great they're just not super exciting the biggest issue with it though is storage apple only offers two storage configurations and that's either 64 gigs on the base model or chunk down another 150 dollars to go to a 256 gigabyte option there's no 128 option available and apple kind of wants you just to move up to the ipad pro but you're gonna spend a bit more whether you're looking at buying the 256 in either situation or just getting up to 128 i think it still makes more sense to stick with the ipad air i think this is an excellent tablet and it's more affordable than the ipad pros but hey that's just my opinion i want to know what you guys think what do you guys think about the new ipad air do you love it do you hate it do you wish apple had done more let me know in the comments or on twitter and your underscore osu and if you want to grab a new ipad air for yourself including in this stunning blue you can find the links for it and deals i've started to round up already in the description otherwise stay tuned we got a lot more videos heading your way you\n"