Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Which iPad Is Best for You in 2022?
Over the years, Apple has iterated the iPad many times, with nearly two dozen different models in many sizes. Nowadays, you have multiple options to choose from, each with varying configurations; it’s not so simple to determine which iPad is best for you. But the larger iPad boasts impressive qualities, and can replace a laptop: It’s got lots of room for you to work comfortably with text, spreadsheets, graphics, and more. In fact, either iPad Pro model, paired with the Magic Keyboard, and leveraging the features in iPadOS, could be a substitute for a laptop for someone who wants the ability to type and use the device with touch. We looked at the multi-tasking features in iPadOS, and options for external keyboards, which can make an iPad a compelling choice for people who need to work on the go. When this device was first released in 2013, it was thinner and lighter than other models, which made it an interesting, if slightly limited, alternative.
And since the Touch ID sensor is incorporated in the power button, the bezels around the screen are slim. There are some differences: two speakers instead of four; a less sophisticated camera; storage options only go up to 256 GB; and the display doesn’t have all the top features, such as ProMotion technology. But the latest model has a 12 Mp front camera, which supports Center stage, and offers a 5G cellular option (starting at $749). This iPad really hits the sweet spot: it balances price and capabilities quite well, and you get a choice of five colors. This is my recommendation for most people who want to use an iPad for work, but don’t need the larger 12.9″ size. The iPad mini (6th generation) also has a 12 Mp ultra wide camera, and offers the same recording options.
The new 12.9″ iPad Pro features what Apple calls the Liquid Retina XDR display. Be aware that some games take up a lot of storage, but with the base iPad Pro models now with 128 GB, you may not need to pay the Apple tax for more.
You may travel a lot, and use your iPad to carry around files for work, or movies and TV shows to watch on the road.
Thunderbolt provides throughput at four times the previous iPad Pro model, up to 40 Gbps.
Note that you can find refurbished iPads on Apple’s website, usually discounted around 15%, so if price is key, you may want to check out that option as well. In the past few years, with the great retina displays on the latest iPads, I’ve taken to enjoying watching movies and TV shows in bed.
I currently have a 2021 11″ iPad Pro: the display is crisp and responsive, and the four speakers sound great. The AirPods Max are expensive, at $549, but they offer excellent noise cancellation, in addition to the truly immersive spatial audio.
Apple has only recently upped the resolution of the front cameras so they look good enough to use often for video conferencing. All current iPads have 12Mp front cameras, and support the new Center Stage feature, which is designed for video chats.
The camera follows you around when you move, so you don’t have to remain static in your FaceTime and Zoom calls. And you may want to add the Apple Pencil ($129) and the Magic Keyboard ($349) to the iPad Pro, making it a $2,877 tablet.
Obviously, anyone opting for such an expensive configuration is a professional using the device for demanding tasks, and for such people the price is justified. And the $499 iPad mini gives you a compact yet capable device, great for reading, playing, and watching videos. This is a device that generally lasts much longer that an iPhone, at least if you don’t carry it around with you all day long. I’ve had iPads in my household that have lasted for five or six years, with fairly heavy usage, before they became sluggish.
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iPad vs. iPad Air: Apple’s basic and cheapest tablet will serve most people, but the Air is our pick for power users
Get honest reviews on top products & services — delivered weekly to your inbox. In short, I’d recommend the standard iPad to most people who want a simple, effective tablet to use on the couch or in bed for video streaming and running basic, normal apps, and even light productivity, like writing emails.
That’s because it offers the same processor inside as the iPad Pro models, but it doesn’t come with frivolous features that some creative professionals might not need, like a dual-lens camera system or Apple’s super-smooth ProMotion display tech.
I’d also argue that the screen and design upgrades the iPad Air offers aren’t “$270” better for casual users, either.
Specification 2021 iPad 2022 iPad Air Display 10.2-inch (2,160 x 1,620) Retina LED 10.9-inch (2,360 x 1,640) Liquid Retina LED Processor Apple A13 Bionic Apple M1 Memory and storage 3GB RAM (estimated) / 64GB, 256GB storage 8GB RAM / 64GB, 256GB storage Battery and charging 32.4 Wh, 20W charger included 28.6 Wh, 20W charger included Cameras 8MP main camera 12MP main camera Front camera 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage Audio Two speakers Stereo speakers Authentication Touch ID Touch ID (on power button) Price Starting at $330 Starting at $600 That’s a huge amount of power for a tablet, but casual users aren’t likely to notice it with normal apps, or even with graphics-heavy games. I played a little “Call of Duty Mobile” on both tablets, and the experience was practically identical. Meanwhile, the standard iPad’s A13 Bionic processor from the iPhone 11 series offers less power, but it’s still perfectly capable of running normal apps, games, and streaming video.
The standard iPad lasted five hours and 25 minutes in our battery test, where we continuously stream a YouTube video at full brightness and at the closest resolution that matches the iPad’s display. Still, if you’re out for battery life as a primary concern, the standard iPad generally lasts longer due to its smaller display. For taking notes and doodling, the standard Apple Pencil works just fine. Indeed, if you’re navigating around iOS and apps often and quickly, lifting your arm and tapping the screen can get surprisingly tiring — more so than simply using a mouse.
You certainly can get the iPad Air if you want to, but the benefits aren’t immediately obvious outside of its sleeker, larger design. Plus, those creative professionals can benefit from the iPad Air’s speedy 10 Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) USB-C port for quickly transferring work files and data from an external SSD drive that can support 10Gbps.
iPad Air 5 (2022) vs iPad Air 4 (2020): which is better?
The only real physical difference between the two tablets is the iPad Air 5 (2022) coming in at 3g heavier, which you’ll be hard-pressed to ever notice. Both iPad Airs have a peak brightness of 500 nits and support Apple’s True Tone color temperature technology. These are massive gains, but the iPad Air 4 (2020) was already powerful enough for casual internet browsing, movie watching, and occasional gaming. Lastly, the iPad Air 5 (2022) has 5G support and a twice-as-fast USB-C port, and that’s where the major differences between the two tablets come to an end.
They’ve got the same resolution, have the same peak brightness, and support the same display technologies, so while there are minor differences, in theory, the experience should be largely the same. During our testing of the iPad Air 5 (2022), we did notice it produced a slightly brighter, cleaner picture with punchier contrast with standard HDR and SDR scenes. Apple’s known for displays with vibrant, detailed, and subtle image quality, and the iPad Air 4 (2020) still more than holds its own when pitched against the latest iteration. The iPad Air 5 (2022) has a wide, open sound thanks to its true stereo speakers, and watching movies is particularly atmospheric courtesy of the tablet’s robust soundstage.
Plus, there’s plenty of detail on offer and a rich texture to the bass (by tablet standards) that rarely spills over into sounding muddy.
You’ll be hard-pressed to hear a difference between the two tablets, but we’re confident enough to say you won’t be disappointed by the sound quality of either, regardless of the content you’re enjoying.
If you already own the iPad Air 4th generation, then you’ll have to decide if more processing power, a better front-facing camera, and marginally better image quality is worth paying for.
iPad Size Comparison Chart: Every iPad Generation Compared
Apple makes a bunch of iPads these days, and they’re all slightly different with respect to size, dimensions, specs, and design. In 2019, iPad sales generated up to $21.3 billion for the company making it the most selling product after the iPhone. Here, we will be looking at all the iPad models that have been released since 2010, how they’re different, and what’s changed with regard to specs and hardware over the years. By the end of this post, you’ll know everything there is to know about Apple’s entire iPad range. The major and most noticeable differences in Apple iPads are the screen size and dimension as you can see from the chart above. Here we’ll look at how Apple’s iPads are different with respect to specs and hardware:
Both use Face ID for security Authentication and feature dual rear cameras; 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide. Both use Face ID for security Authentication and feature dual rear cameras; 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide.
They feature just a 12MP rear camera, Touch ID for security, and support up to 1TB storage. They feature just a 12MP rear camera, Touch ID for security, and support up to 1TB storage. The 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro 1st and 2nd Generation devices feature an A9X bionic and A10X Fusion chip respectively. A security authentication feature is absent in the 1st Generation but the other models use Touch ID.
A security authentication feature is absent in the 1st Generation but the other models use Touch ID. All support up to 128GB with 8MP wide rear cameras and Touch ID security authentication. All support up to 128GB with 8MP wide rear cameras and Touch ID security authentication. iPad Mini (5th Generation): This device operates with an A12 Bionic chip with a neural engine and supports up to 256GB.
Apple now makes a bunch of iPads, and they’re all slightly different sizes – from very large to super-portable. iPad Pro 12.9 Size: 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm, 12.9in IPS LCD Screen
iPad Pro 11 Size: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm, 11in IPS LCD Screen You can still buy Apple’s older iPad Pro models, though you will have to do it through a third-party refurbished specialist like Gazelle – and you will save around 40% doing this too! iPad Air Size: 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1 mm, 10.5in IPS LCD Display iPad Air 4th Generation Size: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm, 10.9in Liquid Retina Display It is designed to be cost-effective, powerful, simple to use, and is the one to go for if you’re after a relatively cheap Apple iPad. iPad mini Size: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm, 7.9in IPS LCD Display
The iPad mini is a popular choice with consumers that want a smaller second screen, something that is more pocketable and can be used with a single hand. The iPad mini is great for reading books on, browsing the web, playing games, and working/catching up with email on. If you want a proper work machine, something that can replace your laptop, you’ll want to go with the iPad Pro. If you want a machine you can work on and consume media on, the iPad Pro is essentially unbeatable.
As you can see from the table and comparison chart above, Apple has made a fair few iPads over the years. If you’re in the UK, AO carries ALL of Apple’s latest iPad models (see the full range here). Alternatively, if you want to save 40% on the price of an iPad, you could go the refurbished route and pick one up via Gazelle – doing this will let you get a higher spec model with more storage for a lot less than buying new.
Compared: New 2022 iPad Air vs 2020 iPad Air
AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. The fifth-generation iPad Air has launched with an upgrade to M1 and 5G support, but it may be a tough choice for folks that already own the fourth-generation model. Apple’s “Peek Performance” special event had the company reveal an update to the iPad Air, bringing it to the fifth generation. For the fifth-generation model, Apple closes the gap a bit more between the Air and the iPad Pro range, at least in terms of specifications. iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) iPad Air (4th Gen, 2020) Base price $599 $599 Screen Size (inches) 10.9 10.9 Resolution 2,360 x 1,640 2,360 x 1,640 Pixel Density (dpi) 264 264 Brightness (nits) 500 500 Display Type Liquid Retina, When Apple updated from the third-gen iPad Air to the fourth, it made considerable changes to the overall appearance.
For the fifth-gen, both Wi-Fi and Cellular models are listed at 1.02 pounds, with only a gram difference. You’re also getting identical brightnesses at 500 nits, full lamination of the display, Wide color (P3) support, and True Tone. It consists of an eight-core CPU split evenly with performance and efficiency cores, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-core “next-generation” Neural Engine.
Around the front, the 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera has been switched out for a 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide version in the fifth-generation model. The new camera includes Center Stage support that takes advantage of the viewing angle and zoom in FaceTime. On wireless, the two models equally support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, though things change when it gets to the cellular side.
Apple specifies that the 5G support is for sub-6GHz bands, which provides blanket coverage similar to LTE. There is no support for mmWave, the extremely high-speed element of 5G that is widely marketed as an advantage of the standard.
The 5G Apple includes in the fifth-gen iPad Air is certainly faster than LTE, which it can also connect to, but it isn’t the same as mmWave. Both models stick to Apple’s general tablet standard of up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or watching video.
Audio support hasn’t changed either, with both having two speakers that work in landscape mode. Apple offered five color variations: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
For 2022, the color variety retains Space Gray but instead changes the remainder to Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue. It’s highly plausible that this spec-bump update could offer sufficient enough improvements to make a fourth-gen user upgrade.
The performance matches the iPad Pro-like design, which is a very attractive combination for anyone who really needs that power.
iPad vs iPad Air – Which is Best?
If you have to have the thinnest, lightest tablet – and money is no object – then spoil yourself with an iPad Air. It offers more impressive specifications, including a larger screen and faster processor, as well as being compatible with Apple’s excellent Smart Keyboard. Verdict: Any casual user who just wants to browse, stream and email should go for the 10.2-inch iPad rather than the nice, but pricey Air.
iPad Mini 6 vs. iPad Air 4 Buyer’s Guide
Apple recently introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini, featuring a complete redesign, a larger display, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. The iPad mini and iPad Air share a large number of key features, such as design, a rear 12MP Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Even so, there are a large number of meaningful differences between the iPad mini and iPad Air that are worth highlighting, including their A-series chips, front-facing cameras, keyboard compatibility, and more.
12MP ƒ/2.4 front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x zoom out, Center Stage, and extended dynamic range
The compact form factor and low weight of the iPad mini make it much more portable than the iPad Air, being far easier to fit in a small bag or even a large pocket and use on the go. Though the iPad Air is still thin and light to carry around, it simply is not as convenient to use on the go as the iPad mini, which is a device that pushes iPad portability to the extreme.
Users may feel more comfortable walking around with the iPad mini and using it discreetly in public spaces than the iPad Air, and it is also a great size for kids. iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. iPad Air color options: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. The iPad Air’s larger, 10.9-inch display is much more suited to productivity, multitasking, and watching videos, with considerably more screen space to fit app windows, UI elements, and more. The iPad mini’s rear camera is slightly more capable than that of the iPad Air, the True Tone flash may make it more suitable for scanning documents, and its form factor may make capturing videos and images more comfortable, but broadly the rear cameras on the two are very similar. The iPad mini’s Ultra Wide front-facing camera enables its support for Center Stage, which automatically keeps users perfectly framed during video calls.
When other people join in on the call, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view and make sure they are part of the conversation. This means that for video calls and selfies, the iPad mini is a much more capable device that should deliver a markedly better experience and image quality.
The iPad mini’s form factor may make it a great match for note-making with the Apple Pencil, while the larger display of the iPad Air may be better for illustration and graphic design. The iPad mini is still workable with Bluetooth peripherals for occasional emails or word processing, but its size is simply not practical for use as a complete laptop replacement.
If the iPad Air is out of your price range but you would still like an iPad with a bigger screen, there is the ninth-generation iPad, which starts at $329 and serves as an entry-level model in the iPad lineup. This undercuts the price of the $499 iPad mini and $599 iPad Air, but still offers important features like an Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage, first-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, a Smart Connector for use with an Apple Smart Keyboard, the A13 chip, and more. Overall, the iPad Air is the best all-around option for the majority of users, providing a large screen for productivity and consuming entertainment in a slim, portable design. The additional $100 needed to buy the iPad Air over the iPad mini is more than justified for the benefits that come with a larger display, not least the ability to practically use it as a laptop replacement.
Those who buy the iPad mini will likely have a specific use case in mind for how they will use the device, such as for note-taking on the go, throwing into a small backpack to use on public transport, or sliding into a large pocket to use while working.
The iPad mini is undoubtedly more futureproof with its newer A15 chip, 5G connectivity, improved front-facing camera, and Center Stage. Using a cellular connection or holding video calls is also a better experience on the iPad mini, but again, the main reason to choose the iPad mini will be its novel size. If you want more of an all-around device that works as a potential laptop replacement, with the added bonuses that come with a bigger screen for productivity and entertainment, the iPad Air will be the better option for you.
iPad Air 2020 vs. iPad Pro 2021 Buyer’s Guide
In April 2021, Apple updated its popular iPad Pro lineup, introducing the M1 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR display, a Thunderbolt port, and more. Since the iPad Air saw a major update in September last year, both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro now share similar designs and an increasingly close feature set. The iPad Air and iPad Pro share a number of key features, such as design, rear Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Liquid Retina display with 264 ppi, full lamination, oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone
ƒ/1.8 12MP Wide rear camera, with digital zoom up to 5x and Smart HDR 3 for photos Apple’s specification breakdown shows that the two iPads share a number of important features.
Even so, there are an even larger number of meaningful differences between the iPad Air and iPad Pro that are worth highlighting, including their displays, authentication technologies, processors, and camera setups. Available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue
Both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro use Apple’s most recent product design language, also seen on the iPhone 12 and the iMac, featuring industrial squared-off edges. Unlocking is something that may be used dozens of times every day, so it is important to choose your preferred method of authentication if you feel particularly strongly about it.
That being said, both Touch ID and Face ID are now extremely refined technologies that work well, and most users will likely be happy with whichever they have. These models are around half a pound lighter than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and will be best for users focused on portability and easy handheld use.
Both the iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro feature Liquid Retina LED displays with 264 ppi, full lamination, an oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone. Apple calls the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s mini-LED screen a “Liquid Retina XDR display.”
The display can reflect what can be seen in the real world by capturing the brightest highlights and subtle details in even the darkest images, allowing users to view and edit true-to-life HDR and Dolby Vision content, which is especially important to creative professionals, including photographers, videographers, and filmmakers. The iPad Air’s Liquid Retina display will be sufficient for the vast majority of users, but some may prefer the responsiveness of ProMotion of the iPad Pro for tasks such as gaming.
Both chips are fabricated using a 5nm process and contain Apple’s most advanced 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning. Only users with an intensely demanding workflow will need the extra power the M1 in the iPad Pro offers over the A14 in the iPad Air. For example, photographers working with large images, graphic designers, and video editors may be able to take advantage of the M1’s extra power. 4GB in the iPad Air will be adequate for casual users, but 8GB will be defter at handling multiple windows of the same application and a range of intense background tasks. The iPad Pro has extended dynamic range when recording video up to 30 fps, and also features a True Tone flash.
LiDAR allows the iPad Pro to measure the distance to surrounding objects up to five meters away, operating at the photon level at nano-second speed. This makes the iPad Pro capable of a “new class” of improved AR experiences with better motion capture, understanding of the environment, and people occlusion. If you use your iPad for consuming lots of music and videos with the built-in speakers, the iPad Pro will deliver a slightly better experience.
As well as being considerably faster, Thunderbolt opens up the potential for compatibility with a much broader range of Thunderbolt-only accessories such as external hard drives and monitors. Since they both support the same accessories, there is no reason to buy one model over the other when it comes to the likes of keyboards or trackpads. Nevertheless, it should be considered that accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard have to be purchased separately from the iPad, so will push up the overall price. While it lacks the all-screen design of the iPad Air, USB-C, and 4K video recording, the eighth-generation iPad is an excellent low-cost alternative to the mid to high-end iPads.
Moreover, if you are looking for the smallest, most portable iPad, you should consider the iPad mini, which features a smaller 7.9-inch display and the A12 chip, for $399. For most people, the additional $200+ needed to buy the iPad Pro will not be justified to get a better camera system, more memory, and a 120Hz display.
Some iPad Pro features, such as LiDAR, the Ultra-Wide camera, large storage configurations, and Thunderbolt, will only be practically useful to a small niche of iPad users. Professionals who have a clear use case for needing larger amounts of RAM and storage, Thunderbolt, mini-LED for HDR content, and the added performance of the M1 chip will benefit from buying the iPad Pro.
Prosumers will also enjoy features such as 120Hz ProMotion for smoother scrolling and gaming, deeper blacks and more vivid colors with the mini-LED display, Center Stage, and LiDAR for AR experiences, even if they are not necessary, and those who want a larger 12.9-inch display will need to go with the higher-end iPad Pro model. Prosumers and professionals who want the iPad to replace their laptop or computer should likely choose the 12.9-inch iPad Pro if they are pairing it with the Magic Keyboard due to the added screen space for multiple applications.
Apple iPad vs. iPad Air vs. iPad mini vs. iPad Pro: Which Tablet Should You Buy?
A few years ago, Apple formally split the iPad’s operating system off from iOS, which powers iPhones, into iPadOS. The tablet-specific operating system is very similar to iOS, but focuses on streamlining and expanding multitasking to improve the usefulness of iPads as workplace devices, with pinnable widgets and cross-app workflow features like split screen and rapidly sliding between screens. The only significant change to the latest model’s screen is the addition of Apple’s True Tone feature, which adjusts color balance based on surrounding light. The selfie camera is 12MP, with a 122-degree field of view and support for Apple’s Center Stage tracking feature.
If you want a versatile entertainment device for watching videos, reading books and comics, browsing the web, communicating with your friends, and even doing light text-crunching and presentations, it’s an excellent choice. The iPad mini weighs 0.66 pounds and measures less than a quarter of an inch thick, small enough to easily fit in a bag or even a large jacket pocket. It doesn’t have the ProMotion technology of the iPad Pro’s screen, but it features the same P3 Wide Color and True Tone modes, in a fully laminated panel with anti-reflective coating. The selfie camera is the same as the standard iPad, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor that supports Center Stage in FaceTime to automatically frame your face. The 2022 iPad Air tilts that balance heavily toward the Pro end, with extensive upgrades that put it within striking distance of the pricey, professional tablet.
It’s a huge step up from the A14 Bionic mobile processor in the previous model, and starting at $599, it’s by far the least expensive M1 device available.
That distinction is important, because it needs to justify the much higher $799 and $1,099 baseline price tags the Pro models command over the other versions. It’s still an utter beast that can handle pretty much any processing tasks you can throw its way, and beats out the iPad Air with its smoother ProMotion screen and multiple rear cameras, along with the choice between 11- and 12.9-inch models.
The 11-inch iPad Pro has a Liquid Retina display with a 2,388-by-1,668 resolution and Apple’s ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate and True Tone technologies, as well as Wide Color support. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has all of those technologies and a higher 2,732-by-2,048-pixel resolution (for the same 264 pixels per inch as the smaller model), but adds a mini-LED backlight system that can both get much brighter and more precisely control the light output of the screen for better contrast. The front-facing TrueDepth camera is also 12MP, with support for Face ID, 1080p60 recording, cinematic video stabilization, and Smart HDR 3. No matter which model you choose, make sure you learn how to master iPadOS with our top tricks and tips.
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