Apple unveiled the fifth generation iPad Air (2022), an upgrade to the fourth generation iPad Air (2020). It includes a number of improvements over its predecessor, the most notable being the M1 chip, which also powers the iPad Pro and some MacBooks. There are also other notable upgrades, including a better front camera with Center Stage support and optional 5G connectivity.
These two iPads also share some similarities, which brings us to the question: is it worth upgrading to the new iPad Air 5 (2022) if you already own the iPad Air 5 (2022)?
7;iPad Air 4 (2020) ?
We’ll take these two tablets head-to-head, comparing display, design, performance, cameras, battery, and other features to see which is better overall.
Characteristics
| iPad Pro (2022) | iPad Pro (2020) | |
| Cut | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches) | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches) |
| Weight | Wi-Fi: 461 grams (16.26 ounces)
Cellular: 462 grams (16.30 ounces) |
Wi-Fi: 458 grams (16.15 ounces)
Cellular: 460 grams (16.23 ounces) |
| screen size and refresh rate | 10.9 inch liquid retina LCD screen
60Hz |
10.9 inch liquid retina LCD screen
60Hz |
| screen resolution | 2360 × 1640 pixels (264 pixels per inch) | 2360 x 1640 pixels (264 ppp) |
| operating system | iPad OS 15 | iPad OS 15 |
| camp | 64 Go, 256 Go | 64 Go, 256 Go |
| microSD card slot | non | non |
| processor | Apple M1 | Apple A14 bionic |
| RAM. | 8 Go | 4 Go |
| camera | 12 MP rear, 12 MP ultra-wide front | 12MP rear, 7MP front |
| Video | 4K at 24, 30, 60 ips; 1080p at 30, 60, 120, 240 ips | 4K at 24, 30, 60 fps, 1080p at 30, 60 fps |
| Version Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
| water resistance | non | non |
| battery and charging | 10 hours via WiFi, 9 hours via cell
Support 20W wired fast charging |
10 hours via WiFi, 9 hours via cell
20W wired charging |
| Application Market | App Store d’Apple | App Store d’Apple |
| network support | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (cellular models only) | AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (cellular models only) |
| Colors | Silver, space gray, rose gold, green and sky blue | Silver, space gray, rose gold, green, sky blue |
| the price | From $599 (Wi-Fi), $729 (Cellular) | From $599 (Wi-Fi), $729 (Cellular) |
| Will buy | Apple | Apple |
| evaluate the result | messages | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
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Design, display and durability
The iPad Air (2020) brought some notable design changes, as Apple ditched the home button in favor of smaller bezels. After such a big change, it’s probably no surprise that the company opted for a similar design for the 2022 iPad Air, but with different color variants. The dimensions of both iPads are similar and their weight is basically the same. As they are tablets, you are unlikely to shake them, but they are still very light and easy to use.
The screens of these tablets are also identical – both feature a 10.9-inch IPS Retina panel with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels. The display promises a wide color gamut and peak brightness reaches up to 500 nits, which means it’s bright and colorful – exactly what you’d expect from a display. You even get a few coatings on top, an oleophobic coating for fingerprints and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
The similarities don’t end there; Both iPads don’t have an IP rating, so bringing one of them into the pool might not be a good idea. Since they share a similar design and construction, they should be just as durable.
There’s a lot to like here, but functionally they share the same design. It’s a tie.
Winner: Tie
Performance, range and charging
The biggest upgrade the new iPad Air (2022) has to offer is its processor. It now matches the more expensive iPad Pros in raw performance thanks to the powerful Apple M1 chip under the hood. The paired 8GB of RAM is the icing on the cake, and the tablet should easily handle almost any task you throw at it. According to Apple, the iPad Air (2022) offers up to 60% more performance than its predecessor. However, it will likely mean a real boost for those tackling high-performance tasks like video editing or 3D modeling.
That said, the performance of the iPad Air 2020 doesn’t disappoint either. It’s powered by the A14 Bionic, the same chipset in Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup. Speaking of storage options, both tablets come with either 64GB or 256GB of internal storage. If you’re a regular user, the iPad Air 2020 should be for you. However, if you’re looking for a tablet that can handle the heaviest tasks, like video editing, you should go for the new iPad Air (2022).
Moving on to another important factor: we expect the new iPad Air 5 (2022) to have similar battery life to its predecessor. While Apple doesn’t like to share exact battery capacity, it says both tablets should last up to 10 hours when browsing the web over Wi-Fi and up to nine hours on a cellular network. . In our testing of the iPad Air (2020), we found the battery life to be more than enough for a day and expect the iPad Air (2022) to perform similarly.
Although battery life is so similar, performance is likely to be a big plus for the new iPad Air.
Winner: iPad Air (2022)
cameras
The list of similarities continues in the rear camera department, as Apple’s iPad Air (2022) and iPad Air (2020) have identical looks. Both feature a 12-megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture and offer up to 5x digital zoom. You can record 4K video at 24, 25, 30, or 60fps and 1080p video at 60fps on both. Additionally, the new iPad Air 2022 also supports 1080p video recording at 25 fps or 30 fps and offers extended dynamic range.
Since these are tablets, some people would consider the quality of the front camera over the rear one. The iPad Air 2022’s selfie shooter has been upgraded to a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 aperture, 2x zoom and extended dynamic range. Like all recent iPads, it also benefits from the Center Stage function. For those unfamiliar, it automatically rotates the camera to keep you centered as you move around during video calls.
If you frequently use your device for video calls and selfies, the iPad Air (2022) should be better for you. Its predecessor, the iPad Air (2020), has a 7-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture and lacks the center feature. The camera isn’t bad, but the iPad Air 2022’s is better.
Winner: iPad Air (2022)
software and updates
Apple has updated iPad Air (2020) to the latest iPadOS 15, which runs on iPad Air (2022) by default. iPadOS 15 delivers a slew of new features and changes, including a redesigned Home screen layout, redefined multitasking, enhancements to FaceTime and iMessage functionality, and a revamped Safari interface.
Considering the iPad Air (2022) debuted about two years after the iPad Air (2020), it should receive support and software updates from Apple for a bit longer. That gives it an edge over its predecessor, although given the length of Apple’s software support in general, it’s a closer finish than you’d expect.
Winner: iPad Air (2022)
Special features
There are no noticeable differences in the features these iPads have to offer except one. The iPad Air (2022) gets 5G support if you buy the cellular version, but with the iPad Air (2020) you’ll have to settle for 4G and LTE networks. Faster web browsing and downloading speeds make the iPad Air (2022) a winner.
Additionally, both of these iPads support the second-generation Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and Smart Keyboard Folio. However, buying one of these devices will cost you extra money.
Winner: iPad Air (2022)
price and availability
The new iPad Air (2022) starts at $599 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only variant and goes up to $899 for the 256GB version with Wi-Fi and cellular support. You can buy it online or offline at Apple’s online store and other major electronics stores and retailers.
Apple has discontinued the iPad Air (2020), but you should be able to buy it from several online sellers. It cost $599 when it launched in 2020, but you might be able to find it a bit cheaper these days. If you want to save some extra money, you can also look for refurbished/refurbished models.
Overall winner: Apple iPad Air (2022)
The iPad Air 2022 offers various improvements over the iPad Air 2020 and we can safely say that it is a better device. Thanks to the M1 chipset, you get better performance, faster internet connection with 5G support (on the cellular version) and an improved selfie camera.
However, if you already own an iPad Air (2020) or can find one at a good price, you don’t necessarily need to opt for the newer iPad Air (2022). The older tablet is still a strong device overall and should work well for a few more years.
Editor’s Recommendations
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