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Apple iPad Air (2022)
Apple iPad Air (2022)
Apple iPad Air (2022)
Apple iPad Air (2022)
...


9/10
Informr score
The Apple iPad Air (2022) currently has an Informr score of 9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 56 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

The Apple iPad Air for 2022 is an excellent device, and it can be ideal for casual and professional users. However, the baseline storage is not enough even for the lower price.

What's good

  • Fast performance
  • Fits existing iPad cases
  • Works with 2nd gen apple pencil

What's bad

  • Battery life could be better
  • 64GB of space is not enough

The iPad Air for 2022 is a collection of many features from other Apple products, with no significant upgrades. Most of the specs are carried over from the 2020 line, so what’s new?

Design

There’s almost no difference between the iPad Air 2022 and the iPad Pro of last year. Aside from the new colors offered, the dual camera of the iPad Pro versus the one lens on the back of the iPad Air is all the differences reviewers could spot. The colors for the iPad Air 2022 are Space Gray, Starlight, Pin, Purple, and Blue.

Display

It’s a negligible difference between the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 10.9-inches of iPad Air 2022. The one thing reviewers did say was unfortunate was the lack of a 120Hz refresh rate, and they also said it seemed to have less brightness than the iPad Pro.

Performance

The main upgrade for this model has to be the upgrade to the M1 chip that exists in most Apple devices now. As such, the performance of the tablet is fast and reliable. Reviewers felt the price of this tablet was excellent considering the power on offer.

Software & Storage

The iPad Air 2022 comes with iOS iPadOS 15 installed, which is standard. The storage, however, disappointed reviewers. 64GB at the cheapest seems small. You can get 256GB, but it’s going to cost you.

Cameras

It’s likely that unless people are still working remotely or contacting families with video calls, anyone will truly notice the cameras, especially the front-facing ones. However, reviewers said that the 12+MP camera did well with taking clear, crisp photos. It also comes with the Center Stage mode, which made reviewers happy.

Battery Life

The iPad Air 2022 didn’t wow reviewers with its battery life, but it depends on what you are doing with your tablet. Intensive gaming and video editing will drain it quickly, but it lasts quite some time if you’re browsing the web or reading a book. USB-C charging offers speedy top-ups for a battery so large.

Audio

Reviewers stated that the tablet got loud enough to fill a mid-sized room even if it didn’t quite have the bass to do it well. It’s best to use the outward audio for podcasts and media mostly centred around talking. For immersing yourself in a movie or show, it’s best to use a Bluetooth device.

Accessories

There aren’t any new accessories being released for this tablet specifically, but it is compatible with existing ones, like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil second-gen.

Specs at a Glance

  • Aluminum design
  • 10.9-inch LED-backlit display
  • Apple M1 Octa-core processor
  • 8GB of RAM
  • iOS iPadOS 15
  • 64/256GB of storage
  • 12+MP cameras
  • Less than a full day of battery
  • Dolby
  • Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2nd-gen support

The Bottom Line

To call the iPad Air 2022 an upgrade would not exactly be accurate. Some things are an improvement, but other features are missing. The 120Hz refresh rate, for instance, does not exist on this tablet. However, it does have the updated M1 chip. However, unless you’re upgrading from a much older model or looking for your first iPad, it’s debatable whether or not it’s worth the price, especially once you pay the premium to upgrade to 256GB of storage.

Tom’s Guide says, “The new iPad Air outshines its predecessor thanks to its powerful M1 chip, 12MP front camera with Center Stage, and 5G connectivity. It sets a new standard for ultra-thin tablets and is one of the best tablets of 2022.”

PC Magazine states, “The 2022 iPad Air offers many of the benefits of the iPad Pro for hundreds of dollars less, making it the ideal tablet for creators.”


iOS
Operating system
Operating system
iOS
Unknown
Processor
Processor
Unknown
10.9"
Screen Size
Screen Size
10.9"
12+ MP, f/1.8
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.8
28.6 WHr
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World

The iPad Air (2022) is a capable tablet that is impressively speedy and looks super-sleek. It can handle a range of tasks with ease, has a decent camera and is ideal for making photo and video edits on the go. It sits in the middle-top of the iPad range, and will likely be the best iPad for most peo...

- Rosie Hilder, Digital Camera World
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

If you don't need the scale of the iPad Pro, but want more power than the 10th Gen iPad, the 2022 iPad Air's addition of an M1 processor helps future-proof it when it comes to running those ever-increasing power-hungry apps. If you own the 2020 model then there's little upgrade appeal, but for every...

- Stuart Miles, Britta O'Boyle, Pocket-lint
AXO
AXO

Quite frankly, after using Android tablets for quite some time now, iPadOS on the iPad Air 5th gen is a digital breath of fresh air. It’s shown me a different landscape of the tablet scene, and to be honest, I’m loving it here. I look forward to picking up the tablet and just start doing whatever it...

- Terry Bass, AXO
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

The iPad Air (2022) continues to be the sweet spot in Apple’s tablet collection, offering more similarities to the premium iPad Pro 11 than ever without a dramatic price increase. It does practically everything you’ll need from an iPad, and the M1 chip will continue to deliver high performance for s...

- Lewis Painter, Tech Advisor
CGM
CGM

The 5th generation iPad Air truly fulfills the potential of tablet devices, thanks to its mighty M1 chip. All the power of the iPad Pro or a comparable laptop is now in users’ hands, at a relatively accessible price.

- Chris De Hoog, CGM


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Quick view

Screen Size
10.9"

The Apple iPad Air (2022)'s screen size is 10.9 inches with 1640 x 2360 pixels resolution.

Processor
Unknown

There is a Apple M1 Octa-core processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the iOS iPadOS 15 operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.8 camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera useful for video chat and self portraits.
Storage
64/256 GB

Internal memory is 64/256 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
28.6WHr

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 28.6 WHr battery. Apple's performance ratings are 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

iPad Air (2022) Specs

Overview
Release Date March 18, 2022
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System iOS iPadOS 15

Compare iOS Smartphones

Processor Apple M1 Octa-core
Internal Storage 64/256 GB
RAM 8 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE, 5G
Mobile / Cellular Data
5G, 4G/LTE
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs AAC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.8
Zoom
5x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR
Video Recording Formats
MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/2.4
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 60 fps
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1640 x 2360 pixels
Pixel density 264 pixels
Size 10.9 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen, Antireflective coating
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 28.6 WHr
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Video Playback Time Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage Unknown
Physical Characteristics
Material Aluminium
Colors Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue
Dimensions [H x W x D] 24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61 cm (9.8 x 7 x 0.2 in)
Weight 462 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack No
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Apple iPad Air 5, iPad Air 5th Generation
Related Links Apple iPad Air (2022) Reviews
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