2022 iPad Air and 2020 iPad Air: Detailed comparison

At the long-awaited “Peak Performance” spring event, Apple unveiled the brand new iPad Air 5 alongside the iPhone SE 3 and Mac Studio. The iPad Air 2022 may look very similar to the iPad Air 2020, but there are some notable changes inside. From improved cameras to more efficient processors, the latest iPad Air models have remarkable specs. And that’s why the iPad Air 2022 and iPad Air 2020 were forced to face each other directly to determine the difference between the two models and whether they deserve an upgrade. So whether you’re planning an upgrade to the iPad Air 5 or want to know how good it is compared to the Air 4, this detailed showdown is perfect for you.

iPad Air 2020 and iPad Air 2022: Detailed Comparison

Let’s take a closer look at the specs first, find out the main differences between the iPad Air 5 and 4, and then take a closer look.

Design and display: find the difference

In terms of design, the iPad Air 5 is very similar to the iPad Air 4. Given that the iPad Air 2020 was a major design upgrade, we didn’t expect Apple to make any radical design changes either.

Sport-durable aluminum back, sturdy aluminum frame, scratch-resistant glass on the front, Multi-touch display with 10.9 inch LED backlight with IPS technology, Both iPad models look the same. It also has the same 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution, 264 pixels / inch (ppi), and 500 knit brightness. Plus, with rounded corners, anti-reflective coatings, true-tone display support, and integration with Apple Pencil 2nd Generation, the two models appear to be in perfect sync with each other in front of the display. increase.

The top button will also continue to function as a Touch ID button. Volume lockers, USB-C connectors, magnetic connectors, nano-SIM trays, speakers, microphones, and camera bumps are all in familiar locations.

The iPad Air 5 Wi-Fi model weighs 461 grams (1.02 lbs), while the Wi-Fi + cellular model weighs 462 grams (1.02 lbs). In particular, the iPad Air 4 Wi-Fi model weighs 458 grams (1.0 lbs), while the Wi-Fi + cellular model weighs 460 grams (1.01 lbs).

You can get both models with 5 different finishes. Air 5 is available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple and Blue, while Air 4 is available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green and Sky Blue.

Chip: M1 blows A14 out of the water

Everyone expected the iPad Air 5 to have a more powerful processor (that is, the A15 processor), but few predicted that the M1 would be part of the next iPad Air. Compared to the A14 processor that powers the iPad Air 4, the M1 offers up to 60% faster performance thanks to its 8-core CPU.

Equipped with an 8-core GPU, the M1 offers up to twice as fast graphics. In addition, the 16-core neural engine paves the way for more efficient machine learning. Whether it’s multitasking between demanding apps or playing graphics-intensive games, the M1 crashes the A14 chip primarily for raw horsepower. So if muscle performance is your goal, the iPad Air 5 should be more than just live up to your expectations.

Camera: 12MP Ultra Wide Camera Separates iPad Air 5

While both iPad Air 5 and 4 come with a 12MP rear camera, the Air 5 features a significantly improved 12MP ultra-wide front camera that allows for a center stage.

For beginners, Center Stage leverages machine learning to automatically adjust the front ultra-wide camera when using a supported video app such as FaceTime. When you move around, it ensures that you or someone else stays in the frame, thereby enhancing the video call experience. Apple introduced Center Stage as one of the highlights of the 2021 iPad Pro.

In comparison, the iPad Air 4 has a 7MP selfie camera, which is great for capturing selfies and video calls. However, if you want sharper selfies and enhanced video quality, we recommend the Air 5 with an upgraded FaceTime camera.

Battery: Even-Stephen

Apple hasn’t disclosed details about the iPad Air 5’s battery capacity, but it’s expected to match the iPad Air 4 with a 7,606mAh battery.

According to Apple, the iPad Air 5 offers the same up to 10 hours of battery life as the iPad Air 4. This means that despite having a more energy efficient M1 chip, the Air 5 can’t offer longer battery life than its predecessor. It’s interesting to apply these two models to battery life testing.

Cellular and Wi-Fi

As expected, iPad Air 5 supports 5G. 5G isn’t available everywhere yet, but it’s always better to be prepared for the future than to be late. From this perspective, the iPad Air 5 is covered, unlike the Air 4, which supports 4G LTE.

However, both of these iPad Air models support Wi-Fi 6 (the latest version of Wi-Fi). Therefore, it is faster and has much less bandwidth congestion.

USB-C, file transfer speed

The iPad Air 2022, like its predecessor, has a USB-C port. If you’re a power user, we’d love to know that the iPad Air 5’s USB-C port delivers up to twice the transfer speed of its predecessor. Therefore, uploading large photos and videos will be much faster on the iPad Air 2022 compared to the iPad Air 2020.

Storage capacity

Like the iPad Air 4, the iPad Air 5 is only available with two storage capacities, 64GB and 256GB. The 512GB variant was a welcome addition, but I don’t think many will complain about it.

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Apple is not the person who frequently upgrades RAM (especially on the iPad and iPhone). So I was a little surprised to learn that the Cupertino giant doubled the RAM capacity of the iPad Air 2022. The iPad Air 5 has 8GB RAM compared to the iPad Air 4’s 4GB RAM.

Even with 4GB of RAM, the iPad Air 4 rarely sweats when using games or power-hungry apps. So with 8GB of RAM and a robust M1 chip, the iPad Air 4 can easily do anything from video editing to graphic design to playing high-octane games.

Operating system and keyboard support

iPad Air 4 and 5 are compatible with iPad OS 15. Therefore, whichever of these two models you choose, you can use the latest version of the iPad OS with many new features.

In addition, these iPad models also support Apple Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic keyboard, so you can get the most out of your tablet as a convenient laptop. Not only that. You can also magnetically connect a second generation Apple Pencil for automatic charging and pairing.

price

When it comes to pricing, Apple has become a little smarter these days. By keeping the price unchanged (starting at $ 599), Apple played it fairly safely. Knowing the fact that the iPad Air 5 is a spec bump, it makes sense to stabilize the price.

Need to upgrade to iPad Air 5?

Yes, definitely. With a very powerful M1 chip, 12MP FaceTime camera, and 8GB RAM, the iPad Air 5 is a worthwhile upgrade, if not attractive. If you already own an iPad Air 4 with a very high-performance A14 processor and a decent camera, upgrading to the iPad Air 5 may seem unwise. Of course, if you are a power user and want to use a resource-intensive app that shatters your game, you need a top-notch processor.

However, if you’re upgrading from an older iPad Air model or a cheaper iPad, the story can be quite different. Full-screen design, ultra-fast performance, and a higher-performance camera will captivate you.

In a nutshell, if you’re looking for an iPad that can offer flagship-level performance like the iPad Pro 11 ″ or 12.9 ″ without having to deal with premium prices, the iPad Air 5 may be a better choice. If you want to get about 80-90% of what the iPad Air 2022 offers and still tighten your budget, the iPad Air 2020 could be a smarter deal than ever before.