Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Pinterest
Flipboard
Email
Messenger
WhatsApp
Apple iPad Air Packs a Flagship Level Punch for Under $1,000
By Ben McKimm - News Published: , Last Updated:
The headlines of Apple’s latest event were dominated by this funky new desktop computer called the Mac Studio – check out everything you need to know about that one here – but the entry-level products such as iPhone SE and 4th Generation iPad Air (seen here) are equally as exciting for fans of the brand. While access to the industry-leading M1 Chip has been reserved for the brand’s flagship devices but the trickle-down effect has officially begun with the new iPad Air now offering blazing fast performance for increased versatility. Let’s check it out.
Image: Apple
Apple iPad Air
The list of features packed into the latest iPad Air are extensive and bring it closer to its flagship (and for more expensive) cousins in the lineup than ever before. Here’s everything you need to know about the product, and while the performance specifications, display, connectivity, cameras and accessories are stars in their own right there are a few software changes to make productivity even more efficient. Here’s what Apple had to say.
“With breakthrough M1 chip, Ultra Wide front camera with Centre Stage and ultrafast 5G, iPad Air is now more powerful, more capable and simply more fun than ever… Whether it’s a college student taking elaborate notes, a content creator working on their latest project or a gamer playing graphics-intensive titles, users love iPad Air for its amazing performance and versatility in such a portable design,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
Image: Apple
Starting With a Flagship Chip
No amount of portability and design is useful without a chip to match and the M1 is highly touted as the best performer in the segment. Delivering a large leap in performance over the previous generation device, the M1 chip in iPad Air will better cater to the demanding apps and workflows, with incredible power efficiency resulting in all-day battery life. In terms of raw performance data, here’s what the brand suggests the 8-core CPU delivers;
- Up to 60 per cent faster performance all around.
- Up to 2x faster graphics performance compared to the previous iPad Air (8-core GPU).
When you combine the power of the CPU and GPU with a 16-core Neural Engine the result is advanced machine learning (ML) functions that enable better all-around experiences. We can’t wait to test the Air’s ability to edit multiple streams of 4K video, trial its graphics-intensive games, or maybe even fire up a bit of augmented reality (AR). It’s about time the Air received the same love as the rest of the lineup and we couldn’t be more thankful.
Related: Samsung is also throwing its latest chipset into the new range of products, check it out here.
Image: Apple
Of Course, There’s a Better Camera
If lockdowns taught us anything it would be that a quality video conferencing camera is of the utmost significance. iPad Air is set to deliver a new Ultra-Wide front camera with Centre Stage to automatically pan the field of view around you to keep family members, friends, and work colleagues in view as they move around. When others walk into the frame the AI will sense their presence and smoothly zoom out to include them in the conversation.
On the rear of the device, you’ll find a 12MP Wide camera for sharp photos, 4K video, document scanning and better AR experiences. The cameras have always been a letdown on mid-tier tablets but the latest Apple iPad Air and Samsung S8 Series tablets are looking to change to narrative.
Related: The Samsung S8 Series tablet range is the direct Android competitor, check it out here.
Has Anything Changed With the Display?
Yes! The iPad Air will take advantage of a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display alongside landscape stereo speakers with Touch ID built into the top of the device. Display specifications are as follows.
Display size: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina.
Brightness: 500nits.
Colour gamut: P3 wide.
Other: Full lamination, True Tone, Antireflective Screen Coating.
Image: Apple
What About the Ports and Connectivity?
It was only a matter of time, but iPad Air has received 5G connectivity for peak speeds of up to 3.5 Gbps in ideal conditions. When you’re connected at home Wi-Fi 6 will take care of business whenever you need to transfer files, photos, or backup data. If transferring between devices or storage solutions, Air now includes a USB-C connection for 2x faster speeds than previous generation lighting connections. How long until we see USB-C hit the iPhone? The implementation of USB-C also means access to a broader ecosystem of accessories, including cameras, external storage, and displays with up to 6K resolution.
Accessories Available For iPad Air
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation) w/ wireless charging and pairing – $199 AUD.
- Compatible with Magic Keyboard – $449 AUD.
- Smart Keyboard Folio – $269 AUD.
- Smart Folio – $109 AUD.
Image: Apple
Pricing and Availability
The new iPad Air is available to order from this Saturday, 12 March via the link below and in the Apple Store beginning Friday, 18 March. Pricing starts at just under $1000 AUD for the Wi-Fi model $929 AUD and Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at $1,159 AUD. Storage can be upgraded from 64GB to 256GB and you can pick from colours including, space grey, starlight, pink, purple and blue finishes. Prices top out at $1,389.00 for 256GB storage and cellular.
You’ll also like:
The U-Turn Orbit Plus Turntable is Still the King of Quality
Canon EOS R5 C is a Pint-Sized Powerhouse with 8K Capability
Technics EAH-A800 Boast 50 Hours of Over-Ear ANC
