iPad Air 2022 Review: A Big M1 Boost, but Do You Need That?

An M1, optional 5G and a zooming Center Stage camera almost completes the iPad Air package, but do you need to upgrade? And what about the iPad Pro?
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[waqarhaider]

This guy is a no-nonsense, practical reviewer, recommending almost everyone the 9th gen iPad because that's what most people need.

[genreonlinenet]

I don’t think future proofing is truly possible. Reminds me when I was a kid and one got a new home computer, it was out of date within months of bringing it home and after a year, a dinosaur. Instead, I say buy what you like for your intended use for the best price possible and don’t worry about future proofing. Everything becomes obsolete faster than it used to. What matters is can it do what you want it to do, how much and how long. The other option is just wait, which can be hard when we all sometimes want that new thing as soon as possible, but how many times have we also bought something and then either had buyers remorse or it was not what we thought it was going to be. Shop for what you want and need and balance that with what you can afford and you will be happier than if you spent a lot more than you can or got something for less for the sake of buying. Otherwise, just wait and be grateful.

[ctran]

As someone who LOVES my iPad and definitely thinks iPad is usually worth the money. I find it outrageous they only have a 64gb and then a 256gb model. It should honestly start at 128gb and then $100 more for 256gb. Ideally, I think this iPad should cost $500-550 since the iPad “base” is so much cheaper. The iPad Pro just seems too much for me and has features I don’t particularly care for. I know they market it this way on purpose, but I’m just gonna wait to see what the new iPad Pro looks like :/

[nathansloan]

If one could qualify as a “national treasure” based on how they reviewed tech, Scott Stein would be a national treasure. Been watching and reading his reviews for close to a decade and I appreciate that he gets to the point in exactly the amount of time it should take to do so. And he makes practical observations and recommendations. 14/10, would recommend this reviewer.

[luckyfernandasetiawan]

I really want 128gb version of this ipad🙃

[wakkowarner]

The M1 iPad is now an iPad Pro, to people like me who have been using the original iPad Pro since 2016, this represents an amazing value

[fox]

A real and down-to-earth review, hands down.

[appletechinformation]

I also noticed the "iPad" wording on the back now reads "iPad Air", I didn’t even notice this small detail until I saw an article that mentioned it, otherwise, it looks ever so similar to its predecessor

[DatTruckinGuy]

I have the Air 4 256GB and I don't feel like this Air 5 is such a step forward. Sure it is faster and it has Center Stage, but I don't NEED those features. And besides, the A14 Bionic will still get updates as much as the Air 5 with M1. I may never fill up the storage, but it's good to have for the future. If I need to scratch that M1 itch, I have a M1 MacBook Air. If you're looking to upgrade from the 4 to the 5, you should be fine with what you have. If you NEED to upgrade, go for the iPad Pro.

[vivekradhakrishna]

This is an excellent, very practical review!

[beau-urns]

i got one of these and the new air (for my partner and I). At first i took the air.. but its just too big. i dont need a laptop replacement

[codecthelios]

Words of wisdom there. Why get the cellular iPad when you can easily hotspot with your phone.

[nattobaby]

just got off dave2d's review & your review is much more in-depth & consumer friendly. kudos

[badabing]

The one thing holding back iPads is the iPad OS to turn it into an alternative to a notebook. Proper dual monitor support for me being the prime one and proper filing system.

Until then it will always be an iPad and that’s what apple wants it to be, no matter how many bells and whistles it adds to it each year.

[Lindalinda-blhx]

I love my ipad air 2. The only problem is can not sent short message and receive short message so I have to buy a cheap phone to do this. When covid come and people have to message the shop code to our government center in order to trace any link between people.

[JBoya]

Good review. I have a 3 year old iPad Pro now and will wait to see what the next gen iPad Pro has before deciding. It starts with 128 GB of storage which is enough for me, and I don't have to buy the expensive 256 GB upgrade to an iPad Air.

[ghas]

The M1 chip is what differentiated the Pro line from the Air for me, but I understand why they did it because why not? They both have the same cooling potential.

For the Pro to reach the next level, they would have to introduce an active cooling solution to handle the M# Pro chips. Will it happen though? I truly doubt it.

[nicholaslim]

Doesn't the iPad Mini also have a Touch ID in the power button?? 6:20

[NileshR]

I think the Air would’ve made more sense with the A15 Bionic, 6 GB of RAM, & 128 GB of storage by default instead of getting an M1 with 8 GB of RAM & only 64 GB of non-expandable storage which makes you have to rely on iCloud &/or other cloud storage services that you might have to pay for monthly in order to enough cloud storage space that you need. Now the specs of the Air & 11” Pro kind of overlap bc of the M1 & 8 GB of RAM which makes no sense

[ThomasHoffDE]

wow - what a perfect review - practical honest and the good and bad. great work