M1 iPad Air 5 Honest Review after 2 weeks.. (the truth)

Apple's iPad Air 5 looks like a great deal because it comes packed with new features for the same $599 price as before, but there's a catch! Let me explain...

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[MaxTechOfficial]

Were you surprised to see JUST HOW much better the iPad Pro is? Comment below!
Best deals on iPads on Amazon ⬇️

[jamesstephens]

I was searching for a dishonest review (lies) but had to make do with this one.

[StevenWalker-nsii]

But what about comparing it to the entry level iPad. I think most people want to know is it worth spending more to get the air. It’s pretty obvious the Pro is better

[rogeh]

I am an avid iPad Pro 12.9 user. I loved the Blue Air so much that I bought it with the full intention of returning it before the 2 week period. I couldn’t stand the lack of 120hz on my mini. I honestly have to say this tablet has really been such an amazing purchase there’s no way I’d return it. I use it with the magic keyboard for work alongside my 14 inch Pro - and my 12.9 inch M1 iPad Pro is my main computer - I do all my creative stuff on there, recording demo tracks, writing music, playing games. The point of the story is that specs really aren’t enough to create an ‘honest’ review. Everyone has a different use case. It is a beautiful little machine and the trade offs vs the Pro are negligible depending on what you use it for. As much as I’d LOVE ProMotion on it, it has not in anyway hindered my experience. The excellent gpu in it makes it feel so responsive anyway.

[azan-]

Here are my thoughts:
If ProMotion 120 refresh rate (for people who have ProMotion iPhone 13 Pros and MacBook Pros) and Face ID are important to you, the iPad Pro is optimal. If screen brightness is important, the 12.9-inch version is the best of the best.

For most consumers (meaning they probably have non-pro iPhones), the iPad Air is the sweet spot. For example, for someone who doesn't want the somewhat dated look of the base iPad, and they want colours and access to Apple Pencil 2, this is great for those people. It's for people who don't find it necessary to jump up to the Pro just for taking some notes and watching some content, which doesn't require more than 64GB. If you're a heavy app user, then the Pro is the better choice, especially for storage.

The iPad Mini is for those who want the iPad Air in the smallest size.
The base iPad is basically the SE of the iPad lineup, it has the main features, but not the most advanced ones.

[josephshatrowsky]

The 120hz is not a big deal. Unless you like wasting money.

Another thing to keep in mind, tech is always improving. Two years ago 600 dollars would’ve gotten you something half as good. Two years from now you might get something twice as good. Unless the new iPad is coming within a couple months, it doesn’t make sense to always wait for the next big thing. Consider all the time you would’ve had a tool like the iPad but didn’t because you were waiting. It might be priceless if you have a business or are you college.

[Athibz]

I have a 13 Pro Max and the iPad Air 5. I can say from my personal use that swapping back and forth from the Pro Max to the Air 5 doesn’t feel as though it’s as big of a deal as described, especially considering how often the Pro Max’s refresh shifts to conserve battery life.. I guess it comes down to personal preference but shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

[chatnoir]

The purpose of having products that are slightly worse than the top end of the scale is to get people to buy the top end. This always works with three or more choices. If there was no mid-range product, some of those who buy the Pro now would only buy the entry-level model. Empirical research on purchasing decisions.

[Glopezane]

Why would they include a dual camera system with bump, flash and quad stereo speakers to their entry-level iPads? I don't think that was ever on the table.

[lyconxero]

Something to remember is that the vast majority of people do no upgrade their iPads very often and so will be VERY far behind the curve by the time they're forced to upgrade. For me that time is now as I'm rocking an iPad Air 2 and my case is falling to pieces. The iPad itself is still holding up pretty well aside from having some RAM issues that slow the system down if I don't restart it about once a week. I've more than gotten my money's worth out of it and I'm definitely in the market for a new iPad. That being said, since it still works fairly well the thing I'm curious about is if the iPad Pro is going to get an update this year as the base model is what I'm currently leaning towards as it pretty much has everything that I want in an iPad. However, I'd feel a little miffed if I spent $800 now only to discover that a new model gets released in October which is improved in several ways for the same price. If you're sold on the iPad Air 5 then now is probably the time to buy it because it's value will hold up fairly well until the next model comes out in it's price range.

[stephenhard]

As an 13 Pro iPhone user I do not notice the difference between the displays when going between the iPad Air 5 and the phone. I have tried the iPad Air 5, 2020 11” Pro, the iPad mini 6 and finally realized the 2022 Air is the way to go for me. I never use the camera on any iPad except for maybe scanning docs and thought the new iPad mini was the device I wanted because of the portability, so I sold the 11” Pro. I enjoyed it as a consumption device but after a few months of use I realized I missed the ability to attach a keyboard and do “stuff”. I am one who sells the older device when I get a newer one and did not have the 11” Pro to go back and try so it was around that time when Apple announced the new Air and I decided to purchase it when the pre orders came out. It has been a few weeks now and I am really enjoying it using it with the Logitech Touch Folio keyboard, I do think I have what I want and should be happy for years to come.

[GooseSnake]

I got the iPad Air 5 in blue. It is sooo good. I like everything about it except 3 features. It doesn’t have 2 cameras in the back and quad speakers. It doesn’t have Face ID which I would want really for Animoji not authentication. Touch ID worked totally fine. I also needed 256 gigabytes so I would have to spend $200 to get the iPad pro. The iPad Air is a nice tablet and I would definitely recommend it.

[ericramirez]

Keep in mind that for the $100 more you pay on the tab S8 you get an S-Pen included, 120hz refresh rate, 128 gb of storage and expandable storage. Android might be somewhat limiting when compared to iPad os but Samsung Dex allows for true multitasking unlike the iPad.

[Therejectionartist]

Depends what you do with it. I got an air 5 with 256gb so i am never worrying about storage. Never had an ipad pro so those pro features i have never used and to be honest i can live without them. Air 5 is damn versatile for video editing, storyboarding, movies, games, writing, drawing. Coming from a 6 gen ipad it’s a leap ahead. So i considered the pro 128gb but prefer the double storage and fast as hell m1 chip which can cope with just about anything you throw at it.

[JustinTime-pwoy]

Misleading comparison to the Samsung S8 model, which also starts at $599, but Samsung includes their S pen at that price, which Apple charges another $129.00 for. Plus the Samsung has 128 GB memory and a faster 120 hz refresh rate with an advanced OLED screen. Two great tablets, each with their own strengths and weaknesses

[jpracing]

I think the best option is the 2018 and 2019 IPad Pro, they’re plenty powerful with day to day use you really wouldn’t notice, M1 is overkill in that regard, but 120hz is far too important.

[Jogan]

I am buying three of the iPad Air 5 tablets - one for myself, one for my wife, and one for my son.
So for us the savings is 600 dollars vs buying the Pro models.

[edluk]

Apple are masters at upselling their own products, the fact that 128 gb version of the Air doesn’t exist proves it. The base model Air (64 gb) is great value for money though if you can make that storage work, the 256 gb not so much when compared to the Pro. Apple knows exactly what they are doing by convincing people to spend more money by upgrading to the Pro. Obviously the Pro is better than the Air, but it’s in a different price range. Yes it’s “only” $200 more to upgrade, but you need to ask yourself if you initially were going to spend that much.

[kruabel]

torn between air 5 and pro 11. What to get? the main purpose is for teaching.

[CristiCroicu]

For my usage this would have been amazing if at 600 dollars it would have gotten 128GB or 256 GB of storage… but for 749 I would better get the pro