When Apple announced the iPad Air (5th Generation) in March 2022, it confirmed the rumors about the Air not being powered by the Apple A15 Bionic Chip that is used in the iPad Mini and iPhone 13. Instead, the iPad Air (5th Generation) now features the Apple M1 chip, which can be found in devices like Macs and the iPad Pro.
When Apple unveiled the 2020 iPad Air, it was a total redesign that has carried forward to 2022. The new color options are the only way you can set the iPad Air apart as the 2020 and 2022 models have the same size and similar weight. Touch ID is still built into the iPad Air’s power button at the top. The iPad Air has 10.9 inch Liquid Retina display (with True Tone), which is the same as prior generation iPad Air.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro 11-in
The iPad Air and the iPad Pro (11-in) have been slightly different devices in the past but the addition of the M1 chip in the iPad Air (5th Gen) makes the difference even smaller. In addition to the chipset, Apple has added improved 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and 5G connectivity.
Compared to the iPad Pro 11-in (3rd Gen), the display is very similar with the exception of ProMotion technology that is found on the Pro model. The ProMotion technology allows the display to refresh up to 120Hz, while the iPad Air display is set at 60Hz. The ProMotion definitely makes a difference when browsing and navigating around the iOS system but general users won’t notice anything during normal usage.
The rear 12MP Wide camera is identical to the one found on 2020 model and the iPad Pro model main camera. The camera on the iPads are not meant to be used for extreme photography as the main usage is limited to scanning documents and trying our VR experiences of products. The iPad Air 2022 also supports the same accessories as prior generation models, which means the magic keyboard and Apple Pencil 2nd Generation still works the same way with magnetic charging.
While the iPad Pro comes in Space Gray and Silver, the iPad Air does offer more color options with Blue, Pink, Purple, and Starlight in addition to the Space Gray. The iPad Pro also has the convenience of Face ID in comparison to the Touch ID sensor built into the iPad Air’s power button at the top.
Air vs PRO: Technical Specifications
| Model | iPad Air (5th Gen) | iPad Pro 11-in (3rd Gen) |
| Screen size | 10.9-inch | 11-inch |
| Size (H x W x D) | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches |
| Weight | 1.02 pounds | 1.03 pounds |
| Colors | Space Gray Blue Pink Purple Starlight | Silver Space Gray |
| Display | Liquid Retina True Tone | Liquid Retina display ProMotion technology True Tone |
| Processor | M1 | M1 |
| Storage | 64/256GB | 128/256/512GB/1TB/2TB |
| Memory | 8GB | 8GB/16GB (1TB and 2TB) |
| Authentication | Touch ID | Face ID |
| Rear camera | 12MP f/1.8 Wide | 12MP f/1.8 Wide 10MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide |
| Front camera | 12MP f/2.2 Ultra Wide | 12MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide |
| Wireless | 5G (sub-6 only) Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 | 5G (sub-6/mmWave) Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Starting price (USD) | $599 | $799 |
The inclusion of M1 chip in the iPad Air makes it a big deal as it has been just 1 year since it was put into the iPad Pro. The M1 chip significantly increases the processing power of the iPad Air at a relatively low price point of $599. In comparison to the Apple A12Z chip, the M1 chip is significantly faster in both single-core and multi-core performance. While the basic experience of using the iPad Air has not change, the power of the M1 chip makes it one of the most future proof iPads you can buy.
Source: Macworld
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav