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With a premium design that’s identical to the iPad Pro and a vibrant 10.9-inch screen, the iPad Air nails the basics. The internal hardware has picked up a big boost thanks to the custom M1 silicon, and there’s 5G connectivity here. You also get a new 12MP camera at the front that changes viewing angles automatically to ensure you’re always in focus during video calls, and iPadOS 15.5 has an app ecosystem that is unrivaled on Android. Best of all, the iPad Air 2022 connects over USB-C, and it will get at least five OS updates in the future.
M1 silicon delivers incredible power
Cellular model gets 5G connectivity
Vibrant 10.9-inch screen
Charges over USB-C
Will get at least five platform updates
Extensive app ecosystem
Screen still at 60Hz
Not an OLED panel
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If you’re looking to pick up a tablet, an iPad has always been the go-to recommendation. With Google fumbling its tablet strategy and most device makers pulling out of the category, there just weren’t many Android tablets that could measure up to the iPad.
Samsung was the outlier here; its Galaxy Tab S series continues to be the only decent option if you want a high-end Android tablet, and while Samsung added a lot of custom features to scale One UI to a tablet layout, it couldn’t do much about third-party apps.
This situation is finally changing, as Google has once again signified interest in tablets. Android 12L gives much-needed attention to tablets, and Google is even making its own Pixel Tablet — although that isn’t launching until 2023. In the meantime, the likes of OPPO, Xiaomi, and other Chinese brands are introducing new tablets to cater to the budget and mid-range tiers, and of course Samsung continues to make the best Android tablets.
That said, the shadow of the iPad looms large in this segment, and this year’s iPad Air in particular is a strong showing. Apple didn’t change too much against the iPad Air 2020, but it didn’t have to — that was already one of the best overall tablets available, and by updating the internals with the insanely powerful M1 and adding 5G connectivity, the iPad Air M1 is differentiated enough that it can stand on its own.
Yes, Android tablets are about to get much better. But if you want something right now, the iPad Air M1 is already great.
Here’s the breakdown of the variants and what they cost around the world:
For context, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts off at $799 for the 128GB version, so the iPad Air M1 costs $200 less while featuring the same M1 silicon. Of course, you miss out on a few features, but we’ll get to that further below.
The iPad Air M1 has the same design and dimensions as its predecessor — you can use cases designed for the iPad Air 2020 here.
On that note, as the physical dimensions (247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm) aren’t different between the iPad Air M1 and its predecessor, you’ll be able to use cases designed for the iPad Air 2020 here.
I was able to slot in the Magic Keyboard that I got with the iPad Air 2020 and use it with the M1 model without any issues whatsoever. Apple introduced new folio cases with the iPad Air M1, but you can save some cash and just pick up cases made for the iPad Air 2020.
As for colors, there are five options this time: Grey, Blue, Pink, Starlight, and Purple. Although the design itself hasn’t changed, the iPad Air M1 feels just as premium as the iPad Pro. The aluminum chassis is great to hold, and the thin bezels around the screen maximize screen real estate. Touch ID does a good job with authentication, and while it isn’t as seamless as Face ID, it is fast and reliable.
That said, the Liquid Retina LCD panel has vibrant colors and excellent contrast levels, and it holds up very well in daily use. I would have liked to see 120Hz here, but that would have cannibalized the iPad Pro, so it’s understandable why that feature isn’t available here.
That isn’t to say that the A14 Bionic is outdated or doesn’t pass muster in 2022 — far from it. It’s just that the M1 has much more headroom for the future. As for what it’s like right now, I didn’t see any issues in the two months I used it.
This is the same design that powers the MacBook Air, and whether it’s running video editing utilities or music production software, the M1 did not break a sweat.
With the iPad Air also running M1 silicon, it is on an equal footing with the iPad Pro in this particular area. Another feature that made its way to the tablet is the 12MP selfie camera that automatically switches viewing angles, so you’re always in the center of the frame during FaceTime or Zoom calls.
Elsewhere, you get the same Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity as the iPad Air 2020, and I didn’t have any issues connecting to my home Wi-Fi and getting a reliable signal.
If you’re interested in the cellular model, you’ll be glad to know that the iPad Air M1 has 5G connectivity, but like the iPhone SE 2022, it is limited to Sub-6 bands and not the faster mmWave bands like the iPhone 13.
Battery size is also identical between generations, and I managed to get roughly the same amount of battery longevity as the iPad Air 2020.
I used the iPad Air M1 for over two months now, and like its predecessor, it is inherently versatile. We got an exercise bike earlier this year, and as it doesn’t have a screen of its own, I slotted in the iPad Air M1 to play guided workouts and connect to the bike over Bluetooth. The iPad Air is also a fantastic device for browsing, and I use it most of the time to read longform articles and scroll through Reddit.
On that note, I only used the folio case when streaming videos, and the rest of the time, I used the iPad Air without any case. It didn’t take any tumble in the two months I used it, but I didn’t notice any scratches or other signs of wear on the product, and I use it a lot over the course of the day.
With the switch to M1 silicon, the iPad Air handles intensive DAW (digital audio workstation) utilities like the Korg Gadget without breaking a sweat. Combine that with the fact that you’ll find plenty of synth instruments, drum machines, grooveboxes, and other plugins on the App Store, and the iPad becomes a powerful machine for music production.
Finally, the iPad Air M1 will pick up five years of platform updates as standard. So even if you don’t intend to use the same iPad for that long, it should hold its value better.
Need a larger screen or an OLED panel? You’ll need to take a look at the iPad Pro. The 12.9-inch variant has a gorgeous OLED screen that goes up to 120Hz, and it has all the extras you don’t get with the iPad Air M1.
You shouldn’t buy this if:
With the move to M1 silicon, the iPad Air becomes the best deal in Apple’s tablet portfolio. You’re getting the same level of performance as the iPad Pro for $200 less, and while it misses out on Face ID, quad speakers, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and a Lidar camera, those aren’t huge omissions. The only difference I see between the two models that would make me want to upgrade is the 120Hz option on the Pro.
But if you don’t care about that, the iPad Air M1 is the default choice if you’re interested in buying a new tablet in 2022. It costs $270 more than the regular iPad, but you’re getting an extensive set of features here, including USB-C charging, stereo sound, a more vibrant screen, and a sleeker design with thinner bezels. And of course, the fact that it’s running the M1 alone makes the iPad Air worth the recommendation.
The iPad Air M1 uses the same design as its predecessor, but it gets significantly faster hardware in the form of the M1 silicon. You also get 5G, excellent battery life, great software with meaningful additions and five years of updates, and a vibrant screen. In short, this is the best iPad to buy in 2022.
Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site’s coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
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