Apple released the fifth-gen iPad Air 5 2022 along with the new iPhone SE at its March 2022 event, boasting staggering overall performance profits as compared to its predecessor. Not only does it provide 5G connectivity and progressed USB-C transfer speeds, but the new iPad Air sports activities with the identical Apple M1 chipset because of the company`s top-give-up iPad Pro range – and all without a rate hike.
Here’s all there may be to recognize approximately the new iPad Air ahead of the full release tomorrow.
When will the new iPad Air be released?
As was rumored, Apple revealed the new iPad Air during its March 2022 event. The fifth-gen tablet is on sale as of 18 March.
How much does the new iPad Air cost?
The iPad Air 5 2022 saw a noticeable price hike when the redesigned model was introduced in October 2020, going from a starting price of £479/$499 to £579/$599, representing an increase of £100/$100.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time around, with identical pricing to the iPad Air 4 range for the Wi-Fi variant – in fact, it’s £10 cheaper in the UK!
The cellular models are a little more expensive this time around though, likely down to the inclusion of upgraded 5G connectivity.
Here’s how much the iPad Air 5 range will cost at release:
- iPad Air (64GB, Wi-Fi): £569/$599
- iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): £719/$749
- iPad Air (64GB, Wi-Fi & Cellular): £719/$749
- iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi & Cellular): £869/$899
What’s new with the iPad Air 5?
The iPad Air 5 2022 might not look that different from its predecessor, but it’s much faster this time around.
New color options
With this sort of dramatic remodel provided by the fourth-gen iPad Air, it needs come as no wonder that the iPad Air appears near-same as its predecessor, whole with the equal 10.9in Liquid Retina display, Touch ID in the Power button, and all-display design – however that`s now no longer always a bad thing. It is still 3x thinner and 4x lighter than competing Windows laptops at a comparable price point, according to Apple.
But while the general form factor remains unchanged, there’s a new color option available. As well as the same Space Grey, Starlight, Pink and Purple finishes, the new iPad Air will also be available in a new shade of Blue.
Upgraded chipset
As predicted in a last-minute rumor ahead of the March Event, one of the headline upgrades for this year`s iPad Air is the chipset. While many had assumed the iPad Air might make the bounce to the A15 Bionic, the chipset located in the iPhone 13, it rather features the equal Apple M1 chipset because of the top-give-up iPad Pro range.
That represents impressive overall performance profits as compared to its predecessor, with Apple claiming a 60% enhancement to the CPU and as much as 2x overall performance withinside the graphics department, making it extra effective than equal Windows laptops at a similar price.
The upgraded 16-core neural engine allows for better AI performance, which should be particularly good news for creatives that use photo editing apps on the tablet.
While a few would possibly think it strange that the iPad Air ought to probably get the same chipset because of the iPad Pro range, basically bringing the Air in step with the 11in Pro, it`s really well worth mentioning that chipset is simply one differentiator. The Pro range nevertheless has the superior XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion tech, and Face ID remains a Pro special. It’s probably in order that Apple can marketplace each tablet as PC replacements, way to the compatibility with the Magic Keyboard.
5G connectivity
The iPad Air 5 2022, like the Mini before it, has made the jump to 5G connectivity, providing much-improved download and upload speeds if you opt for the cellular model – and live somewhere with 5G, of course.
Center Stage camera tech
The new iPad Air additionally functions with the same upgraded 12Mp ultra-wide front-facing camera because the rest of the iPad range, which additionally allows Center Stage camera tech. For the ones but to enjoy the technology, it basically makes use of AI to observe your face and body as you move around in front of the iPad, making it less difficult to perform tasks like cooking dinner while chatting on apps like FaceTime.
Improved USB-C connectivity
While not quite as exciting as the new M1 chipset, Apple has also boosted the performance of the USB-C port on this year’s iPad Air 5 2022, boasting 2x faster data transfer speeds perfect for transferring large video files and large photo libraries to and from the tablet.
