modest upgrade, yet rave reviews
The first reviews of the iPad Air 2022 have arrived. Several international media were allowed to test the tablet for a while, so the first criticisms are known. In this iPad Air 2022 review round-up, we list the first findings.
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iPad Air 2022 reviews
The iPad Air 5 was unveiled by Apple in early March and will hit stores for the first time tomorrow (Friday, March 18). Early reviewers describe the tablet as a moderately improved version of an already excellent fourth-generation iPad Air.
On the outside, the iPad Air 2022 is identical to its predecessor. The main improvements are a powerful M1 processor, an improved selfie camera and support for the video call function Midpoint. But despite it being a modest upgrade, the tech journalists are mostly enthusiastic.
The display
The 10.9-inch display of the Air is a fraction smaller than the screen of the 11-inch iPad Pro. “But it’s still big enough for a great movie experience,” said Dan Seifert of The Verge†
A bigger difference with the iPad Pro screen is that the Air does not have ProMotion, which refreshes the screen up to two times faster: 120 instead of 60 Hz. ‘Most people won’t miss ProMotion,’ says Seifert. “It makes scrolling animations smoother, but if you’re reading statistical text or watching video, it doesn’t make a difference.”
Not everyone agrees. “Unlike the iPad Pro, the iPad Air 2022 does not have ProMotion in the screen and you can notice its absence,” says Mike Epstein of Popular Science† Some high-motion apps – games like Teamfight Tactics and Twitter – still stutter from time to time.”
We think that you only notice this slower refresh if you are used to a 120 Hz screen, such as with the iPad Pro 2021 or iPhone 13 Pro (Max).
M1 processor
The fifth generation iPad Pro has an incredibly fast processor, which the iPad Pro 2021 also has: the M1. It is a chip that is also used in many Macs. The processor has eight CPU cores: four high-performance and four efficiency cores. The GPU is also eight cores.
“Thanks to this processor, the iPad Air 5 delivers unparalleled performance for complex image editing in Affinity Photo, drawing and rendering 3D worlds in SketchUp, or creating a cinematic masterpiece in LumaFusion,” writes Samuel Gibbs of The Guardian†
Also tech journalist Epstein van Popular Science is enthusiastic. “Most apps run incredibly smoothly, including demanding creative apps like drawing with Penbook, image editing like Adobe Photoshop, and games like Genshin Impact.” Benchmark tests also showed that the iPad Air is just as fast as the iPad Pro 2021, which also has an M1. So the processor is not lured back.
Camera
A major improvement to the iPad Air is an improved 12MP ultra-wide angle lens on the front. This not only provides a sharper image, but also enables a new function: Center point. We have already seen this feature in the other iPad models and it uses artificial intelligence to keep a person centered during video calling. “I think most people don’t move much when they have video calls, but it’s a handy feature nonetheless,” says Nathan Ingraham of Engadget†
However, the reviewers are disappointed with the position of the selfie camera. Most people use the iPad in landscape mode, and then the camera lens is on the side of the screen, rather than the center. “It’s especially inconvenient if you’re on a video call with the tablet attached to the keyboard. Seifert from The Verge calls this “an ongoing annoyance of the entire iPad lineup.”
Conclusion
The reviewers agree first: the new iPad Air is a modest upgrade from the previous generation. That sounds negative, but it isn’t. Tech editor Ingraham van Engadget describes this aptly. “Just to be clear, the Air is an excellent tablet. It’s extremely fast, has a beautiful screen, an ecosystem of high-quality apps and will be a capable device for years to come. If I don’t sound enthusiastic, it’s because it used to be the case.’
Also Epstein from Popular Science is full of praise for the new tablet. “The Air does everything seamlessly, from playing games to creating content, and from browsing the web to word processing. He can even handle the basics of a work from home job, especially in combination with the Magic Keyboard.’
According to Seifert van The Verge the Air can do just about everything the 11-inch iPad Pro can, but for a few hundred dollars less. “A lot of people will wonder if they should buy the Air instead of an 11-inch iPad Pro, and I think the choice is simple: buy the Air. You specify the ProMotion display, Face ID, a pair of speakers, an extra camera on the back and the option for mmWave 5G. Of those, I’d miss Face ID the most, but I don’t think it’s worth spending $200 for it.”
