iPad vs iPad Air: Which one is right for you?

Buying an iPad was once as easy as picking your storage size and color. Nowadays, there are multiple different products in the iPad family. Some models are so similar that it can be hard to tell which is right for you. We previously looked at how the iPad compared to the Pro, but now it’s time to compare the iPad vs iPad Air.

iPad vs iPad Air: At a glance

iPad vs iPad Air: Specs

The iPad and iPad Air look almost identical and offer many of the same features, including Touch ID baked into the top button, optional 5G support, a similar camera, battery, and more. Even the displays are the same size and resolution: a 10.9 inch Liquid Retina display.

The displays aren’t totally equal, however. The Air has an LED display vs the LCD technology found on the classic iPad. This results in darker blacks and richer, more vibrant colors. Additionally, the iPad Air has a laminated display with an anti-reflective coating, so there’s no gap between the glass and the display. This gives it a more paper-like quality that is nicer to write on with the Apple Pencil.

For those wondering, the iPad also supports Apple Pencil but only the first generation model (and it requires an adapter), vs the improved second-gen Apple Pencil like the Air. There are not a lot of differences between the two pencils, though the newer model has a special feature that lets you double-tap the edge to change your tools. Another difference is that the iPad Air can magnetically attach the Pencil, the iPad can’t.

Where the iPad Air truly differs from the iPad is the SoC. While the iPad rocks the Apple A14 Bionic, the iPad Air has a much more powerful Apple M1 chip.

The M1 SoC has an eight-core CPU with four performance and four efficiency cores. There’s also an eight-core GPU, a major boon for gamers. If you’re looking for a machine that can do more advanced functions like photo or video editing, you’ll find the Air’s M1 makes a pretty big difference.

Tying things together is 8GB of RAM and either 64 or 256GB of storage. In contrast, the Apple A14 Bionic has a six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores and a four-core GPU. There’s also half the RAM at 4GB, though you get the same 64 or 256GB storage options.

Beyond the SoC and display, what else is different? Not too much. There are little things like Bluetooth 5.2 in the iPad, vs Bluetooth 5 in the Air. The latter also has a faster USB-C port (speeds up to 10Gbps vs 480Mbps) and has support for Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard lets you dock the iPad Air and transform it into a laptop of sorts, complete with backlit keys and USB-C passthrough charging. Unfortunately, the iPad doesn’t support it. The classic iPad does work with the Magic Keyboard folio though, which works similarly to the Microsoft Surface. It’s good though the Magic Keyboard is arguably better.

iPad vs iPad Air: Size comparison

The iPad vs iPad Air comparison isn’t easy, as the two look so alike. Despite the name, the Air isn’t even much smaller or lighter. The Wi-Fi only Pad Air weighs 16 grams less than the iPad, with a similar weight difference between the 5G models. The former is also mildly smaller in terms of height and width too. In reality, you can’t tell when you put them side-by-side.

One big visual difference is the color choices available. The iPad has options of Pink, Blue, Silver, or Yellow. The first two colors are also available on the iPad Air, but the other colors are Space Grey, Starlight, and Purple. Two other small differences are the placement of the Smart Connector and the front camera.

iPad vs iPad Air: Camera

The main use of an iPad camera is for video conferencing, though it’s possible to use it for photos. Both iPads use the same 12 megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, Smart HDR 3, video recording up to 60fps, and 5x digital zoom. The quality here is comparable to an older iPhone and is certainly good enough for taking photos as long as the lighting conditions are right.

Moving to the front camera, both tablets have a 12MP shooter with f/2.4 aperture. Are there any differences at all? Yes, the iPad’s selfie camera is positioned horizontally, making it better suited for video calls and the like. With the iPad Air it looks like you’re staring off into space during important conference calls, which isn’t a great look.

iPad vs iPad Air: Battery and charging

The iPad and iPad Air battery life is comparable, averaging around 10 hours when doing basics like video, browsing, and social networking. Gaming and productivity apps can drain things much faster but again, expect similar results.

The tablets have 20W chargers in the box, which is nice considering Apple phones have since left chargers out of the box. Charging will take you 2 hours with the iPad, while the iPad Air takes about 30 minutes longer. The good news is the iPad Air is capable of faster speeds. If you pair a 30W charger with the iPad Air you’ll bring that time down to the same two hours as the standard iPad.

iPad vs iPad Air: Price

The iPad and iPad Air have been available since October 2022 and March 2022, respectively. There’s a $150 premium for the iPad Air, though both models come in the same options: 64 or 256GB of storage and your choice of a Wi-Fi only or a 5G model. You can find both tablets at all major retailers.

Before jumping on the 64GB model of either tablet, think about how you will use it. The space will fill up fast if you plan on adding a bunch of apps and games.  To avoid aggressively managing your free space, you might consider opting for the 256GB storage variant.

iPad vs iPad Air: Which should you buy?

The gap between the iPad and iPad Air is pretty small. The Air is definitely faster, making it a solid choice if you ever plan to use your iPad for productivity or if you’re a gamer. It’s also likely to last you a little longer before it grows long in the tooth, simply because it has more power to work with.  If you have the $150 to spare, this is worth the extra cash. You’ll get a better display, better accessory support, and a higher quality display.

For those looking for the best value? The iPad (10th gen) gives you nearly as good an experience but saves you $150. Of course, if you are on a really tight budget, you can save even more if you pick up the older iPad (9th gen).

iPad vs iPad Pro: FAQ