iPad Air (2020) Review: The Verdict
The new iPad Air is the Goldilocks iPad. It's a clear step up from the base level "iPad", but none of features its missing from the Pro family feel like significant compromises. The iPad Air is just right.
What we love
- Excellent value
- Cute colours
- Doesn't feel like a compromise compared to the iPad Pro
What could be improved
- Expensive accessories
- 64GB of starting storage
A key part of Apple's 2020 narrative has been making "just right" devices. Gadgets that are a little more affordable than the manufacturer's upper echelon, but don't represent as much of a compromise as you might expect. The iPhone SE and the Apple Watch SE, for example. The new iPad Air is the epitome of this product philosophy, to the point where almost no one should buy the iPad Pro. At the least, the 11-inch iPad Pro.
The 2020 iPad Air is a dead ringer for the iPad Pro, featuring the same kind of "edge-to-edge" display. It's a much more modern look compared to previous Air generations, which were heavier on bezel and had a fingerprint reader below the screen. Instead, the new iPad Air has a fingerprint embedded in the power button. Unlocking the tablet can feel a little certain at angles, but the lack of facial recognition (as you'll find in the Pro) was never an issue.
Inside, you'll find the same A14 processor that powers the latest iPhones, which is to say the iPad Air is a zippy little device. For comparison, the current iPad Pro runs an older A12Z chip. There are some cases where the A14 inside the Air is the better chip, the A12Z has an edge when it comes to more intense workloads - like if you're using your iPad to edit video or work with 3D graphics. The difference in processing power won't even be a consideration for most, however.
There are a few other features missing from the iPad Air, such as the higher refresh rate ProMotion display. While the smooth scrolling of a ProMotion display is lovely, the lack of it didn't impact my day-to-day experience with the iPad Air. It still has a lovely screen. You'll also miss out on the LiDAR sensor - which helps augmented reality applications with accuracy - and an ultra-wide camera, but once again, these are hardly deal breakers. After all, you never want to be the person taking a photo with a tablet.
One feature that's exclusively available to the iPad Air is colour. While most other iPad models are only available in your stock standard monochrome options, the iPad Air also comes in a choice of green, blue, and pink. I've not had a chance to see the blue or pink unit in person, but my green review unit is just gorgeous. And hey, it's really nice to actually have a choice.
At the end of the day, the iPad Air is still an iPad. It's a very nice iPad, and given it's over $400 cheaper than the entry-level Pro, a much better buy for most. My only genuine complaint is that it only starts with 64GB of storage. If you're after more memory, you'll need to drop an extra $230GB for the 256GB model. It really would have been nice to see Apple move to 128GB as the default.
Notable, the iPad Air supports all the same accessories as the iPad Pro, including the magnetically attached second generation Apple Pencil and the trackpad touting Magic Keyboard. My time with the iPad Air also marked my first time trying the Magic Keyboard, and it's a bit of a game changer. The addition of a trackpad elevates the iPad experience in a genuinely meaningful way when you're trying to do more PC-like tasks. Even just not having to raise your hands to touch the screen when you're typing makes the day-to-day experience so much better. The trackpad also supports gestures - a three-finger swipe will take you back and forth between apps, for example - and once again, it's a small improvement that helps whittle away at previous pain points. The added precision when working with words is also a bonus, especially as a writer.
The keyboard itself is a lot more like a traditional laptop. There's more travel, and they have a reassuring clickiness. It's a huge upgrade from the softer keys found on Apple's previous iPad keyboards, and helps turn the iPad Air into an incredible on the go device. For the most part, I've preferred using the iPad Air to work when on the train when compared to my laptop. It's just a shame the Magic Keyboard is such an expensive accessory that will blow out the cost of your purchase - $499 is a lot to pay for a keyboard. It will definitely be worth it for some, but the cost isn't exactly easy to stomach.
iPad Air (2020) - Final Thoughts
If you're in the market for a tablet upgrade, the new iPad Air is an excellent buy. It might be more iPad than you need if all you're using your tablet for is video, web browsing, reading et al (in which case the stock standard iPad is still a great choice), but if you're after more, the iPad Air is easy to recommend. It's more affordable than the Pro without feeling like a compromise. For many, the new Air is the best iPad you can buy.
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