Apple released an upgraded iPad Air with an M1 processor last week, and the new tablet is now available for purchase. We purchased one to see how it compares to the iPad Pro, which also features an M1 processor, in order to help you decide which of Apple's iPads is best for you.
With the exception of the colours, the fifth-generation iPad Air looks exactly like the fourth-generation iPad Air. The new model is available in purple, a new shade of blue, pink, starlight, and space grey.
There are no additional cosmetic changes, and the iPad Air retains its all-display design with a 10.9-inch screen and Touch ID Power Button. It lacks 120Hz ProMotion functionality, which is currently one of the primary distinctions between the Pro and Air iPad models. If you're used to ProMotion, the absence of it on the iPad Air will be noticeable, but if you've never had ProMotion, you won't notice.
Though Apple did not modify the appearance of the iPad Air, there have been internal adjustments. Most significantly, the iPad Air has the same M1 processor as the iPad Pro, therefore their performance is similar. There will be no speed differences between the two lines until the iPad Pro is updated with a faster CPU, which is due later this year.
To bring the iPad Air in line with the iPad Pro, Apple included a new 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front-facing camera, and it supports Center Stage, a feature that keeps you in frame as you move around the room.
The iPad Air offers 5G connection as well, although it is sub-6GHz 5G and does not function with the fastest mmWave 5G networks. The iPad Pro does support the speedier 5G network, so keep that in mind.
If you already have a previous-generation iPad Air or the last two iPad Pro models, it's not worth upgrading to this new fifth-generation iPad Air, but if you're coming from something else, it's worth choosing the iPad Air over the iPad Pro because it has nearly the same feature set and is $200 cheaper.
You'll only lose faster 5G mmWave connection, the ProMotion display, and Face ID, and if these features are crucial to you, you should wait for the next-generation iPad Pro before upgrading.
