The Apple iPad Air (2022): A Powerful Tablet That Can Almost Replace Your Laptop
The Apple iPad Air (2022) is a compelling tablet with the power of the Apple M1 SoC, bringing a significant performance boost to this already popular tablet. Its affordable price point, starting at Rs. 54,900 in India, makes it a tempting alternative to the more expensive iPad Pro models. While limited by its software, it can be a capable laptop substitute with the help of accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. But can it truly compete with the iPad Pro, or provide better value? Let’s dive into a detailed review.
iPad Air (2022) Price in India
The Apple iPad Air (2022), also known as the 5th generation iPad Air, starts at Rs. 54,900 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only variant. The 256GB version is priced at Rs. 68,900, while the 5G cellular-enabled models with the same storage cost Rs. 14,000 more, leading to prices of Rs. 68,900 and Rs. 82,900, respectively. Surprisingly, Apple has maintained the prices of the previous iPad Air (2020), offering an attractive price point for enthusiasts.
iPad Air (2022) Design
Visually, the iPad Air (2022) is almost identical to its predecessor. It boasts a sleek aluminium body with a 6.1mm thickness, featuring a matte finish in the Starlight trim, which effectively hides fingerprints. The cellular variant, featuring antenna lines across its width, showcases two sets of speaker grilles for stereo sound in landscape mode. It retains the USB Type-C port at the bottom and a top-mounted power button with an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
While the volume buttons, made of aluminium, feel sturdy, their functionality dynamically changes based on the iPad’s orientation, a change that cannot be disabled. This can be frustrating as holding the device in landscape orientation inverts the volume keys, a feature that is not present on older iPads.
The right side of the iPad Air (2022) houses a magnetic snap for the Apple Pencil, which also serves as a charging point. The rear of the device features a single camera, in contrast to the dual camera setup on the iPad Pro (2021) models, along with the iPad Air logo above the accessory connector.
iPad Air (2022) Specifications
At the heart of the iPad Air (2022) is its 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, an IPS LCD panel matching its 2020 predecessor. It offers a 1640 x 2360-pixel resolution and a peak brightness of 500 nits. The display boasts P3 colour gamut support and Apple’s True Tone feature, dynamically adjusting colour temperature based on ambient light.
The star of the hardware show is undoubtedly the Apple M1 SoC, powering the iPad Air (2022). Surprisingly, this isn’t the 7-core GPU variant found in the entry-level MacBook Air (M1, 2020) but the 8-core GPU variant, identical to the 2021 iPad Pros. Paired with 8GB of RAM, the iPad Air (2022) delivers impressive performance.
While Apple doesn’t explicitly state the battery capacity, they claim up to 10 hours of battery life for web surfing and video playback, similar to the iPad Air (2020). The box includes a 20W USB Type-C power adapter and a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.
Apple has upgraded the front camera to a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle unit with Centre Stage support, a feature that automatically pans and zooms to keep the subject centered. The rear camera remains a 12-megapixel wide-angle unit, while the iPad Air (2022) also supports Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6, 5G, 4G LTE, GPS, and Wi-Fi calling (on the cellular model).
iPad Air (2022) Software
The iPad Air (2022) runs iPadOS, a forked version of iOS. With iPadOS 15.4.1, the review unit seamlessly updated to iPadOS 15.5 during the review period. Apple’s commitment to software updates ensures the iPad Air (2022) will age gracefully. Setting up the new iPad Air (2022) was straightforward, especially for existing iPad owners.
iPadOS 15 enhances multitasking capabilities, offering Split View for running two apps side by side (or two instances of certain first-party apps) and Slide Over, which enables multiple apps within a small window. These improvements, along with Apple’s integrated ecosystem, bring the iPad Air (2022) closer to a laptop experience.
iPad Air (2022) Performance
The iPad Air (2022) excels as a tablet, providing an immersive media consumption experience thanks to its perfect display size. The slim profile and well-distributed weight ensure comfort even when holding it for extended periods.
The Touch ID sensor reliably unlocked the iPad Air (2022), and iPadOS remained smooth and responsive. The crisp and sharp screen delivers vibrant visuals, but the 4:3 aspect ratio leads to letterboxing in widescreen video content. While the display lacks the punchy AMOLED colors, the dual speakers compensate with loud and clear sound.
The Apple M1 SoC delivers powerful performance, as seen in the benchmarks. In AnTuTu, the iPad Air (2022) scored 1,001,016 points, surpassing its predecessor by nearly 25 percent. Geekbench 5’s Metal test resulted in a score of 20,932 points, further highlighting the performance leap.
Gaming experiences like Asphalt 9: Legends were smooth and lag-free, though the back of the iPad did become warm after extended play, resulting in a noticeable battery drain. Despite this, the iPad Air (2022) demonstrated excellent battery life for casual use, lasting for over two days. Apple’s focus on idle battery drain minimized frequent charging requirements. The HD video loop test yielded 9 hours and 34 minutes of playback, slightly under Apple’s claim of 10 hours. The bundled 20W USB Type-C charger took 30 minutes to reach 26 percent and an hour to reach 50 percent battery life, with a total charging time of around two hours.
The 12-megapixel primary camera captures decent photos and is adequate for document scanning, but not ideal for professional photography. The 12-megapixel ultra-wide selfie camera, however, is a significant upgrade, offering Apple’s Centre Stage feature. This feature proved valuable during FaceTime calls, ensuring everyone stays in the center of the frame even with movements and multiple participants.
iPad Air (2022) as a Laptop Replacement
Using the iPad Air (2022) as a laptop replacement requires the Magic Keyboard accessory, priced at Rs. 27,900. This keyboard provides a sturdy base and eliminates the need to rest the iPad against something, making it suitable for use on laps.
The Smart Keyboard Folio case (Rs. 15,900) is another option, but lacks the sturdy base and is best suited for use on a table. Third-party alternatives are also available.
Pairing the iPad Air (2022) with a Magic Keyboard, especially the 256GB Wi-Fi-only model, leads to a total cost of Rs. 96,800, slightly exceeding the base price of a MacBook Air.
While the iPad Air (2022) coupled with the Magic Keyboard proves capable for various tasks, including writing a significant portion of the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G review, some limitations exist. The Magic Keyboard feels cramped compared to the MacBook Air’s keyboard, and the lack of Function and Escape keys can be inconvenient. Unlocking the iPad Air (2022) with the Touch ID sensor on the left side while using the keyboard stand proved less convenient than the MacBook Air’s keyboard Touch ID.
Verdict
The iPad Air (2022) is a fantastic tablet powered by the M1 SoC, offering significant performance improvements over its predecessor at the same price. Its versatility and powerful performance make it an excellent choice for multimedia consumption and light gaming.
The M1 SoC puts it on par with the 11-inch iPad Pro (2021) in terms of performance, while maintaining a significantly lower price. The iPad Air (2022) appeals to those seeking a powerful tablet without the premium cost of the Pro models.
While Apple’s accessories come at a premium, investing in the Magic Keyboard can greatly improve the iPad Air (2022)’s capabilities. Based on our experience, the iPad Air (2022) can serve as a viable laptop replacement, requiring a slight adjustment in workflow to accommodate iPad apps. Its combination of power and affordability makes it a compelling choice for anyone seeking a versatile and powerful tablet.
