Apple still hasn't given it Thunderbolt credentials but the data transfer speeds have gone up to 10Gbps, which is appreciable if you edit your photos on the iPad a lot.

Look around and you will enjoy seeing the USB-C port. The power key resides in the “usual iPad position” and it still hosts the Touch ID sensor for biometric verification. However, at 462 grams, the iPad Air is unbelievably lightweight and despite its angular edges, it is comfortable to hold.

The rear camera sticks out substantially and can cause some wobbling on the desk when placed flat. It has got a beautiful metal body with a fantastic matte finish and a gorgeous “Starlight” colour. That does not change with this generation of the iPad Air, considering it still looks the same. The previous-gen iPad Air 4 brought a new design inspired from the iPad Pro models, flaunting the same flat sides, angular edges, and absolute flat display. This year though, Apple took a leaf out of its Mac division and gave it the highly acclaimed M1 chip! Yes, the same M1 chip you get on a MacBook Air!Īpple iPad Air 5th Gen (Amritanshu / HT Tech) Even with the 2020 update, the iPad Air was among the least popular iPad models. The Air brings more power than the base iPad but is not quite the Pro many seek. Where does this leave the iPad Air?įor the last three years, I have been using the iPad Air 3rd Gen as my desk companion, hopping into a bag when I need to carry my movies, or my work documents when my laptop doesn't make the cut. For those into sketches and editing, the iPad Pro models fit the bill.

Be it for watching movies, browsing social media, playing games, or doing light computing stuff, the base iPad 9th Gen will keep you happy. There are things only the iPad can do very well and despite the competition getting better, the iPad remains unbeatable as a tablet device. In my brief career span as a technology journalist, I have always had a liking for the iPad as a gadget.

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