The fourth-generation iPad Air gives you the power of an iPad Pro for less money, making it the best Apple tablet to buy in 2020.

Super-fast processor and internet speeds; Excellent cameras; Fantastic build quality

Unimpressive battery life; iPadOS still doesn't multitask as well as Mac/Windows

The new iPad Air might feel like a minor update from last year’s model, but it’s improved enough that its features and specs are now mostly on par with the pricier iPad Pro. It’s not just the best iPad for most people -- it’s arguably even Apple’s best tablet for the money.

Fast performance and WiFi speeds; Healthy battery life; Fun new color options; Supports Apple’s second-gen Apple Pencil; Very similar to the pricier iPad Pro

Still no Face ID; Only two speakers; The cost adds up with accessories meant to make it a laptop replacement

The iPad Air for 2020 is a phenomenally well-made tablet that improves upon the last-gen version in a variety of ways, solving issues with that tablet’s dated design and accessories. The jump in price will make this a tougher sell for some, but the iPad Air for 2020 is so impressive that you may have trouble choosing between it and the iPad Pro.

All-screen design; Lots of power; Adventurous color choices;

64GB storage is limited; Higher price than last-gen; Selfie camera could be better

Improvements haven’t been made in the areas I’d hoped for. Nevertheless, the iPad Air 2022 remains a superb tablet in a number of ways: it looks great, supports class-leading accessories, and comes packing top-notch performance.

Great display, Support for excellent accessories, Seriously powerful internals, Attractive design and array of colours, If you want Apple’s best all-around tablet With many of the features of the iPad Pro and a design that’s far more modern than the basic model, this is the iPad that ticks the most...

Annoying front camera placement, No 128GB storage option, Creaky body, You want to store lots of files offline The storage options here are strange, with only 64GB and 256GB available. The former is isn’t very generous, while the latter brings the price a little too close to that of the iPad Pro.

The new colours are the only design changes in the new iPad Air, but the big upgrades are inside, especially the Apple M1 processor and 5G...

Powerful processor, 5G connectivity, Brilliant Touch ID, Elegant design

No design change, Average rear camera

The iPad Air (2022) continues to be the sweet spot in Apple’s tablet collection, offering more similarities to the premium iPad Pro 11 than ever without a dramatic price increase.

Near-identical to iPad Pro 11, Incredible M1 performance, iPadOS 15 is well polished

Display limited to 60Hz, No Face ID, Build quality issues with our sample

Jump to: Design | Screen | Hardware and Performance Speakers | Camera | Software features | Should you buy? Apple quite predictably announced a refresh to the iPad Air line. Why predictably?

Unrivaled performance at this price, Premium build quality, Solid speakers, Supports iPad Pro (11-inch) accessories

64 GB of base storage is a bit stingy, the only other option is a costly jump to 256 GB, Expensive accessories

Put simply, the iPad Air is the best tablet for most people. With its modern design, portable chassis, and M1-fueled performance, the Air is now clearly a better value than the iPad Pro 11 and a worthwhile upgrade over the base iPad.

Excellent performance, Modern design, Great display and speakers, Long battery life, 5G support

The base model has only 64GB of storage (no 128GB option), Touch ID instead of Face ID, Accessories are costly, No headphone jack

This iPad costs significantly less than the Pro model and, for many users, it offers significantly better value - although the price can quickly ramp up with accessories. The Air is powerful, desirable, fun and functional - it's an iPad for all seasons.

Excellent performance; USB-C forward-looking; Touch ID button works well; Trackpad support means true laptop replacement; Variety of colours

Lack of Face ID can annoy; No 128GB option; Accessories expensive; No rear camera flash