analysis, detailed overview of its characteristics and price

The iPad Air initially blew us away. The iPad, released in 2010, was already mature enough to move to New GenerationAlthough the first Pro was still a long way off, I especially remember the analysis of the original iPad Air, which spoke of the future “as we imagined it.”

When we imagine ideal future of iPad, it’s about keeping the balance between space and power to a minimum. This delicate equation is part of an innovation effort that has been especially important since the introduction of M-series chips with the iPad Pro M1.

The iPad range has been reduced to three lines: iPad and iPad mini (those who would sit together in the photo), iPad Air and iPad Pro. Until now, the Air name meant a thinner and lighter version of the input device, but for several years now it has a new mission: Inherit the defining advantages of iPad Pro and make them more affordable and more balanced for those looking for essential features and not satisfied with the basic range.

Designed for everyday life with minor modifications.

This new version of iPad Air has the same look and feel as the previous generation and still works great. The thickness of 0.61cm is still very thin.and now it is available in two screen models: 11 inches and 13 inches, which is what many users have been demanding so as not to choose the Pro just for this.

External aesthetic changes are minimal, although the disappearance of the physical SIM card slot means we don’t have that adapter – we’ll now have to opt for an eSIM if we want to provide independent connection of this model. This is something that had to happen sooner or later, since in the United States the company itself stopped producing iPhones without a physical card, and in the iPad this purchase option was never widespread. Considering that it is possible to purchase eSIM cards even online today, and thanks to iPadOS 17, which allows you to manage them conveniently, this change should not be a problem for us.

Colors vary, although Apple calls them the same across generations, the “purple” color of this M2 model is not the same as the previous generation. Now We have four options: black, star white, purple and blue – which in this case are a little less pastel and give the air a more classic touch.

Liquid Retina display remains unchanged, and its quality continues to work great for both those who want to consume content and create it – although it might be nice to upgrade it with 120Hz ProMotion now that we’re used to using it on the iPhone. It has the same brightness of 500 nits, except for the new 13-inch model, which is increased by 100 nits to 600.

One of the new features of this generation’s screen is support for the floating pointer of the Apple Pencil USB-C or Apple Pencil Pro – which is important if we want to fine-tune the precision of our tracing. The Apple Pencil Pro works exactly the same as the iPad Pro M4., which is another important general point. This model is not compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, as the charging area on this new iPad Air had to be redesigned to accommodate the TrueDepth camera in landscape mode.

This is one of the changes that also improves the quality of video calls on iPad Air: the front camera is now on the long side of the device, which allows you to make video calls without looking to the side, which was not very convenient. . This camera retains the previous model’s 12 MP resolution and allows for a centered frame thanks to its ultra-wide viewing angle. The rear camera remains unchanged, with a wide viewing angle of 12 MP. Allows you to record 4K video directly to your device.

The small details improved in this version are enough for the user looking for something more than just an iPad, where The screen on the Air range was very good with important differences compared to the entry-level iPad: improved by adding an anti-glare film, support for P3 cinematic color space, it is thinner and weighs less(The screen has built-in lamination.). Apart from, of course, the possibility of choosing a 13-inch version.

Updated with M2 chip.

If we say that the current iPad Air has inherited the characteristics The most important things about the top-of-the-line iPad ProA processor upgrade was part of the changes: This new iPad Air includes the same M2 processor as the previous generation iPad Pro, giving it the power it takes away from it (even more) Entry-level iPad, still with A14 Bionic chip.

Apple’s M-series chips enable iPad to reach new levels of artificial intelligence and allow more graphics power – allowing them to play triple-A games like Death Stranding or the new Assasins Creed Mirage, which will be released in early June.

If we look at the results of the synthetic tests of the new iPad Air in Geekbench, we see that they are very similar to those offered by, for example, the 15-inch MacBook Air M2, which is not true. It’s good to carry an ultra-thin device with you much more portable than MacBook.

In my tests, despite the iPad Air’s thin design, it didn’t get very hot, even when using apps like Final Cut Pro or graphically intensive games. It seems Apple has found a happy medium with the M2 and managed to fit perfectly into the heart of this iPad Air. This achievement is not to be taken lightly: this processor is the same as the Apple Vision Pro, where there is a fan dedicated to this chip (the other is on the R1 chip) to dissipate heat.

This M2’s balance of features is ideal for a “mid-range” device between the base iPad and the new iPad Pro M4. It’s faster, more efficient and more prepared for local AI processing is something Apple will undoubtedly be betting on at WWDC24. This iPad Air’s upgrade to the M2 is likely due to the fact that this processor improves on the M1’s Neural Engine by 40%.

Both for video editing in Final Cut ProEdit photos in Lightroom, plan in SketchUp, or watch the latest Apple TV+ is the perfect iPad, balanced in every aspect, but closer to the power and professional mentality than ever.

Details on the perfect iPad for everyone

Without a doubt, this is the perfect iPad that can be blindly recommended. From 699 euros we have a device with an elegant design, an updated processor and details that These were previously reserved for Pro models.. Accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro are perfectly compatible with this model, which is designed for those who are looking for the latest technology without going into the professional line, but without giving up anything.

In addition, the Wi-Fi connection has also been upgraded to Wi-Fi 6E. Differences between 13″ and 11″ models (besides the obvious screen) – improved brightness and sound with slightly more bass depth in the larger model. In any case, two horizontal stereo speakers and two microphones are more than enough to enjoy our series, video conference or record videos on the device.

Apple accompanies this model with a new Smart Folio that has more tilt positions so we can find the perfect angle when we’re sitting on the couch or on a trip. Hardware as updated as this also deserves iPadOS 18 on its own level: we’ll wait to see what Apple offers us at WWDC24, where perhaps we’ll see surprises in this regard.

A very round model, oriented to the category, improved at heart and with many Pro details, which can already be considered typical of the surname “Air”: it no longer means “thin”, it can also be Let’s look at a “lite” version of what we see in its big brother Pro.. If you consume and create content and don’t want to stop doing any of those things without choosing Pro, this iPad Air is perfect for you.

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