Apple has presented at its “Peek performance” event, where it has also unveiled the expected iPhone SE 3, the new Mac Studio, a 5K external monitor, among other new features, the new iPad Air 2022.
Apple’s reference tablet is renewed and reaches the fifth generation with continuous design, but with the powerful M1 processor, 5G connectivity, a new rear camera, Center Stage in Face Time, and more.
iPad Air technical specifications
| iPad Air (2022) | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 10.9 inches 2,360 x 1,640 pixels (264 PPI) True Tone, 500 nits Wide color gamut (P3) anti-reflective film |
| Processor | Apple M1 Chip CPU: 8 cores GPU: 8 modules Apple Neural Engine |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB 256 GB |
| Rear Camera | 12 MP f / 1.8 |
| Front Camera | 12 MP f / 2,4 |
| Battery | 28.6 Wh up to 10 hours |
| Operating System | iPadOS 15 |
| Connectivity | Wifi 6 Wi-Fi 6 + Cellular Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Weight | iPad Wi‑Fi: 461 g iPad Wi‑Fi + Cellular: 462 g |
| Others | USB-C, Touch ID on side button, Compatible with Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Smart Keyboard Folio |
| Colors | Space Grey, Star White, Pink, Purple, and Blue |
| Price | iPad Air Wi-Fi: from $599 iPad Wi‑Fi + Cellular: from $759 |
iPad Air 2022, with M1 heart
Apple claims that the M1 chip in the new iPad Air will deliver a balanced experience between performance and power efficiency. The 8 CPU cores, according to the company, are 60% faster than those of the A14 chip.
Cupertino also highlights the graphics capabilities of its new tablet. According to them, the chip’s 8 cores will offer up to twice the graphics performance compared to the iPad Air 2020.
The iPad Air also gets an update in the connectivity section. The tablet refresh arrives with support for 5G networks (with top speeds estimated at 3.5 Gbps), eSIM, and Wi-Fi 6.
The wired connection also takes a step forward compared to the previous generation. The new USB-C port promises to be twice as fast as that of the iPad Air 2020, with transfers of up to 10 Gbps.
Regarding compatible accessories, the tablet welcomes the standard-sized full keyboard Smart Keyboard Folio, as well as support for the second-generation Apple Pencil.
On the front of the tablet, we find the 10.9 Liquid Retina display, with features such as True Tone, wide color gamut (P3), and anti-reflective film. The top button, meanwhile, has Touch ID integrated.
The front camera also gets an upgrade. It goes from the 7 MP of the previous generation to 12 MP with Center Stage. The rear camera retains the traditional 12 MP and promises to capture sharp photos and record 4K video.
Pricing and availability
The new iPad Air 2022 arrives in five colors and has a starting price of $599. It will be available for pre-order starting this Friday and will be available from March 18.
- iPad Air 64GB Wi-Fi: $599
- iPad Air 256GB Wi-Fi: $759
- iPad Air Cellular: 64GB: $749
- iPad Air Cellular: 256GB: $899
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