Apple iPad Air Apple 2022 iPad Air 5th Gen. (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, Review
The iPad Air packs a desktop-class M1 chip into a sleek body, but its tiny 64GB base storage and iPadOS limits hold it back. It's a media consumption champ, not a workhorse.
Overview
The iPad Air is basically Apple's 'just right' tablet. It's got the same M1 chip that powered the MacBook Air, so it's seriously fast for a slab of glass. You get that great 10.9-inch screen, USB-C, and support for the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. But it's still an iPad, which means you're living in iPadOS. That's fine for most things, but it can feel limiting if you're trying to do real work.
Performance
The M1 chip is the star here. It's overkill for scrolling through TikTok, but it means this thing will handle any app or game you throw at it without a hiccup. The GPU and CPU scores are in the 70th percentile, which is great for a tablet. The battery life is just okay, landing right at the 50th percentile, so you'll get a full day but not much more. The big performance letdown is the base 64GB storage, which is in the bottom quarter of all tablets. You'll fill that up fast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The M1 chip makes it incredibly fast and smooth. 99th
- The screen is bright, colorful, and great for media. 95th
- It works perfectly with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. 83th
- The design is thin, light, and feels premium. 82th
Cons
- The 64GB base storage is painfully small. 23th
- iPadOS still holds it back from being a true laptop replacement. 27th
- Battery life is just average for the price.
- It lacks the high-refresh-rate screen of the iPad Pro.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 3.2 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 64 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
Display
| Size | 10.9" |
| Resolution | 1640 |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS 15.4 |
Value & Pricing
At around $380, this is a tough call. You're getting pro-level speed for a mid-range price, which is awesome. But you're also getting a tablet with cripplingly low storage and an OS that can't fully use that power. If you find it on a deep sale and 64GB is enough for you, it's a steal. At full price, you're making a big compromise.
vs Competition
Next to the iPad Pro, you're giving up the 120Hz screen, Face ID, and better speakers for a lower price. The Surface Pro 11 runs full Windows, so it's a much better laptop replacement, but it's also more expensive. The Samsung Tab S10 Ultra has a massive, beautiful screen and better multitasking, but its software support won't last as long. The iPad Air sits in the middle: better for pure media consumption and Apple ecosystem apps than the Windows or Android tablets, but less capable for real work than the Surface.
| Spec | Apple iPad Air Apple 2022 iPad Air 5th Gen. (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, | Apple iPad Pro Apple 11" iPad Pro M5 Chip (Standard Glass, 512GB, | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung 12.4" Galaxy Tab S10+ 256GB Multi-Touch | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Lenovo Yoga Tab Series Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus | Xiaomi Xiaomi Redmi Pad 2 Only WiFi (No Calls or Text) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.2 GHz | Apple M5 | MediaTek 9300 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3, QCM8650 | 2.2 GHz mediatek_helio |
| RAM (GB) | 64 | 12 | 12 | 32 | 16 | - |
| Storage (GB) | 64 | 512 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 256 |
| Screen | 10.9" 1640x2360 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 11" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS 15.4 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Android 15 |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | false | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
Buy this if you're an Apple user who wants a very fast tablet for media, light gaming, and note-taking, and you're sure 64GB is enough space. Don't buy it if you need more storage or you're hoping to replace your laptop. For that, spend more on a Surface Pro or just get a MacBook Air.