iPad Air (2022) vs. iPad Air (2020): Should you upgrade?

The latest iPad Air represents the 5th generation of Apple’s lightweight and ultra-portable tablet lineup. From the outside, the 2022 entry looks and feels a lot like its 2020 predecessor; it has the same thin, symmetrical bezels and a 10.9-inch display, all housed in a cool-to-the-touch aluminum body.

But in the new iPad, Apple is giving it a breath of fresh air by embedding an industry-disrupting M1 processor, a new front-facing camera, and the buzzword of the decade: 5G.

Whether you’re an iPad Air (2020) user who’s considering an upgrade or a first-timer who’s split between the two latest Air models, we’ve broken down the key similarities and differences to help you make the best buying decision. Let’s begin.

Design

On the design front, both iPad Airs are headlined by a 10.9-inch liquid retina display, capable of up to 500 nits of brightness. The LED panels support Apple’s True Tone, which calibrates the color and intensity of the displays for a comfortable viewing experience no matter the lighting conditions. They also support the second-generation Apple Pencil for your stylus needs.

The same array of USB-C port, speakers, TouchID scanner, and pins to connect to a Magic Keyboard can be found across both iPad models. Likewise, the single 12-megapixel camera on the back remains unchanged in the new Air. (More on the cameras later.)

One change in appearance is the color options that Apple offers. The iPad Air (2020) comes in space gray, silver, rose gold, green, and sky blue. Whereas the iPad Air (2022) comes in space grey, starlight, pink, purple, and a darker blue.

Clearly, the design of the iPad Air (2020) was good enough to not warrant any major shifts in hardware two years later. You’ll enjoy and appreciate Apple’s industrial design no matter which of the two you buy.

More: iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Pro (2021): What’s the difference?

Performance

The saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks doesn’t really apply to the iPad Air (2022). In fact, underneath the familiar glass and aluminum exterior is Apple’s ARM-based, eight-core CPU, M1 chip. Trickling down from the MacBooks and iMacs, Apple’s M1 chip rates are up to 60% faster and more powerful than its Bionic counterpart — like the A14 found on the 2020 iPad Air. That’s a pretty significant step-up, considering both iPads start on an equal footing with 8GB of RAM.

With normal activities like browsing, streaming movies and videos, and social media perusing, the difference in performance between the M1 and A14 Bionic will be unnoticeable for most users. But when handling graphics-intensive apps, such as 4K video editors, 3D racing games, augmented reality, or multitasking, the processing gap is evident. With the M1 at its core, the iPad Air (2022) even gives the higher-end iPad Pro a run for its money.

Both iPad Airs have two storage options: 64GB and 256GB. Given the portable nature of the Air, you’ll likely find yourself working from it on the go. That makes local storage all the more important and the base 64GB all the more underwhelming. I’d recommend upgrading to the 256GB variant, no matter which version you buy.

More: iPadOS 16 brings improved multitasking, external display support, and more to the iPad

Camera

Camera performance isn’t typically the key selling point for tablets, let alone iPads. But with this year’s iPad Air, Apple does emphasize its new and improved front-facing camera.

While the 12MP rear camera remains untouched, the front now houses a 12MP ultra-wide camera. With a wider field of view than the previous generation’s 7MP FaceTime HD lens, the new iPad can take advantage of Center Stage, Apple’s webcam feature that tracks and follows your face as you move around. This is particularly useful for presentations and FaceTime calls with friends and family.

Besides that, both iPads are capable of recording 4K video and reliable enough for the usual point-and-shoot.

Battery

Apple tends to keep battery capacities and specs under the rug but does state on its website that both the 2020 and 2022 iPad Air can last up to 10 hours of web browsing on WiFi, and up to nine hours on a cellular data network. We had similar results when testing the two.

In fact, when ZDNet contributor Jason Cipriani reviewed the iPads, he had no trouble getting a full workday of use, even with the Magic Keyboard connected. There’s something to be said about the M1 chip on the new iPad, though. With its improved power efficiency and smooth handling of professional-grade apps, marginally better battery life is to be expected.

Eventually, when you do need to top up, both iPad Airs come with a 20-watt charger (brick and cable) in the box, and that’s as fast as they will charge.

Connectivity

Besides the more efficient M1 processor, there are a couple more improvements on the new iPad Air that may or may not affect your usage.

The first upgrade is 5G cellular connectivity. Though not mmWave 5G, the sub-6 GHz bands on the iPad Air (2022) allow you to connect to the 5th generation network and access faster download speeds than the 4G LTE of the iPad Air (2020). You will, of course, need to be under a 5G data plan, have the appropriate nano-SIM card (or eSIM), and purchase the more expensive, cellular version of the iPad, to reap the benefits of the faster network.

More: 7 best tablets that can replace your laptop

Another upgrade comes in the form of the new iPad Air’s USB-C port. It now supports external monitors with a 6K output (versus the 2020’s 4K) and transfers photos, videos, and files at 10Gbps. That’s double the speed of the 4th generation iPad Air. With the faster output, you theoretically can connect the new iPad to Apple’s $1,600 Studio Display.

Price

Even with the all-around improvements, Apple sells the 5th generation iPad Air for the same price as its predecessor. At retail, either model can be had for $599 (64GB) and $749 (256GB). That is, again, if you’re buying the iPads at retail. With the release of the new Air, most stores and websites have since marked down the 2020 model as a means to clear out inventory. 

Right now, we’re seeing major retailers list the iPad Air (2020) for as low as $469 ($130 off), and there is no telling whether that price will go any lower before it’s completely discontinued.

Whether you’re new to the iPad experience or are a current owner of the iPad Air (2020), making the switch to the latest model boils down to three things: 5G, Center Stage, and M1. If you seek an iPad that’s future-proof and capable of handling any task you throw at it, then the iPad Air (2022) is worth the pickup. But if you can live without the connectivity quirks and just want a no-frills, iPadOS experience, then save yourself the money and stick with the iPad Air (2020).

Alternatives to consider

Still up in the air about which iPad to buy? You may also want to consider these ZDNet-tested tablets:

The iPad Pro line delivers the best performance out of all Apple tablets. The latest model, available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, features the same M1 processor as the 2022 iPad Air, a more capable camera system, and a 120Hz refresh rate display.

If you’re upgrading from an older iPad model and can’t get over the ol’ reliable TouchID sensor, then the Apple iPad (10.2-inch) is worth considering. The 2021 version lacks the physical appeal of the iPad Air but is ever so capable of handling day-to-day tasks and tablet duties.

Or, maybe an Android tablet will serve you better. One of the slimmer and more lightweight options available, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 sports an 11-inch 120Hz display, 128GB of storage (doubling that of the iPad Air’s base model), and support for the millions of apps within the Google Play store. A mountable S Pen stylus is included in the box.