iPad Air 2024 hands-on: Call me greedy, but I want more

After feasting my eyes on the thinnest iPad Pro ever, which lured me in with its vivid, color-rich, ultra-bright OLED display, the new iPad Air M2 looked like plain old Jane.

The iPad Pro made me look like Jim Carrey’s stunning character in The mask while the iPad Air, well, just got an indifferent nod from me.

For some time, it was rumored that the iPad Air would feature miniLED, borrowing a display advantage from the previous generation iPad Pro 2022. This sparked some excitement in me. But then, at the last minute, another Rumor shot that down, claiming that miniLED wouldn’t come to the iPad Air.

It turns out it’s true. The iPad Air still sports the LCD screen of its predecessor. Damn!

On the plus side, the iPad Air still comes with some exciting upgrades that might lure Apple enthusiasts into its lair.

The webcam has been moved

If you’ve ever used an iPad Air on the Magic Keyboard, you may have noticed that the webcam, located on the top bezel, is on its side due to the landscape orientation. As such, video conferences and FaceTime sessions may have felt a little awkward. (After all, we’re all used to having webcams placed on the top bezel of our devices.)

That’s why Apple moved the webcam to the side bezel, ensuring that the 12 MP webcam is on top during video calls. However, there is still no FaceID.

New 13-inch model

When I tried working with the iPad Air for a week, I found it to be a bit cramped. Although some people like the portability of a 10.9-inch screen, I thought, “A little extra screen real estate wouldn’t hurt.” »

The 13-inch iPad Air in all its glory.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

So when I saw the new iPad Air, the 13-inch model (matching the size of the larger iPad Pro), I thought, “Ooh! This size is perfect.” Apple has said that the 13-inch iPad Air has 30% more screen space compared to its predecessor, and yes, the increase in space is undeniable.

If you don’t have an intensive workflow in-house and aren’t affected by the limitations of iPadOS, you can install this bad boy on top of a Magic Keyboard for a more comfortable, Apple-like experience. a laptop. (Plus, the new Magic Keyboard now has a full function row and a larger haptic trackpad.)

The iPad Air now comes in 11-inch and 13-inch models, but the latter is the showstopper here.

The iPad Pro has stolen its shine

If the iPad Air stood on its own, I would have been impressed (especially with the roomy 13-inch model). However, with the iPad Air next to the iPad Pro, it was easy to see the obvious differences between their screens.

After all, you’re spending less money, $599 to start through the official Apple Store, which is an affordable price (for Apple, anyway), but it comes with compromises.

11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with maximum brightness.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

One of those trade-offs is a darker screen.

The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models in all their glory.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Brightness ranges from 500 to 600 nits; compare that to the iPad Pro, which offers a peak brightness of 1,600 nits.

That being said, if you don’t mind splurging, I highly recommend the iPad Pro, especially if you plan to use this tablet on the go. However, if you use your iPad indoors and aren’t sitting next to a bright window, the iPad Air should be fine.

It’s also worth noting that the iPad Air comes with an M2 chip, the same processor found in the 15-inch MacBook Air M2 that I’m currently using to write this hands-on review. And during the demo, I saw the M2 chip handle processes like Photomator’s “ML Enhance” and “Super Resolution” better than ever, where I saw a photo go from ho-hum to striking in just a few seconds .

The iPad Air, especially the 13-inch model, caught my attention, but next to the iPad Pro, the Air struggles to stand out.

The iPad Air starts at $599 while the iPad Pro starts at $999.