Apple iPad Air (2022) vs. Apple iPad (2022): The Ultimate Tablet Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPad Air (2022) takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster M1 chip, offering a noticeable performance boost for demanding tasks. While the iPad (2022) remains a solid choice, the Air's power and slightly better display make it the superior overall package, especially for creative users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPad Air (2022) | Apple iPad (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A2757 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2589 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2757 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2589, A2591 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2757, A2777 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G - cellular model only |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2591 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2777 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2022, October 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 18 | Available. Released 2022, October 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in) | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm (9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb) | 477 g (Wi-Fi) / 481 g (LTE) (1.05 lb) |
| Stylus support (2nd gen) | Stylus support (1st gen only) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) | 1640 x 2360 pixels (~264 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.9 inches, 359.2 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x3.2 GHz & 4xX.X GHz) | Hexa-core (2x3.0 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Apple M1 | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (8-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | iPadOS 15.4, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | iPadOS 16.1, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.2, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS (5G model only) | GPS, GLONASS (Wi‑Fi + Cellular model only) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort; magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (top-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 7600 mAh (28.6 Wh) | Li-Po 7606 mAh (28.6 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow |
| Models | A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17 | A3162, A2757, A2777, A2696, iPad13,18, iPad13,19 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 430 EUR |
Apple iPad Air (2022)
- Significantly faster M1 chip
- Slightly better display
- More powerful for demanding tasks
- Slim and lightweight design
- Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
- More expensive than the standard iPad
- No headphone jack
Apple iPad (2022)
- More affordable
- Excellent value for money
- All-day battery life
- Compact and portable
- Supports Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Slower A14 Bionic chip
- Less powerful than the iPad Air
- Older design
Display Comparison
The iPad Air (2022) boasts a slightly brighter and more vibrant Liquid Retina display with a wider color gamut. Both tablets offer excellent viewing angles and sharpness, but the Air's display edges out the standard iPad slightly. Both have laminated displays, reducing parallax.
Camera Comparison
Both tablets feature similar camera setups – a 12MP Wide camera on the rear and a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage. Image quality is comparable in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance is adequate on both. Center Stage is a welcome addition for video calls.
Performance
This is where the iPad Air (2022) truly shines. The M1 chip provides a substantial performance leap over the A14 Bionic in the iPad (2022). Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in graphics-intensive games and creative applications. The M1 handles demanding workloads with ease.
Battery Life
Both iPads offer all-day battery life under typical usage. Expect around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. While the numbers are similar, real-world usage might vary slightly depending on the tasks performed.
Buying Guide
The Apple iPad Air (2022) is ideal for students, creative professionals, and anyone who wants a powerful and portable tablet for multitasking and demanding apps. The Apple iPad (2022) is a great option for casual users, students on a budget, and those who primarily browse the web, read, and stream content.