Apple iPad Air 2022 vs 2020: A Detailed Comparison

The Apple iPad Air is a perennial favorite, balancing power and portability. But with a refresh in 2022, the question arises: is the upgrade worth it? We're pitting the iPad Air (2022) against its predecessor, the iPad Air (2020), to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPad Air (2022) is the clear winner thanks to the significantly faster M1 chip, improved display, and USB-C 3.0 port. However, the 2020 model remains a solid choice, especially if budget is a primary concern and you don't need the absolute latest performance.

PHONES
Phone Names	Apple iPad Air (2022)	Apple iPad Air (2020)

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
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, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2324
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	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	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, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2072

Launch
Announced	2022, March 08	2020, September 15
Status	Available. Released 2022, March 18	Available. Released 2020, October 23

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)	247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 mm (9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	461 g (Wi-Fi) / 462 g (5G) (1.02 lb)	458 g (Wi-Fi) / 460 g (3G/LTE) (1.01 lb)
	Stylus support (2nd gen)	Stylus support

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 (~81.3% 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 14.1, 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
Single	12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF	12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video	4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide)	7 MP, f/2.0, 31mm (standard)
Video	1080p@30/60fps	1080p@30/60fps

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	5.0, A2DP, EDR
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS (5G model only)	GPS, GLONASS (LTE model only)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, DisplayPort, magnetic connector	USB Type-C, 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-Ion 7606 mAh (28.93 Wh)

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue	Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, Sky Blue
Models	A2588, A2589, A2591, iPad13,16, iPad13,17	A2324, A2072, A2325, A2316, iPad13,1, iPad13,2
Price	About 550 EUR	About 640 EUR

Apple iPad Air (2022)

Significantly faster M1 chip
Brighter, anti-reflective display
USB-C 3.0 port for faster data transfer
Center Stage for video calls
Improved graphics performance

Higher price point
Minor design changes compared to 2020

Apple iPad Air (2020)

More affordable
Still a capable performer for everyday tasks
Compact and lightweight design
Excellent value for the price

Slower A14 Bionic chip
Less vibrant display
USB-C 2.0 port (slower data transfer)

Display Comparison

The iPad Air (2022) boasts a slightly brighter display with a wider color gamut and anti-reflective coating, making it better for outdoor use and content creation. Both have a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone technology, but the 2022 model's improvements are noticeable, especially in vibrant scenes.

Camera Comparison

Camera improvements are minimal. Both feature a 12MP Wide rear camera and a 7MP front camera. The 2022 model has Center Stage for improved video calling, which is a nice addition.

Performance

This is where the 2022 model truly shines. The M1 chip offers a massive performance leap over the A14 Bionic. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved graphics performance for gaming and creative apps. The 2020 model is still capable, but the M1 is in a different league.

Battery Life

Both iPads offer all-day battery life, typically around 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. Battery capacity is similar, so expect comparable performance in this area.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the iPad Air (2022)? Creative professionals, students needing powerful performance, and anyone wanting the latest tech. Who should buy the iPad Air (2020)? Budget-conscious buyers, those needing a reliable tablet for everyday tasks, and users who don't require the absolute fastest processing speeds.