Apple iPad Air (13-inch) review: The do-it-all iPad

Apple iPad Air

When does a product cross the bridge from good to the great territory? Perhaps when it is a bestseller quarter after quarter? Or perhaps it is the benchmark against which all competition is measured? Or perhaps when it becomes the generic name for anyone who wants to buy it? The iPad checks all those boxes.

Pick any iPad and it is a great tablet. The entry-level iPad serves its purpose well and is a great tablet for a particular set of buyers. The iPad Pro is as good a tablet that the creative professionals will use. Be it to edit videos, music, images, the iPad Pro excels. The iPad mini is perfect for those who want a pint-sized tablet. What about iPad Air? Till the previous generation, it was the ideal tablet for those who didn’t want to splash to cash on iPad Pro. It was also the lightest iPad you could buy. Not anymore.

When Apple unveiled the new iPad models in May 2024, the iPad Pro became the thinnest iPad. Not to forget the most powerful as well. The iPad Air has got a bigger display now and the M2 processor which powers the MacBook Air. It’s not the thinnest but still looks good. iPad Air has a lot going for it but actually gets sandwiched between the two ends of the pricing spectrum. I put the iPad Air to use for a month to see whether it should be your next buy or not.

Apple iPad Air (13-inch) review: Design and display

The 11-inch model is virtually identical to its predecessor, offering a tried-and-true aesthetic. Meanwhile, the larger 13-inch version expands on this formula, sharing dimensions with the iPad Pro 12.9 (6th generation) but offering a slightly slimmer profile.

Apple is one company that doesn’t really change its design aesthetics every couple of years. Look at the AirPods Pro. Look at Apple Watch. Look at MacBook Air which had to wait for 9 years to get a refresh. So Apple wasn’t going to alter the design aesthetics of the iPad Air. The iPad Air (M2) sticks to the familiar Apple design blueprint.

Despite being slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad Pro (M4), the Air maintains excellent portability in both sizes. The difference in weight is negligible in everyday use, and the overall build remains impressively slim and light.

The iPad Air has solid aluminium build, uniform bezels, and standard connectivity options – Smart Connector and USB-C – maintain a consistent aesthetic.

The one thing that has changed is the positioning of the front camera — a welcome change. Apple has now brought the camera at the top centre of the device, which solves a big problem with video calls. On earlier iPad models, there were always some strange glances upwards but not anymore as the positioning of the front camera is now ideal.

The iPad Air has a solid display but not the best as it falls short of the iPad Pro in terms of technology. The Liquid Retina display offers a vivid display experience with vibrant colours and a lot of detail, it remains an LCD display. Look at the iPad Pro in comparison and you can see a big difference. However, not many buyers will keep them side by side while picking one.

Apple has provided an anti-reflective coating which does enhance outdoor visibility. Watching content on the iPad Air is quite good but it’s not a massive leap from the previous generation iPad Air. The difference is in the screen size as the extra couple of inches make it count. Everything looks better on a bigger display and the same goes for the 13-inch iPad Air. Having been used to the 11-inch display for a while, the 13-inch display on an iPad does feel like a game changer.

The iPad Air also comes with a Touch ID as FaceID still remains elusive for this model.

Apple iPad Air (13-inch) review: Performance

Apple has put the M2 processor in the iPad — a mightily capable processor but not the latest one. If you are using the M1-powered iPad Air for everyday tasks, you won’t notice a substantial difference in performance. This is because the M1 chip is already a highly capable processor, handling routine activities with ease.

The introduction of the M2 chip makes the iPad Air feel overpowered for such tasks. Of course, having extra power is never a downside, especially when it doesn’t come at the cost of efficiency. Activities such as streaming on Apple TV+, making FaceTime calls, and casual gaming are effortlessly managed by the iPad Air without any noticeable strain.

The iPad Air’s performance is on par with that of the MacBook Air, making it a viable alternative for users who prefer the flexibility of a tablet. However, transforming it into a laptop-like device requires a significant investment. The Magic Keyboard, a highly recommended accessory for the iPad Air, enhances its functionality but comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 29,900.

While an added expense, the Magic Keyboard is a must-have accessory if one needs to tap into the full potential of the iPad Air. The typing experience is great and the trackpad is extremely responsive. Be it writing/editing documents or image editing, Magic Keyboard brings, well, magic to the iPad experience.  Do keep in mind that the combined weight of the iPad Air and Magic Keyboard surpasses that of the MacBook Air 13-inch.

Speaking of accessories, the iPad Air supports the new Apple Pencil Pro. It offers low latency, pressure sensitivity, and intuitive features like the squeeze gesture and barrel roll. While the previous Apple Pencil is also compatible, the Pencil (2nd generation) provides a superior drawing experience.

Touch ID has been omnipresent in all iPads except the iPad Pro. It’s time now for Apple to introduce it to the iPad Air as well as it’s not your entry-level iPad anymore, courtesy the M-series processors.

The battery life of the iPad Air is really good. On most days, with close to eight hours of usage, it didn’t drain out and had about 25% battery left. This, in my experience, has been at par with the new 11-inch iPad Pro.

Apple iPad Air (13-inch) review: Verdict

At the start of the review, I mentioned that any iPad is an excellent tablet. Need an iPad to check your email, surf the web, and make amateur films? Any iPad will do. Let's be honest: unless you're editing 8K footage or running complex simulations, the average iPad user won't notice much difference between models that are powered by M-series, which means the iPad Air M1 and iPad Air M2.

The iPad Pro is the cremé da la cremé when it comes to iPad and offers the best of Apple. The iPad Air, on the other hand, stands as a solid alternative for those who prioritise value without compromising on performance. The display is vibrant and detailed, though it falls short of the Pro's cutting-edge technology.

The iPad Air (11-inch) starts at Rs 59,900 whereas the 13-inch variant starts at Rs 79,900. It is a device that caters to a wide range of users, from casual consumers to creative professionals.

But the new iPad Air is still not the easiest iPad to recommend. Why, you may wonder. The 11-inch model at Rs 59,900 doesn’t bring too much — except the front camera placement — to warrant an upgrade for those who have the M1 iPad Air.  It is the larger 13-inch model, which offers even more screen real estate but costs close to Rs 80,000. The Magic Keyboard's

The 10th-gen iPad remains the best bet for the first-time iPad buyers. And the forgotten iPad mini is ideal for those who want a portable iPad. For many years, the iPad Air with its thin and light frame was alluring but that tag has also now gone to the iPad Pro.

So who is the new iPad Air for and should you buy it? If you have any Apple’s A-series processor-powered iPad, then the iPad Air makes a lot of sense to buy. The 13-inch screen size is a big plus for the iPad Air.

If you already have a MacBook and still want an iPad to watch content, make FaceTime calls and need a Mac substitute — not a replacement — then the iPad Air is an excellent tablet to buy. The iPad Air doesn’t make a giant leap for the iPad but makes a big one when it comes to the screen size. And that could be a good enough reason for many to buy it.