Hands-On With the New M1 iPad Air

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I got mine today - to replace an iPad Air 3. So far (weird iMessage sync issue aside) I’m super happy with it. It does feel snappier in some areas, although I’ll have to be honest and say that the iPad Air 3 was fast enough for everything I do with it.
Main reasons for getting the new one were the design, it being more future-proof, USB-C… and hitting the home button constantly while taking notes on the “old” Air.
Stuff like the Pencil charging on the iPad and attaching magnetically are just goodies on top.

Will I be able to part ways with the “old“ Air and sell it, though? ?

 

[DFZD]

Well the price difference is less than $99 when you compare 256gb models. Considering the discounts on the iPad Pro that is almost a year old now.

So this comparison is pointless actually. Just buy the iPad Air if you are good with 64gb on a desktop class chip. For everyone else the Pro is a no brainer.

 

[scaramoosh]

Until it runs Mac OS I give no fooks.

 

[0924487]

Then, what’s the point of getting an iPad Pro?

 

[trip1ex]

can you watch videos on this one?

 

[Bow Commander]

Then, what’s the point of getting an iPad Pro?

You run macOS on a Pro?

 

[Username-already-in-use]

How does M1 compare to A14 since they are released in the same year? Or regarding the iPad Air 5, how does the M1 compare to A15?

M1 has modestly better single core performance over A14 (and slightly more than the A15), but the M1 has substantially superior multi-core and GPU performance than both A14 and A15.

Multi-core, GPU and RAM are the biggest performance differentiators.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Having the M1 in the iPad doesn't mean much when the OS is sorely lacking to begin with.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Because Apple sells so few of them and the company is failing it’s shareholders?

They are a struggling company, so, I guess we should show a little compassion.

 

[doolar]

Nothing to see here, still rocking the 11” 2018 Pro, the most future proof iPad ever released! ?

 

[AlexESP]

“M1 is an overkill for iPadOS” is like “Mac Studio is an overkill for most people”. And “the iPad would be perfect with macOS” is the new “the iPhone needs a keyboard” of 2007. Thankfully Apple released a real tablet in 2010 and not a new tabletPC.

 

[Makosuke]

You're only going to be missing out on the faster 5G mmWave connectivity, the ProMotion display, and Face ID, and if these are important to you, you should hold out for the next-generation iPad Pro before upgrading.

Kinda left out that the one other (literally) big difference, which is that the Air isn't available with a 13" screen.

The artist I work with uses the 2020 iPad Pro for work, and is looking to upgrade to a 13". Might be able to do without ProMotion, but there's no 13" Air, so no other option.

 

[BigMac?]

Having the M1 in the iPad doesn't mean much when the OS is sorely lacking to begin with.

Let’s see what wwdc will bring!
Maybe Mixer is more than blending…

 

[Apple_Robert]

Let’s see what wwdc will bring!
Maybe Mixer is more than blending…

Hopefully, a lot of productivity.

 

[BigMac?]

Hopefully, a lot of productivity.

IMHO the inclusion of M1 in the Air lineup is the teaser for this productivity shift.
Fingers crossed ?

 

[Apple_Robert]

IMHO the inclusion of M1 in the Air lineup is the teaser for this productivity shift.
Fingers crossed ?

That would be nice if that came to fruition. The same thing was said about the iPad Pro when it was first released.

I really like my iPad Pro, especially with the Magic Keyboard. I don't need or expect it to be a laptop replacement. I have my 12" MacBook for mobile Mac needs. However, it would be nice to have more computer ability in that form factor especially with the price Apple charged for the 2020 iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard.

 

[dukebound85]

Totally opposite here.

ProMotion is one of those features that you don’t understand why you need it at first, but once you use it and you see the fluidity, you can’t go back to anything else with the choppiness and that ‘slow lag’.

If that doesn’t make sense to someone, compare both iPads with a model that has ProMotion and one that doesn’t extensively, and you’ll see exactly what I’m referring to.

my eyes must suck

I can not tell the difference of pro motion between my iPhone 13 pm and my work iPhone 12 and iPad air

 

[BigMac?]

my eyes must suck

I can not tell the difference of pro motion between my iPhone 13 pm and my work iPhone 12 and iPad air

I know some good ophthalmologists.
Just in case.

 

[BigMac?]

That would be nice if that came to fruition. The same thing was said about the iPad Pro when it was first released.

I really like my iPad Pro, especially with the Magic Keyboard. I don't need or expect it to be a laptop replacement. I have my 12" MacBook for mobile Mac needs. However, it would be nice to have more computer ability in that form factor especially with the price Apple charged for the 2020 iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard.

Mixer would be a nifty next step on a (long) road.

 

[dukebound85]

I know some good ophthalmologists.
Just in case.

lol my point being that this feature isn't a game changer for me

if it were, then apple's devices prior to pro-motion would have been unacceptable to the consumer market. They weren't

 

[BigMac?]

lol my point being that this feature isn't a game changer for me

if it were, then apple's devices prior to pro-motion would have been unacceptable to the consumer market. They weren't

Not a game changer but pretty “in your face” style.
At least for me.
I ate a lot of carrots ?.

 

[Superman730]

IMHO the inclusion of M1 in the Air lineup is the teaser for this productivity shift.
Fingers crossed ?

The only issue I see with this thinking is that now, the "just-released" iPad mini gets left behind again. I know it's considered a niche product but seeing as it has always been more of a mini iPad Air (and priced in line with that thinking) they've taken it out of that conversation by giving it the A15 chip.

 

[vitale]

If Apple added an option for the iPad Pro to have on-demand selection between macOS and iPadOS, it would give it further edge. They could sell the MacBook Air M1 against the iPad Pro and allow people to choose their respective form factor, while maintaining the audience for both.

 

[BigMac?]

The only issue I see with this thinking is that now, the "just-released" iPad mini gets left behind again. I know it's considered a niche product but seeing as it has always been more of a mini iPad Air (and priced in line with that thinking) they've taken it out of that conversation by giving it the A15 chip.

I think it’s more of a problem with screen estate in case of the mini.

 

[Zdigital2015]

For $50 more you get Face ID, promotion, quad speakers and a better camera with flash going with the 128 GB Pro 11 inch over the 256 GB Air

And for a lot of people the extra 128GB of storage for $50 less is a better deal. I don’t care about FaceID, ProMotion, quad speakers or the better camera. I get the M1, 8GB of RAM and all the other goodness of Pencil 2. The Pro stuff just isn’t that enticing other than maybe the Thunderbolt 3 port, but until iPadOS fully utilizes it, the 10Gbps USB-C on the Air 5 is just fine.