The iPad Air has three things that stand out for me: the front-facing camera, Center Stage video chat support and faster 5G mobile networks.

Okay, let’s just say that the new blue color is pretty amazing. The new blue color is deeper than the one Apple chose in 2020. It gives it an unique appearance that stands out against all gray or black tablets. Apple has brightened its products in recent years with new colors. I’m hoping that this trend will continue into MacBook laptops.

With the M1 chip, you have more options than the standard iPad. Adobe Photoshop and LumaFusion make it easier to edit images and videos, as well as play the most recent games (including “Divinity Original Sin 2”). I have the iPad Pro regular and did not notice any improvement in performance when using it. The M1 chip is what I consider future-proofing. It has enough power to run all the most recent apps for many years.

Center Stage first appeared on the iPad Pro in 2013. It has been added to the iPad regular iPad. However, it is still one of my favourite new Apple features. The camera follows you and allows you to move around in video chats. Because it keeps my toddler in line as he moves around, I use it to video chat with his grandparents.

If your primary use of the iPad is on a Wi Fi network such as the bus, train or subway, then 5G may be an option. Because I enjoy the option of cellular, I tend to buy the cellular model. The 5G network doesn’t have the same benefits as 4G LTE, but it does offer faster downloads which could be useful for those who need to get movies on-the-fly. The cellular version will cost you about $150 less.

Apple’s $299 Magic Keyboard is a favorite of mine. It’s not cheap, but you can turn your iPad Air into an older laptop. My favorite thing about the iPad Air is the ability to browse the Internet with the trackpad or keyboard while I write. The iPad Air can be used as a secondary computer, although I do still use my Mac for many windowed applications at work.

The $129 Apple Pencil can also be considered, and charges using magnets attached to the iPad Air. It is a handy tool that you can use to sign documents while on-the-go. It may be more helpful for drawing, editing photos, or making notes. But, I don’t use it that much.

The 64GB storage limit on the iPad Air’s entry-level model is my biggest complaint. For those who don’t use a lot of apps or want to stream videos instead of downloading them, this is probably fine. However, you might fill it up quickly. The 256GB model is $749. The entry-level iPad Pro is $50 less than the 256GB model. This iPad Pro has a larger screen and doubles the storage. Apple could have put just 128GB into the entry-level iPad Air.

Although the screen is bright and vibrant, it doesn’t have the same high refresh rate as the iPad Pro. Apple will likely keep this feature for its expensive iPads. However, I believe all customers can benefit from faster refresh rates. These include smoother browsing through web pages and longer photo albums as well as smoother gameplay. Apple’s pro-level iPhone 13 Pro and MacBook Pro offer high refresh rates screens, but only for its premium products.

Face ID doesn’t work on iPad Pro. The iPad Pro is instead unlocked using a fingerprint reader that’s hidden inside the power button. Although it works well, I prefer that my iPad Pro unlocks automatically when I use it.

It’s my favorite iPad. While you probably won’t have to buy the new 2020 model, it will be a huge upgrade from any previous models. You get more power than an entry-level iPad at $329. It has a better screen and speakers, and supports the Magic Keyboard. The $799 iPad Pro is a great option if you require more storage than 64GB. It has a bigger screen and Face ID.