Apple iPad Air 2020

The iPad Air is a great tablet with a fantastic design, the perfect size, and it's pretty affordable

Figuring out which iPad is the best fit for you can be exhausting. They're all so sleek and fast but come in a range of different sizes and prices. The only way to find the perfect one for you is to think about what you're willing to spend and what size best suits your needs.

All iPads currently available can do the same things. They share certain features such as support for Pencil sketches, keyboards, and touchpads; and all models have pretty powerful processors. The iPad Air, starting at $599/$699, likely falls into one of two categories: a fancier everyday iPad for you- focusing on things like display quality and ease of use - or a cheaper iPad Pro - the focus here will be on productivity and creative apps. Depending on how much you bundle it with accessories, prices can vary widely.

I've been using the new iPad for months. I really love it! After a few weeks, I thought it had even surpassed the iPad Pro. And it's much cheaper too. I would wait for Pro since it was last updated in March and the only recent updates were related to colors and some enhanced features. I assume that they will probably change or add more features in the future. The more I've used Air, the more I've appreciated that Apple has made a Pro at a price point you can afford. They might have removed a few features you probably never even bother with!

It has a USB-C, a larger display, and is sturdy, so it's pretty impressive. And with support for the Pencil and Magic Keyboard, it's a joy to use. Plus, it matches my previous favorite iPad - an 11-inch iPad Pro.

If that's the case, the iPad Air might not be the best iPad for you. For its price, the standard 8th-gen iPad remains a better deal and is still a good choice for kids. Think about it this way: it's basically last year's iPad.

The ideal size, with one new Touch ID button
The 11-inch iPad Pro has been a favorite of mine for a while now. This new fourth-generation iPad Air is exactly the same size and fits the 11-inch Pro's cases & keyboards, too. It feels identical, with one exception: it has Touch ID on the top power button to make up for its lack of Face ID.

I replaced the default iPad Pro keyboard with the one that came with my iPad Pro 11 and everything just felt familiar.

The screen is also 11-inch, but not exactly like the Pro model. The display on the Air is smaller at 10.9 inches while the resolution can be adjusted to fit your needs. Max brightness is 500 nits, which may be less ideal for some people; however, overall quality is still quite good. The bezels on the iPad Air seem a little bigger. The Pro model also has a smoother ProMotion screen refresh - up to 120Hz - vs. the more normal feel of the iPad. ProMotion is great, but I'm also happy without it.

I find myself wishing the Air had a Touch ID button rather than Face ID. It's not called that on Apple's newer devices, but what does that matter? The camera for it is cleverly louvered into the black bezel of the Pro and works at nearly any orientation. The power button is where Apple usually places the fingerprint sensor on iPhones, but the Air has it on its edge. Like an iPad, it also doesn't have a circle home button like newer models.

Apple's new iPad Air, contrasted with the wide range of various iPads
You have to remember which way your iPad is facing, or you can find yourself fumbling for the Touch ID sensor. Luckily, the orientation often works in my favor. Apple's new Touch ID button seems to work reliably so far, and there are no reasons to believe future models won't be getting this small but convenient sensor either.

How fast is it?
The new A14 chip, which is also in the iPhone 12, is in the Apple Air. It sounds faster than any other iPad and that's partly true. The A14 chip in the iPad and iPad Mini is significantly faster than the A12, as you can see from some preliminary benchmarks on GeekBench 5. Just by browsing on Safari, for example, this chip scores 1,118 on GeekBench's multi-core test- which is significantly higher than the A12's 4,675 scores. But the iPad Pro's A12Z is faster in multitasking while the Air beats it in single-core speed. This is weird. The A12Z has more graphics power in its chip. But if you really wanted an iPad Pro, it would make me want to wait for a Pro with a possible A14Z chip next year.

The front camera is fine, yet at the same time not extraordinary for ZoomWe've all been using video chats for a long time now. The best iPad Air apps are those that can help with your most common dilemma. The front camera's position is normally on the side of the screen in landscape mode, which makes you look like you are looking off-screen. The 7-megapixel camera is better than the iPad's, but I would have preferred something centered for video chats.

Accessories can be costly