The Upgrade I Didn’t Know I Needed
My old iPad was getting sluggish. Apps took forever to open, multitasking was a joke, and I’d given up on using it for anything beyond watching videos in bed. When the iPad Air 5th gen came out with that M1 chip, I figured it was time.
Here’s what actually changed for me.
That M1 Chip Though
Coming from an older iPad, the speed difference is jarring. Everything just snaps open. Photo editing that used to chug along now happens instantly. I can actually run Procreate with multiple layers without the app crashing.
Is it overkill for most tablet tasks? Probably. But having headroom means this thing should stay relevant for years. My old iPad became unusable after about four years, so I’m hoping this one lasts longer.
The Design Situation
It looks like a smaller iPad Pro. Flat edges, no home button, Face ID… wait, no. Actually it still uses Touch ID in the power button. I keep forgetting that. Works fine though - probably faster than Face ID honestly, and I don’t have to pick it up at a specific angle.
What I like:
- Feels premium without being fragile
- The colors are nice (I got the blue one)
- USB-C finally - no more hunting for Lightning cables
- Works with the second-gen Apple Pencil that charges magnetically
Minor gripes:
- It’s still pretty heavy for long reading sessions
- One-handed use is awkward
- The 64GB base model fills up fast
Display Quality
It’s a good screen. Bright, colorful, sharp. Not as fancy as the iPad Pro with its ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, but I honestly can’t tell the difference most of the time. Maybe when scrolling quickly there’s a slight difference, but it’s not something that bothers me.
The one place I notice it: Apple Pencil. There’s just a tiny bit of lag compared to the Pro. For casual drawing and notes, totally fine. For professional illustration work, you might care.
Battery Life in the Real World
Apple says 10 hours and that seems about right. I usually get through a full day of moderate use - some YouTube, some web browsing, maybe an hour of drawing - with battery to spare.
Heavy use drains it faster obviously. Editing video or playing demanding games, I’ve seen it drop pretty quick. But for typical tablet stuff, I charge it every night and never worry during the day.
What I Actually Use It For
- Couch browsing: It’s my primary screen when I’m too lazy to get my laptop
- Note-taking: With the Apple Pencil, replaced my paper notebooks
- Drawing: Procreate runs great, even with complex illustrations
- Travel entertainment: Movies, books, games on planes
- Video calls: The front camera is in a weird spot for landscape use, but it works
What I don’t use it for: work. iPadOS is still limiting for anything serious. File management is annoying, proper external monitor support is meh, and the apps just aren’t desktop-class despite what Apple claims.
The Accessories Question
Apple Pencil 2nd Gen: Pretty much required if you want to draw or take handwritten notes. It’s expensive but nice.
Magic Keyboard: This is where it gets tricky. The keyboard is great, but it costs almost as much as the iPad itself. And once you add it, the whole thing is basically laptop weight. At that point, why not just get a MacBook?
I ended up getting a cheaper Logitech keyboard case instead. Not as slick, but gets the job done for occasional typing.
Who Should Buy This
The iPad Air hits a weird sweet spot. It’s way more powerful than the base iPad but cheaper than the Pro. If you do any kind of creative work on a tablet - drawing, photo editing, video projects - this makes sense.
If you just want to watch Netflix and browse Reddit, the regular iPad is honestly fine and much cheaper.
And if you’re a professional artist or need the absolute best display, the Pro exists for a reason.
I landed on the Air because I wanted real performance without dropping Pro money. Six months in, no regrets.
Prices are subject to change without notice.