Apple held its “Peek Performance” event on March 8, 2022. The announcement included updates to existing products and some new products. Apple announced a new color option for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, an updated iPhone SE, an all-new Mac Studio desktop computer, a Studio Display, and an updated iPad Air. Keep reading to learn more about the iPad Air 2022 and see how it compares to the previous-generation iPad Air.
Apple iPad Air 2022 release date
The iPad Air 5 was announced by Apple on March 8, 2022. This iPad Air is the 5th generation model, and it is also referred to as the iPad Air 2022. The iPad Air 2022 serves as a follow-up to the 4th generation iPad Air, which was released in October 2020. Pre-orders for the iPad Air 2022 will begin on March 11, 2022, and the tablet will be available and begin shipping on March 18, 2022.
Apple iPad Air 2022 features
This latest iPad Air is the 5th generation model, and it was released in early 2022, which is roughly 18 months since the release of the 4th generation iPad Air and roughly three years since the release of the 3rd generation iPad Air.
Apple made several notable changes going from the 3rd generation iPad Air to the 4th generation iPad Air, with an immediately noticeable change being the design. The exterior design remains the same going from the 4th generation iPad Air (2020) to the 5th generation iPad Air (2022), however, there are some notable improvements.
- M1 chip: The iPad Air (2022) is powered by Apple’s M1 chip – the same chip found in the latest iPad Pro and also the latest Mac computers. Apple has said the 8-core CPU will be able to deliver 60% faster performance and the 8-core CPU will be able to deliver up to 2x faster graphics performance.
- 5G connectivity: Previous generations of the iPad Air were limited to LTE connectivity on the cellular models, and this latest iPad Air brings 5G support on sub-6 GHz networks.
- Center Stage: Going from a 7MP FaceTime HD camera on the iPad Air (2020) to a 12MP ultra-wide camera on the iPad Air (2022) brings support for Center Stage, which is a feature found on the iPad Pro lineup. Center Stage allows the front camera to automatically move and adjust to keep you in view (if you are moving around during a video call).
The above-listed features are good reasons to upgrade from a 3rd generation or 4th generation iPad Air – but Apple also included some other goodies, which they are referring to as “advanced connectivity” features, which deals with the USB-C port.
The 5th generation iPad Air USB-C port is said to be 2x faster than the USB-C port on the 4th generation iPad Air. While the most common use of the USB-C port on the iPad Air is for charging, the 2x faster does not make the tablet charge faster. The 2x faster speeds are for data transfers – for users who are connecting an external hard drive or an SD card using a dongle adapter. Of course, the USB-C port can also be used to connect a camera or to connect to a display with up to a 6K resolution.
Apple iPad Air (5th gen) vs. iPad Air (4th gen) vs iPad Air (3rd gen)
The above section outlined the new features of the iPad Air (2022), and the table that follows shows how this iPad Air compares to the previous two generations. As you will see, there are quite a few similarities between the 4th and 5th generation iPad Air. And, there are really great improvements coming from the 3rd generation iPad Air to the 5th generation iPad Air.
| iPad Air 5th gen (2022) | iPad Air 4th gen (2020) | iPad Air 3rd gen (2019) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 10.9″ Liquid Retina display with True Tone (2360 x 1640) | 10.9″ Liquid Retina display with True Tone (2360 x 1640) | 10.5″ Retina display with True Tone (2224 x 1668) |
| Processor Chip | Apple M1 (8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, Next-generation Neural Engine) | Apple A14 Bionic chip with Neural Engine | Apple A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine |
| RAM | 8GB | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB | 64GB, 256GB |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, Gigabit LTE, 5G (sub-6 GHz) | WiFi 6, Gigabit-class LTE | WiFi, Gigabit-class LTE |
| Front Camera | 12MP ultra-wide with Center Stage | 7MP FaceTime HD | 7MP FaceTime HD |
| Rear Camera | 12MP wide camera | 12MP wide camera | 8MP wide camera |
| Battery Life Estimates | Up to 10 hours for watching video or browsing the web on WiFi Up to 9 hours browsing the web on Cellular | Up to 10 hours for watching video or browsing the web on WiFi Up to 9 hours browsing the web on Cellular | Up to 10 hours for watching video or browsing the web on WiFi Up to 9 hours browsing the web on Cellular |
| Connector | USB-C, Smart Connector | USB-C, Smart Connector | Lightning, Smart Connector |
| Size / Weight | 9.74″ (H) x 7.02″ (W) x 0.24″ (D) 1.02 pounds (WiFi) 1.02 pounds (WiFi + Cellular) | 9.74″ (H) x 7.02″ (W) x 0.24″ (D) 1.00 pounds (WiFi) 1.01 pounds (WiFi + Cellular) | 9.8″ (H) x 6.8″ (W) x 0.24″ (D) 1.00 pounds (WiFi) 1.02 pounds (WiFi + Cellular) |
| Colors | Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue | Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Sky Blue, Green | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Accessories | Apple Pencil (2nd gen), Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio | Apple Pencil (2nd gen), Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio | Apple Pencil (1st gen), Smart Keyboard |
| Retail Price | Starting at $599 (WiFi) and $749 (WiFi + Cellular) | Starting at $599 (WiFi) and $729 (WiFi + Cellular) | Starting at $499 (WiFi) and $629 (WiFi + Cellular) |
Buying decisions should be based on personal preferences and personal needs. But to give a bit of advice – if you have a 4th generation iPad Air, you likely do not need to upgrade to a 5th generation iPad Air, that is, unless you will benefit from the M1 chip, faster USB-C speeds, 5G connectivity, or Center Stage. On the other hand, the 5th generation iPad Air would make a great upgrade if you are currently using a 3rd generation iPad Air.
How much does the iPad Air 2022 cost?
As we’ve seen with previous iPad models, the iPad Air 2022 will be available in a WiFi-only model and a WiFi + Cellular model. The retail price will vary depending on the option you choose, and it will also vary based on the amount of internal storage you choose. Apple is offering the iPad Air 2022 with either 64GB or 256GB of storage, with prices starting at $599 and climbing to $899.
| iPad Air 2022 (5th generation) WiFi-only | iPad Air 2022 (5th generation) WiFi + Cellular | |
|---|---|---|
| 64GB | $599 | $749 |
| 256GB | $749 | $899 |
Sell your Apple iPad Air on Swappa
The 5th generation iPad Air is priced from $599, but that is for a WiFi-only model with 64GB of storage. And, while you can bump the storage to 256GB and get cellular connectivity, that dramatically increases the price. So instead of settling for less storage or no cellular connectivity – you should sell your current iPad Air as a way to help achieve your goal of getting a cheap iPad.
Read more: Best places to sell your iPad for the most money
Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech, which means you can sell your older iPad Air with confidence. And, selling your previous-generation iPad Air allows you to offset the cost of a brand new iPad Air 2022. You can start selling by tapping the green button below.
