One of the iPads that has been able to captivate the most users was the 6th generation iPad, since its price was really cheap and, in addition, it was the first in its range to be compatible with the Apple Pencil. Well, in this post we are going to tell you about the differences between this and the iPad Air 5 to see if it is really worth changing one for the other.
Main features
Before going fully into all the differences, which are not few, between the 6th generation iPad and the iPad Air 5, we believe that it is best to review all the technical specifications that both devices present. In this way you will be able to understand much better what the most important differences are.
| Characteristic | iPad 6 | iPad Air 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | -Space Gray -Silver -Prayed |
-Space Gray -star white -Pink -Purple -Blue |
| Dimensions | -Height: 24cm – Width: 16.95cm -Thickness: 0.75cm |
-Height: 24.76 cm – Width: 17.85cm -Thickness: 0.61cm |
| Weight | -WiFi version: 469 grams -WiFi + Cellular version: 478 grams |
-WiFi version: 461 grams -WiFi + Cellular version: 462 grams |
| Screen | 9.7-inch Retina (IPS) | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (IPS) |
| Resolution | 2,048 x 1,536 at 264 pixels per inch | 2,360 x 1,640 at 264 pixels per inch |
| Brightness | Up to 500 nits (typical) | Up to 500 nits (typical) |
| refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Speakers | 2 speakers | 2 stereo speakers |
| Processor | A10 Bionic | M1 |
| Storage capacity | -64GB -128GB |
-64GB -256GB |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB |
| Frontal camera | 1.2 Mpx lens with f/2.4 aperture | 12 Mpx lens with ultra wide angle and f / 2.4 aperture |
| rear cameras | 8 Mpx wide angle with f / 2.4 aperture | 12 Mpx wide angle with f / 1.8 aperture |
| connectors | -Lightning | -USB-C -Smart Connector |
| biometric systems | Touch ID | Touch ID |
| SIM card | In WiFi + Cellular version: Nano SIM and eSIM | In WiFi + Cellular version: Nano SIM and eSIM |
| Connectivity in all versions | -Wifi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax); 2.4 and 5GHz; simultaneous dual band; speeds up to 866 Mb/s -MIME -Bluetooth 5.0 |
-Wifi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax); 2.4 and 5GHz; simultaneous dual band; speeds up to 1.2Gb/s -MIME -Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Connectivity in WiFi + Cellular versions | -GSM/EDGE -UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA -Gigabit LTE (up to 30 bands) -Integrated GPS/GNSS -Calls via Wi-Fi |
-GSM/EDGE -UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA -5G (sub-6GHz) -Gigabit LTE (up to 32 bands) -Integrated GPS/GNSS -Calls via Wi-Fi |
| Official Accessory Compatibility | -Smart Keyboard Folio -Apple Pencil (1st gen.) |
-Smart Keyboard Folio -Magic Keyboard -Apple Pencil (2nd gen.) |
Important differences
Once you know what the most important characteristics of both iPad models are, it is time to talk about the most important differences that you have to keep in mind if you are thinking of changing the 6th generation iPad for the iPad Air 5. Obviously, when Being separate products for so long, there are many disparate points between them, but these are, from our point of view, the ones that can most affect your user experience.
Design
The first thing that jumps out is the radical design change between the two iPads. On the one hand, the 6th generation iPad presents the traditional front that has accompanied the iPad for so long . Its frames are pronounced, which means that the use of the screen is not very optimal, and in addition, we cannot forget the presence of the home button with Touch ID. It is a design that is well known to all, truly representative of the Cupertino company but that has been left behind for a long time.
On the other hand, the iPad Air 5 does already have the all-screen design that users fell in love with so much when Apple introduced it, for the first time, in the 2018 iPad Pro. This design makes it possible, as we will see later, the use of the screen is much greater , and therefore, in a body of really similar dimensions, one device can have a considerably larger screen than the other. In addition, in the aesthetic section there is no color, the iPad Air 5 looks much better, more modern and attractive for the vast majority, since this is also a matter of taste.
Screen
A difference that is derived from the design is the screen. First of all, let’s start talking about the technology that each one of them presents, since there is an evolution. The 6th generation iPad features a 9.7-inch LED-backlit Retina display with IPS technology and Multi-Touch. On the other hand, the iPad Air 5 enjoys a 10.9-inch Liquid Queen screen , likewise backlit by LED, with IPS and Multi-Touch technology.
The resolution also varies, since in the iPad we have 2048 x 1536 at 264 p/p, while that of the iPad Air reaches 2360 x 1640 at 264 p/p. Where there is no change is in brightness, with both offering a maximum brightness of 500 nits . Of course, the iPad Air has integral lamination, anti-reflective film, a wide color gamut (P3) and a True Tone screen.
In practical terms, the difference is great, especially for those users who want to use the iPad for somewhat more creative tasks, be it drawing, painting, photo editing or video editing . Both screens look good, obviously, but the iPad Air 5 offers a much more prominent and elevated performance and experience than the iPad 6th generation.
Power
Surely the biggest difference on paper is right in the power that the two teams have. Although as we will discuss later, that does not make the user experience with one iPad and another radically different. The presence of Apple’s M1 chip in the iPad Air is undoubtedly really juicy, attracting powerful attention, since it is a processor that provides power and performance that is truly enviable by the vast majority of the competition. For its part, the 6th generation iPad has the 4th generation A10 Fusion chip, which although it offered excellent performance at the time, may fall a bit short for those users who want to perform tasks that require a little more power such as editing photos, video, audio, or working with professional applications.
Therefore, obviously, going from having an iPad with an A10 Bionic to having an iPad with an M1 chip will be noticeable, even more so if you are going to carry out, as we said, tasks that have to be carried out with professional applications. However, given the limitations that iPadOS presents, the potential of the M1 chip is quite limited by the benefits of this operating system.
Connector and compatible accessories
The iPad itself is a fantastic device, but really to take advantage of all the options it provides you have to surround it with the right accessories. For this there is a fundamental turning point in the iPad, and it is the inclusion, for the first time in 2018, of the USB -C port, replacing the popular Lightning. This port makes it possible to connect different devices that, without a doubt, enhance the possibilities of the iPad as a work and productivity device . For this reason, the presence of USB-C in the iPad Air 5 and not in the 6th generation iPad seems essential in this comparison.
But beware, that is not the only difference in terms of compatibility with accessories, since unfortunately for users of the 6th generation iPad, the two top Apple devices to accompany the iPad such as the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard are not compatible with it, while they are with the iPad Air 5. However, these users can always resort to two alternatives that are also of great quality, such as the 1st generation Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard .
Less relevant aspects
We have already told you about the most important points, from our point of view, that exist between the 6th generation iPad and the iPad Air 5. However, there are still more differences that you have to know, since, although to a lesser extent, they also affect the experience that users have with one model and another of iPad.
Touch ID in different positions
Where fewer differences can be found is in the way in which users will be able to unlock the device to use it. Both have the famous Touch ID , that is, unlocking through the fingerprint sensor. At the moment, Apple reserves facial recognition technology for the iPhone and iPad Pro , so neither of these two models has Face ID.
However, the difference lies in the position of the fingerprint sensor , since so that the iPad Air could adopt the all-screen design that the iPad Pro already had, Apple has done it is to place the Touch ID on the on and off button , located on one of the sides of the device. For its part, the 6th generation iPad keeps it in the front as we have previously mentioned.
connectivity
The way to connect to the internet is vital for a device that will surely be used to work and consume multimedia content. Here we have a quite differential difference, not so much at the moment, but for users who want to keep their iPad for a long time, and that is that although the presence of 5G is not differential now, it will be in a short space of time. weather.
Naturally, the 6th generation iPad does not have 5G , while the iPad Air 5 does. The reality is that not many users opt for the Wi-Fi + cellular version of the iPad, but for all of them, having this option is very important. In addition, you also have to take into account that the iPad Air 5 account can reach speeds, through Wifi, of 1.2 Gb / s, while the iPad stays at 866 Mb / s.
front and rear camera
Finally, it is time to talk about an aspect that is not very relevant in an iPad, and it is its cameras, since very few users use this equipment to take pictures. As for the rear camera, both have a wide-angle lens, 8 Mpx for the 6th generation iPad and 12 Mpx for the iPad Air 6. The first has an f/2.4 aperture and the second an f/ 1.8, this difference can be substantial in low light situations, but as we have mentioned, it is not very relevant given the little use that is usually given to it.
The one that does have a little more importance, since the iPad is an element of productivity and work, is the front camera, where between both iPad models there is a quite substantial difference. For starters, the 6th-generation iPad features a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera , while the iPad Air’s is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens . The difference in the lens, in addition to giving the opportunity to take better photographs, also makes the iPad Air have the characteristic of centered framing , causing that in the video calls that are made and will be made with this device, the subject is always in the center of the image, giving the impression that the iPad lens follows it as if it were a gymbal.
Is it worth the change?
Once you know all the specifications and, above all, the differences that exist between these two iPad models, it is time to answer the question for which you have surely entered this post. The reality is that for the vast majority of users , the change from the 6th generation iPad to the iPad Air 5 is very worthwhile , but as always, everything will depend on the use that you are going to make of the device.
Those users who are going to work with it, as well as consume multimedia content, will notice a radical change in the experience, both in terms of power and screen, as well as the number of possibilities offered by the different compatible accessories. Now, perhaps other types of less demanding users who use the iPad to read, check email and take a look at social networks, can save this jump for now, and wait a little longer to change iPad.
