iPad Air 4 vs iPad Air 5: Main differences

Featured Features

Before going fully into talking about both the main differences and the aspects that these two iPad Air models have in common, we want to explain to you what the most outstanding characteristics of both devices are, in this way you will be able to understand much better where the differences lie. and, above all, the importance of these depending on the use to be made of the equipment. Then we leave you the comparative table with all the characteristics.

You have already verified what are the characteristics that both the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air 5 present, well, now and as an introduction, we want to briefly mention the points to which we give the most importance within the ITIGIC writing team, especially considering what is the public to which these iPad models are directed.

• The design in these two iPad Air models is key, in fact it is one of the main attractions that they have presented since Apple decided to give the Air range an all-screen design.
• Compatibility with major Apple accessories is an advantage over other iPad models. Again, both have this advantage, and that is that both are compatible with the same accessories as their older brothers, the iPad Pro. This, together with the presence of USB-C , provides users of these two devices with tremendous potential.
• The power is also a point that you have to take into account, and here surely lies the great difference between the two generations. While the iPad Air 4 has the A14 Bionic chip, the iPad Air 5 uses the popular M1 chip. This in terms of power makes the difference, although we will see later if this is really usable.
• If you are a user who uses the iPad away from home and, in addition, with mobile data, the presence of 5G in the iPad Air 5 will surely be a differential for your choice. This connection, despite not being fully developed in all parts of the world, provides a much higher speed, and betting on a long-term device is essential.

Main differences

We have already told you what the main characteristics of these two iPad models are, we have also told you what the most outstanding aspects are from our point of view. Well, now it’s time to focus fully on the differences, which is surely what can tip your balance towards one device or another if you are thinking of purchasing one of the two models.

Power

As we mentioned in the introduction to this post, power is surely the differentiating point between the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air 5. The former has the A14 Bionic chip , which was the one featured on the iPhone 12 in its day, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, while the iPad Air 5 has taken a tremendous leap in this regard, since it has adopted the M1 chip that, in fact, both the Pro models and some of the Macs have, such as the Mac mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac.

The A14 chip is obviously a processor that works like a charm, in fact for undemanding use of the iPad, it is more than enough. However, the inclusion of the M1 in the 5th generation iPad Air means that this equipment can be opened up to a somewhat larger audience since, obviously, it has enormous power to be able to carry out really heavy tasks.

Now, and here comes the typical reflection on the iPad and the power that many of its models have, as is the case with the iPad Air 5. Is the presence of the M1 chip really used in this equipment? Does the iPad Air 5 really need that much power? The reality is that iPadOS limits the possibilities that, due to hardware, this equipment has. However, it is clear that many tasks will be carried out more smoothly and quickly on the iPad Air 5th generation than on the iPad Air 4th generation, something that for those professionals who want to use this device for certain tasks is a advantage to consider.

Frontal camera

One of the changes that has also attracted attention from one model to another is the presence of an ultra wide-angle lens on the front, but beware, this lens also has the characteristic, or rather, it provides the framing characteristic centered . This function consists of the iPad, whenever you use the front camera to make a video call, it has the advantage of, first, capturing a much wider field of vision and, therefore, being able to make the subject always be in the center of the camera. image, in fact, if you move you can see how the iPad is able to follow you and always keep you in the center. In the same way, when another person enters the scene, the optics are enlarged so that both of you can be seen in the best possible way.

Taking into account that the iPad Air 5 is a device that will be acquired by many students and users who hold daily meetings through different video call services, having a 12 Mpx camera , compared to the 7 Mpx that the iPad Air 4 has, and that it also has this attractive and functional function is an advantage and an aspect that must be valued and taken into account, since it will considerably improve the experience.

5G comes to iPad Air

One of the main advantages of the iPad Air, both 4 and 5, is its size and the opportunity, as far as possible, to become an ideal device for working on the move . To do this, many users need to have a stable and fast internet connection , which is why Apple has made 5G present in the iPad Air 5.

In addition, it is not only important today, since despite the fact that 5G is not fully developed in all parts of the planet, for those users who see the iPad Air 5 as their main or secondary equipment to work for several years, have this technology will make a difference in a relatively short period of time.

Common aspects

As you have been able to verify, there are not many differences between the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air 5, however, they are cables in some cases. However, it is clear that we also have to talk about other important points that mark the experience that both teams offer and that, in this case, are common in the models.

Design

In this sense, the two teams are exactly the same, since the 5th generation iPad Air has completely inherited the design that the 4th generation iPad Air already acquired. An all screen that makes it very attractive for all users, which was one of the reasons why, until the arrival of the 4th generation, many users opted for one of the Pro models. However, where there is a small The difference is the finishes, below we will tell you which ones both models have.

• iPad Air 4
  • space gray
  • Silver.
  • Pink gold.
  • Sky Blue.
  • Green.

• iPad Air 5
  • space gray
  • star white
  • Pink.
  • Purple.
  • Blue.

Within the design section, mention must be made of the way in which Apple has implemented the unlock method . Despite the fact that they have the same design as the iPad Pro, which enjoys Face ID, these two iPad Air models maintain Touch ID to unlock the device. To do this, the Cupertino company has introduced the sensor on the side button that has always been used to lock and unlock the computer.

Screen

Surely the most important section of an iPad is the screen it presents, well, in this case it is exactly the same in both models. They have a size of 10.9 inches , which makes it ideal for these teams to be used both for the productivity section to which they are focused, and the leisure section. Apple has found in these dimensions a perfect standard for both purposes, making both audiences feel comfortable with it.

It is a Liquid Retina True Tone screen , backlit by LEDs with Multi-Touch and IPS technology, resolution of 2360 x 1640 at 264 p / p . In addition, they have a maximum brightness of 500 nits , something that is more than enough to not have any problem when carrying out tasks when you go outside the house and you have to use the iPad outside with natural light. It really is not a super outstanding screen, in this aspect the difference with the Pro range is notable, however, it is a screen that at the level of user experience delights practically all users. Of course, it has a drawback, and that is that the refresh rate stays at 60 Hz .

Accessory Compatibility

The iPad, in general, would not be what it is today if it were not for the accessories that surround it and that, without a doubt, make this equipment reach all the potential it has, or at least, it can reach taking into account account the limitations at the software level that it presents. In this case we return to the repetitive speech in this post, and that is that there are no differences between the iPad Air 4 and the iPad Air 5.

Both models are fully compatible with the same accessories, which are the vast majority, but above all you have to focus on two, which from our point of view are the most important. First of all, the Apple Pencil that users of these two iPad models have to use is the 2nd generation Apple Pencil , an accessory that brings a tremendous variety of possibilities. Secondly, we have to talk about the Magic Keyboard , which ensures that those users who want to use these devices as if they were a computer can do so without any problems. Also, of course, all accessories that are compatible with the iPad Air 4 will be compatible with the iPad Air 5 and vice versa.

Price and availability

Here comes one of the big differences between the two teams, and that is that although, naturally, you can buy the iPad Air 5 through the Apple Store, the iPad Air 4 cannot . As usual in the Cupertino company, when a new version of a device is released, the previous one is eliminated as a purchase option. Therefore, all users who want to purchase the iPad Air 4 will have to do so through an external store.

The official price of the iPad Air 5 is 679 euros , maintaining the price at which the iPad Air 4 was before its launch. On the other hand, the price of the latter can vary significantly depending on the trade or store where you want to buy it, obviously taking into account its availability, which is scarce.

Which one is more worth it?

Finally we come to the reflection that we always do from the ITIGIC writing team. Which one is more worth it? Well, for all those users who do not currently have either of these two models and are considering buying one of them, we believe that the most interesting option is to purchase the iPad Air 5, since the price difference is not very great. between the two and the difference in the processor is great, especially looking back several years on.

On the other hand, all those users who currently have the iPad Air 4 , of course, it is not worth making the leap to the next generation, since the differences that exist between them are not important enough to change one for another. . Now, all those users who come from a device prior to the iPad Air 4, without a doubt, it is worth moving to the iPad Air 5, both for the power and for the design and everything that this implies in terms of compatibility with accessories and the possibilities it offers.