Apple has announced the iPad Air (2022). The new generation of light iPads will receive 5G support, a better front camera and the M1 processor, which can also be found in the iPad Pro. iPadOS is also getting an update.
M1 processor
The biggest change from the previous generation iPad Air is the M1 processor. That is the same chip that is also used in the more powerful iPad Pro. The M1 chip uses 8 cores, with which the 2022 version of the Air should be 60% faster than the previous generation.
The front camera has also been updated. With the 12 MP ultra-wide camera, full-screen video calling is even easier.
5G support
Another big development is that the new iPad Air supports a 5G connection, the latter just like the also announced new iPhone SE. In theory, you can use this to surf the internet at lightning speed while on the go. It must be said that support for 5G in the Netherlands is not yet fully off the ground, and that the speeds are still somewhat disappointing in practice.
Furthermore, the new iPad Air is equipped with a new, faster USB-C port that is twice as fast as the port in the current iPad Air.
Finally, some updates to iPadOS are in the pipeline, including better multitasking capabilities and a new version of iMovie.
Price and availability
The iPad Air 2022 will cost $599. It is not yet known what the euro price will be, but that will not be far off. The new generation will be in stores from March 18, although the Netherlands may have to wait a little longer.