Are you ready for a new iPad? Then it is possible that you are in doubt between the iPad Air 2022 or the iPad 2021. What exactly are the differences and which iPad should you choose? In this buying advice we help you on your way.
iPad Air 2022 vs iPad 2021
The iPad line-up consists of four iPad models. The iPad Pro is too expensive for most people with a starting price of 899 euros. The iPad mini is too small for most people with an 8.3-inch screen. What remains: the iPad Air and the ‘regular’ iPad. But which one should you have?
The differences between the two are big and that can be seen in the price. The iPad 2021 has a starting price of 389 euros. For the iPad Air 2022 you pay almost double: 698.50 euros. Should you go for the cheapest iPad 2021, or is the iPad Air worth the extra cost? You will discover it in this buying advice.
iPad Air 2022 and iPad 2021 comparison
1. Screen and size
When it comes to screen size, the iPads don’t differ much from each other. The iPad Air has a screen diagonal of 10.9 inches; on the 9th-generation iPad, it’s 10.2-inch. The number of pixels per inch is the same: 264 ppi. This means that the screens are equally sharp. The Air does have a laminated display and anti-reflective coating. This ensures less reflection, making the display of the Air easier to read when you are in the sun.
Although the iPad Air has a slightly larger screen, it is more compact than the regular iPad. This is because the iPad Air does not have a home button, so that more screen fits into the housing. These are the dimensions:
- iPad Air size: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1 millimeters.
- iPad size: 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 millimeters.
The iPad Air is therefore slightly less high, but wider. The iPad Air is also flatter, making the weight (461 grams) less heavy than the weight of the 9th generation iPad (498 grams).
2. Design
If you put the iPad Air 2022 and iPad 2021 next to each other, you will see clear differences. The Air (see below) has a contemporary design with the display occupying almost the entire front. The home button is missing. Apple has integrated the fingerprint scanner into the power button, above the iPad. So you unlock – just like with the regular iPad – with Touch ID.
The iPad 2021 (see below) has been given a jacket that looks more dated. The home button for Touch ID is still there, and the iPad also has relatively wide bezels above the display. The iPad is available in two colors: space gray and silver. With the iPad Air, the color palette is more extensive: space gray, starlight (yellowish), pink, purple and blue.
3. Processor and working memory
Do you plan to use your iPad for graphics-intensive tasks, such as Photoshop, video editing, or augmented reality? Then the iPad Air is the tablet you must have. With the M1 chip, it has a desktop-class processor. It can also be found in several recent Macs, such as the 13-inch MacBook Pro and iMac 2021.
The iPad 2021 has an A13 Bionic chip on board, which we also know from the iPhone 11 (Pro). This chip is still very powerful and the iPad 2021 feels smooth and fast. Only when you get started with apps that require a lot of graphical muscle, you notice that the iPad is more likely to reach its limits.
The iPad Air also has more RAM: 8 GB. With the entry-level iPad, this is 3 GB. You notice this especially when you use multiple apps at the same time or run heavy programs. With the iPad Air, everything works a little smoother if you have a lot of apps open.
4. Camera
You usually don’t buy an iPad because of the camera; you already have your iPhone for that. If you don’t have one or if you prefer to shoot photos with a tablet, you’ll have more fun with the iPad Air. It has a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera on the back. The photos are of a similar quality to most recent iPhone models, such as the iPhone SE 2022.
The ‘regular’ iPad has an 8-MP wide-angle camera on the back. That means less image information and therefore also lower quality photos. The same goes for the videos. Recording is only possible in HD, while the iPad Air also films in 4K at 60 frames per second (fps).
In this age of video calling, the front camera may be more important. That is excellent with both iPads: both the Air and the entry-level iPad have a 12-MP camera on the front. This is an ultra wide angle lens. The iPads also support the ‘Center’ function, whereby software keeps you centered during video calling – even when you move around the room.
5. Connection and 5G
Just like the iPhone, the iPad 2021 has a Lightning connection. With the iPad Air you need a different charging cable: USB-C. This has the advantage that you can connect more peripherals to it, such as an external hard drive or monitor.
Another important difference is that the iPad Air is compatible with the Magic Keyboard, unlike the regular iPad. This is a keyboard with a built-in trackpad, with which you turn the tablet into a kind of MacBook. Ideal if you plan to use the iPad as a laptop as well.
If you want to access the internet with your iPad without WiFi, choose an iPad with Cellular. With the iPad Air, mobile internet can be used with the highest speed: 5G. With the entry-level iPad, mobile internet is limited to 4G.
6. Price
The price difference between the iPad Air 2022 and iPad 2021 is large. Exactly how much you pay depends on the storage capacity you choose (64 or 256 GB) and whether you want a version with Cellular (mobile internet). With the iPad Air, the price starts at least at just under 700 euros. With the 9th generation iPad, the price starts at 389 euros.
Price iPad Air 2022
- iPad Air (64 GB): 698.50 euros
- iPad Air (256 GB): 868.50 euros
- iPad Air (64 GB + Cellular): 868.50 euros
- iPad Air (256 GB + Cellular): 1038.50 euros
Price iPad 2021
- iPad (64 GB): 389 euros
- iPad (256 GB): 559 euros
- iPad (64 GB + Cellular): 529 euros
- iPad (256 GB + Cellular): 699 euros
Conclusion and buying advice: iPad Air vs iPad
Which iPad is the best choice depends on what you’re doing with it. Do you want a tablet to surf the Internet, watch videos, play the occasional game, and other house-garden-and-kitchen things? Then the iPad 2021 is your iPad. It’s by far the cheapest, but does what you expect from an iPad and lasts for years to come.
Want to do more with your iPad, such as drawing in ProCreate, editing photos in Affinity Photo, or getting started with other graphics-intensive apps? Or do you want to use the iPad in combination with a keyboard as your home work laptop? Then the iPad Air is worth the extra cost.
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