- If you're thinking of getting an iPad right now
because maybe you're staring down
a long lockdown winter where you can't even go outside
and so you need to binge
even more Netflix than you have been.
Then this is the iPad that I recommend
for almost everybody who can afford it.
It's the new $599 iPad Air.
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See, one of the biggest trends in tech right now
is a bunch of companies are trying to figure out
which part should go into their mid-range devices.
Should they just be extra nice versions
of the basic model which is actually really
what Google's done with Pixel 5 here?
Or should they be toned down versions of the best model
which is really what Apple has done here with the iPad Air.
Either way, the result is usually a device
that might be missing some high end features
that are luxuries instead of necessities.
But even without them, this iPad Air feels like a luxury.
It is the nicest computing experience
you can have for $600 or less.
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The main thing that's new the iPad Air this year
is this design.
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It is almost identical to the iPad Pro models.
And that is a very good thing.
It has these rounded corners and thinner bezels
and that's feature shared by the new iPhone 12s actually.
But unlike the new iPhones this iPad Air,
switches over from Lightning to USB-C.
Yes.
Good.
Right? We're not gonna go down
a USB-C rabbit hole here.
Just know that your Lightning Cables
won't charge this devices.
That design switch over also means
that this uses the new iPad Pro accessories.
So there's the Apple Pencil that attaches
and charges here via a magnet.
And it's better than the old Lightning Pencil.
It's pretty much every way
but don't forget that it costs $129.
You also have your choice
of these standard smart keyboard for 179 bucks
or this very nice Magic Keyboard with a track pad for $299.
The iPad Air has a usual colors.
There's gray, silver and rose gold
but there's also new colors of light green
or the sky blue color right here.
Now I am going to get into the specs
which includes an incredible new processor
but in a minute they aren't the most important thing
about the iPad Air.
The most important thing is that this is just
an incredibly nice computer to use.
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I have a lot of computers.
I'm a weirdo.
And when I just want a computing experience
that's chill and relaxing,
I always return iPad.
Now I know the base model iPad for $329
can do pretty much everything this iPad Air can do
but it's just not as nice to use.
There are these really big bezels
and the least expensive model only has 32 gigs of storage.
On the Air, you get a bigger 10.9 inch Liquid Retina Display
and 64 gigs of storage.
See for me one of the biggest reasons
to use an iPad is to just get something
that's more enjoyable to use
than a boring old laptop.
And so this iPad compared
to the base iPad, it's just nicer.
It's speed, design, accessories.
Everything's just more enjoyable.
There is one part that is enjoyable
but takes a little bit of getting used to.
It's the Touch ID Sensor right here on the power button.
It works and it's accurate and it's fast
but you have to operate it a little bit differently
than I'm used to.
You can't just tap it to turn on the iPad.
You have to press it down and then let
the button lift up and then leave your finger resting
on the power button to unlock it.
It's a little weird.
If you press too long, you get Siri.
And if you don't press long enough
it won't be able to register your fingerprint
and unlock the iPad.
It just takes some getting used to.
The other thing to point out here
is that iPad OS is enjoyable to use
but it still has the same old limitations.
There is no support for multiple users
and most video conferencing apps still turn
the camera off when you multitask.
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Okay.
It is finally time to talk specs.
The big deal with this iPad is that
it has Apple's newest fastest processor, the A14 Bionic.
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It is very fast.
It's faster even than the most recent iPad Pro's processor
in certain benchmark tests like single core speeds.
It's a beast and it signals good things
for the upcoming ARM-based Macs.
But that comparison to the iPad Pro
isn't that simple though.
See the iPad Pro has more GPU oomph
and the way that iPad iOS works means that
a lot of the most intensive apps really
do take advantage of the GPU.
So if you care about things like processor speed
on an iPad, I think the thing to do
is wait for the iPad Pro to get updated
with a 5-nanometer A14X or 14Z
or whatever they're gonna call it.
Now compared to the iPad Pro you lose out on
a promotion high refresh rate display,
LiDAR Face ID and ultra wide camera
and quad speakers.
I do miss a promotion display a little
because I like high refresh rate screens
but everything else, I really don't.
The stereo speakers sound great in landscape mode.
And by the way, battery life of course
is excellent as always.
So that's the iPad Air.
I do wish there was a model
in between the $599 64 gig version
and the step up to the $749 256 gig version.
But otherwise there's not a whole lot to knock here.
It's an iPad.
If the $599 price is in your budget,
this is the one to get especially since
you're probably gonna hanging on
to this thing for very many years.
Something that you have that long
I think it is worth spending the extra money
for a more enjoyable experience.
Hey everybody, thanks so much for watching.
If instead of the iPad Air you wanted to know
about the new iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro,
we have of course reviewed those devices
and you can click the link
on your screen right now to watch them.