Apple · iPad Air

iPad Air (5th generation)

Released March 2022

The 2022 10.9-inch iPad Air with an M1 chip, 8 GB memory, Centre Stage front camera and optional 5G.

Model history · 9 models, 2010–2022

Screen: 10.9″
Display: LCD
Chip: M1
Memory: 8 GB
Storage: 64 GB – 256 GB
Weight: 461 g

What reviewers say

Reviews praise performance and the screen, while finding 64 GB restrictive and accessories costly. Notebookcheck measures shorter battery endurance than several Android rivals.

From engadget.com and notebookcheck.net

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Screen size: 10.9″
Resolution: 2360 × 1640
Sharpness: 264 pixels per inch
Panel: LCD
Brightness: 500 nits
Display type: Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD; 10.86 inches measured diagonally as a rectangle
Pixel density: 264 ppi
Display features: P3 wide colour; True Tone; fully laminated; anti-reflective coating with 1.8% reflectivity; oleophobic coating

Performance

Chip: M1
Memory: 8 GB
Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB
CPU: 8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 8 GB RAM
GPU: 8-core GPU; Media Engine with hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC video decode and encode
AI engine: 16-core Neural Engine

Cameras

Rear camera: 12 MP
Ultra wide camera: None
Front camera: 12 MP
Rear camera: Wide; f/1.8 five-element lens; autofocus with Focus Pixels; digital zoom up to 5x; wide colour and Live Photos; Smart HDR 3; panorama up to 63 MP; auto image stabilisation; burst; geotagging; HEIF and JPEG
Front camera: Ultra Wide; 122° field of view; f/2.4; Centre Stage; Smart HDR 3; lens correction; Retina Flash; wide colour capture; auto image stabilisation; burst
Video recording: Rear 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; slow-motion 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; extended dynamic range up to 30 fps; stabilised time-lapse; cinematic stabilisation; continuous autofocus; HEVC and H.264; front 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps

Battery and connections

Battery life (maker's claim): Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity: 28.6 Wh
Mobile data option: Yes
Stylus: Supported, sold separately
Keyboard made for it: Yes
Battery life detail: Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging: 20W USB-C power adapter supplied; charging via adapter or computer
USB-C: USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s; one external display up to 6K at 60 Hz; Smart Connector
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); simultaneous dual band; HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
Mobile network: 5G (sub-6 GHz) and Gigabit LTE; nano-SIM and eSIM; cellular model weighs 462 g
Stylus support: Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C), sold separately
Keyboards: Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, sold separately

Design

Weight: 461 g
Thickness: 6.1 mm
Height × width: 247.6 × 178.5 mm
Operating system: iPadOS
Biometrics: Touch ID in top button
Speakers: Landscape stereo speakers
Microphones: Dual microphones
Sensors: Three-axis gyro; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS and GNSS on cellular model
Materials: 100% recycled aluminium enclosure
Colours: Space Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple, Blue
Software at launch: iPadOS 15
In the box: iPad Air; USB-C charge cable (1 m); 20W USB-C power adapter

Storage options

Storage
64 GB
256 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

M1 chip and 8 GB memory
Centre Stage ultra-wide front camera
USB-C up to 10 Gb/s and external 6K display support

Cons

Starts with 64 GB storage
No 3.5 mm headphone jack
Storage cannot be expanded

Closest rivals

Model	Screen	Display	Chip	Memory	Storage	Weight	Released
SamsungGalaxy Tab S9 FE	10.9″	LCD, 90 Hz	Exynos 1380	6 GB – 8 GB	128 GB – 256 GB	523 g	Oct 2023
AppleiPad (10th generation)	10.86″	LCD, 60 Hz	A14 Bionic	4 GB	64 GB – 256 GB	477 g	Oct 2022
AppleiPad Air 11″ (M2)	10.86″	LCD, 60 Hz	M2	8 GB	128 GB – 1 TB	462 g	May 2024

Previous model: iPad Air (4th generation). Newer model: iPad Air 11″ (M2).

Sources

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

Spot a mistake? Tell us