iPAD AIR (2022): RETAKING THE MIDRANGE TABLET THRONE

AFTER A YEAR OFF, THE IPAD AIR ROARS BACK TO RELEVANCY.

- DAVID PRICE

Oh, iPad Air, how we have missed you. Ignored for the whole of 2021, the Air went from best in class-we called the previous model "the best iPad for most people" in our 2020 review (fave.co/3xSSSUM)-to runt of the litter, superseded by up-to-date versions of the 10.2-inch iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Pro. The Air needed an update.

Thankfully Apple announced precisely that at its "Peek Performance" spring event. The Air is roaring back to relevancy with a 2022 upgrade that adds a Pro-level M1 processor, 5G support and a much-improved front-facing camera. But is that enough to restore its status as the best iPad in Apple's range?

Short answer: Yes. For the long answer, read on.

DESIGN: REFINED ELEGANCE

We'll get to the elements that have changed in a moment, but these are (mostly) internal and not initially apparent. The physical external design of the iPad Air, the first impression you get when picking it up, remains the same.

What this means is a clean, modern look with squared-off edges, in the style repopularized by the iPhone 12-series handsets. Apple's signature minimalist aesthetic is as elegant as it is easy to take for granted; each time we examine a new Apple mobile device out of its case, we fall in love all over again with the attention to detail, the lack of complication, the contrast between the shiny gloss on the front and the more subdued brushed-metal texture on the back. It's a shame from a cosmetic point of view that so many Airs will spend their working lives inside a Smart Folio (fave.co/3Jj87kl; $79) or similar case.

The device is lightweight (fractionally over a pound, it's very slightly heavier than the previous Air and very slightly lighter than the 11-inch Pro) and comfortable to hold with one hand for short periods, although you'll need to use two (or prop it on a stand) for activities of a longer duration.