iPad Air gets Pro Performance and more features for $929

The headline act from the iPad Air announcement at this morning’s “Peek Performance” Apple Event is the inclusion of the Apple Silicon M1 chip into the new iPad Air.

That’s ridiculous – in a good way. Because it really makes this the younger sibling of the iPad Pro. There’s a whole stack of performance here – a 60% increase in the previous model from just two years ago.

But that’s not the half of it.

Throw in 5G connectivity, you’ve now got on-the-go speed and performance. Pair it with a decent keyboard setup and even the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil and this is all you need for many many people.

The new iPad Air retains the touchID power button which is an under appreciated feature I still think should be in iPhones, plus the camera now supports Apple’s “Center Stage” feature which allows you to move around on FaceTime calls or bring other people into the call without moving the device.

All in all, way more than an incremental upgrade. Two years ago this was an $899 device, so the higher $929 price isn’t out of this world, but it is creeping up generation after generation.

For me, the iPad Air is the best of the bunch, balancing out value and performance it’s a real winner.

The new 2022 Apple iPad Air comes in a range of colours; Space Grey, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue and goes on sale Friday March 18.