![iPad Air 4: three months later [Video]](https://i2.wp.com/9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/02/F1.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1 "iPad Air 4: three months later [Video]")
The iPad Air 4 was a tablet that came and went. I personally believe that many people have spent time comparing this tablet to the iPad Pro simply because they have the same design language. But if you remove the comparison aspect and judge the tablet on its own, it is a very compelling device. And more than anything, it does not make me miss my iPad Pro. Here’s why.
Design
The latest iPad Air has the same design language as the current iPad Pro, and it looks and feels like a modern iPad. It is thin, it is light and very comfortable to use. And of course with the Air in particular, you get a handful of different color options not available on the other iPad models. I have the Sky Blue model and I was initially very critical of how subtle the blue actually is. But in reality, I do not care. I do stand by my statement that this color is more silver with a blue tint than an sky blue color, but I do not think that the sky blue is a bad look. It just wasn’t what I expected. Overall, it’s just a nice tablet aesthetically, and as an iPad, it’s one of the best you can get your hands on.
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Show
The display is something I initially talked a bit about due to a lack of a 120Hz display with a high refresh rate, which is on the iPad Pro. But after using it for a few months, it was not really something I was thinking about. The screen is still high resolution and is ideal for watching, playing and reading movies. And because this tablet is generally so fast, I do not want to constantly appear to a higher refresh rate. I think 60Hz on the iPad Air is sufficient. And the average user at this point will not need to display a higher refresh rate.
As for the real-world usability, I would say that bright is probably the weakest link for the Air show. This tablet can only get up to 500 net brightness, while the iPad Pro can only deliver up to 600 brightness. If you use this tablet indoors, it is not really that worrying, but with only 500 neat peak brightness, you may struggle to get a nice view on the screen when you are outside during a sunny day. Hope they can address this for generation 5.
TouchID
When I first got the Air 4, I was not too hot on the fingerprint sensor. I thought it did not make much sense for Apple to do so when FaceID was already in play on the iPad Pro. But while this tablet is not significantly cheaper than the 11 “Pro, it is technically cheaper. And you can not expect to get every feature on the middle shelf on a mid-shelf product. My initial problem with TouchID was the placement of the sensor.And I still think it makes a lot more sense to place the sensor on the right side above the volume buttons.But after a few months of using it I definitely got more comfortable with the placement.And that’s not something that I consciously think no more.The sensor is very fast so I do not feel like it slows down the usability process.
Performance
The performance on the iPad Air performed well for my daily use. Remember that this tablet uses the A14 processor from Apple. This is Apple’s latest mobile processor outside of M1. You will therefore achieve the best results. The Air did not let me down once or complete a task within an appropriate time. And I do not use this tablet as often for games. But whenever I do, it’s usually a wonderful experience.
Battery life
Surprisingly, the battery life on my Air 4 was not very good. It’s even stranger to me because I’m not a big user of this iPad. I use it throughout the day for different things, but never in long periods of time. And there are some days in the week where I do not use the Air at all. But when I return to it, I still have 30 or 40% battery life left. I mostly use the iPad to browse the internet, watch YouTube videos and use it as a remote screen for my camera.
There are people who are only worried about whether this tablet will hold you during the day if you use it consistently. And I would mostly say yes. But this is definitely not a multi-day battery life iPad, and I will always have a charger on hand if you plan to use it as your daily driver for productivity.
iPadOS 14
I think iPadOS is somewhat undervalued because it is much less scanty than iOS, at least in my experience. I really can not remember that this tablet ever stuck in me. And that’s really not something I can say for any other Apple product at this point. I had a flawless experience with iPadOS 14, and I think they did an excellent job of addressing bugs that were in version 13.
Widgets have been a great addition to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. Besides taking so long before they arrive, widgets on iPadOS are aesthetically pleasing and work well. I just wish there was more you could do with them. It had to be a problem that widgets could be placed on the home screen anywhere for free. Free form widgets are my number 1 feature on the iPadOS 15 wish list.
9to5Mac’s take
Overall, the iPad Air is an excellent tablet on its own. I still think that someone who is looking for a new iPad for school and productivity will probably be better off with an iPad Pro, especially if you are going to get the pencil and keyboard. An Air 4 with a keyboard and pencil is about $ 200 less than it would be for a Pro with the keyboard and pencil. And so you have to decide if the extra features you get with the iPad Pro are worth the extra $ 200. If not, the Air 4 is a great steal.
What are your thoughts on the iPad Air 4? Sounds down in the comments below!
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