M3 iPad Air VS iPad - DON'T BE FOOLED!

Summary

In this video, the comparison between the iPad Air and the regular iPad is explored, emphasizing key differences in design, performance, and value. While both models feature similar sizes and displays, the iPad Air stands out with its M3 chip, superior screen quality, and support for professional accessories like the second-generation Apple Pencil. Despite the higher price, the iPad Air offers better performance for demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. Meanwhile, the regular iPad offers exceptional value at a much lower price point, making it a solid choice for basic tasks. Ultimately, the decision depends on whether you need a more powerful, feature-rich tablet or a budget-friendly option.

Takeaways

• 😀 The iPad and iPad Air are often compared due to their similar form factors, but the price difference makes them appealing to different user bases.
• 😀 The regular iPad, updated after 3 years, is a better value, offering almost the same design as the iPad Air at half the price.
• 😀 Despite having the same display size (10.9 inches), there are subtle design differences between the iPad and iPad Air, with the iPad being thicker and slightly heavier.
• 😀 The iPad Air offers more premium color options, including muted shades like blue and purple, while the regular iPad has vibrant colors like blue, pink, and yellow.
• 😀 The iPad Air has superior display quality with P3 wide color support, anti-reflective coating, and a laminated display, while the regular iPad does not.
• 😀 The regular iPad supports Wi-Fi 6 but lacks Apple Pencil 2 compatibility and features a slower USB 2.0 port compared to the iPad Air's USB 3.1.
• 😀 The iPad Air's Magic Keyboard has been redesigned to be lighter and slimmer, featuring a full function key row and larger trackpad, unlike the regular iPad's outdated Magic Keyboard Folio.
• 😀 The iPad's keyboard has a kickstand design, providing more flexibility for tablet mode, but the iPad Air's keyboard offers a more refined experience for productivity.
• 😀 The iPad Air's M3 chip outperforms the regular iPad's A16 chip, making a noticeable difference in demanding tasks like video editing and gaming.
• 😀 The regular iPad, priced at $350, offers a great value for users who don't require high-end performance, but the iPad Air is better for more professional or demanding tasks like gaming, drawing, and multitasking.

Q & A

Why is the iPad Air often compared to the iPad Pro, and is it the right comparison?

The iPad Air is often compared to the iPad Pro because of their similar form factors and options. However, this isn't the best comparison due to the significant price difference, which makes the iPad Pro out of reach for many customers. A better comparison would be between the iPad Air and the regular iPad, as they are more similarly priced.

What is the key difference between the regular iPad and the iPad Air in terms of display size?

Despite Apple's marketing suggesting an upgrade in display size for the regular iPad, both the iPad Air and regular iPad have the same 10.9-inch display. The regular iPad's display was just rounded up to 11 inches, mirroring the change made when the M2 iPad Air was released.

How do the dimensions of the iPad Air and regular iPad differ?

The iPad Air is slightly lighter, weighing 460g, while the regular iPad weighs 477g. Additionally, the regular iPad is thicker at 7mm, compared to the iPad Air's 6.1mm, which makes the regular iPad feel chunkier and more hollow, although it could be slightly more durable.

What are the color options available for the iPad Air and regular iPad?

The regular iPad offers more vibrant colors, such as blue, pink, and yellow, while the iPad Air has more muted color options, like a subdued blue and purple. Both models come in space gray and silver.

How do the displays on the iPad Air and regular iPad differ in terms of quality?

The iPad Air has a P3 wide color display, which allows for more accurate colors, and it features an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. Additionally, the iPad Air's display is directly laminated to the glass, reducing reflections and air gaps, which are not present on the regular iPad.

What connectivity and accessory differences exist between the iPad Air and regular iPad?

The iPad Air supports Wi-Fi 6, while the regular iPad only supports Wi-Fi 5. Additionally, the iPad Air is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which charges via USB-C, while the regular iPad only supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which charges through the Lightning port.

What is the difference in keyboard options for the iPad Air and regular iPad?

The iPad Air features an updated Magic Keyboard, which is lighter and slimmer with a full function key row and a larger trackpad. In contrast, the regular iPad uses the older Magic Keyboard Folio, which lacks some of the newer design features and has a kickstand instead of the floating design.

How does the iPad Air’s keyboard compare to the regular iPad’s keyboard?

The iPad Air’s keyboard has a USB-C port for charging, allowing the iPad’s port to remain free for other uses. Meanwhile, the regular iPad’s keyboard lacks this feature and uses a slower USB-C port. Both keyboards are sold separately, with the iPad Air’s keyboard costing $269 and the iPad’s costing $250.

What are the significant performance differences between the iPad Air and the regular iPad?

The iPad Air features an M3 chip, while the regular iPad uses the A16 chip. While both chips are highly capable, the M3 chip provides enhanced performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, gaming, and multitasking, and supports additional features like Apple Stage Manager and external monitor connectivity.

What factors should influence the decision to choose between the regular iPad and the iPad Air?

If you're on a budget and only need basic functions like browsing, watching videos, or light tasks, the regular iPad offers great value at $350, providing almost the same experience as the iPad Air. However, if you need better performance for professional use, gaming, or creative work like drawing or video editing, the iPad Air is a better choice due to its more powerful M3 chip, better display, and additional features.