Apple iPad Air (2020) Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Apple iPad Air 4, also known as the iPad Air (4th generation), is a tablet that was announced on September 15, 2020, and released on October 23, 2020. As of today, June 6, 2023, the iPad Air 4 is still a highly regarded device in the tablet market. It comes in various colors such as Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue. The iPad Air 4 has a sleek design with a glass front, aluminum back, and aluminum frame, making it a visually appealing device. It is available in two versions: Wi-Fi + Cellular & GPS and Wi-Fi only, without GPS. The iPad Air 4 has a lot to offer, from its powerful A14 Bionic chip and Liquid Retina IPS LCD display to its impressive battery life and multiple connectivity options.

Design and Build Quality

The Apple iPad Air 4 has a sleek and modern design, with a slim profile and rounded edges that make it comfortable to hold. The device features an aluminum frame and glass front and back, giving it a premium look and feel. The iPad Air 4 comes in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue, allowing users to choose a color that fits their style.

The device's build quality is impressive, with the aluminum frame providing structural rigidity and durability. The iPad Air 4 is lightweight, weighing only 458 grams for the Wi-Fi variant and 460 grams for the 3G/LTE variant, making it easy to carry around. The device is also quite thin, measuring only 6.1mm in thickness, which makes it highly portable.

The iPad Air 4 also features a top-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security, which is easy to access and works well. The device's back is compatible with the Apple Pencil, which can be magnetically attached and charged. This feature is particularly useful for note-taking and drawing.

Overall, the iPad Air 4's design and build quality are top-notch, providing a premium look and feel that is both functional and stylish. The device is well-balanced and comfortable to hold, making it a pleasure to use for extended periods of time.

Display

The display on the Apple iPad Air 4 is nothing short of stunning. With a screen size of 10.9 inches and a resolution of 1640 x 2360 pixels, the Liquid Retina IPS LCD display offers vivid and sharp visuals. The screen also boasts a wide color gamut and a maximum brightness of 500 nits, making it easy to use even in bright outdoor environments.

The display technology used on the iPad Air 4 is top-notch, providing accurate and vibrant colors with excellent contrast. The viewing angles are also great, ensuring that you can enjoy your content regardless of how you're holding the device.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are also noteworthy. It's incredibly smooth and precise, making navigating the iPad Air 4 a breeze. Whether you're scrolling through social media or playing games, the display responds seamlessly to your touch.

Overall, the display on the iPad Air 4 is one of its standout features. It's perfect for streaming videos, browsing the web, or working on creative projects. Whether you're a student, professional, or casual user, the display on the iPad Air 4 is sure to impress.

Performance

The Apple iPad Air (4th generation) boasts impressive performance capabilities, thanks to its powerful Apple A14 Bionic chipset and Hexa-core CPU. With up to 4GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the device can handle multiple tasks simultaneously and store large files with ease.

In terms of multitasking and app performance, the iPad Air (4th generation) excels, allowing users to switch between apps seamlessly. The device's gaming capabilities are also impressive, with its high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay.

Benchmark scores and real-world usage reflect the device's exceptional performance, with the iPad Air (4th generation) outperforming many of its competitors in speed and efficiency. The device's powerful processor and optimized software ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently, even when running demanding apps and software.

Overall, the iPad Air (4th generation) delivers exceptional performance, making it a great choice for power users and those who require a high-performance tablet for work or play. Its impressive speed and performance capabilities make it one of the best tablets on the market today.

Software and User Interface

The iPad Air 4 runs on the iPadOS 14.1 which is upgradable to iPadOS 16.1. The operating system is specifically designed for iPad devices and comes with several features that optimize the user experience. The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate through the device.

One of the most notable features of the iPadOS 14.1 is the ability to use the Apple Pencil. This feature is particularly useful for artists, designers, and students who can use the pencil to take notes, draw, or create sketches. Additionally, the iPadOS 14.1 comes with several customization options that allow users to personalize their devices. Users can customize their home screen, choose from a variety of widgets, and even change the app icons.

The iPad Air 4 comes with several pre-installed apps such as Safari, Notes, and iMessage. The device also supports several third-party apps that are available on the App Store. However, some users may find the pre-installed apps to be limited in functionality, and may need to download additional apps to meet their needs.

The device also supports split-screen multitasking, which allows users to work on two apps simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for professionals who need to work on multiple apps at the same time. The iPad Air 4 also supports Picture-in-Picture mode, which allows users to watch videos while working on other apps.

Updates and software support are also noteworthy features of the iPad Air 4. The device is eligible for software updates for several years, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and security patches. Overall, the iPadOS 14.1 and user interface of the iPad Air 4 are highly optimized, making it easy for users to get the most out of their device.

Camera

The camera on the iPad Air 4 is a standout feature, delivering excellent quality and versatility. The rear camera boasts a 12 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which means it can capture clear and detailed images even in low light conditions. The dual pixel PDAF feature ensures quick and accurate autofocus, while HDR support enhances dynamic range in photos.

The front-facing camera is no slouch either, with a 7 MP sensor and an f/2.0 aperture. It supports HDR and can record 1080p video at 30 or 60 frames per second. This makes it perfect for video calls, selfies, and even vlogging.

But one of the most impressive camera features on the iPad Air 4 is its ability to shoot 4K video at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second. The footage is smooth, detailed, and vibrant, making it a great option for content creators and videographers.

In terms of zoom capabilities, the iPad Air 4 offers digital zoom up to 5x, which can be handy in certain situations. However, the lack of optical zoom means that image quality can suffer at higher zoom levels.

Overall, the camera on the iPad Air 4 is a top performer in its class, delivering excellent image and video quality with a range of features and capabilities. Whether you're capturing memories with family and friends, creating content for social media, or just taking selfies, the iPad Air 4's camera won't disappoint.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The iPad Air 4 offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it a versatile device for both personal and professional use. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot, and Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, EDR. The tablet also offers GPS and GLONASS positioning, but this feature is only available on the LTE model.

Unfortunately, the iPad Air 4 does not support NFC or wireless payment, which may be a downside for some users. However, the device does come with a fingerprint sensor, located at the top of the device, which adds an extra layer of security and convenience for unlocking the device.

The Type-C USB connector is another notable feature, allowing for faster data transfer and charging. The magnetic connector on the side of the device also allows for seamless pairing with Apple's Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.

Overall, the iPad Air 4's connectivity and networking capabilities are impressive, providing users with a variety of options for staying connected and productive on the go. However, the lack of NFC and wireless payment support may be a deal-breaker for some users.

Additional Features

The Apple iPad Air 4 boasts an impressive list of additional features that enhance the user experience. Firstly, the device is compatible with the Apple Pencil, which provides a natural and seamless drawing and writing experience. This feature is especially useful for professionals and students who require a device for taking notes or creating art.

In terms of audio quality, the iPad Air 4 comes with stereo speakers that deliver clear and loud sound. Additionally, the device supports Bluetooth 5.0 and provides a better and more stable connection to compatible devices.

The iPad Air 4 also includes a top-mounted fingerprint sensor that offers fast and secure authentication. This sensor is an excellent alternative to facial recognition, especially in situations where wearing a mask makes it difficult to unlock devices with facial recognition.

Another noteworthy feature of the iPad Air 4 is its compatibility with multiple accessories. The device supports a magnetic connector that can be used to connect accessories such as the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Folio. These accessories provide a comfortable typing experience and a protective cover for the device.

Lastly, the iPad Air 4 comes with an impressive battery life that can last up to 10 hours with continuous usage. The device also supports fast charging, which can charge the device up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Overall, the iPad Air 4's additional features enhance the user experience and provide a more versatile and functional device.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the Apple iPad Air 4 to other related phones, there are a few devices that come to mind. One such device is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. Both devices are similar in size and weight, with the Tab S7 being slightly lighter. However, the iPad Air 4 boasts a higher resolution display, with a pixel density of 264 ppi compared to the Tab S7's 263 ppi. Additionally, the iPad Air 4 runs on Apple's A14 Bionic chip, which is known for its speed and efficiency. The Tab S7, on the other hand, runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 Plus chip.

Another device that can be compared to the iPad Air 4 is the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. Both devices offer a similar form factor, with detachable keyboards and stylus support. However, the iPad Air 4 is lighter and boasts a longer battery life, with up to 10 hours of web surfing compared to the Surface Pro 7's 7.5 hours. The Surface Pro 7, on the other hand, runs on Intel's 10th generation processor, which offers more power and flexibility than the Apple A14 Bionic chip.

Finally, the iPad Air 4 can also be compared to the iPad Pro, which is Apple's higher-end tablet offering. While the iPad Pro has a larger display, it also comes with a higher price tag. Additionally, the iPad Air 4 offers many of the same features as the iPad Pro, including support for the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, as well as the A14 Bionic chip. Overall, the iPad Air 4 is a great mid-range tablet option that offers many of the same features as higher-end devices, at a more affordable price point.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 2020 iPad Air 4 is an impressive device that offers a lot of value for its price. Its sleek design, powerful A14 Bionic chip, and stunning display make it a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable and versatile tablet. The camera and battery life are also commendable, while the software and user interface are user-friendly and customizable.

However, the lack of a headphone jack and the limited storage options may be a downside for some users. Additionally, the iPad Air 4 may not be the best fit for those who require a lot of heavy-duty tasks, such as video editing or gaming.

Overall, the iPad Air 4 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a mid-range tablet that offers excellent performance and features. It is suitable for a wide range of users, from students to professionals, and is a great alternative to the more expensive iPad Pro models. If you're in the market for a new tablet, the 2020 iPad Air 4 is definitely worth considering.