Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Apple finally released some new iPads this year after pop off over a year without any updates . TheiPad Airgot a big refresh , now with an M2 chip inside and a new size — 13 inches — to go along with the even 11 - inch size from before .
The unexampled iPad Air starts at $ 599 for the 11 - inch Wi - Fi base mannikin and increment depending on the sizing and configuration you select . If you want the new 13 - inch model , be prepared to spendat least$799 .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
As capital as the new iPad Air is , it ’s not the only lozenge on the market . Here are five other pick you may consider instead .
iPad Pro (2024)
The iPad Air was n’t the only new iPad that Apple gave us this year — we also have the newiPad Pro ( 2024 ) . If you could afford it , thePro models do have some pretty capital raise over the Air .
For one , the iPad Pro also hail in the same 11 - inch and 13 - in sizes that the Air now comes in . However , the iPad Pro drive things a step further with a raw OLED video display , a first on the iPad , which means you get deeper black , brighter colors , and an overall tart display .
If you go with the 1 TB or 2 TB model , you have the option for a new nano - texture finish . With the nano - texture , it is an antireflective coating that help to reduce spotlight . Though this might have in mind inkiness are n’t as mystifying as the standard glossy display , it can by all odds help when you are doing oeuvre on iPad Pro .
The iPad Pro is also the debut gimmick for the knock-down M4 flake , which has n’t even made it into a Mac yet . With the M4 cow chip , you get the same muscular performanceas the M2 but with unspoiled thermal , all while using half the power . According to Apple , it has the same functioning level as a thin - and - light PC but at a quarter of the power .
The M4 silicon chip is also a solid foundation for powerful AI labor thanks to the new Neural Engine it employ . Hopefully this stand for we get some solid AI upgrades and features in iPadOS 18 that will take advantage of this chip ’s power .
The iPad Pro ( 2024 ) is an expensive tablet , and quite a bit more costly than the new iPad Air . But if you want the practiced , most capable iPad uncommitted in 2024 , it ’s the one to get .
iPad Air (2022)
Still want an iPad Air but do n’t involve the Alexander Graham Bell and whistles of the young model ? The2022 iPad Airmodel is still a perfectly capable equipment that should n’t be overlooked . Plus , you could save some money by going with this one now that the new model is out .
The iPad Air ( 2022 ) has the M1 chip , which is a few years old but is still a very degenerate and sinewy chip for a tablet . Though the M2 give a 50 % boost in performance over the M1 , for most hoi polloi the M1 is belike more than enough . After all , most people in all probability use the iPad for check email , messages , social web , consume media , and fiddle games . The M1 can handle all of that without a problem .
Though the iPad Air ( 2022 ) only has one size , it still has a beautiful and crisp screen door . You also have a 12MP rear camera and a front - confront 12MP camera that is at the top of the gadget in portrait orientation . There ’s still USB - C charging and financial backing for the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard , so you’re able to get some serious work done on it . The 64 GB base storage may be a pain in the neck detail , so it ’s recommended to go for a bigger storage option if you could .
Despite being two years quondam , the iPad Air is still a capable machine that ’s suitable for most people . If you do n’t need the M2 scrap or a 13 - inch iPad Air , then you may definitely save some money by picking up anolder iPad Airinstead .
iPad (2022)
When the10th - generation iPadcame out in 2022 , it was in a number of an awkward berth . That ’s because Apple continued to trade the ninth - generation iPad for a lower price , and the $ 450 asking price for the tenth - gen was a bit of a high ask .
But that ’s different now thatthe ninth - generation iPad is all out of the picture , as Apple no longer sells it . Because of that , the 10th - generation iPad from 2022 got a price fall to just $ 350 , cause it much easier to advocate .
The tenth - gen iPad got rid of the relic place button , so it now uses Touch ID in the big businessman button at the top of the frame . You also have a front - facing camera in landscape orientation , which makes gumption for video call , peculiarly with Center Stage . The iPad also has USB - C charging , which is in line with the rest period of Apple ’s product lineup that have now all switched over to USB - nose candy for the iPhone , iPad , and Mac .
Since the iPad no longer has a domicile button , it has a larger display with thinner bezel , making it utter for metier intake . Though it ’s not the best display since it ’s still an LED panel , it ’s not bad by any means and good enough for most people .
The iPad still uses Apple ’s older A14 Bionic chip , which first launched on the iPhone 12 lineup and 2020 iPad Air . It may not be the newest or fast microchip out there , but it ’s perfectly fine for media uptake , checking social mesh , and playing some games .
The iPad ( 2022 ) supports the first - gen Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil USB - C. It does n’t support the Magic Keyboard , but there is the Magic Keyboard Folio , which is more versatile overall and let you be productive with the keyboard and trackpad .
When the iPad ( 2022 ) first launched , it was a weird recommendation . But now that it has a price drop curtain and is still a great tablet for the medium person , it ’s a hearty choice to the iPad Air ( 2024 ) .
OnePlus Pad
Do n’t listen switching over to Android ? Then theOnePlus Padremains one of thebest tabletsyou can get on the market .
The OnePlus Pad ’s figure unquestionably stands out in the crew of boring tablet colour and basic glass slabs . It has a unique Halo Green color with a brush metal look and a circular convention on the back , similar to a vinyl group disc . It ’s also a slight design , lightweight , and honestly quite well-fixed to hold .
OnePlus transport the OnePlus Pad with OxygenOS 13 on it , and has promised three years of Android OS rising slope and four age of protection patches . It should be upgradeable to Android 16 , which will likely arrive later next year . OxygenOS 13 runs smoothly on the OnePlus Pad , and it has great multitasking capabilities so you could maximise productiveness — especially when paired with the OnePlus Magnetic Keyboard and OnePlus Stylo .
Spec - wise , the OnePlus Pad is telling with 8 GB RAM and MediaTek Dimensity 9000 , one of the higher - end MediaTek chipsets . One of the large features of the OnePlus Pad is the ability to have up to 24 live apps run away simultaneously . The ordinary person may not ever have 24 apps on the screen at once , but it ’s a skillful characteristic to have .
Lastly , the OnePlus Pad has some of the best battery life on a pill . The 9,510mAh battery can get over 12 hours of back-to-back bust - take in video session and a very impressive one month of standby clip . No accessories or background apps ? Then the shelling can last around 50 days . And when you do involve to institutionalize up , it has 67W pumped charging , so you could go from zero to 100 % in about 80 minutes .
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
Those who were think about getting a 13 - inch iPad Air ( 2024 ) could also regard theSamsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus , as long as you do n’t heed Android . You get a similar - sized 12.4 - inch tablet without unwrap the bank .
With the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus , you have a 12.4 - inch WQXGA showing that provides a pleasing viewing experience with rich and lush color and a tart answer . It also has a 90Hz refresh charge per unit . It ’s not 120Hz , but it is a step up from the 60Hz screen on the iPad Air . This intend scrolling should be a fleck smoother than on the iPad Air .
Though it does n’t use a Snapdragon chipping and has an Exynos 1380 chipset instead , it still has good midrange performance with up to 12 GB RAM . It shipped with Android 13 and Samsung One UI 5.1.1 but has since been updated to Android 14 . The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus also uses Samsung DeX , which replace the Android port with one that is more kin to a background computer like Windows or macOS . With DeX , it makes it a bit easy to be more productive on your tablet , but it also depends on whether the apps you utilise will solve nicely with it .
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus ’s assault and battery life is also skilful . With continuous use such as television observance , you could get between 18 and 20 hours on a exclusive commission of the 10,090mAh battery . It also accuse up quickly , getting a full charge in under 90 minutes .
There ’s a lot to like about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus , especially the price , if you ’re looking for a larger pad without spending too much .
