Apple today revealed an all-new 10.9-inch iPad Air featuring an overhauled design that brings it in-line with the "all-screen" aesthetic found on the current iPad Pro. And while the two devices share a lot of similarities, the iPad Air starts at $899 outright, which is two-thirds of the iPad Pro's $1,329 starting price.
While an iPad is an iPad, the iPad Air is notable due to being the debut device for Apple's A14 Bionic processor - the chip we're expecting to see in the iPhone 12 later this year. Apple says this processor is 40% faster than the A12 Bionic processor found in last-generation iPad Air, and delivers 30% faster graphics. At this stage, we're not sure how it will compare the A13 processor found in the iPhone 11.
As with the iPad Pro, the new iPad Air is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil and the new Magic Keyboard. These cost extra however, and will set you back $199 and $499 respectively. And like the iPad Pro, the new iPad Air now features a USB-C connector instead of Apple's standard Lightning port.
A more affordable starting price obviously means you miss out on a few features. The iPad Air doesn't have facial recognition, instead featuring a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in its power button. You'll also miss out on a high refresh rate Pro Motion display, which can make scrolling look smoother. The entry storage capacity is 64GB rather than 128GB. And lastly, the iPad Air is missing the iPad Pro's secondary rear-facing camera and LIDAR sensor.
There is also the matter of processor. The iPad Air is powered by a newer A14 Bionic chip, whereas the iPad Pro runs an A12Z Bionic. The A12Z Bionic is faster than the A13 found in current iPhones, but we'll need to wait and see as to how the pair compare in performance. We're expecting the Pro may have a slight edge in super demanding tasks, but most will struggle to notice a difference.
Pricing for the iPad Air is as follows:
- iPad Air (64GB) WiFi only: $899
- iPad Air (256GB) WiFi only: $1,129
- iPad Air (64GB) WiF + 4G: $1,099
- iPad Air (256GB) WiFi + 4G: $1,329
You'll be able to get the new iPad Air in a choice of space grey or silver, as well as three new colours: rose gold, green, and sky blue. The new iPad Air will be available in October. We're expecting to see Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone all offer the new iPad Air on a plan.
In addition, Apple has updated its entry-level 10.2-inch iPad with a faster A12 Bionic processor (found in the old Air) and support for its Smart Keyboard. Outside of these two new features, the entry-level iPad is mostly unchanged. Pricing starts at $499 for a 32GB model.
You can pre-order the new entry-level iPad from today ahead of a Friday release.
Alex Choros
