Apple has just announced the iPad Air 5. With the M1 chip inside it and an updated USB-C port, it never looked like a “Pro.” That said, I’m still not sure if this M1 can replace the iPad Pro as the tablet goes professional — here’s why.
First of all, it’s important to say that I think the iPad Air 5 will work great for most people and it could affect sales of the 11-inch Pro model as well, but if you compare the Air version with the Pro , you’ll see that there are some significant differences between users who want and need it.
Let’s start with the screen – the M1 iPad Pro offers promotion with 120Hz refresh rate. If you have an iPhone 13 Pro and the newer MacBook Pro, you’ll notice a big difference when you switch from these devices to an iPad Air with only a 60Hz refresh rate. Not only that, but if you take the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Mini LED display, the screen will be brighter, more colorful and definitely bigger.
Really, for me, the iPad Pro is all about the 12.9-inch model, and when bloomberg Reported that Apple was testing an even larger screen, I got excited, as it’s a lot more convenient to multitask on the larger display rather than the 11-inch version.
The 12.9-inch screen gives professionals more room to draw, write and edit photos and videos. That said, if you use the iPad to edit images, you’ll find the iPad Air disappointing, as it starts with 64GB of storage and the 256GB model is the only option left, which means you’ll end up with a huge Cannot store files. Immediately. The M1 iPad Pro, on the other hand, starts at 128GB and can go up to 2TB of storage – indicating there’s a sweet spot for storage for all users.
The iPad Pro also offers customers more RAM than the iPad Air – up to 16GB of RAM compared to just 6GB. Since iPadOS 15 removed the 5GB RAM barrier for use of apps in video editing software, iPad Pro users can move on with their projects.
Last but not least, there are two things I think are also worth noting: 5G mmWave support on the iPad Pro, bringing the true power of 5G to Apple’s tablets, and better cameras. iPad Pro users can also take advantage of the 12MP main sensor, 10MP ultra-wide sensor, and LiDAR scanner that can help with 3D object and augmented reality projects.
wrap
With all this in mind, I believe the iPad Air 5 will be great for most users, but there are a number of reasons why customers would choose the iPad Pro over any other iPad model. A bigger screen with a higher refresh rate, true 5G, and more storage options are some of the features that set the iPad Pro apart from the new M1 iPad Air.
When comparing the M1 iPad Air and M1 iPad Pro, which one would you choose and why? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Read more:
FTC: We use income generating auto affiliate links. More.
For more Apple news, check out 9to5Mac on YouTube:
