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Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)

MSRP 599 USD86% External
Keywords: applecompactengineipadipad-airipadostabletwifi-6

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Product Overview

The 4th-gen Apple iPad Air comes with a complete redesign that resembles the iPad Pro. Available in more colors than ever, the new iPad Air features Apple's latest A14 Bionic chip and a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retain display, making considerably more performant.
The A14 Bionic chip makes it easy to edit 4K videos or photos, play games, and more. To deliver breakthrough machine learning capabilities, A14 Bionic includes a new 16-core Neural Engine that is twice as fast, and capable of performing up to 11 trillion operations per second, taking machine learning apps to a whole new level.
At the same time, the iPad Air includes a 7MP front-facing FHD camera as well as a new 12MP rear camera for 4K video capture.
To allow the display to extend on all sides, a next-gen Touch ID sensor is integrated to the top button. Like the iPad Pro, the new iPad Air is compatible with Magic Keyboard and its floating design.

Ratings

What we found**

Pros
  • Slim, light design
  • Long battery life
  • Long-lasting battery
Cons
  • Not as powerful as the iPad Pro
  • Only one USB Type-C port

What external reviewers found***

External score 86% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Great build quality
  • Great display
  • Great performance
  • Excellent sound
  • Great camera system
Cons
  • Lackluster performance
  • Only 64GB of storage
  • No IP certification
  • No headphone jack
  • No support for Magic Keyboard
Read More
See Product Comparison

Price Comparison

Specifications

WiFiWiFi + LTE

Connectivity

PortsUSB-C, Magnetic connector
Wireless ConnectivityWiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

Construction

Battery | Capacity28.6 Wh
Camera | Front7MP f/2.0
Camera | Rear12MP f/1.8
ColorsSilver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, Sky Blue
MicrophoneDual microphones
SpeakersQuad

Dimensions

Size | Depth6.1 mm
Size | Height247.6 mm
Size | Width178.5 mm
Weight458 g460 g

Display

Brightness500 nits
Display Diagonal10.9 inch
Pixel Density264 ppi
Resolution2360 x 1640

Function

GPSYes
Operating SystemIPadOS 14
Operating Temperature0-35 C
ProcessorA14 Bionic chip w/ Neural Engine
SensorTouch ID, Three‐axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensor
SIMNano
Video CodecsHEVC and H.264
Video Recording | FrontFHD 60p
Video Recording | Rear4K 60p, FHD 240p

Performance

Battery Life10 h
Power Supply20 W
Storage64 or 256 GB

Production

AccessoryApple Pencil 2nd-gen
Availability2020-10-23
Debut2020-09-15
See Product Comparison

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Clear List

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3rd-Party Review Videos

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External Review Video l9yQ9krs5cI for Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)
External Review Video mcbxSFwu2xk for Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)
External Review Video OHweQXnRn6E for Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)
External Review Video QZxGeY8Rheo for Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)
External Review Video sfwHgl0upgU for Apple iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)

External Reviews

arstechnica[1]

Reviewer score 82%
Reviewers from arstechnica have found the following***:
The iPad Air brings almost all the best features of the iPad Pro to a lower price point. It's the best pick from Apple's lineup for most people who can afford it. The iPad Air might be more expensive than the previous Air, but it offers enough improvements to justify the price.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Bigger, better-looking screen
  • Face ID is a nice addition to the iPad Pro
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Face ID isn’t a huge improvement over the previous model

ndtv[2]

Reviewer score 85%
Reviewers from ndtv have found the following***:
The iPad Air (2020) looks modern and offers a lot of power and functionality. It's very similar to the 11-inch iPad Pro, and will actually be the more sensible option for many people. It has a newer processor plus the same style, USB Type-C port, and compatibility with the Magic Keyboard and Pencil 2. The Touch ID sensor is awkwardly positioned, but on-screen prompts help you find it.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek design
  • Good battery life
  • Good speakers and cameras
Cons
  • Lackluster performance

androidauthority[3]

Reviewer score 72%
Reviewers from androidauthority have found the following***:
The iPad Air (2020) is the all-purpose iPad — a tablet that's ready to have fun. Once envisioned as the leaner product line, the Air family has since sought to straddle the thin line between Pro and basic Apple devices. There are compromises here for casting a side at the Pro range, but it's only the paltry base storage that really stings.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • 120Hz refresh rate display
  • Excellent battery life
  • Excellent performance
Cons
  • Expensive for what you get

digitaltrends[4]

Reviewer score 87%
Reviewers from digitaltrends have found the following***:
The iPad Air can easily handle the heaviest day of work, with 6-plus hours of “screen-on” time. The base iPad is a fine tablet for a lot of uses, but it isn't in the same league in terms of performance or display quality. The real decision here is between the iPad Air and 11-inch iPad Pro.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Excellent performance
  • Excellent battery life
  • Great display
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3
  • No keyboard
  • No support for Magic Keyboard

laptopmag[5]

Reviewer score 91%
Reviewers from laptopmag have found the following***:
The iPad Air has a single 12MP, f/1.8 lens, forgoing the secondary ultra-wide-angle camera on the iPad Pro. The rear camera takes great shots in good lighting. The 10.9-inch panel, while not the best in the category, looks great, and the iPad Air lasts longer on a charge.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Great display
  • Fast A14 Bionic chip
  • Great speakers
Cons
  • No Thunderbolt 3
  • No headphone jack

notebookcheck[6]

Reviewer score 92%
Reviewers from notebookcheck have found the following***:
The Apple iPad Air (2020) was the Californian firm's first product to be introduced with the new A14 Bionic. In everyday use, the Apple tablet is extremely fast and works very smoothly. Surfing the web is fast and easy with the iPad Air 4. The tablet is quite large for playing games and much heavier than a smartphone.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Fast SoC
  • High-quality case
  • Good battery life
  • Good display brightness
Cons
  • No IP certification

pcmag[7]

Reviewer score 84%
Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
The iPad Air comes with a 20W USB-C power adapter and a charging cable. It works with accessories for the 11-inch iPad Pro, including Apple's Magic Keyboard. If you're going to use the Air as a primary laptop for school, you absolutely need a keyboard.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Great performance for the price
  • Good battery life
  • Excellent keyboard and trackpad performance
  • USB-C power adapter and charging cable
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi
  • No 120Hz ProMotion display

phonearena[8]

Reviewer score 91%
Reviewers from phonearena have found the following***:
The 2020 iPad Air supports the glorious Magic Keyboard (which also sports a trackpad) and the second-gen Apple Pencil. It's powered by Apple's new A14 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM. Apple claims that the iPad Air 4 can last up to 10 hours of watching videos or surfing the web on a single charge.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Powerful speakers
  • Great build quality
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • Only 64GB of storage
  • S Pen has a soft tip

t3[9]

Reviewer score 83%
Reviewers from t3 have found the following***:
The iPad Air is an excellent tablet, with a beautiful design and ultra-slick operating system. The screen is still a good size and is pretty much just as detailed, but doesn't have the wide colours of the Air. The design is also more old-fashioned, with the Touch ID button on the front, but not everyone will mind that (and it comes with a 3.5mm jack still!). The camera is more basic too, and it works with the less slick first-gen Apple Pencil.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Gorgeous screen
  • Great camera system
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No Portrait mode
  • Camera isn’t up to much

tomsguide[10]

Reviewer score 91%
Reviewers from tomsguide have found the following***:
The iPad Air 4 offers all-day battery life, going 10 hours and 29 minutes on the Tom's Guide web-surfing-based battery test. The 7MP front-facing webcam provides sharp and accurate image captures. Apple seems to have a 2nd Gen Magic Keyboard, which would likely support both the iPad Pro and Air, in the works.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek, stylish design
  • Bright, colorful display
  • Great battery life
  • Great performance
Cons
  • Magic Keyboard costs extra

whathifi[11]

Reviewer score 97%
Reviewers from whathifi have found the following***:
For most people, the iPad Air 2020 will be a powerful enough tool. Navigating between apps via a series of simple swipes is quick and hassle-free. Apple's intuitive iOS operating system delivers a smooth and class-leading user experience. The sound coming out of the speakers is more solid and defined too.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Gorgeous design
  • Excellent sound
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • Nothing in particular

wired[12]

Reviewer score 77%
Reviewers from wired have found the following***:
The new iPad Air has Touch ID integrated into the top sleep/wake button in place of the camera-based Face ID system on the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro has better-sounding speakers, as well as an ultrawide camera on the back, which the Air lacks. Over time the software on iPad has gotten more computer-like.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • More powerful processor than the iPad Air
  • Better-sounding speakers
  • Improved trackpad and trackpad
  • Improved battery life
Cons
  • More expensive than iPad Pro
  • No headphone jack

User Reviews

Comments

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References

  1. ^ iPad Air 2020 review: Semi-pro. [arstechnica]. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/11/ipad-air-2020-review-semi-pro/. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  2. ^ iPad Air (2020), Magic Keyboard, and Apple Pencil 2 Review: Can They Replace Your Laptop?. [ndtv]. https://gadgets.ndtv.com/tablets/reviews/ipad-air-2020-magic-keyboard-apple-pencil-2-review-price-in-india-2369282. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  3. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review: The tablet for everyone. [androidauthority]. https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-ipad-air-2020-review-1230583/. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  4. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review: The iPad Pro for everyone else. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/tablet-reviews/apple-ipad-air-4-review/. 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  5. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review: This is the one to buy. [laptopmag]. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/ipad-air-4. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  6. ^ Apple iPad Air 4 (2020) Review - The Air Tablet moves closer to the Pro model. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-iPad-Air-4-2020-Review-The-Air-Tablet-moves-closer-to-the-Pro-model.504323.0.html. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  7. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-ipad-air-2020. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  8. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) Review. [phonearena]. https://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Apple-iPad-Air-2020-Review_id4895. 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  9. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review: a gorgeous, sleek and powerful tablet. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/apple-ipad-air-review-2020. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  10. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review: The best tablet for most people. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/ipad-air-4-2020. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  11. ^ Apple iPad Air (2020) review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/apple-ipad-air-2020. 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  12. ^ Review: Apple iPad Air (2020). [wired]. https://www.wired.com/review/apple-ipad-air-2020/. 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2021-10-13.

The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.

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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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