Thinking about buying a new iPad? Previously I'd used the standard iPad for work but now that I'm a liveaboard yacht cruiser the thought of getting an iPad for the boat had been playing on my mind for a while. I decided to take the plunge and buy a new 2024 iPad Air with the M2 chip, intending to use it for my freelance work, daily organization and boating apps.
Having had it for a while now, here's my take on the pros, cons, features and accessories as someone who actually owns and uses the iPad Air on a daily basis.
CONTENTS:
Specifications
Physical features
Functionality & performance
Recommended accessories
Pros & cons
Fast FAQ from an iPad Air owner
iPad Air specifications
Currently Apple have three iPads on offer, the iPad (10th Gen), iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4). Here's a look at how the three compare, focusing on specifications that are more relevant to people like me, who just want the iPad for a mix of work and play.
Specifications | iPad 10 | iPad Air | iPad Pro |
Size | |||
Display Type | LED Backlit display 2420x1668 | LED Backlit display 2420x1668 | Tandem OLED display 2420x1668 |
Chip | A14 | M2 | M4 |
Rear Camera | 12MP with 4K video | 12MP with 4K video | 12MP with 4K video & ProRes |
Audio | 2 speakers 2 microphones | 2 speakers 2 microphones | 4 speakers 4 microphones |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E 5G cellular Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E 5G cellular Bluetooth 5.3 | |
Capacity | 64 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
Battery | Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi | Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi | Up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi |
Price | From $349 | 11 inch from $599 13 inch from $799 | 11 inch from $999 13 inch from $1299 |
Having reviewed the specifications I chose the iPad Air, thinking that the middle of the road option would help future proof my purchase without having to outlay the money for a Pro, which to be honest I don't really need given my laptop is my main work device. For the size I chose 256 GB because I planned to rely mostly on Cloud based storage and again it's not my primary device.
Which Apple chip to choose?
Knowing which chip is best can be a little tricky, especially if you aren't familiar with Apple products. In general the more powerful the chip the more expensive the device, but the faster and more future proof it is too.
For a bit of context it can be useful to look at other Apple products like the MacBook and MacBook Air to see what they're using. For example, the M2 and M3 chips are currently used in the MacBook Air lineup, and that same M2 chip is used in the iPad Air.
Physical design
The M2 version of the Apple Air comes in two sizes, 11 inch or 13 inch. There is around a $200 price difference between the two so it depends on your budget and needs as to which one is better. Personally I chose the 11 inch as I wanted something compact and felt it would meet my needs.
Regardless of the size, the screen is an LED backlit Liquid Retina display. When held landscape there's a 12 MP Ultra Wide front camera at the top center, which is great positioning for video calls. Above that is the magnet for holding and charging the Apple Pencil.
On the other side of the iPad is the rear camera, which is a 12 MP Wide camera capable of shooting 4K video.
Aside from that, the iPad has buttons on the side to turn the volume up and down, and on the top to lock the iPad. There's a USB-C charging port at the bottom , and speakers on either side.
iPad Air setup
Setting up the iPad Air is relatively simple, provided you have access to an Apple ID.
The first part of the setup is done when the iPad is first turned on, simply follow the prompts to complete.
To be able to install different apps you need an Apple ID. To set up an Apple ID you need a valid email address and a phone number that can be verified. Something to keep in mind is that the area code of the phone number should match the country of the billing address. As a liveaboard cruiser this took a bit of time and coordination with people back home as Australian numbers don't work in Trinidad where we currently are.
Functionality of the iPad Air
The iPad Air has the power to work faster and harder than the entry level iPad, and from my experience it's great for basic tasks like word processing, emails, video calls and day planning, but not for high demand computing tasks like heavy photo or video editing, website editing, backend content management, or any programs that aren't optimized for iPad.
For creatives, the Apple Pencil Pro teamed with drawing apps like Procreate has been fantastic, opening up a whole realm of possibilities that aren't available with a laptop. Using it to take notes has also been handy, and the programming is able to convert my cursive to type with a relatively high degree of accuracy.
iPad Air accessories
If you buy an Apple iPad through the Apple store you get offered the option to buy an Apple pencil or keyboard, and can have your iPad custom engraved on the back.
These are the Apple pencils and keyboards that are compatible with the current range of iPads.
Accessory | iPad 10th Gen | iPad Air M2 | iPad Pro M4 |
Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil USB-C Apple Pencil (Gen 1) | Apple Pencil USB-C Apple Pencil Pro | Apple Pencil USB-C Apple Pencil Pro |
Apple Keyboard | Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro M4 | Magic Keyboard | Magic Keyboard Folio |
As you can see not all keyboards and pencils are compatible with all iPads. Personally, it was interesting to note that my old Apple Pencil (Gen 2) is not compatible with the current M2 iPad Air. In the end I chose to get the Apple Pencil Pro over the Apple Pencil USB-C since I like drawing and writing, but bought it from Amazon because it was cheaper.
For the keyboard I chose to get a cheaper, well rated Bluetooth keyboard from Amazon, as I didn't feel the Magic Keyboard was worth the price tag. For me it's only there to serve in place of my laptop when needed and I thought a full sized option would be better for heavy typing, but since it isn't attached to a case it would be inconvenient if I needed to use the iPad on the go.
Protective Case
One crucial accessory to consider is a protective case, to keep the iPad safe in the event of a fall. Some come with an integrated keyboard while others just protect the iPad. Again I went for a cheap but well rated option, prioritizing rubber sides for impact protection and a fold out stand for landscape use.
Pros and cons of the iPad Air
Taking in all of the features, here are some of the pros and cons that could sway you towards or away from buying the M2 Apple iPad Air.
Pros of the iPad Air (M2) | Cons of the iPad Air (M2) |
M2 chips is more future proof than the A14 chip in the iPad Larger storage capacity options than the iPad, up to 1 TB Available in the larger 13 inch size Supports Apple Pencil Pro | LED backlit screen instead of OLED Doesn't have Thunderbolt support for fast transfers No SD card slot Not compatible with Apple Pencil 2 |
Fast FAQ
Q: What is Apple Intelligence?
A: Apple Intelligence is a personal intelligence system integrated into Apple devices that's designed to enhance communication, productivity, and self-expression while prioritizing privacy. It offers features such as summarizing notifications, prioritizing urgent messages, and providing smart replies based on email content. It can also curate photos and videos into AI-generated movies, understands on-screen actions to streamline tasks and has integration with ChatGPT.
A: In my opinion no, because while it may seem like overkill for now, it helps future proof your device as apps become more complex and increasingly demanding on the processor.
Q: Is the iPad Air good for students?
A: Having working in education the iPad Air is a great option for high school and college students. The issue with the entry level iPad is the lack of storage space, which is one of the greatest problems my students would run into. Also, the faster processing of the iPad Air means it should be able to cope with the progress of app technology for the duration of your course. I would recommend an Apple pencil and portable keyboard, as this vastly improves the functionality in a schooling context.
Personally I wouldn't recommend the iPad Air for elementary school students or younger, simply because of the cost and likelihood of the iPad being damaged. The iPad 10 is enough to cope with the demands of their school work, with the biggest problem I encountered being home apps, photos and videos using up the memory.
Summing it up
Buying an iPad for our boat has been great so far. I have transitioned my daily planning to apps, it's being integrated with the boat systems and also gives me multiple options for entertainment on passage as well as providing redundancy for my work laptop. I would recommend buying an iPad if you live on a boat and so far the new iPad Air has met all expectations!
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