The new iPad Air 2019 seems a worthy successor to the faithful workhorse that was the iPad Air 2. Upgrades to the processors, storage options and accessory support, plus that larger display, all make it possibly the best balance of cost and performance in the current iPad lineup.
The upgrade in processors, storage options, accessory support, and the larger True Tone display all make the Air 2019 a premium package without the Pro price.
There’s serious horsepower hiding in the new iPad Air 2019 below that brilliant-looking laminated screen, and Apple’s Smart Keyboard cover compatibility makes this a top 2-in-1 Back to School contender. It’s the most affordable iPad that Apple has prepared for productivity on day one.
You wouldn’t know that by looking at the new Air. It uses a dated iPad design, the older Apple Pencil Gen 1, and two speakers instead of the four on all of the iPad Pros. Even the ‘Air’ name seems incredibly underwhelming. But such is the life of a middle child even in an iPad family.
We found it to be a superior option to yield real work and multitask compared to the cheaper iPad 9.7, and quickly realized drawing on the gap-less laminated screen was wholly better, too. We’re miffed it doesn’t support the Apple Pencil Gen 2, or have an official backlit keyboard by now. iPads are meant to be used and carried everywhere, and those perks would certainly help.
Apple has stocked its store with more tempting iPad options than ever before, and that cheaper iPad 9.7 is such a good buy for average consumers, especially when it’s on sale. The iPad Air (2019) is for someone who wants a bit more – more than a read-and-watch-focused tablet. It’s actually possible to replace or supplement a laptop and most of its tasks with the new Air.
Price
The new iPad Air 2019 was revealed to the world on 18 March, with customers able to order the device directly from Apple or through other popular retailers.
It comes in two storage capacities, either of which is available with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. The prices for these are as follows.
iPad Air 2019 64GB Wi-Fi – £479/$499
iPad Air 2019 256GB Wii-Fi – £629/$649
iPad Air 2019 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular – £599/$629
iPad Air 2019 256GB Wii-Fi + Cellular – £749/$779
Colour options are Silver, Space Grey, and Gold.
Good
Brilliant-looking laminated screen
Cheapest Smart Keyboard iPad
Fast charges via Lightning-to-USB-C
Bad
Uses the 1st Gen Apple Pencil
Traditional design doesn’t wow
Two speakers instead of four
Spec
A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine and M12 coprocessor
64GB/256GB storage
10.5in laminated ‘Retina’ screen, 2224 x 1668 resolution at 264ppi, 500 nits brightness, True Tone, supports Apple Pencil
8Mp rear camera, f/2.4, 1080p HD video, Slo-mo (120 fps), Live Photos
7Mp front camera, f/2.2, 1080p HD video at 30 fps, Retina Flash
30.2Wh rechargeable battery: claimed battery life 10 hours on Wi-Fi
Stereo speakers, dual microphones, 3.5mm headphone jack, Lightning port
Wi?Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit-class LTE, Nano-Sim and eSIM
250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1mm; 456g/464g (Wi-Fi/cellular)
