digest
Short Summary
Main recommendation: For most people, the new iPad Air ($599) is the better buy over the iPad Pro ($800), because it matches the Pro's design, accessories, and core performance while costing much less. The Pro is only worth the extra money if you need its ultra-wide camera, LiDAR, 120 Hz ProMotion display, or the 13-inch size.
Key Points
- The iPad Air shares the Pro's boxy aluminum design, flat grippable sides, button placement, and Smart Connector, so it works with the same Smart Folio and Magic Keyboard cases.
- It adds USB-C, a quad-speaker setup, and a bezel thickness that reduces accidental touches, and it supports the new Apple Pencil that snaps to the side to charge and pair.
- Touch ID returns in the top power button instead of Face ID, which the reviewer finds just as convenient, especially with masks.
- Performance is strong: it uses the 5-nanometer A14 Bionic chip, which should match or beat the Pro's A12Z, despite having 4 GB of RAM versus the Pro's extra 2 GB.
- The main hardware compromise is a single 12-megapixel rear camera with no flash, ultra-wide lens, or LiDAR, plus a 60 Hz display instead of the Pro's 120 Hz ProMotion (he notes this matters little for most users).
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions: Register multiple fingerprints for Touch ID, such as both index fingers, so the unlock works in any orientation. Expect to press the power button to unlock rather than using touch-to-wake followed by a swipe, since there is no Face ID.
- Concrete instructions: If you are choosing between models, pick the iPad Pro only if you need the ultra-wide camera or LiDAR, want 120 Hz ProMotion, or need the 13-inch size; otherwise buy the iPad Air.
- Concrete instructions: Choose Space Gray if you dislike the pale pastel colors, since the green looks much less green in real life than on camera.
- The iPad Air's 60 Hz display and efficient A14 chip may give it slightly better battery life, and it ships with a 20-watt fast charger instead of the Pro's 18-watt charger.
- The iPad Air comes only in the 10.9-inch size, while the Pro is also available in a 13-inch model and a 1-terabyte cellular version priced up to $1,499.
- The reviewer argues that most iPad camera use is document scanning and FaceTime, so the missing lenses matter little for typical users.
Bottom Line
The iPad Air delivers nearly all of the iPad Pro's everyday experience for roughly $200 less, making the Pro a niche choice for people who specifically need its camera hardware, high refresh rate, or larger screen.