2020 iPad & iPad Air – Features and Upgrades
The swirling iPad rumors built up anticipation and did well to whet our appetites before the big Apple announcement on 15th September. iPad lovers were not disappointed as the siblings of the earlier announced and released 2020 iPad Pro were finally unveiled.
The event, dubbed ‘Time Flies’, not only brought the 2020 iPad Air and an upgrade to the ‘regular’ iPad but also the Apple Watch Series 6.
Unlike Apple iPad events of previous years, the unique circumstances of 2020 mean that consumers will be looking at the new products with a keener eye. Whether it is working from home or attending online classes, there is a greater need for efficient and portable devices to facilitate either or both those tasks. For first time would-be iPad owners, there are options that cater to various needs.
Question is, how much better are this year’s iPad and iPad Air compared to previous iterations? Do they offer better value? Here are the new features and any note-worthy upgrades.
2020 iPad Air – Fresh Coat of Paint
Of the two iPads announced, the iPad Air 4 saw the biggest changes when compared to the previous generation. It was unveiled with a refreshed design, a new processor, a bigger display, and improvements in the Touch ID and the camera department.
Build
Apple called it the most colorful iPad Air ever, and depending on personal tastes, you may be buzzing or indifferent to that bit of information. The finishes, silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue, all compliment the new thin and light aluminum build giving the Air its name.
The difference in weight between last year’s and this year’s iPad Air is pretty much negligible, with the 2020 being a little wider but a little shorter.
The edges of the 2020 iPad Air are flatter, reminiscent of the iPad Pro 2020, but the bezels are still relatively large. Touch ID has moved from the front to the top button.
Display
The iPad Air 4 has a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display up from 10.5 inches. Capable of pushing 3.8 million pixels, it has full lamination, P3 wide color support, True Tone, and an anti-reflective coating all aimed at providing the best visual experience. With Touch ID relocated, the display is more immersive than it has ever been in the Air lineup.
With a resolution of 2360 x 1640, it retains the 2019 iPad Air PPI of 264. The brightness also remains the same at 500 nits.
Processor
The 2020 iPad Air debuted alongside Apple’s latest and greatest processor, the A14 bionic. While the actual real-world performance of the chip is yet to be established, Apple’s track record is solid to say the least. The 5nm processor is said to be able to handle the most demanding apps with ease.
Creators should be able to edit 4k video with ease and it should breeze through the use of all creative uses. Gamers should also enjoy even smoother gameplay. To talk numbers, the A14 Bionic features a new 6-core design for a 40 percent boost in CPU performance, and a new 4-core graphics architecture for a 30 percent improvement in graphics.
The 2019 iPad Air had an A12 Bionic, and performance is set to become one of the biggest upgrades from the previous generation to the current.
Cameras and Audio
While not many people previously gave thought to the cameras on iPads or tablet devices is general, 2020 has seen the rise of many use cases that would require a good quality camera, microphones and speakers.
Unfortunately, the front camera remains the same as the 2019 iPad Air at 7 megapixels, the same camera used in the iPad Pro. The rear camera, however, sees an upgrade from 8 to 12 megapixels and this should translate to better image quality. While the 2019 iPad Air could only record 1080p at 30 FPS, the new Air has 4K capability at 24, 30, or 60 FPS. A significant improvement.
The 2020 iPad Air has stereo speakers for more immersive audio.
Ports
The new iPad Air features a USB-C port for 5Gbps data transfer, 10 times faster than the previous generation. The port supports connecting to cameras, hard drives, and external monitors up to 4K.
Security
Touch ID makes a return on the iPad Air lineup, with the sensor appearing on the top edge, depending on how you hold it. Apple claims that sensor improvements have made it faster, subject to testing.
Pricing
The 2020 iPad Air will be available in October. The Wi-Fi-only models will start at $599 while the Cellular models will start at $729. There will be two storage configurations: 64GB and 256GB.
While the upgrades are impressive, the $100 price hike compared to the 2019 iPad Air might make the buying decision a little contentious. What’s much cheaper though is a screen protector. Find Tech Armor’s best offering here.
2020 ‘Base’ iPad – New Year, New Processor
As far as improvements go, the 2020 iPad most definitely took a back seat when compared to the iPad Air. In fact, even the event gave precedence to the other announcements with the iPad getting a significantly smaller slice of the presentation.
Base-ic Upgrade
Now in its 8th generation, the popular device only seems to have got a performance upgrade and not much of anything else.
Speaking on the performance boost, Apple’s Greg Joswiak referenced the 2020 world events saying, “We’re excited to offer customers an even faster and more powerful experience with the eighth-generation iPad….With its beautiful 10.2-inch Retina display, the performance boost from the A12 Bionic, great cameras, and so much more, the new iPad is an incredible value at a time when, more than ever, our customers need powerful and versatile ways to work, play, learn, and connect with loved ones.”
Depending on the user, this may not seem like much of an upgrade, seeing as the previous generation iPad Air had the same processor. It is, however, worth noting that the 2020 iPad starts at just $329 (same as last year) and that price point may be enough to bring it first time iPad owners or those without intense workflows.
A Tough Call
To be fair, the 2019 iPad had a A10 Fusion chip and the move to the A12 Bionic might be enough to warrant the upgrade. It does, after all, offer 40% faster CPU performance and 50% faster GPU output. There is also the fact that the new iPads will ship with iPadOS 14.
Virtually everything else about the iPad remains the same, so current owners might not be as convinced to upgrade as is the case with the iPad Air. To purchase a screen protector for the iPad 8th Generation you can find Tech Armor’s best offering here.
Love Thy Devices
As you draw up your list of pros and cons trying to decide which one to buy or whether to upgrade or not, remember to get protection for your devices; both old and new.