IPad Air 2020 review: can I replace the iPad Pro?

 In the past, Apple had a very lean product strategy. Each year they only release 1-2 new iPhone and iPad models, and the difference of the versions is only the screen size or the amount of internal memory.

That simplicity disappeared for a few years now, as Apple diversified its product ranges. Both Apple Watch, iPhone or iPad have models released in the same year with nearly the same design, similar sizes. To understand why the machines have a price difference, users have to 'check' each feature.

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That's the story of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, the Apple Watch SE and Watch Series 5, or the iPad Air 2020 and the 11-inch iPad Pro.

iPad Air 2020, also known as iPad Air 4 has just been sold at the end of October, has the size and design almost similar to the 11-inch iPad Pro. The price of the iPad Air is about 5 million more than the iPad Pro model, and the cause of this difference is some difference that is sometimes difficult to discern.

The iPad Pro's influential design

At first glance, the iPad Air is almost identical to the iPad Pro. The machine has a square edge, the screen is thin evenly, the power button is the same and also uses the Lightning connector.

On the back, the Air also has a smart keyboard dock. The size of this iPad is equivalent to the 11-inch iPad Pro, so you can also use the same accessories, including the Magic Keyboard.

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Design with thin, modern screen bezels is the biggest change of iPad Air 2020 compared to the previous generation

The Air's design differences from the iPad Pro are minimal, and are all related to features. The Air model's screen is a bit smaller (10.9 inches versus 11 inches), the bezel does not have a FaceTime camera system. On the back iPad Air also has only one 12 MP camera, not dual camera with LiDAR sensor.

The new iPad Air's thin, uniform bezel looks more modern and premium than the previous generation. The feeling of holding and using has slightly changed in a positive direction, because the square edge helps to hold the screen border a little more firmly. However, too thin bezels sometimes make me mistakenly hold the screen.

Weighing in at about 456 g, the iPad Air is light enough to take anywhere, even with accessories such as a keyboard holster. Compactness is also the biggest reason for iPad to be able to replace a computer with basic tasks.

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Design details of the iPad Air

The edge fingerprint sensor, praised by Apple bosses as an achievement in design, is sometimes a bit inconvenient. Unlock speed is fast but you will have to press but not touch to open, and the corner position also makes it difficult to hold with one hand. Surely this experience can not be as simple or easy as FaceTime on iPad Pro.

Experience on the 'most powerful' iPad

In addition to the design, the new iPad Air is also noted by the Apple A14 Bionic chip, earlier than the iPhone 12. The open-performance version of this chip can also be used by Apple for the upcoming new MacBook models. .

Despite being the latest chip, the performance difference between the A14 Bionic on the iPad Air and the A12Z on the iPad Pro 2020 is quite small, and will only be evident in benchmark apps. The general experience of the two iPad models is smooth, responsive to heavy tasks gently.

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With the right accessories, iPad Air can replace a computer in many things.

In actual use, the speed of the two iPad models is the same even when editing, exporting photos or videos. In theory, the A12Z chip is more optimized for imaging tasks, but I also didn't see much difference in gaming, adding effects to videos.

The most powerful chip, while not showing a clear difference at the moment, will be what makes the iPad Air more outdated. Compared to the iPhone, the time spent with an iPad is longer. On the iPad or tablet in general, the more powerful and modern the chip, the longer it will last.

As a MacBook user, I've found iPadOS to bring a pretty close desktop experience to basic tasks. Browsing and replying to mail, composing documents on Google Docs or web pages, basic photo editing, all of the above can be handled well on iPad Air.

iPadOS very well supports peripherals such as mice, keyboards or card readers, and the USB-C port also makes connection easier. Apple accessories are inherently expensive: the Magic Keyboard is as expensive as a mid-range phone, while the Pencil also costs more than 3 million. Therefore, if equipped with a 'full set' of Apple accessories, iPad Air will save you a bit compared to the iPad Pro.

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The Apple A14 Bionic processor will make the iPad Air last longer.

The iPad Pro experience is 'better' than the iPad Air in the screen. The iPad Air's screen displays beautiful, rich colors, and is bright enough to use both outdoors and viewing angles very wide.

However, those experiences won't replace the 120 Hz refresh rate on the iPad Pro. The 120 Hz screen offers a smooth difference between the two devices. Even with the same Apple Pencil 2 support, the iPad Pro's screen also offers faster pen recognition.

The iPad Air's speakerphone consists of 2 dual speakers with good sound quality and separation. Of course, the 4-speaker system of the iPad Pro will give even better quality, but like the 120 Hz screen this is a difficult point to recognize if not compared directly.

The last big difference of the two iPad models is the dual camera system and the LiDAR sensor. Probably not many people often take pictures with iPad, so for me this is not a feature that is so necessary.

Should i buy the iPad Air?

In 2018, Apple introduced the iPhone XR with design and features that didn't lose much to the iPhone XS, but was markedly cheaper. The iPhone XR became an extremely successful smartphone, and so did the successor to the iPhone 11.

The iPad Air 2020 looks like an iPhone 11 model in a tablet. The device has a similar design to the iPad Pro, the basic experience is the same, only with a few important differences.

The 120 Hz screen, the 4-speaker system or the FaceID system will all make the experience on the iPad Pro 2020 model much more comfortable and 'happy'. However, the differences will only be evident if you use both. Considering independently, iPad Air 2020 is still a bright upgrade compared to the previous generation.

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iPad Air 2020 is a valuable upgrade compared to the previous generation.

The current iPad options are quite diverse. For a price of less than 10 million, you can buy an iPad model 8 (released in 2020) or iPad Mini 5 (2019). These are suitable, cheap options to experience iPadOS.

Genuine selling price of iPad Air in Vietnam is about 16 million. At that price point, the iPad Air has a more modern design, accessory compatibility and more powerful specs. Unless you need the 'roof-top' experience, at best, the 5 million difference (almost enough to buy an Apple Pencil and a holster with a non-genuine keyboard) might make you consider the new iPad Air model instead of the iPad Pro. .

In this price range, in addition to the iPad also an Android-powered option is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 (18 million). The Android tablet model is equipped with a 120 Hz screen, with a stylus available, not an additional purchase. If you don't stick with iPadOS (iOS), this is also a remarkable tablet in the under 20 million range.

Jessica Tanner

Update 12 November 2020