Apple announced a new iPad Air 4 at its recent event. Being the fourth generation of this particular version of the popular iPad, it is best compared with the previous model, the iPad Air 3. The new model comes powered by the company's A14 processor which Apple claims, is faster than most PC laptops.
Apple's first iPad Air, which did not have a number appended to its name, was a breakthrough design, shaving off nearly a third of the weight and 2mm in thickness from the earlier iPad 4. The iPad Air 2 reduced further, but this updated product was more about performance. This is when iPad models started to become silky smooth and fast, and a 2014 iPad Air 2 is still likely to feel pretty snappy in 2020. The iPad Air 3 didn't show up for another 5 years, revitalized with a larger display and updated internals. Now, there is a new model for 2020.
The brand new iPad Air 4, pushes the speed further with an updated A14 processor. The display has grown again to 10.9 inches, without making much of a change to the outside dimensions. Apple accomplished this by thinning the bezels and removing the home button. The Touch ID sensor has been moved to the sleep button. Other manufacturers have placed fingerprint readers in the power button, but this is a first for Apple. This is just as easy to use as the home button and it allows for the expanded display size, making it a nice upgrade. Apple's latest iPad Air also makes the switch to USB-C, a feature that was once reserved for the Pro models. This means the same accessories used for a notebook can also be used with the iPad Air 4, without the need for an adapter. USB-C also caters to faster data transfer as well. It seems the distance between the iPad Air 3 and the iPad Air 4 is more than what would be expected, considering they are only a single generation apart.
iPad Air 3 Vs. 4: Spec Showdown
It's no surprise that the iPad Air 4 is much faster and has the larger display. Higher performance and better screens seems to be the pattern every year, but this year also bumped the specs further than usual. Is the difference enough to be worth updating from the iPad Air 3, though? Of course, that is subjective, but a breakdown of the specs can help. The iPad Air 4 has the A14 processor and that's two generations newer and faster than the one included in the Air 3. USB-C is a great convenience feature and reduces the cost of accessories, since so many more devices use that connector than the lightning connector. The 10.9-inch screen with no home button, looks like an iPad Pro. Plus, there are several new colors to choose from.
The iPad Air 4 continues to reside in the mid-range, although it is getting closer than ever before to the best Apple tablets. For example, the Air 4 uses the Apple Pencil 2, instead of Pencil 1. It's not quite an iPad Pro, but offers dramatically more in terms of performance and features than the lower cost iPad. For Apple, it fills the tier between inexpensive and professional pricing by coming in at $599, only $100 more than the Air 3. It means there's an iPad for most every budget. Even those that already own an iPad Air 3 may be enticed into an upgrade, given the many improvements.
Source: Apple