iPad Air (5th generation)
The M1 in a $599 tablet, which made the speed difference between Air and Pro academic.
Released March 18, 2022 · Discontinued May 7, 2024 · From $599 (64 GB, Wi-Fi)
The M1, at $599. Apple put the same chip as the MacBook Air, the iMac and the iPad Pro into the mid-range tablet, which made the performance argument between Air and Pro almost entirely academic. What separated them after this was ProMotion, Face ID, the second camera, Thunderbolt and the mini-LED display on the larger Pro. Everything about how fast the thing felt was identical. 5G arrived on the cellular models and the front camera got Center Stage, and recommending a Pro to anyone who was not a professional artist became genuinely difficult.
Reviews & Reception
Reviewers judged it fast enough to last for years and recommended it over the Pro for almost everyone, which is what putting the M1 in the mid-range model was always going to produce.
It's an excellent tablet. It's extremely fast, has a lovely screen, runs a massive ecosystem of quality apps and will be a capable device for years to come.
For anyone who wants a premium tablet that's about as future proof as it gets, the iPad Air is the way to go.