Why Apple’s new US$499 iPad Air is the best iPad option for most people
- Want a big-screen iPad with more storage space to watch films, play games and do light work – without iPad Pro’s US$800 price? This is the one, writes Lisa Eadicicco
When it comes to the iPad, Apple’s focus seems to have been fixated on its Pro line and the 9.7-inch iPad in recent years.
It launched a revamped pair of iPads last October, for example, that bring Face ID and a nearly all-screen design to Apple's high-end tablets.
Before that, it updated the low-priced US$329 iPad, giving it a 9.7-inch screen that works with the Apple Pencil.
However, until last month, it had been several years since we had heard anything about the iPad Air.
The new iPad Air, which supports the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, represents a much-needed addition to Apple's tablet line-up – serving as a viable option with a better quality screen and additional storage space
Apple quietly changed that when it launched an updated model on March 18 that runs on the same A12 Bionic processor that powers its latest iPhones.
The new tablet, which costs from US$499, also supports the first-generation US$99 Apple Pencil and Apple’s US$159 Smart Keyboard. It also features an improved screen.
The new Air represents a much-needed addition to Apple’s tablet line-up, serving as a viable option for those who don't need the power of the iPad Pro, but who still want a higher-quality screen and more storage space than what's available in the US$329 model.
However, there are other similarly priced tablets not made by Apple that fill that same void, which could be worth considering for those willing to try Android or Windows.
Check out what it’s like to use the new iPad Air.