Hands on: iPad Air 4 screen, Touch ID change pushes the line forward

We just started reviewing this tablet, but even in our short time, it is very apparent that this is the new default iPad for just about everyone. Here’s our take on the most important new features.

Having a tablet that is faster and that will work for years is very important, especially when buying a tablet that costs more than $ 500. That is why Apple did not skimp on performance by including the A14 Bionic processor, the same one that is found on the new iPhone 12 line.

It’s faster in many operations than the current generation iPad Pro line, with opening tasks and multitasking feeling smooth and effortless. The A12Z in the iPad Pro has more cores, making it faster when exporting videos or dealing with massive RAW images

The next-gen iPad Air had a dedicated home button that featured biometric Touch ID authentication. This iPad Air 2020 still has Touch ID, but it has completely ditched the home button by integrating it into the sleep / wake button.

Touch ID Settings on iPad Air 4

Apple has included a lot of nice touches in setting up and using the revamped Touch ID experience. For example, during setup, there is a small pulsing box on the screen just below the physical button, to make it clear where Touch ID is. Also, depending on the orientation of the iPad, it prompts you to rotate the iPad horizontally or vertically to register another finger.

Touch ID Settings on iPad Air 4

In use, you would probably use your right index finger for Touch ID when the iPad Air is vertical and you would use your left index finger when the iPad is horizontal. It’s great that this has been built into the entire onboarding process.

Rest to open iPad Air with Touch ID

Another new feature of Touch ID is that you can place your finger to authenticate, then rest it a second time to open your iPad and go to the home screen. This is very convenient because the alternative would be to move your hand to the top to authenticate with Touch ID, then move it down to swipe up, making the new method seem more fluid in our usage time.

Connectivity took a big step forward with the iPad Air as both the Wi-Fi and the physical port were updated.

USB-C comes to the iPad Air, which means it is no longer an exclusive feature of the iPad Pro. This means that you can use USB hubs, USB-C storage devices, USB-C monitors, and almost any USB-C charger.

It is also possible to charge your iPhone or Apple Watch from the USB-C port of the iPad Air.

20W USB-C adapter in the box

Included in the box is a 20W USB-C power brick, which provides plenty of juice. This charger first debuted with the new 8th-gen iPad 2020, while the iPad Pro is still stuck at just 18W.

Wireless technology has been updated to Wi-Fi 6, which should bring improvements in battery life and faster speeds.

Part of the overall redesign of the tablet is a change to the beautiful Liquid Retina display. Liquid Retina is Apple’s marketing term applied to a display that meets the Retina classification for pixel density, which also has rounded corners rather than sharp right angles.

Liquid Retina display on iPad Ai

It looks fantastic here, and goes a long way towards making this iPad Air look like a modern machine rather than being stuck in the past. The bezels are also smaller, which benefits the new look that feels much more similar to the iPad Pro.

The overall size of the screen has also increased, from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches. This doesn’t seem like a big change, but the screen feels bigger due to the small bezels.

Apple has gone from a paltry 8MP sensor to a new 12MP camera system. This makes a big difference in photos, which are less grainy and higher in resolution than before.

We also see the difference when it comes to video modes. Instead of just 1080p, the iPad Air can shoot in 4K at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second.

New camera on iPad Air

Slow motion video has also increased, going from 720p to 1080p at 120 or 240 frames per second.

It’s still a bit awkward to shoot videos or photos on an iPad, but when it’s in your hands and you have a perfect shot of your child or pet, it’s good to know that you won’t get a junk picture.

For this new iPad Air, Apple has included support for Magic Keyboard, which gives users the option to use any third-party physically connected keyboard or Bluetooth, Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio, or Magic Keyboard. It runs the gamut from affordable to high-end, which is absolutely what we love to see.

Magic Keyboard remains the cream of the crop with the levitating display, the additional USB-C port, and an integrated glass touchpad.

Apple Pencil 2 on iPad Air

With the Lightning port gone, so is support for the original Apple Pencil. iPad Air is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, which has a ton of additional features.

The Apple Pencil 2 is charged via induction by magnetically connecting to the side of the iPad Air, which works with the new flat sides.

Finally, the colors of the iPad Air are all new. We still have the same space gray and silver, but now they’re accompanied by sky blue, green, and rose gold. So far we’ve gotten our hands on the green and it looks eye-catching, if not a little clearer than we expected.

Apple has never made colors like these for iPad before and it’s a great way to not only show off you’ve got the new iPad Air, but to express yourself.

Apple’s iPad Air starts at $ 599, but the lowest price of iPad Air the points are at your fingertips in the AppleInsider Price guide.