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The 8th generation iPad Air.
Apple’s 8th-generation iPad is now available. It costs $ 329 and up. Should you buy it, or is it the new iPad Air, due out next month, the one you should buy? I have been using the iPad for a few days. Here is everything you need to know.
So what is different?
There has been one consistent thing about the entry-level iPad. From the first model launched in spring 2010 to last year, it has had a 9.7-inch screen. Last September, Apple made its biggest cosmetic change to the iPad in years by increasing the screen size to 10.2 inches. However, that time, the processor did not change with the A10 processor that was first seen in the iPhone 7.
This time around, the screen remains at 10.2 inches, but the processor has jumped to the A12 Bionic, which is two years younger than the A10. Significantly more powerful, then, and to put it in context, the A12 Bionic is the processor that was in last year’s iPad Air update.
Has anything else changed?
Yes, for the first time, the entry-level iPad comes with a 20W charger. This is the one that first came with the iPhone 11 Pro, although not the iPhone 11, this time last year, although this one has a slightly different design, stamped with the power on the back.
The cool foldable plug socket on the UK iPad Air.
By the way, here in the UK we have one of Apple’s most attractive plugs, with pins that fold down with a satisfying snap for on the go.
This charger is more powerful than the 18W charger that came with previous iPads. It’s a charger with a USB-C socket on one end of the plug and a Lightning connector on the other.
Other than that, the design and features are the same as last year’s iPad, including the Smart Connector that debuted then and means you can connect the Smart Keyboard to the iPad. This meant that both the keyboard and the Apple Pencil (1st gen) work with the entry-price iPad and the updates that came with iPadOS 14 confirmed the iPad’s status as a pretty good alternative to a laptop.
Apple iPad Air 2020.
Although…
It remains true that for me there is no better computer than a Mac and while I love the cursor that appears when a mouse is connected, and the improved solutions for multitasking and windows, the full functionality of macOS is unbeatable.
Another little thing: if you’re making a video conference call, you probably want the camera to be on the long edge rather than the short edge, although I accept that the main reason for the front camera is still selfies. Of one thing you can be sure: Apple will have considered this and discussed it extensively.
Performance
This iPad doesn’t match the blazing speeds of the iPad Pro, but for most people, and for most of the time, that’s not going to matter. This is an agile performer who is never entertained and everything from app launches to games happens to the beat.
Similarly, the battery life is the North Star constant of 10 hours, as it has been for the last 10 years. Should Apple Strive Longer? I’m not sure, it’s more durable than most laptops and if the trade-off with successive models is a longer battery but no performance boost or faster performance and a 10 hour battery, I’ll go for the latter.
The 8th generation iPad, like last year’s model, supports the Smart Keyboard.
Connectivity
This is still a Lightning device, not USB-C. With the iPad Air switching to USB-C, this may change next time.
As always, choose between wi-fi or wi-fi plus cell phone options. Actually, although I love having cellular connectivity, for this iPad I recommend only wi-fi for one thing that is missing: 5G.
We’re expecting 5G iPhones in a matter of days, so why not tablets too, Apple? The rumor is that even the entry-level iPhone 12 will have 5G, so it’s not that Apple is just saving it for its high-end devices. Here’s why it’s not here: 5G requires a substantial redesign so that the modem and antennas are in the right places and different from 4G. So we should look forward to 5G when there’s a redesigned iPad, rumored to arrive next year.
Really, that’s okay – the 5G rollout is still absolutely in its infancy and this update is about a significantly improved processor and something else we’ll get to in a moment. But I’m just saying that maybe you could consider the wifi to be optimal and the connection from your phone, especially if it is a 5G phone. Why not save the $ 130 that premium cellular connectivity attracts and spend $ 100 to upgrade from the 32GB storage version to the 128GB version?
Apple iPad now in its eighth generation.
Another thing
That other thing I mentioned is possibly the most crucial element of this iPad: outstanding value, incredible and mind-blowing. No other manufacturer comes close to matching Apple’s balance of quality and price. For a device with great performance and an eye-catching design, with an aluminum chassis that feels as good as it looks and is a joy to use, the iPad is hard to beat.
So how about the new iPad Air?
The great performance I just referred to will likely be surpassed by the iPad Air that arrives in October. After all, Apple says it is the company’s most advanced processor and still has 10 hours of battery life. Throw in the full-screen design, a 10.9-inch display, and Touch ID on the top button and this iPad has some serious competition from the Air. And oh, those sky blue and green color options look good.
But: value again. Or at least affordability. If you’re going to trade in up to 128GB of capacity on this iPad ($ 429), you’ll save $ 170 compared to the 64GB iPad Air. And if you’re satisfied with 32GB at $ 329, then you’re saving $ 270 versus the iPad Air’s $ 599 asking price. For many people, it is a savings worth having.
iPad Air 2020: good looks, great value for money.
Verdict
The progress the iPad has made over the past decade has been remarkable. This latest model has seen a significant increase in performance over the last version, thanks to the inclusion of the A12 Bionic chip that was first seen in the iPhone XS. Add that to last year’s redesign, which saw an increase in screen size and smart keyboard support, and the iPad has seen huge improvements in recent years, while holding its own at a low price. If you bought it last year and are still satisfied with the performance, you may not need to change it. But if your iPad is sixth generation or earlier, this is a great upgrade.
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