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Our top choice
Apple iPad (2022)
The iPad (10th generation) is a perfect blend of features and value for money, and with its upgraded design, it’s a good choice as the go-to iPad for most people.
Pros- Great design upgrades
- Solid performance
- Bright color options
Cons- No Stage Manager
- No fully laminated display
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A great alternative
Apple iPad Air (2022)
The Apple iPad Air went from being a great tablet to an even better one with this model. The 2022 Air is even faster in performance, whilst offering a stylish design.
Pros- Excellent performance
- Apple Pencil (2nd gen) support
- 8GB RAM
Cons- No Face ID
- Not as powerful as the latest model
Apple revealed the 10th generation of the entry-level iPad in October 2022, offering a redesign, chip upgrade and a color refresh over its predecessor. The redesign of the entry level iPad saw it finally ditch the Home Button and opt for a very similar look to the iPad Air, compared to the older design of the 9th generation iPad. In 2024, many of the iPad lines were updated, including a new M2-powered iPad Air . However, there was no new model of the standard iPad, with the 10th generation model from 2022 still being the most recent version.
If you still own an iPad Air (2022) that’s feeling a little long in the tooth, you may be wondering if it’s worthwhile purchasing a 10th generation iPad as a replacement. Despite Apple no longer offering the model, you may have also spotted an iPad Air (2022) available for sale online. The standard iPad remains the cheapest brand-new iPad currently available, but how do its specs compare to those of the previous iPad Air? Should you consider biting the bullet and going for the more expensive 2024 iPad Air model? Or does it make sense to hold fire until the 11th generation of iPad is released? Here’s what you need to know.
Price, availability and specs
The iPad (10th generation) is still Apple’s cheapest iPad
The iPad (10th generation) hit shelves in October 2022. It launched at a price of $449 for the Wi-Fi only model. Currently, the 10th-generation iPad is available from Apple for $349 for the Wi-Fi only model, with the Wi-Fi + Cellular model available for $499. The iPad Air (2022) was released in March 2022, and started at $599 for the Wi-Fi only model, but has been discontinued and is no longer for sale on the Apple website. It is still available from other retailers, however, with sites such as Best Buy offering it for around $400.
The iPad (10th generation) comes in four color options: Blue, Pink, Yellow and Silver. The colors are much more bold than those of the 2022 iPad Air, which comes in five more muted options, including Purple, Pink, Blue, Space Gray, and Starlight.
Here’s how the specs of the two models compare.
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Apple iPad (2022) Apple iPad Air (2022) Storage 64 / 256GB 64 / 256GB CPU Apple A14 Bionic Apple M1 chip Operating System iPadOS 16 iPadOS 16 Battery Up to 10 hours Up to 10 hours, USB-C Ports USB-C USB-C Camera (Rear, Front) 12MP f/1.8 rear, 12MP f/2.4 front landscape 12MP f/1.8 rear, 12MP f/2.4 front vertical Measurements 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm, 461g Colors Yellow, Blue, Pink and Silver Blue, Purple, Pink, Starlight, Space Grey
Design and build
It’s a struggle to tell them apart at first glance
The Apple iPad (10th generation) and the iPad Air (2022) are virtually identical in terms of their designs. Both opt for uniform bezels around their displays, aluminum bodies with flat edges and both have a power button with Touch ID built in. You’d be hard-pressed to tell the two tablets apart in terms of design, with the colors being the most distinguishing factor.
The two devices both have a single camera lens in the top left corner of the rear, a USB-C charging port flanked by speakers at the bottom and a Smart Connector. The iPad (10th gen) has its Smart Connector on the left edge, while the iPad Air (2022) has its Smart Connector on the rear.
Another design difference between the two models is that the FaceTime HD front camera is positioned on the right edge of the iPad (10th generation), which makes it more useful for video calling when held horizontally. The iPad Air (2022) has the front camera at the top of the display when held vertically. The iPad (10th generation) is fractionally larger and 1mm thicker. It is also slightly heavier than the iPad Air (2022).
Display
Similar displays but different color ranges
The Apple iPad (10th generation) and the iPad Air (2022) both come with a 10.9-inch display offering a 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution. Both devices have a pixel density of 264ppi and detail is lovely and crisp on both, while colors are punchy and vibrant.
The two tablets use a Liquid Retina Display with a maximum brightness of 500 nits. Apple’s True Tone technology is also supported on both devices, and they have a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
There are a couple of differences in the displays, however. The iPad Air (2022) offers a P3 wide color display, while the iPad (10th gen) is RGB, so you get a slightly wider color spectrum with the iPad Air. The iPad Air (2022) also has a fully laminated display and an anti-reflective coating, which is noticeable when compared to the iPad (10th generation).
Hardware and battery
Both models offer similar battery life
The Apple iPad (10th generation) runs on the A14 Bionic chip, which offers a 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU. The iPad Air (2022) runs on the more powerful M1 chip, which offers an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU. The M1 chip includes 8GB of RAM, with the iPad (10th generation) only offering 4GB. There’s a lot more power in the iPad Air (2022), so while the iPad (10th generation) is a very capable tablet, the iPad Air (2022) will outperform it in some instances.
Both the iPad (10th generation) and the iPad Air (2022) have a 12-megapixel rear camera, with an f/1.8 aperture, 5x digital zoom and Smart HDR 3 for photos. They also both offer up to 4K video recording up to 60fps. On the front, both tablets have a 12-megapixel camera with f/2.4 aperture, a Retina Flash and features like Center Stage. The iPad (10th generation) has its front camera presented in a landscape orientation as we mentioned though, and can be more useful when it comes to video calling.
Both tables promise the same battery life, with up to 10 hours of watching video or up to 9 hours surfing the web and both have USB-C for charging. Storage options are the same too, with both the iPad (10th generation) and the iPad Air (2022) offered in 64GB and 256GB options. The iPad Air is also compatible with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil, while the iPad (10th generation) is only compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil.
Software
Both devices will support the upcoming iPadOS 18
Both the iPad (10th generation) and the iPad Air (2022) run on the latest version of iPadOS, which is currently iPadOS 17, and both are capable of supporting the upcoming iPadOS 18 , so the experience is familiar across both devices.
The iPad Air (2022) is able to provide some additional features thanks to the extra power under its hood. These include Stage Manager, a useful multitasking feature which the iPad (10th generation) doesn’t offer. However, most features are available on both models.
Apple iPad (10th gen) vs iPad Air (2022): Which should you buy?
Apple is no longer selling the iPad Air (2022)
If you want a new iPad but don’t want to break the bank, then opting for the Apple iPad (10th generation) is a no-brainer. For just $349, you get a decent iPad that will be suitable for the needs of most casual users. It’s another $150 for an iPad mini, and the cheapest current model of iPad Air is $250 more than the iPad (10th generation). If you’re just after an iPad for browsing and watching shows or movies, then the iPad (10th generation) is all you really need.
A new model of the standard iPad is rumored to be arriving by the end of the year. However, if the rumors are to be believed, the new model won’t see any major upgrades other than a slightly better chip; it still won’t feature the M1 chip found in the iPad Air (2022).
Our top choice
Apple iPad (2022)
Apple’s cheapest iPad is still more than capable of handling the tasks required by most users.
If you currently own the iPad Air (2022) then your iPad has a more powerful processor under its hood, and comes with some extra features, like Stage Manager, that make it a little more usable for multitasking. It also offers compatibility with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard Folio. The Air’s display also has an anti-reflective coating and a fully laminated display, which is beneficial in use. If your current iPad Air (2022) is working fine and the battery life hasn’t degraded too much, you’re probably better off sticking with it rather than spending $350 on a new device with worse specs.
If your iPad Air (2022) is feeling a little tired, however, then the iPad (10th generation) offers a similar look and experience at an affordable price. With new iPads expected to be released this year, you might want to hold fire a little longer to see what other options become available. However, with the iPad Air (2022) still available on some sites for around $400, it’s a decent option while stocks last if you need a little more power.
Excellent alternative
Apple iPad Air (2022)
A great Apple tablet for those who need a bit more power and additional multitasking features from their device.
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