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The new iPad Air 3 follows a legendary tablet, the iPad Air 2. The iPad Air second generation introduced for the first time a thinner profile, a digitizer and laminated Touch ID. The iPad Air 2 was also renowned for its speed: it had for the first time 2GB of RAM on any iOS device and a new chip focusing on graphics processor performance.
When we look at the iPad Air 2, it goes without saying that the third generation model has big shoes to fill. And as you'll see in our review of the iPad Air 3, it's a worthy, if not slightly boring, follow-up, as it's essentially an iPad Pro Lite.
Synology RT2600ac: Replacement by AirPort Extreme.
Characteristics
- Apple A12 chip with Neural Engine
- 3 GB of RAM
- 10.5 inch screen
- Resolution 2224 × 1668
- Large color screen P3
- Laminated digitizer
- Anti-reflective coating
- Smart connector
- Compatible with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil first generation
- Two stereo speakers
- 8 megapixel rear camera f / 2.4
- 7 megapixel FaceTime HD camera f / 2.2
- Touch ID
- 3.5mm headphone connection
- Lightning connector
- Bluetooth 5.0
- eSIM support
- Several additional LTE Gigabit class bands
- Silver color options, gray space and gold
The 3rd generation iPad Air starts at $ 499 with 64GB of flash storage, while the 256GB model sells for $ 649. Cellular versions of the iPad Air 3 can be acquired for a premium of $ 130, bringing an iPad Air 3 to a maximum configuration at $ 779.00, at a striking distance relative to the starting price of $ 799 of the iPad Pro 2018 11 inches.
Look: iPad Air 3 reviews
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Unpacking
Inside the iPad Air 3 box you will find the typical content of an iPad unpack. There is the iPad Air 3 unit itself, a package containing regulatory / legal information, a starter guide and Apple stickers.
Unlike the new iPad Pro models, which use USB-C and come with a new 18W power adapter, Apple includes the typical Lightning to USB-A cable and a power adapter from 12 W to the inside of the third generation iPad Air case.
IPad semi-pro 10.5 inches
Apple has channeled the second generation iPad Pro, released in June 2017, inspired by the Air iPad 3. The most obvious indicator is the form factor. Instead of a 9.7-inch screen like the previous generation iPad, the new model sports a 10.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2224 × 1668 similar to the previous generation. 2nd generation iPad Pro.
Another noticeable improvement in the iPad Air 3 is the display, which now supports wide color P3. The backlight is also brighter (500 nits against 450) and includes a stronger anti-reflective coating with a reflectivity of only 1.8%.
The new iPad Air now supports True Tone, the display technology that automatically adjusts the white point of the screen according to the ambient light of your environment. It is a technology that initially arrived with the 2016 iPad Pro (9.7 inches) and has slowly made its way to other iPad, iPhone and Mac.
The third-generation iPad Air is only slightly heavier than the second-generation model (1.00 vs. 0.96 pounds), but it has a slightly larger form factor, coupled with a larger screen and reduced safety glasses. This results in a tablet that looks like a more modern version of the iPad Air 2.
The exterior of the new iPad Air 3 looks a lot like the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, but it's the processor that really propels it into the hands of the "iPad Pro Lite." The iPad Air 3 is equipped with the same A12 Bionic six-core chip with Neural Engine found in Apple's flagship smartphone iPhone XS, which means that performance is dramatically improved over the A8X of the iPad Air 2 and surpass the iPad Pro 2017.
The processor performance of the iPad Air 3 are better than those of the iPad Pro 2017 by 10.5 inches
The rear facing 8 megapixel f / 2.4 camera looks very similar to the iPad Air 2's hardware, which means that the photos and videos will not be great, but there will not be any. more hump. I do not shoot a lot of photos or videos with my iPad, so I will gladly take an obsolete camera if it means that the camera does not move.
The f / 2.2 FaceTime HD camera, meanwhile, gets a nice 7 megapixel upgrade from the lean 1.2 megapixel shooter found on the iPad Air 2. And instead of a HD video recording 720p, the new FaceTime HD camera supports Full HD technology. 1080p capture with Retina Flash. Both devices support extended color capture and live photos.
The battery life remains the same thanks to a larger 30.2-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. This allows the unit to maintain the battery life of 10 hours all day long despite a larger screen and a faster processor.
The release of the iPad Air 3 marks the first time that the Smart Connector, used exclusively to connect the smart keyboard of Apple, appears on an iPad not bearing the mark "Pro". Therefore, the same smart keyboard that worked with the 2nd generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro also works with the new 10.5-inch iPad Air 3.
Artists and prolific note takers will be happy to learn that the iPad Air 3 works with the first generation of Apple Pencil pencils or with the more economical Logitech Pencil. Therefore, if you are a student or a creative professional who wants to switch to a workflow based on a tablet, then the iPad Air has become a legitimate option for you.
Where the iPad Pro 10.5 inches stays better
I am referring to the new iPad Air 3 as iPad Lite, because although it is heavily inspired by the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, some of the key features of this professional hardware are missing.
First and foremost, the iPad Air 3 does not support ProMotion, the adaptive display refresh technology that enables smoother screen interactions and support. improved from Apple Pencil. It's hard to explain why ProMotion is so nice without seeing it in action, but the best way to describe it is to make scrolling smoother, read more easily on screen while scrolling, and reduce latency. Apple Pencil.
Another big difference is that the iPad Pro 2017 was equipped with a superior rear camera, compatible with 4K video capture. The 12 megapixel f / 1.8 camera of this iPad Pro model still stands up well today and is even equipped with optical image stabilization, a feature that is lacking in current iPad Pro models.
The latest generation iPad Pro also comes with 4GB of RAM, while the Air iPad 2019 has 3GB of RAM. It is generally assumed that the extra GB RAM of the iPad Pro is there to support the ProMotion adaptive display technology, which the new iPad Air does not have.
The GPU performance on the iPad Air 3 is not as good as that of the iPad Pro 10.5 inch 2017
And while the Bionic A12 chip offers much faster processor performance than the 2017 iPad Pro, it offers better GPU computing performance, which is not surprising considering that a brand X chip that puts more emphasis on GPU performance. So if you're a gamer or work with other processor-intensive tasks, the 2017 iPad Pro might actually work better in some areas.
The last major difference between the two models is the lack of support for four speakers, which makes stereo sound possible in landscape mode, which is essential for iPad Pro models. Instead, the iPad Air 3 is equipped with a simple stereo speaker configuration. In my opinion, this is not a problem for a mid-range offering like Air 3, but it's a noticeable change when you watch movies and listen to music. used for the four-speaker configuration.
Fill the void
If the iPad Air 3 is basically a lite version of the iPad Pro, why is there? I thought about it at first, but it's actually very simple. In other words, the iPad Air 3 was created to fill the gap of mid-range Apple range. While there used to be a chasm between the entry-level iPad at $ 329 and the iPad Pro at $ 799, there is now a mid-range tablet that offers more options to potential buyers.
That said, if the price is the most important thing for you, the entry-level iPad at $ 329 remains the best buy from the entire iPad lineup. Still, it's a limited device in many ways that the iPad Air 3 seeks to solve.
A big upgrade on the $ 329 iPad budget
The most obvious difference between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Air 3 lies in the size of the screen. The $ 329 iPad comes with a 9.7-inch display, but thanks to the reduced protective glasses of the iPad Air 3 of 10.5 inches, the clutter between the two devices is almost the same. Even though its screen is almost 2.5 cm smaller, the $ 329 iPad is slightly heavier than the iPad Air 3, and it is noticeably thicker.
Apart from physical size, display technology is the biggest differentiator between the two devices. One of my recurring complaints about the 2017 and 2018 versions of the entry-level iPad concerns the quality of the screen, or its lack. The entry-level hardware lacks a laminated digitizer, which creates an air gap that causes reflections. An anti-reflective coating, present on more expensive models, is also missing on Apple's iPad, concerned about its budget.
Add to that the omission of P3 Wide Color and True Tone on the budget iPad, and you get a sharply superior screen with the iPad Air 3. Casual users who only care to consult their e-mails and Facebook browsing may not care, but anyone coming from an iPad Air 2 or later will immediately recognize these flaws in the iPad. entry level.
Although it got support for the Apple Pencil last year, the $ 329 iPad does not have support for a smart keyboard version because it does not come with a smart connector. If you plan to use your iPad to write detailed content, you must consider this. You can still pair a cheap Bluetooth keyboard, but the smart keyboard offers a more seamless experience.
While the Apple A10 chip found in the budget iPad is quite suitable for modest tasks, it is far from the processor or GPU performance of the A12 Bionic on the new iPad Air 3. In this spirit , the iPad Air will benefit from a longer tablet life than the budget-conscious iPad.
Other options to consider …
If you decide to configure your iPad Air 3 with cellular connectivity and 256GB of storage, you will have to decide whether it is worth it to upgrade to the iPad Pro. The difference between an iPad Air 3 maximum and an iPad Pro basic model of 11 inches is only 20 dollars, and Apple undoubtedly compares this price to encourage buyers to take the next level.
The iPad Pro offers a larger screen, a significantly more exciting design, as well as enhancements such as ProMotion, USB-C and Face ID. It is currently very limited by iOS 12, but it has a higher cap to get new features via future iOS updates. Make sure to read our 2018 article on the complete iPad Pro to learn more about its use.
There is also the iPad mini 5 2019, which was launched alongside the new iPad Air 3. The iPad mini 5 is essentially an iPad Air 3 in the body of an iPad mini. This is the tablet to have if portability is the most important thing for you. It has most of the features of the iPad Air 3, but it obviously lacks the largest screen, and it does not come with a smart connector to connect a smart keyboard. Again, if portability takes precedence over everything else in your eyes, then the iPad mini is a great option and you will not have to sacrifice any performance.
9to5Mac's Take
Do not think too much. Apple badly needed a mid-range tablet in its lineup, and the iPad Air 3 perfectly meets that call. This is anything but exciting for seasoned iPad users, and it does not bring anything new to the table, but it does address an important need of the Apple lineup.
As attractive as the entry level iPad at $ 329, $ 499 offers users a a lot Overall experience of the tablet more refined and better without entering the territory of the pricing of laptops. If you plan to make the iPad your main "computer", go for service and spend $ 179 more to get the iPad Air 3. Not only do you get better performance and a ridiculously better display, but he's smart keyboard.
The iPad Air 3 is boring, but in a Toyota Camry, it's a boring type of ride for all vehicles. It is a mid-range tablet with an average price that makes very little compromise, but it's also anything but exciting.
What is your opinion on the iPad Air 3? Ring below in the comments with your thoughts and opinions.
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