iPad 10th Generation VS. iPad Air 5/4 : What’s the Difference and Which Should You Buy?

Are you wondering whether to buy the iPad 10^th generation, iPad Air 5 or iPad Air 4? Well, this article compares the three workhorses, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. Let’s see how they stack up.

	iPad 10th generation	iPad Air 5	iPad Air 4
Announced	October 18, 2022	March 8, 2022	October 23, 2020
Dimensions	9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches	9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches	9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches
Weight	477g	461g	458g
Display	10.9 inches, Liquid Retina, 1640 x 2360	10.9 inches, Liquid Retina, 1640 x 2360	10.9 inches, Liquid Retina, 1640 x 2360
Operating system	iPadOS 16, Apple A14 Bionic	iPadOS 15.4, Apple M1	iPadOS 14.1, A14 Bionic
Memory	8GB RAM (64GB, 256GB)	8GB RAM (64GB, 256GB)	4GB RAM (64GB, 256GB)
Cameras	12 MP (rear), 12 MP (front)	12 MP (rear), 12 MP (front)	12 MP (rear), 7 MP (front)
Colors	Pink, Blue, Silver, Yellow	Starlight, Blue, Purple, Pink, Space Grey	Sky Blue, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Silver, Green

Design

The iPad Air 4 is the predecessor of the iPad 5, which is the predecessor of the iPad 10-9 inch. As you’d expect, there are numerous differences between the 2020 iPad and the 2022 iPads (iPad 10^th generation and iPad Air 5).

A similarity between the three is the lack of Face ID and the inclusion of Touch ID.  The Touch ID is located in the power button. This is unlike other iPad models that come with the popular Home button. And since the bezel is thinner than a finger, it might take some getting used to for prompt responsiveness.

We also recommend assigning several fingers since you might use the right hand in portrait mode and the left hand in landscape mode.

The iPad Air 5 and 4 have similar dimensions of 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches, while the iPad 10^th generation measures 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches. As you can see, the iPad 10-9 inches is wider and taller compared to its predecessors.

The iPad 10-9 inch is the heaviest with a 477g weight, followed by iPad Air 5, weighing 461g. The iPad Air 4 is the lightest with a 461g weight. If you prefer using iPads with one hand, the iPad Air 4 is the most comfortable. You might be forced to use both hands when operating the iPad 10^th generation.

Another difference is their color options. The iPad Air 4/5 has Space Grey options, however, iPad Air 4 comes in Sky Blue, Green, Rose Gold, and Silver options. IPad Air 5 has Blue, Purple, Pink, and Starlight variants. The iPad 10^th generation tends to stand out, thanks to its not-so-popular iPad colors. You can get it in Yellow, Blue, Silver, and Pink options.

All iPads have a glass front, aluminum frame, and back, meaning they can withstand shock from accidental drops.

Display

There’s little if any difference in their display. All have the new Liquid Retina display ensuring you get sharper images and text, which is also present in the iPad mini and iPad Pro. The 10.9 inches display offers a resolution of 1640 x 2360 resolution so you can view graphics and text better.

However, the iPad 10^th generation has an 80.5% screen-to-body ratio while the iPad Air 4 and 5 have an 81.3% ratio. It means you get to view more in the latter than in the former. Unfortunately, the iPad 10^th generation does not have an anti-reflective coating. That said, the display is exceptional for Apple TV or heavy gaming.

Cameras

Well, the camera is the one aspect every phone user prioritizes when buying a phone, especially the rear-facing camera. However, rear-facing cameras are not a priority for tablet users. Instead, they consider the front camera for seamless video calls and FaceTime.

As such, Apple aims to make the front camera better with each new generation. And this is what you get in the iPad Air series. While not as efficient as the iPad Pro, the camera in this series is above average. As you’d expect, the iPad Air 4 has the least effective front camera, which is 7 MP. The iPad Air 5 and 10^th generation has a 12 MP front camera. All have 12 MP rear cameras, ideal for generic photography.

The iPad Air 10-9 inches and iPad Air 5 also have the Centre Stage feature, allowing for automatic panning and zooming, keeping your face at the center of the frame. However, with the 122-degree field of view, the iPad 10^th generation is more effective.

Connectivity

Well, the iPad 4, 5, and 10^th generations have ditched the Lightning port for the USB-C option. As the European Union insists on having all devices come with USB-C, it seems Apple will gradually face out the Lightning port from its products.

The change allows you to use other USB-C accessories with ease such as chargers and USB cables. The best part is that the connector is magnetic meaning it won’t snap easily like conventional cables. The iPad Air 5 and 10^th generation are compatible with the slower sub-6Ghz 5G network. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the iPad Air 4. All are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6.

Performance

Interestingly, Apple has chosen to go with the A14 chip in the iPad 10^th generation. As such, the performance is affected significantly. In fact, it is the same chip in the iPad Air 4, meaning you’ll get slightly similar performance in both. The iPad Air 5 comes with the M1 processor, which is robust compared to the A14.

In fact, A14 is intended for Apple’s mobile devices while the M1 processor is used in their laptops. As you’d expect, the M1 offers impressive performance. You can play graphics-heavy games and open several apps simultaneously with little impact on performance. This is thanks to the 8-core graphics GPU. The A14 offers a 4-core graphics GPU, which inhibits its performance.

The iPad Air 5 and 10^th generation have 8GB RAM while the iPad Air 4 has 4GB RAM. All have 64GB and 256GB internal memory options.

Conclusion: which should you buy?

Well, by comparison, the iPad 10^th generation offers a balance of the most crucial features. You get an ideal camera, audio system, and processing speed. Besides, it comes with more advanced technologies, enabling you to use current and future apps. However, if you are looking for fast performance, the iPad Air 5 is the ideal option, thanks to the M1 processor.

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