During the presentation of the new “monstrously fast” iPad Pros, the iPad Air snowed under a bit. But for AV enthusiasts, it is quite interesting!
Well, the new iPad Pro stole the show last week at Apple. And for good reason, since this iPad features the equally new M4 SoC, which has staggering specifications. And represents a breakthrough in on-device AI. But: that also comes with a price tag. Not even that bad for a professional user, by the way, you get yourself one from €1219. If you don’t need all this extreme speed and (or) you’re not really into AI, heavy photo and video editing and so on, there are cheaper models. The equally new iPad Air 2024, for example, which you can buy for prices starting at €719. In tablet, the “older” M2 does its job. Where you have to keep in mind that it is still faster or as fast as most generic x86 CPUs from the highest price ranges! You can choose from an 11-inch or 13-inch screen. No OLED here, but classic TFT panels, which of course is nothing wrong with either. Both sizes are fine for watching movies on the couch or on the go.
Spatial audio
Pleasantly, the new iPad Air now also supports Apple’s spatial audio. With the bonus that if you go for the larger version, Apple promises significantly more bass in the audio spectrum. And of course, we’re talking about the built-in speakers here. Wirelessly pair any self-respecting Bluetooth speaker or headset with it and you realize any sound quality you want. And thanks to the USB-C connection, any USB-DAC also works with the Air. In short: an interesting tablet for more demanding AV-enthusiuast with a solid SoC as a base, but at a much more competitive price than the Pro.