New iPad Air review roundup

Bigger, better and probably 'pro' enough.

Author

Leander Kahney
May 14, 2024

I’ve got an older 13-inch iPad Pro (circa 2018) that’s still going super-strong — mostly.

There’s a diagonal crack across the screen that I barely notice, but when I do, it bugs me to no end. Plus, the battery barely lasts a full day.

The battery is the biggest problem. If my iPad ever left the house — which it doesn’t — having to find charging everywhere I went would be an issue. As it is, the tablet sits next to my bed or on the couch, and a charger is never far away.

But with the release of new iPads, maybe it’s time to think about an upgrade.

I’d normally go for another iPad Pro, purely for the bigger screen.

But with the iPad Air now sporting a big 13-inch screen, it makes little sense for me to get the more powerful iPad Pro — although it looks like a gorgeous machine.

That’s what early reviewers found: The new iPad Air offers most of the advantages of its Pro sibling but is considerably more affordable. For most people, it’s “pro” enough. See our roundup.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Yesterday’s ChatGPT event — which introduced the multimodal ChatGPT-4o and a new Mac desktop app — was one of the biggest announcements ever in computing. It clearly demonstrated a new era in smart conversational computing, and some of it was mindblowing. It certainly raises the bar for Siri. If Apple can match OpenAI, WWDC24 is going to be very interesting

  • If, like me, you’re tempted by Apple’s latest tablets, the new iPads Pro and Air are already getting discounts. The older M1 models are on sale as well, at even bigger savings.

  • I’ll subscribe to this Apple TV+, Netflix and Peacock bundle in a heartbeat when it launches.

  • Siri works with Denon speakers now, but with a big catch that only Apple could come up with. Take the poll below.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

2024 iPad Air reviews roundup: Bigger, and probably 'pro' enough

First reviews of the 2024 iPad Air with M2 processor say it's perfectly fine. Pros: Bigger size, Apple Pencil Pro support.

ChatGPT finally gets an official Mac app

OpenAI launches a native ChatGPT app for Mac with free access to its latest GPT-4o model, plus Voice Mode support.

StreamSaver bundles Apple TV+, Netflix and Peacock at a discount

Combine Apple TV+, Netflix and Peacock for a reduced price. Discover the new StreamSaver streaming bundle option for cord-cutters.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Save up to $50 on new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air

Don't miss these deals on the newest iPads: Save big on the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air with discounts on various configurations.

Vision Pro should go on sale outside US soon [Updated]

The wait to get Apple Vision Pro is apparently nearly over for lucky consumers in Europe and Asia. Broader availability could come this summer.

Apple loses ground to archrival on smartphone satisfaction

New data shows Apple's smartphone customer satisfaction rating went up a point, but Samsung gained more ground and crept ahead on 5G.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

With new model out, great deals abound on M1 iPad Air [Updated]

Now that the M2 iPad Air has arrived, bargain-seekers can nab great deals on the M1 iPad Air, which is still a great tablet for many users.

App Store blocks $7 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions over 4 years

Apple sums up App Store fraud prevention successes in its fourth annual fraud prevention analysis report.

Kick team productivity into gear with Microsoft Project, on sale for less than $20

Boost efficiency with lifetime access to Microsoft Project 2021 Professional for PC for just $19.97. Don't miss our Microsoft Project sale.

Denon adds Siri to smart speakers (with one big catch)

Hey, Siri works with Denon speakers now -- but only if you have a HomePod or HomePod mini in the house, too.

Space gray vs. silver MacBook [Buyer's guide]

After you’ve settled on the specs, there’s still one more crucial decision to make before you buy a MacBook Pro: silver versus space gray.

Today in Apple history: Computer retail giant's closure hits NeXT hard

On May 14, 1992, Steve Jobs' NeXT ran into trouble as it lost a crucial deal with Businessland after the giant retailer closed its stores.

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

I'm just a guy who probably should have been a semi-talented poet on the Left Bank. I sort of got sidetracked here.

— Steve Jobs, 1984.

Today’s poll

Is Apple shooting itself in the foot restricting Siri?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Results from yesterday’s poll: Is the slightly offset camera on new iPads a deal-breaker?

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