The new iPad Air is a 10.5-inch tablet with a way better display and processor than Apple’s previous iPad Air. However, it’s very similar to the 2017 iPad Pro, which Apple coincidentally just discontinued. You can still buy the old Pro from places like Best Buy or Amazon, while supplies last, and it’s arguably the better deal than the new iPad Air.
What’s Similar?
Both the 2019 iPad Air ($499) and the 2017 iPad Pro ($650) are the same sizes and have essentially the same Retina displays. Both have Touch ID and support the Apple Pencil. They have the same battery life.
What’s Different?
While the iPad Pro is older and more expensive, it comes with some distinct advantages. It has four speakers instead of two, and delivers stereo sound when in landscape mode. Its display has ProMotion technology and thus a higher refresh rate (up to 120Hz), so things like scrolling and watching videos look smoother. And the 2017 Pro has a better camera system with built-in optical image stabilization. (The 2019 Air, with its newer processor, is more equipped to handle AR apps.)
The Verdict
If you were going back and forth between an iPad Air and an iPad Pro, the latter looks to still be the safer bet. Yes, it’s $150 more expensive, but with ProMotion and way better speakers, it’s the better device for web browsing and watching films and shows on apps like Netflix or HBO GO.
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Gear Patrol also recommends:
9.7-inch iPad ($329)
iPad Mini ($399)
iPad Air ($499)