The iPad Air 4 (released in 2020) brought the modern iPad Pro's look to Apple's more affordable iPad Air line-up. It got rid of the Home button, sported a bigger screen, and even adopted a flat design to support newer accessories like the Apple Pencil 2 and the Magic Keyboard.
Despite all these changes, we think Apple can improve the iPad Air even further with its next release and bring the mid-range tablet up to today's standards. So, here are the top features that we want to see in the iPad Air 5, whenever Apple chooses to announce it.
1. A 120Hz ProMotion iPad Air Display
The iPad Pro has had a 120Hz displays for years now. The original iPad Pro, from 2017, was the first model to feature Apple's ProMotion display. While it's still a "pro" feature, we don't think it needs to remain exclusive to the iPad Pro models, especially since they now feature advanced mini-LED screens as well.
Someone who has always used a 60Hz screen will immediately notice the jump to a 120Hz refresh rate while scrolling through the Home Screen, or navigating a menu, and so on. If Apple doesn't intend to bring 120Hz to the mid-range iPad Air 5, a mini-LED or an OLED display would be the next best thing.
2. Support for Face ID
Face ID has been an integral part of iPhone and iPad Pro devices since the iPhone X came out in 2017. It's certainly not a premium feature anymore. While Apple removed the Home button to update the design of the iPad Air 4, we still didn't get Face ID. Instead, the company integrated Touch ID into the Top button.
We love the Touch ID implementation, and we'd like to see it on the other iPads too. However, Face ID would be much better on a tablet since you don't have to reach for a physical button every time you want to unlock it. Considering Face ID has been around for years, Apple should technically have no problem bringing it to the iPad Air 5.
3. The Apple A15 Chip
Apple introduces new mobile processors every year, so it should come as no surprise that we want the latest chip in the iPad Air 5. We're expecting nothing but the Apple A15 Bionic chip, or whatever Apple decides to call it, in the mid-range iPad. Sure, it may not be as powerful as the M1 chip in the iPad Pro models, but it should be quite the performer considering the existing A14 processor is already more than capable.
4. At Least 6GB of RAM
The M1 iPad Pro models pack 8GB of RAM for the standard variants. You could even get a whopping 16GB of RAM if you buy the 1TB or 2TB storage models. Considering that even the iPhone 12 Pro models have 6GB of RAM, we think it's prime time the mid-range iPad Air receives the same RAM treatment.
We don't think 4GB of RAM on the current iPad Air 4 will cut it for someone who intends to use it long-term. Hence, we want Apple to bump the RAM to 6GB or more with the iPad Air 5 to keep the power users happy.
5. The 12MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera From the iPad Pro
We love the ultra-wide selfie camera on the new M1 iPad Pro. The Center Stage feature Apple introduced is a game-changer for video calls; you get the freedom to move around in your room without having to adjust your iPad's position too often. However, it's not necessarily a "pro" feature, which is why we think the same camera setup along with the Center Stage feature should make its way to the more affordable iPad Air 5.
6. 128GB of Base Storage
We really don't think the 64GB of storage you get with the base model iPad Air 4 is enough for most people. Of course, you can store most of your data on iCloud, but that requires a separate monthly subscription. It seems like Apple is forcing its customers to purchase the 256GB variant, but at that point, the price is closer to the 11-inch iPad Pro, which comes with 128GB of storage.
Apple currently doesn't offer a 128GB model for the iPad Air, and therefore you're either too short on storage or you have too much, depending on the model you buy. Doubling the storage on the base model could certainly drive the sales of the iPad Air 5 since people won't be forced to choose between the more expensive variant and the base iPad Pro.
7. Support for 5G
Apple brought 5G to its devices, starting with the iPhone 12 series, in 2020. It's now available on the more expensive iPad Pro models as well, but 5G isn't a cutting-edge technology like it once was. This cellular standard has been around for a couple of years now, and it's time Apple started to add 5G support to other mid-range and lower-end devices too. The iPad Air 5 will certainly be a good place to start.
5G should theoretically take your cellular download speeds to a maximum of 3.5Gbps in ideal conditions, but you won't get anywhere close to this number in reality. You can expect twice the speed of a 4G LTE connection in practical scenarios. Regardless, 5G support is crucial to make the iPad Air 5 a future-proof tablet.
8. Support for Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E
These are incremental upgrades, but they'll certainly help down the line. The new Bluetooth 5.2 standard brings support for LE (low energy) audio, which provides high-quality sound at lower data rates. Wi-Fi 6E, on the other hand, extends the existing Wi-Fi 6 specification into the 6GHz frequency band. This means far less interference than traditional 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
The iPad Air 4 currently supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, but these new wireless standards could make the iPad Air 5 a future-proof tablet that no one would regret purchasing.
The iPad Air 5 Is the Mainstream iPad We Need
The high-end iPad Pro models, with the M1 chip, aren't for regular users who looking to use the iPad as a content consumption device. On the other hand, the lower-end iPads aren't quite powerful enough for tasks like gaming. Don't forget the outdated design too.
The iPad Air is the perfect middle ground that'll do the job for most people, especially with that $599 price tag. If Apple brings most of the features we've asked for, the iPad Air 5 could be the only tablet you need.
