iPad Air (2022) review: fast with the M1 chip and great display but Touch ID is not as convenient as Face ID and the front camera is awkward in landscape mode
The new iPad Air is a blend of familiar features with predictable results — Much of the new iPad Air from Apple is a known quantity.
Context & Ripple Effects
The 2019 Air already paired a strong screen and fast processor with no Face ID; the 2022 model advances that formula with Apple's M1-equipped Air refresh rather than changing its authentication approach. The review makes the trade-off especially visible for landscape use, where the camera placement and Touch ID matter to everyday interaction.
Later Air coverage continues to describe high performance and improving accessories while retaining the absence of Face ID, suggesting the 2022 review marks an enduring product-positioning choice rather than a one-generation omission.
First-order effects
- Apple gives iPad Air buyers M1-level performance and a strong display, but asks them to accept Touch ID and an awkward landscape front-camera experience.
- Buyers who prioritize video calls or Face ID receive a less convenient experience than the Air's processing capability otherwise suggests.
Second-order effects
- Apple's iPad lineup becomes more clearly segmented around convenience features as well as speed: later coverage places the Air ahead of the base iPad on performance and multitasking while still noting the missing Face ID.
- Keyboard and multitasking improvements can raise the Air's appeal for productivity users, but the review's usability compromises leave room for buyers to weigh more expensive configurations against competing iPad tiers.
Third-order effects
- The Air line is trending toward a durable split between rapidly upgraded Apple silicon and selectively withheld interface hardware, making performance less decisive as a differentiator between iPad tiers.
- If that pattern persists, iPad purchase decisions will increasingly turn on cameras, biometric authentication, displays, and accessories rather than processor generation alone.
The trend: Apple is using faster in-house chips to elevate iPad Air performance while preserving feature distinctions that separate it from other iPad tiers.