What are the "pros and cons" of the iPad Air 5? Is it the iPad for me?

The iPad Air 5 models have been discontinued. However, this Q&A has been updated subsequently with current operating system support details and can be quite helpful for anyone buying or selling one of these devices on the used market.

Only you can decide if a used iPad Air 5 -- the iPad Air 5 (Wi-Fi Only), iPad Air 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell), and iPad Air 5 (Wi-Fi+Cell China) -- is the right iPad for your needs.

However, an independent and objective "pros and cons" can help you make a solid choice.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPad Air 5 with External USB-C Storage)

If you would prefer a more detailed take, Everyi.com also provides an in-depth comparison of the iPad Air 5 models.

On the other hand, for those who would like a fast rundown, this summary should be ideal:

Pros:

• Attractive and thin design with flat, easy-to-hold sides.
• Bright, high-resolution 10.9" LED-backlit 2360x1640 "Liquid Retina" display (264 ppi, 500 nits) fills the nearly the full front.
• Quite fast, can hold their own with more expensive iPad Pro models available at the same time in some tasks.
• 8 GB of RAM.
• Solid battery life.
• System-wide mirroring support.
• Support for 5G on cellular-equipped models in addition to 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
• Center Stage support for front camera automatically tracks and zooms for improved video conferencing.
• Faster USB-C significantly improves external storage use compared to earlier models.
• Touch ID support is cleverly integrated in the power button.
• Support for the well-designed Apple Pencil 2.

Cons:

• The battery is not intended to be replaced and self-replacement is more difficult than it needs to be.
• Internal storage cannot be upgraded and may be inadequate given increasingly large file sizes for images and 4K video (although external storage is a straightforward option).
• No SD card slot.
• Shooting photos and video with such a physically large device is awkward.
• No bundled headphones (a particularly miserly omission given the price of the device).

So, is the iPad Air 5 right for me?

Ignoring subsequent models, the iPad Air 5 is an excellent tablet; well designed with an almost "all screen" front, quality cameras, fast USB-C for external connectivity, and support for the excellent Apple Pencil 2 all are major selling points. It even can hold its own in terms of performance in some tasks compared to the more expensive iPad Pro models available when it was first introduced.

The iPad Air 5 is a great choice for anyone who finds the regular iPad too slow or out-of-date, the iPad mini 6 too small or slow, and the high-end iPad Pro too expensive. The iPad Air 5 offers a great deal of value in an attractive package especially now on the used market at discounted prices.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new iPad Air models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb iPad Air models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell an iPad, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPad with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs has a large number of used and refurbished iPad models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.

Please also see EveryiPad.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPad model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.