Real current iPad Air prices
iPad Air (4th Gen, 2020): from £189.99 refurbished
iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022): from £269.99 refurbished
That's a real, current gap of £80 between these two generations — this guide breaks down what that gap actually buys you.
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Why the iPad Air sits in a genuinely useful middle ground
Apple's iPad range spans the standard iPad, the Air, and the Pro — and the Air specifically exists to bridge a real gap between them. It offers meaningfully more capable hardware than the standard iPad without stepping up to Pro pricing or Pro-specific features like ProMotion, making it a genuinely sensible middle choice for buyers who find the standard iPad limiting but don't need everything the Pro offers.
iPad Air 5th Generation — the more current option
At £269.99, the 5th generation Air brought Apple's M1 chip to the Air line for the first time — the same chip used in several MacBook models, giving genuinely capable performance for tasks well beyond typical tablet use, including more demanding creative apps and multitasking.
Why buy it: genuinely capable M1 performance, a real step up from the standard iPad, without Pro pricing.
Don't buy it if: you're on a tighter budget and don't need M1-level performance — the 4th generation below covers most everyday tasks just as well.
iPad Air 4th Generation — the more affordable option
At £189.99, the 4th generation predates the M1 chip but still offers a genuinely capable A14 Bionic processor, USB-C, and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) support — most of what makes the Air line appealing, at a real saving over the 5th generation.
Why buy it: a substantial saving over the 5th generation, while retaining USB-C and modern Apple Pencil support.
Don't buy it if: you specifically need the extra performance headroom the M1 chip provides — demanding creative work or heavy multitasking benefits genuinely from the newer chip.
What actually changed between these two generations
The core, meaningful difference is the chip: the jump from A14 Bionic to M1 is a genuinely significant one, since M1 was originally designed for Mac computers before Apple brought it to the iPad line. For typical tablet use — browsing, note-taking, video, casual apps — both chips perform comfortably. The M1's advantage becomes genuinely noticeable in more demanding creative work: video editing, complex illustration apps, or multitasking with several resource-heavy apps simultaneously.
Is the iPad Air a better buy than the standard iPad?
For most buyers who find the standard iPad's performance limiting, or who want Apple Pencil support with lower latency and more natural pressure sensitivity, yes — the Air's step up in chip performance and accessory support is genuinely worthwhile. If your use is genuinely light — browsing, email, video streaming — the standard iPad likely serves you just as well for considerably less money.
Is the iPad Air a better buy than the iPad Pro?
This depends on whether you need the Pro's specific advantages: ProMotion's 120Hz display, a more advanced camera system, and Face ID (versus the Air's Touch ID). For genuinely demanding professional creative work, the Pro's extra headroom and display technology may justify its higher price. For most buyers, including many who do genuine creative work, the Air's M1 chip already provides more capability than they'll actually use, making it the more efficient buy.
Storage considerations for the iPad Air specifically
Both generations are available across multiple storage tiers. 64GB suits light use — browsing, note-taking, casual apps. 256GB is worth the extra spend if you plan to use the iPad for creative work, store substantial offline media, or run multiple demanding apps that benefit from more available storage. For anyone using Apple Pencil for serious note-taking or illustration work, the extra storage tier is generally worth the modest additional cost.
What to check on a refurbished iPad Air before buying
Battery health matters here just as it does on a refurbished iPhone — always check the stated percentage before buying, since GadgetRank's compared retailers guarantee a minimum floor, typically 80% or above. It's also worth checking whether the specific listing includes cellular connectivity or is Wi-Fi only, since both variants exist for each generation, and the difference matters significantly if you need internet access away from Wi-Fi.
Is a refurbished iPad Air a sensible choice for a student?
Genuinely, yes — the combination of Apple Pencil support for note-taking, meaningful performance for research and coursework, and a substantial saving over buying new makes the Air a strong candidate for students specifically. The 4th generation in particular represents a real value option for anyone on a tighter student budget who still wants genuine Apple Pencil support.
How the iPad Air compares to a laptop for everyday productivity
It's worth being honest about this trade-off for anyone considering an iPad Air instead of a laptop. The Air handles browsing, note-taking, email, and many creative tasks genuinely well, and its portability and battery life typically exceed a laptop's. Where it falls short is any task requiring traditional desktop software, extensive file management, or serious multitasking across many full applications simultaneously — for those specific needs, a laptop remains the more capable tool, even against the Air's genuinely strong M1 chip.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPad Air generation should I buy?
If budget allows, the 5th generation's M1 chip offers genuinely more headroom for demanding tasks. If your use is lighter — browsing, note-taking, video — the 4th generation delivers a very similar day-to-day experience for meaningfully less.
Does the iPad Air support the same Apple Pencil as the iPad Pro?
Yes — both the 4th and 5th generation Air support Apple Pencil (2nd generation), the same stylus used with recent iPad Pro models, with magnetic attachment and wireless charging.
Is the iPad Air good enough for professional creative work?
For many creative tasks, yes, particularly the 5th generation's M1 chip — for the most demanding professional video or 3D work, the iPad Pro's additional headroom may still be worth considering.
Is Wi-Fi only or cellular the better choice for an iPad Air?
This depends entirely on whether you need internet access away from Wi-Fi networks — cellular models cost more but provide genuine independent connectivity, while Wi-Fi only models are cheaper and suit anyone who's mostly using their iPad at home, work, or places with reliable Wi-Fi.
How does refurbished iPad Air pricing compare to buying new?
Refurbished pricing represents a real, substantial saving over new across both generations — always worth comparing current live prices to see the exact current gap, since it shifts over time.
All prices above are live and checked daily — compare every iPad option side by side to see today's actual figures.
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