iPad Air 2022 may launch at Apple Spring event — A15 Bionic and 5G expected

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Apple's rumored iPad Air 5 tipped to be a minor update

iPad Air 4
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)

Apple's next iPad Air is expected to be unveiled in Spring 2022, and while it may not be the reportedly canceled OLED iPad Air, it is expected to feature the powerful A15 Bionic, 5G connectivity, Quad-LED True Tone flash and more upgrades.

Taking cues from the revamped Apple iPad mini 6, the iPad Air 5 will be equipped with a speedy A15 Bionic, 5G support, and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with the iPad Pro's Centre Stage feature. However, expect it to look very similar to the hugely popular iPad Air (2020).

Japanese blog Mac Otakara reports that the 5th-gen iPad Air will launch alongside the rumored iPhone SE 2022 at an Apple Spring event, which is expected to take place in either March or April. This comes from supply chain sources speaking to Mac Otakara, and while it seems likely Apple is ready to refresh one of the most popular tablets on the market, it's best to take this in with a pinch of salt.

The report specifically states that the design of the chassis will be the same as the current-gen iPad Air. We're fans of the sleek design with thin bezels, but we hope to see a slight reduction in bezel size and a variety of new color options to choose from. 

(Image credit: Phillip Tracy/Laptop Mag)

As you'll find in our iPad mini 6 review, we were happy with the performance of the A15 Bionic chip, sporting a six-core CPU and five-core graphics. However, in our Geekbench 5 tests, the iPad mini scored a 4,450, edging out the iPad Air 4 (4,262, A14 Bionic). This proves the A15 to be only a minor upgrade over its predecessor. Still, we're interested to see how the iPad Air 5 will handle the upgraded processor.

Will the fifth-generation iPad Air be a worthy upgrade to grab? Only time will tell, but with the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 set to arrive soon, iPads may see big competition from Android tablets this year. 

Darragh Murphy
Darragh Murphy
Editor

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.