The first propagation of iPad Air launched in November 2013 and has continued to be part of Apple ’s more premium lozenge oblation ( though not as agiotage as the iPad Pro . ) In comparability , the MacBook Air series first set up back in 2008 and has come a long way since .
apart from sharing a similar name , are the iPad Air and MacBook Air really like equipment ? As the iPad Air is a tablet and the MacBook Air is a laptop computer , is one good than the other ?
We ’ve put together this comparison guide , highlighting the differences between the iPad Air range and the MacBook Air range , so you may determine which one is better accommodate for you and your needs .
This guide will be compare the iPad Air and MacBook Air range as a whole , rather than entirely focusing on specific models .
Pricing and availability
Direct from the Apple website , the cheapest availableMacBook Air is the 13 - inch M2model which jump at £ 999/$999 and the most expensive is the 15 - inchM3 modelwhich starts at £ 1699/$1699 .
likewise , the cheesy iPad Air that ’s availableon the Apple websiteis the former 11 - column inch M2 good example for £ 599/$599 and the most expensive is the 13 - inch for £ 799/$799 . At the sentence of writing the iPad Air M1 , which only launch in 2022 , is not available direct through Apple .
It ’s also deserving considering the price of the Magic Keyboard accessory , which is necessitate to use the iPad Air as a jury-rigged laptop . This Magic Keyboard has a starting price of £ 299/$299 , which means you ’d need to pay a amount of at least £ 898/$898 for buy the iPad Air with the keyboard supplement bundled in .
Design
In its simplest form , the swelled divergence between the iPad Air and MacBook Air is that the former is a touchscreen tablet and the latter is a laptop . However the iPad Air has always been compatible with either a generic Bluetooth or Apple ’s own Magic Keyboard , which mean you could create your own makeshift touchscreen laptop computer if that ’s what you ’d prefer .
The MacBook Air has normally had larger option to the iPad Air , vary from 11 - column inch up to 15 - inches , whereas the iPad Air has range from 10 - inch and only latterly get to to 13 - inch with the new iPad Air 6 .
While both the MacBook Air and iPad Air have a front - facing camera , and have for the last decade or so , the iPad Air has antecedently privilege a portrait - positioned camera rather than the landscape - positioned camera that ’s found on the MacBook Air . However , the recent launch of the iPad Air 6 envision Apple switch to a landscape television camera for the first clock time in an iPad Air mannequin .
Screen
Naturally as a tab , the iPad Air has always been a touchscreen machine and does n’t need a trackpad or external mouse . Even so , the iPad Air is compatible with Apple Pencil , which was introduce alongside the iPad Air 3rd Generation to make using the touch screen leisurely , peculiarly if you ’re a digital graphic designer or just bask doodling and paw penning notes .
In comparison , the MacBook has never had a touchscreen presentation and always include a trackpad on the machine .
Both iPad Air and MacBook Air have a Liquid Retina showing and are equipped withTrue Tone , an Apple display technology designed to make images appear more born in different ignition situations .
Performance
Since 2020 , all new MacBook Air models have run on one of Apple ’s desktop - degree M - series chips . Starting withM1and going up toM3 , the MacBook Air has prognosticate speedy performance and a long - hold out assault and battery life .
Impressively , the two most recent iPad Air offerings have also incline on Apple ’s desktop level M chip , with the iPad Air 5 run on the M1 and the new iPad Air 6 running on the M2 . This should give the late devices from each range a exchangeable performance , although older iPad Air models used to run on the A - serial chip instead , which offer a performance more equivalent to an iPhone than a MacBook .
The two devices also run on different operating systems , iPadOS and macOS , with the former let more in vulgar with iOS which the iPhone runs on . While Macs are able-bodied to run iPadOS apps , iPads are n’t able to run macOS apps .
Battery life
While the iPad Air can vie with the MacBook Air in terms of speed , it ’s not quite the suit for barrage fire life . In our testing of theiPad Air ( 2022 ) , the lozenge lasted around 10 hour of TV streaming . For comparison , theMacBook Air M3lasted around 18 hour of video playback , offering far better stamina .
These event will of course take issue for different products in each kitchen stove , but gestate the MacBook Air to still offer up honest battery life than an iPad Air since its larger sizing is capable to oblige a bigger assault and battery .
In term of charging , the iPad Air made the switching from a 30 - pivot connecter to USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate , skipping the Lightning connecter entirely . In equivalence , the latest MacBook Air laptop computer now practice Apple ’s ownMagSafetechnology .
