iPad Air What happened to iPad Air?

[Torty]

The air devices started as light weight devices. The first iPad air was much lighter than the normal predecessor iPad 4.

This was gone with the introduction of the iPad Pro. practical no difference in weight. The air simply became the „cheap“ iPad and the standard iPad the Budget iPad.

 

[PeteBurgh]

The air devices started as light weight devices. The first iPad air was much lighter than the normal predecessor iPad 4.

This was gone with the introduction of the iPad Pro. practical no difference in weight. The air simply became the „cheap“ iPad and the standard iPad the Budget iPad.

I think you've answered your own question really - yes, 'Air' doesn't really signify 'lightweight' anymore, rather a product tier a step below 'Pro'. (See also, the 2015 12" MacBook, which was substantially smaller and lighter than the Air at the time).

I think it's fair to say that the 11-inch (ish) iPad line-up is in a pretty confused state. Lots of choice, but some confusing choices and trade-offs as well.

 

[nStyle]

It’s a rhetorical question…but yeah, he’s right - the Air name used to mean something but now it doesn’t. It’s just a way now for them to build their pricing ladder and have more offerings.

 

[satchmo]

The differences between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro 11 is pretty minimal.

Apple probably has data that warrants having two similar products in the product line.
Maybe there’s a subset of users who considers themselves as a ‘pro’ and would never accept anything less. Or the margins are so good, they can’t not keep it in the lineup.

If there’s profit to be had, I’m sure Tim has given it the green light.

 

[FeliApple]

Yeah, the Air now means it is just a step below the Pro in features. Even so, they’re very similar.

For me, the differences are negligible, with the only thing I like about the M1 iPad Pro compared to my Air is the quad speakers. Even so, I almost don’t use them. I tend to use headphones, even on my absolutely brilliant speakers-wise 9.7-inch iPad Pro (even if it is the first gen, the speakers are really good. I’ve read that there isn’t a whole lot of difference with the latest iPad Pro in speaker quality, regardless of design changes), but like I said, I don’t really use them much. There was no reason for me to buy the Pro instead of my Air 5.

 

[Lakersfan74]

Quite a few differences between Air 5 and the Pro models. Promotion, newest chip, thunderbolt usb-c, better cameras with LiDAR, pencil hover, ProRes video recording capability, 4 speakers. Only $150 more for the 11” Pro model over the Air 5 if choosing 256 options for both

 

[Digitalguy]

Quite a few differences between Air 5 and the Pro models. Promotion, newest chip, thunderbolt usb-c, better cameras with LiDAR, pencil hover, ProRes video recording capability, 4 speakers. Only $150 more for the 11” Pro model over the Air 5 if choosing 256 options for both

There are also a couple of differences nobody mentiones when comparing, which I consider in the bonus category. One is more slightly more screen, as though that didn't matter at all to anyone (I gladly take more screen), and the other si M2. It's a 20-30% speed difference between CPU and GPU that one would only notice side by side, but some people have been making a lot of fuss about it to justify upgrading from M1 pro to M2 pro, but it's still a bonus...
Anyway for me the bigger difference is the base storage, that I guess is probably the main reason that decides many people to go with the base pro....