Knowing your iPad battery health helps you decide when it's time for a new tablet. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Checking the health and maximum capacity of the battery in older iPad models isn’t as easy as it should be, but we can walk you through the process. Finding out how worn out the tablet’s battery is can help you decide if it’s time for a new model.
But for those who already upgraded to the latest iPad Pro or iPad Air, checking battery health is a snap.
M2 iPad Air is a new tablet, yet you can get almost $100 off it already. Photo: Apple
If you can’t wait for Amazon Prime Day July 16 and 17, turns out you don’t even need to — every Prime Day, deals start leaking out early. Right now you can take up to $90 off the recently released M2 iPad Air, for example. And that’s just the biggest savings on a top model. Plenty of early Prime Day deals on M2 iPad Air models with lesser specs can be had, too. See the examples below.
It's a great time to buy the iPad Air from 2022. Photo: Apple
The new 11-inch and 13-inch M2 iPad Air models are great tablets, but not everyone wants to throw down $600 or more. And not everyone needs bleeding-edge performance. That’s why sales on the previous models like the one right now at Best Buy are such great opportunities. You can chop $200 off M1 iPad Air and enjoy it for years to come.
Apple could be future-proofing its Macs and iPads with this move. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone 15 Pro and 2nd gen HomePod are not the only Apple devices to ship with a Thread router. The company has secretly shipped all its recent iPad and Mac models with the smart home radio as well.
Unlike on the iPhones though, the Thread router is not active. This could explain why Apple has not advertised its inclusion in the specs page of its new Macs and iPads.
Should you ditch your Pro for the newest Air? Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple’s recently released M2 iPad Air packs modest upgrades over its predecessor and the same processor as 2022’s M2 iPad Pro. How do the two Apple tablets with identical M2 chips compare? Find out in our M2 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air comparison.
While the new midrange tablet seems tempting, an iPad Air is still an Air, not a Pro.
Which is the better choice these days? Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Should your next computer be a MacBook or an iPad? Apple is making the iPad more powerful and capable every year — it might be good enough that you don’t need a traditional computer in your life.
While macOS is still more powerful and versatile, the iPad’s hardware offers unique capabilities that no Mac can match. The iPad is easier to pick up and use, more portable and more reliable. It’s worth considering over a laptop if you don’t do a lot of specialized work.
Here are the pros and cons, MacBook vs. iPad: Price, easy of use, portability and more. Keep reading below or watch our video.
See that? Apple Pencil Pro casts the shadow of the tool selected -- a fountain pen. Photo: @SnazzyLabs, X.com
M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air users are justifiably excited by Apple Pencil Pro’s fantastic and highly functional new features. But now they’re discovering a delightful feature Apple didn’t highlight at its recent “Let Loose” event. The stylus casts a shadow of the selected tool in use on the screen.
That feature may not equal the functional importance of the new squeeze gesture or haptic feedback, but judging by user reactions in the videos below, it’s pretty much the coolest thing ever.
Folks may have just been waiting for the new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. Image: Apple
The iPad buying cycle has slowed because iPad owners increasingly hold onto their old tablets for longer periods than in the past, a new analysis showed Wednesday.
However, the just-ended wait for the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air could be a big reason why. It was a long one. The previous generations both came out in 2022.
Quickly checking iPad battery health just got a lot easier with M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air finally make it easy to manage your tablet’s battery heath from the Settings app. iPadOS finally has a Battery Health menu in its 17.5 version, but it only works with the new iPads, not older models.
The new feature lets you limit charges to 80% capacity, which can extend the battery’s lifespan.
Compatibility with the new Apple Pencil Pro is one reason to buy this year's iPad Air. Photo: Apple
The first reviews of the 2024 iPad Air paint the tablet as a budget version of last year’s iPad Pro.
Here’s the consensus of the early M2 iPad Air reviews: If you want a big-screen iPad, but don’t need (or don’t want to pay for) high-end features like an OLED screen, Face ID and Apple’s most powerful processor, this is the tablet for you.
We don't have to wait for deals on the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air. Photo: Apple
M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air are so new they haven’t even reached customers yet and there are already deals on many configurations. There are discounts on a variety of screen sizes and built-in storage options.
Savvy shoppers can save up to $50 by buying these hot new tablets from Amazon.
It's a great time to score an M1 iPad Air at a super-low price. Photo: Apple
Savvy, bargain-conscious Apple shoppers know new model releases can also herald the lowest-ever prices on recent, not-actually-new but new-to-them products. And with the recent rollout of M2 iPad Air, great deals on M1 iPad Air abound.
How much iPad chatter can you handle? Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple’s “Let Loose” event is over, and the new iPad Pro and iPad Air are officially here. In our postmortem, we discuss the pros (tons) and cons (not many) of the new tablets. Plus, we go over what we got right and wrong in the run-up to the event.
Also on The CultCast:
Apple Pencil Pro and the new Magic Keyboard for iPad sound great for artists.
Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro gain some cool new features.
The first M4 chip benchmarks look promising.
That eye-catching “Crush!” ad for the iPad Pro lands Apple in hot water.
And we have a winner in our “Let Loose” event predictions challenge.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Is your iPad Air old enough to justify buying the new iPad Air? Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Depending on which model of iPad you own, it might be time to upgrade to the new iPad Air with M2. Announced on May 7, 2024, the new iPad Air features a speedy Apple M2 chip. It’s a great middle-of-the-road iPad, with plenty of storage on the base model and a nice display that’s now available in a 13-inch size. It’s easily upgradable with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
However, whether it’s worth upgrading to the M2 iPad Air depends on which iPad you already own — so we put together a buying guide to help you make the decision. Check the infographic below or watch the video.
iPad Pro or iPad Air: Which new iPad is right for you? Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
The new M4 iPad Pro brings big technological leaps to Apple’s high-end tablet. It packs a cutting-edge OLED display and a fast M4 chip inside the “thinnest Apple product ever.” Upgrades in the M2 iPad Air, unveiled Tuesday alongside the Pro model during Apple’s “Let Loose” event, aren’t as impressive. An in-depth M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air comparison, however, shows that the midrange Apple tablet likely makes a better choice for many users.
So, are you confused about buying the M4 iPad Pro versus the M2 iPad Air? This comparison will help you decide.
The new Pitaka folio serves as a stand and case for a new 2024 iPad Pro or iPad Air. Photo: Pitaka
The new Pitaka MagEZ Folio 2 serves as a case and holds the recently released M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air in landscape and portrait orientations as a stand, the company said Wednesday. It provides an option for new tablet owners in search of an affordable case and stand.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Pitaka MagEZ Folio 2, the ultimate accessory for the new iPad Pro,” said Pitaka CEO James Zheng. “Designed with the modern professional in mind, this folio combines sleek design, premium materials, and innovative features to elevate the iPad Pro experience.”
Apple isn't the only option for a cool iPad Pro or iPad Air keyboard case. Like this one from ESR. Image: ESR
Apple unveiled the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air on Tuesday, and third-party accessory-makers were prepared. Logitech, Otterbox, Zagg, Pitaka and ESR have all already unveiled peripherals for the new tablets.
There are keyboard cases, cases, screen protectors ands more.
Apple's newest Pro and Air iPads do not feature a physical SIM slot. Image: Apple
Following the iPhone’s footsteps, Apple has switched entirely to eSIM on the 2024 iPad Pro and Air. The two tablets’ cellular models lack a physical SIM slot altogether.
With this move, Apple has transitioned two major product categories to eSIMs.
Watch the event in just 3.95% of the time. Photo: Apple
Today’s “Let Loose” Apple event overhauled the iPad lineup. Apple unleashed a new iPad Pro and iPad Air, the refreshed Apple Pencil Pro, a sleek new Magic Keyboard, and lowered the price of the regular iPad. The iPad mini was acknowledged, too.
Apple gives the world its first look at the Apple Pencil Pro. Photo: Apple
Apple introduced a new third-generation “pro” Apple Pencil at its “Let Loose” iPad event Tuesday alongside new iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The first Apple Pencil Pro brings a new “squeeze” gesture, an internal gyroscope, haptic feedback and Find My support, making it the most capable iPad stylus yet.
Available to order today for $129 — the same price as the second-generation Apple Pencil — the Apple Pencil Pro gains features normally found on styluses for dedicated drawing tablets, like a new “squeeze” gesture and a “Barrel Roll” gyroscope for precise tool controls.
“The new features in Apple Pencil Pro are simply revolutionary,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, in the introductory “Let Loose” video. “And we’re also excited that Apple Pencil Pro works with the new iPad Air as well, giving air users yet another pro feature to push their creativity.”
The 2024 iPad Air lineup comes in two new colors, blue and purple, in addition to silver and space gray. Photo: Apple
Apple gave the iPad Air a significant size increase at its “Let Loose” event Tuesday. You can get the new 2024 model with a 13-inch display in addition to the familiar smaller size, now 11 inches instead of 10.9. But no matter the size, the tablet runs an Apple M2 processor and features a front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera on the landscape edge and beefed-up speakers.
“Inspired by iPad Pro, where about half the users choose a larger screen, we created a 13-inch model of the new iPad Air, as well,” said Melody Kuna, Apple’s director of iPad Product Design. “[It] has 30% more screen real estate than the 11-inch Air.”
Apple's product launch event might be about more than iPad. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Gorgeous new iPad Pro and iPad Air models are expected to be the highlights of Apple’s “Let Loose” product event on May 7. Tablet accessories are on the agenda, too.
But there also could be big news for those who don’t use an iPad. Apple might surprise us with the M4 processor, a first glimpse at upcoming AI features, and maybe even a Mac Studio upgrade. Plus more.
It's times like this we envy folks who waited to buy. Photo: Apple
With new iPads expected right around the corner at Apple’s May 7 “Let Loose” event, you can expect discounts on older models. Check out Monday’s great deal at Best Buy — the lowest price on M1 iPad Air 5 (64GB, Wi-Fi) at $399. That’s a whopping $200 off.
And that’s not the only iPad deal at Best Buy going on right now. See others below.