When comparing battery life, the standard iPad outperforms the iPad Air, which is a significant factor for me. That extra hour or more is greatly appreciated.
Considering the price difference, I find myself questioning the value of upgrading to another iPad Air. I currently own the 9th generation, and it serves my needs well while being more budget-friendly.
I also have an iPad 11. Apple consistently advertises a battery life of 10 hours for all its iPads, but my experience suggests otherwise.
The claim often doesn’t hold up under real-world testing. The iPad Air 5 is powered by the M1 chip, while my iPad 11 features a down-clocked A16 chip, which typically consumes less power.
This difference in chip performance helps explain the better battery life I’ve noticed. After thorough testing with both devices under ideal conditions—specifically light usage with low brightness and efficient settings—I’ve observed that the battery life of the 11th-generation iPad seems to be 15 to 20% longer.
However, battery performance can vary significantly based on individual usage patterns. For heavy users, battery life differences may become negligible.
In my case, the iPad Air 5 provides approximately 22 hours of screen-on time, while the 11th-gen iPad approaches 27 hours. My iPad Air 5 is two years old, and I was informed that I couldn’t buy a new battery or expand its storage.
Furthermore, there are no external drive options available. When I had to replace my Air due to issues, the ordering process raised concerns—I received a device with a different name and credit card digits, leading me to wonder if it was refurbished instead of brand new.
Lastly, I am seeking advice on how to back up files on the 5th generation Air, as I understand this capability may differ from the Pro model.
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