iPad Air (2024) review: Not the cheapest, and not the best, but still great

The iPad Air doesn't quite measure up to that modern iPad Pro standard, but can boast about not being an entry-level iPad. It's nearly as good as the last-gen Pro at a significantly lower price point.

The iPad Air refresh isn't for annual iPad buyers, as rare as they are. It's for new buyers, converters, or those who maybe haven't bought a tablet in several years.

I don't get that reviewers think they should be recommending to owners of 1 to 2 year old machines to upgrade. Why is this a thing? Is it an SEO thing? It doesn't matter the device, no reviewer should be recommending to anyone that they should upgrade from their 1 to 2 year old devices. There isn't any good reason whatsoever, all things equal.

One thing that a reviewer, or if you are asked to proffer an opinion, should do is think about whether they would recommend the $700 M1 MBA and $1000 M2 MBA over the 2024 iPA 11 & 13 models, or is it a better option than a $400 to $1000 Chromebook or Windows machine. That's a pretty tough thing to figure out and is dependent on the user. For certain people, an iPad should be the first thing that is recommended.

A iPad, or a tablet, is the most mobile large display device on the market. That changes how it is used versus a laptop or a 2-in-1, or a tablet that is heavier than the iPA. For a lot of consumers, that mobility is more valuable than say unlimited multitasking. If the user spend most of their time with their iPad on a desktop, they are either drawing with it, have simpler workflows, and possibly a laptop would be the better option for them.