Can iPad Air 4 can withstand the work application instead of a PC?

The iPad Air 4 can also use peripherals for the iPad Pro, and can be operated comfortably using the trackpad. Can such a new iPad be used for work? This time, I compared it with various devices in the same class.

*This is a re-edited version of the article published in the January 2021 issue of "GetNavi".

I will verify

Free editor

Shinichi Arima

For smartphones, I mainly check SIM-free models. We are considering moving to 5G because 5G compatible products were cheaper than expected.

Equipped with A14 Bionic chip for improved processing performance

Apple

iPad Air 4

From 69,080 yen

The new iPad Air with a 10.9-inch display that is the same size as the iPad Pro. Equipped with the latest A14 Bionic. Pro series accessories such as the second-generation Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard can be used.

SPEC ●OS: iPadOS 14 ●CPU: A14 Bionic ●Storage: 64/256GB ●Display: 10.9 inches (2360×1640 dots) ●Size/Weight: W178.5×H247.6×D6.1mm/Approx.458g

Equipped with the latest 64-bit processor designed by Apple. By making it a 6-core configuration, it achieves processing power approaching that of the iPad Pro, which uses 4 high-performance cores. Real-time music mixing is also lightly handled.

A full range of accessories that are easy to use for work!

Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

15,950 yen

The second generation of Apple Pencil with pixel-per-pixel drawing. Attach it to the side of the iPad with a magnet to charge it.

Magic Keyboard

34,980 yen

You can also use the new Magic Keyboard. Equipped with a trackpad for more PC-like operability.

vs

[Case 1] U-100,000 2 in 1 Chromebook

A variety of models of Chromebooks equipped with Chrome OS have appeared. The detachable 2 in 1 type IdeaPad Duet has a separate touch monitor and can be used like a tablet.

lenovo

IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

40,841 yen

Chrome OS is also attractive for its speed of startup. This unit is more affordable than the iPad.

[Case 2] Surface Go 2

Also consider iPad rival Surface. Surface Go 2 is the cheapest model with a high-resolution 10.5-inch LCD. Combined with the separately sold keyboard cover and pen, the feeling of operation is the same as that of the iPad.

Microsoft

Surface Go 2

65,780 yen

The biggest attraction is that it is equipped with a Windows OS. You can work in an environment similar to a PC.

[Case 3] U-100,000 yen PC + board tablet

If you add a board tablet to your PC, you can use pen input in the same way as an iPad. This time, we selected products to be in a price range similar to iPad Air 4, combining PCs and board tablets.

HP

14s-dk 1000

55,000 yen

A 14-inch machine equipped with a Ryzen processor. Extensibility is also ◎, such as equipped with USB Type-C.

Wacom

Wacom Intuos Small

14,080 yen

A small board tablet that is ideal for getting started with pen input. It also supports Bluetooth connection.

[Part 1] Cost performance competition

Investigate the cost of purchasing a set of keyboards and pens. In addition, we measured the benchmark score of each machine using Performance Test. These were considered comprehensively and ranked.

The set of the notebook PC and the board tab is well balanced

If you look at the price alone, the IdeaPad Duet, which comes with a detachable keyboard, is overwhelmingly cheap, but its performance is slightly disadvantageous. On the other hand, both the iPad and Surface Go 2 have keyboards sold separately, but there is a big difference in price. The iPad's Magic Keyboard is 34,980 yen, more than double the 16,940 yen Surface Go 'type cover'. After all Apple products are expensive accessories. HP's "14s-dk 1000" was very good in terms of overall performance and cost performance balance.

*: Score measured using PassMark SOFTWARE's "Performance Test" app

Both the iPad and the Surface are a bit expensive, considering the pen and keyboard. The combination of notebook PC + board tab has a habit of pen input operability, but the cost performance was excellent.

[Part 2] Portability Competition

In order to get closer to actual use, we measured and compared the total mass of the main unit plus the detachable keyboard and dedicated pen. As a guideline, if it exceeds 1500g, it can be said that it tends to feel heavy when carrying.

The new iPad Air was light in weight, but...

In terms of body weight, the iPad Air is about 458g, while the Surface Go 2 is slightly heavier at about 544g. However, the iPad's Magic Keyboard is quite heavy at 600g, and the "type cover" used by the Surface Go 2 is only 245g. Surface is the best in the set that you actually carry around. The runner-up is the IdeaPad Duet.

The new iPad Air won the lightness without a keyboard. If you use pen input but don't mind having a keyboard, the iPad Air is recommended.

[Part 3] Work Efficiency Competition

If you use it as a work machine, investigate the compatibility of the essential Office software. After that, I typed a fixed sentence and checked the feel of the keyboard. We also examined the average communication speed.

The difference in CPU performance and communication format led to the difference in DL speed

Office can be used on all models, but the iPad and Chrome apps are limited in functionality. All of the detachable keyboards have a good typing feel, and although there are differences in character placement, they are within the scope of familiarity. The download speed compares the average of 3 trials. As a result, the notebook PC that only supported IEEE 802.11g communication was at the bottom.

For iPad, Excel does not support macros, so be careful if you need the same function. However, the communication speed is much faster than other models, and it is ranked first in terms of stress-free work.

[Part 4] Ease of pen input competition

Verification of the difference in the feeling of use of the stylus pen that determines the feeling of use as a tablet. In addition to drawing lines by hand, we also verified the operational feeling when pointing to an icon with a pen.

The board tab is the best for precise input even if you need to get used to it

With the exception of the IdeaPad Duet, all pens had side buttons that registered functions and color changes. Pen pressure detection is also common at 4096 levels. The plate tab does not support tilt detection, but I felt that it was the top in terms of followability to touch operations. However, the operability is peculiar and requires proficiency. In that respect, the iPad is easy to use even for beginners.

Inexpensive board tabs do not have a tilt detection function, making them somewhat difficult to use for illustrations. However, I was able to retouch photos and add handwritten comments to PDF files comfortably enough.

If you have a liquid crystal tablet that allows you to write directly on the display at hand, you can use the screen and your hand like a board tab. It is possible to work without letting the movement of the body soak into the body. If you just want to take notes, electronic paper is also recommended.

Fujitsu Client Computing

QUADERNO A5 size

39,800 yen

Electronic paper that specializes in carrying, taking out and writing a huge amount of materials. The stamina that can be driven for about 3 weeks on a single charge is attractive. It comes with a pen that feels like writing with a pencil, making it perfect for taking notes.

Wacom

Wacom One LCD Pen Tablet 13

42,900 yen

A pen tablet with a 13.3-inch LCD that comes with a stylus pen "Wacom One Pen" that does not require charging. It supports tilt detection up to 60 degrees, making it a natural writing experience. The maximum display color is 16.77 million colors.