Is The New Ipad Air Worth Upgrading From An Ipad 8 For Students And Creatives

The iPad 8, released in 2020, was a solid workhorse for students and casual creators. It offered a 10.2-inch Retina display, support for the first-generation Apple Pencil, and decent performance with its A12 Bionic chip. But now, with the arrival of the latest iPad Air (5th generation), powered by the M1 chip and featuring a modern edge-to-edge design, many users are asking: is it truly worth upgrading?

For students managing notes, research, and multimedia projects—and for creatives sketching, editing photos, or designing on the go—the answer depends on how much you rely on your iPad as a primary tool. This article breaks down the key differences, evaluates real-world benefits, and helps you decide whether the jump makes sense for your workflow.

Performance Leap: From A12 to M1 Chip

The most dramatic upgrade between the iPad 8 and the new iPad Air is under the hood. The iPad 8 runs on the A12 Bionic chip—a capable processor in its time but now showing its age when multitasking or handling intensive apps. In contrast, the iPad Air (2022) features Apple’s M1 chip, the same silicon found in high-end MacBooks and iMacs.

This isn’t just a minor speed bump. The M1 delivers up to 60% faster CPU performance and a staggering 2x faster GPU than the A12. Real-world implications include:

• Seamless app switching with multiple tabs and documents open
• Faster rendering in creative apps like Procreate, Adobe Fresco, and LumaFusion
• Better responsiveness when using split-view or slide-over multitasking
• Improved machine learning capabilities for handwriting recognition and photo enhancement

“Moving from an older iPad to an M1-powered model feels like stepping into a new class of computing. It’s not just faster—it’s more capable.” — Jordan Lee, Digital Artist & Tech Educator

If you're frequently working with layered artwork, editing video timelines, or running productivity suites like Microsoft 365 or Notability with heavy annotations, the M1 chip transforms the experience from functional to fluid.

Tip: If you use your iPad for anything beyond basic browsing and note-taking, the M1 chip future-proofs your device for at least 4–5 years.

Design and Display: A Modern Upgrade

The iPad 8 uses Apple’s older design language: thick bezels, a home button with Touch ID, and a slightly heavier build. The new iPad Air adopts the sleek, edge-to-edge design introduced with the iPad Pro—slimmer bezels, no home button, and Face ID (via the top button).

The screen size remains similar—10.9 inches compared to 10.2—but the newer Liquid Retina display offers better brightness, color accuracy, and reduced glare. For creatives who spend hours drawing or editing visuals, this difference is noticeable in outdoor settings and low-light environments.

Another subtle but meaningful improvement is weight distribution. The iPad Air is lighter (461g vs. 490g on Wi-Fi models) and better balanced, making it easier to hold during long study sessions or while sketching in bed.

Feature	iPad 8	iPad Air (5th Gen)
Chip	A12 Bionic	M1
Display Size	10.2\"	10.9\"
Bezels	Thick, Home Button	Narrow, Full-Screen
Biometric Login	Touch ID (Home Button)	Face ID (Top Button)
Weight (Wi-Fi)	490g	461g
Pencil Support	1st Gen (requires Lightning)	2nd Gen (magnetic pairing & charging)
Keyboard Support	Smart Keyboard (limited availability)	MagSafe Keyboard compatibility

Creative Workflow Improvements

For digital artists, illustrators, and designers, the combination of hardware and software enhancements in the new iPad Air significantly elevates the creative experience.

Apple Pencil 2 support is a game-changer. Unlike the first-gen Pencil that charges via the iPad’s Lightning port, the second-gen pairs magnetically, charges wirelessly, and includes a double-tap gesture for tool switching. This eliminates constant plugging and unplugging and enables a more intuitive drawing process.

The M1 chip also allows for higher canvas resolutions in apps like Procreate. Users report being able to work with 4K canvases without lag, something that would choke the iPad 8. Similarly, video editors using LumaFusion can handle 4K timelines with multiple layers and effects—tasks that previously required a laptop.

One often-overlooked benefit is improved palm rejection and lower latency. The newer display and Pencil pairing reduce input lag to just 9ms, making writing and sketching feel almost paper-like.

Mini Case Study: Art Student Upgrades Mid-Degree

Sophia, a third-year illustration student at RISD, used her iPad 8 for all her concept sketches and digital assignments. While it worked initially, she began hitting limits during her animation course. Exporting multi-layered frames took minutes, and zooming in caused noticeable stutter.

After upgrading to the iPad Air, she noticed immediate improvements. “I can now work on complex illustrations without worrying about crashes,” she said. “The magnetic Pencil means I don’t lose it, and the longer battery life gets me through back-to-back studio critiques.”

She estimates she saves nearly two hours per week in rendering and export time alone—time she now uses for refining details or experimenting with new styles.

Student Use: Beyond Note-Taking

Students today use iPads for far more than typing lecture notes. They annotate PDFs, collaborate on group projects, record voice memos, manage calendars, and participate in virtual classrooms. The iPad Air enhances each of these functions.

With Center Stage (a feature enabled by the ultra-wide front camera), the iPad automatically pans and zooms during video calls to keep you in frame. This is particularly useful during online office hours or group discussions where you might move around.

The USB-C port on the iPad Air (vs. Lightning on iPad 8) opens up peripheral options. You can connect external drives, cameras, MIDI controllers, or even use it as a scanner via document apps. For students in film, music, or journalism, this flexibility is invaluable.

Additionally, the iPad Air supports faster Wi-Fi 6, ensuring smoother downloads of large textbooks, research databases, or streaming lectures on campus networks.

Tip: Use the Files app with cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive) to automatically sync assignments across devices and avoid last-minute file transfer hassles.

Checklist: Is the iPad Air Right for You?

Ask yourself the following before upgrading:

1. Do you regularly use apps like Procreate, Adobe Illustrator Draw, or LumaFusion?
2. Have you experienced slowdowns or crashes on your iPad 8 during multitasking?
3. Are you planning to use your iPad for more than three years?
4. Do you value a lightweight, modern design with long-term accessory support?
5. Would wireless Pencil charging and MagSafe keyboard attachment improve your workflow?

If you answered “yes” to three or more, the upgrade is likely justified.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

The iPad 8 starts at $329, while the iPad Air begins at $599—a $270 difference. Add the Apple Pencil 2 ($129) and Magic Keyboard Folio ($299), and the total jumps to over $1,000. That’s a significant investment.

However, consider the lifespan. The iPad 8 is nearing the end of its software support cycle. Apple typically provides 5–6 years of OS updates, and since the iPad 8 launched in 2020, it may stop receiving updates around 2026. In contrast, the M1-powered iPad Air will likely be supported until at least 2028–2030.

For students entering multi-year programs or creatives building a portfolio, that extended support window ensures access to the latest apps, security patches, and collaboration tools.

Moreover, resale value favors the iPad Air. After three years, a well-maintained iPad Air retains roughly 50–60% of its value, compared to 30–40% for the iPad 8.

FAQ

Can I use my first-gen Apple Pencil with the new iPad Air?

No. The iPad Air (5th gen) only supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, which attaches magnetically for pairing and charging. The first-gen Pencil uses the Lightning port and is not compatible.

Is the screen laminated on the iPad Air?

Yes. The iPad Air features a fully laminated display, meaning there’s no air gap between the glass and the LCD layer. This improves clarity, reduces reflections, and enhances the writing/drawing experience—especially with the Pencil.

Does the iPad Air have better battery life?

Battery life is similar—both offer up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback. However, the iPad Air achieves this while delivering significantly higher performance, making its efficiency per watt far superior.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Transition Smoothly

If you decide to upgrade, follow this plan to make the switch seamless:

1. Back up your iPad 8: Use iCloud or iTunes to ensure all data is saved.
2. Transfer apps and settings: During setup, choose “Transfer from iPad” to move accounts, passwords, and preferences.
3. Update your accessories: Purchase the Apple Pencil 2 and a compatible keyboard if needed.
4. Optimize storage: Consider the 256GB model if you work with large files or videos.
5. Explore new features: Test Center Stage, Split View with multiple apps, and handwriting conversion in Notes.

Taking these steps ensures you’re not just getting a faster device, but unlocking its full potential from day one.

Conclusion: A Worthy Investment for Serious Users

For casual users who check email, read articles, and take occasional notes, the iPad 8 remains functional. But for students juggling demanding coursework and creatives pushing digital boundaries, the new iPad Air is more than an upgrade—it’s a transformation.

The shift from the A12 to the M1 chip, the modern full-screen design, enhanced Pencil integration, and future-ready connectivity collectively create a device that doesn’t just keep up, but keeps ahead. It bridges the gap between tablet convenience and laptop-level performance.

If your iPad is central to your education or creative output, investing in the iPad Air isn’t about luxury—it’s about capability, longevity, and efficiency. The extra cost pays dividends in time saved, frustration avoided, and creativity unleashed.

🚀 Ready to elevate your digital workflow? Assess your current usage, calculate your long-term needs, and consider whether the iPad Air can become your next essential tool. Share your upgrade experience or questions in the comments below.