Some iPad Air 5 users are complaining on social media about a supposed deterioration in build quality.
The complaints state (via iMore) that the iPad Air 5 has a significantly thinner aluminum casing, which results in a hollow feeling in the hand and slight pressure on the back of the device, causing the display to warp. In a thread on Reddit, there are numerous complaints from iPad Air users complaining about the build quality of the device. In the first Contribution of the thread it says:
I ordered and received two blue iPad Air 2022 today and I'm a bit shocked. The aluminum back panel is much thinner than the iPad 4, which I also have. When you hold the device in your hand, you can almost feel the battery through the panel. Both iPads have the same feel and make creaking noises when you hold them. This was not the case with the iPad Air 4.
A number of replies in this thread confirmed and expanded on the issues, suggesting that this is not an isolated case. Some users even posted videos of creaking noises made by lightly tapping the screen to illustrate some of the issues.
iPad Air 5 is externally identical to its predecessor
Some responses stated that the iPad Air feels "very inferior" compared to its predecessor and that there is a noticeable difference on the back of the device. It "feels like I can feel the inside of the device from the back," one response said. The first reviews of the fifth-generation iPad Air were published earlier this week. None of the reviewers mentioned a deterioration in build quality, and aside from the new color options, the iPad Air is externally identical to the previous model. Key new features of the iPad Air include the same M1 chip as in the iPad Pro, 5G connectivity on cellular models, an improved 12-megapixel front-facing camera with support for Center Stage, a USB-C port for data transfer up to 2x faster, and new color options. (Image: Apple)
