Apple’s latest iPad Air might just make you think twice about an Android tablet

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• The new iPad Air features the M4 SoC, providing a ~30 % speed boost and an increase in RAM to 12 GB.
• Connectivity sees a major overhaul with the C1X cellular modem, Wi‑Fi 7, and Thread support.
• Pricing remains unchanged: $599 for the 11‑inch model and $799 for the 13‑inch model.

Apple has refreshed the iPad Air alongside the iPhone 17e. The upgrade is modest—a newer chip without major design changes—but the price stays flat, making it an attractive option for anyone needing a new iPad Air. If you already have a recent generation that works fine, you can probably skip it.

M4 SoC and Memory

The 2026 iPad Air ships with the M4 SoC, featuring an 8‑core CPU and 9‑core GPU. While the core count matches the 2025 M3 model, Apple claims the M4 is about 30 % faster. Unified memory jumps from 8 GB (M3) to 12 GB, and memory bandwidth rises to 120 GB/s.

Connectivity

• Cellular: Switches to the C1X modem (replacing the Qualcomm modem used in the M3).
• Wi‑Fi & Bluetooth: Includes the N1 chip, enabling Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 (up from Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3).
• Thread: First‑time support on the iPad Air, thanks to the N1 chip.

Design, Display, and Cameras

The overall design stays the same:

• Sizes: 11‑inch and 13‑inch Liquid Retina (IPS LCD) displays with a 60 Hz refresh rate. (For a 120 Hz ProMotion OLED panel, you still need the iPad Pro.)
• Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard compatibility remain unchanged.
• Cameras: 12 MP rear (f/1.8) and 12 MP front cameras are retained.
• OS: Ships with iPadOS 26.

Apple iPad Air (M4) Pricing and Availability

The iPad Air (M4) keeps the same pricing as its predecessor. Higher RAM makes it a better value. Below is the full pricing matrix:

11‑inch Wi‑Fi

11‑inch Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)

13‑inch Wi‑Fi

13‑inch Wi‑Fi + Cellular (5G)

Pre‑orders start March 4, with sales beginning March 11. Available colors are Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray.