iPad Air (M4, 2026) review: I benchmarked Apple's tablet with the Pro model, and it's very close
Source: ZDNet
I’ve used many iPads over the years, and one thing has become clear: the iPad Air is my personal ideal tablet. Testing the new M4 model only confirmed this fact. You can now pre‑order the iPad Air starting at $599, with general availability on 3/11.
The iPad Air isn’t the most powerful tablet on the market, but it offers a perfect middle‑ground: enough performance for demanding multitasking without the premium price of the iPad Pro.
The M4 processing power
As a writer who also does photography, video, and some graphic design on the side, I’ve found that the iPad Air is the most affordable tablet that can comfortably handle my workload without a single stutter. It starts at $599, $400 less than the iPad Pro, yet its M4 processor, faster connectivity, and 12 GB of unified memory seem almost too good to be true for the price.
Benchmark summary
| Device | Starting price | Single‑Core CPU | Multi‑Core CPU | GPU benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Air (M4) | $599 | 3,690 | 12,996 | 52,278 |
| iPad Pro (M5) | $999 | 4,153 | 16,414 | 75,259 |
| iPad 11 | $349 | 2,596 | 6,237 | 19,848 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ | $560 | 1,353 | 3,923 | 6,982 |
In benchmark tests measuring tablet performance, the iPad Air’s M4 performed dramatically better than the similarly priced Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. Compared to the iPad Pro with the latest M5 processor, the Air’s scores are surprisingly close given the price difference.
Photo credit: Maria Diaz/ZDNET
If you wanted to compare these three tablets to laptops, the iPad Pro would be like a high‑end laptop, while the iPad Air could perform like an ultrabook. The Tab S10 FE+ would be more akin to a mid‑range Chromebook.
The GPU benchmark is especially impressive on Apple’s M‑Series iPads, reflecting superior performance in gaming graphics rendering, video editing, animation, image processing, AI effects, and augmented‑reality apps.
What a stronger processor means for users
A higher GPU score means that the iPad Air can process graphics faster than other tablets, handle higher‑quality games, and run visual AI models more efficiently. In this case, the iPad Air’s GPU is 7.5 × faster than the Tab S10 FE+, making it better at handling creative apps and gaming.
Photo credit: Maria Diaz/ZDNET
For me, this translates into faster video renders and more reliable video editing in Final Cut for iPad. Using the iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard, I haven’t experienced the app crashes that sometimes occur when multitasking on the base‑model iPad. I also use it for games, illustration with the Apple Pencil Pro, and general productivity.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Let’s be honest: the iPad Air isn’t the tablet most users need, especially when you can get a fantastic base‑model iPad for around $300. However, the iPad Air is the tablet I’d recommend for anyone willing to spend around $600, as it delivers the best performance‑value among mainstream tablets. It also comes in two size options, letting you choose a more compact device or a larger screen for greater content consumption.
The iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard is strong enough to replace a mid‑range laptop for intermediate users, especially thanks to iPadOS 26, which lets you stack and resize windows as needed. The only scenario where I’d recommend an iPad Pro—or a higher‑end tablet—is if the user plans to use it almost exclusively for professional video or music production.