iPad Air M4 review: Still Apple's best overall tablet, with a few caveats
Source: Engadget
Apple Silicon’s Rapid Refresh Cycle
One of the most surprising things about the Apple Silicon era is how quickly Apple now updates its products. Take the iPad Air, for example. It’s been less than two years since the company released the M2‑powered iPad Air in 11‑ and 13‑inch sizes. We’re already on our third iPad Air iteration, this time with the M4 inside—the same chip that powered the iPad Pro unveiled alongside that M2‑powered Air in 2024 (the Pro was updated with an M5 last fall).
“Just as I said a year ago when Apple unveiled the iPad Air M3, this latest model doesn’t fundamentally change the formula.”
The Air remains a notable step up over the basic iPad: a more powerful processor, more RAM, a better display, and superior accessories (Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard). It’s also the only way to get a 13‑inch iPad without spending $1,300 or more.
However, without more substantial updates this year, I’m less enthused than I was when the 13‑inch M2 model arrived in 2024. Apple has stuck with the same display for another year, and features that feel like table‑stakes—such as Face ID—are still restricted to iPads that cost at least $1,000. The Air is a very mature product with few surprises, but if you own an iPad older than the 2024 refresh, the iPad Air M4 will provide a solid performance improvement.
The M4 Still Has Power to Spare
Pricing & Configurations
- 11‑inch model: starts at $599 (128 GB)
- 13‑inch model: starts at $799
- The unit I tested: extremely light purple, 1 TB storage, 5G connectivity, $1,249
“Seriously Apple, don’t be afraid of putting a little more saturation in these colors next time!”
Specs
- Chip: Apple M4
- Memory: 12 GB (up from 8 GB on last year’s model)
If you’re coming from an iPad older than the 2024 model, you’ll notice solid performance gains. The M4 is so capable that this iPad should remain powerful enough for years to come.
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | iPad Air M3 | iPad Air M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Single‑core CPU | – | +23 % |
| Multi‑core CPU | – | +12 % |
| GPU | – | +39 % |
The biggest gains are in the GPU, which translates to noticeable improvements in gaming and AI workloads.
Real‑World Usage
My workflow is relatively modest: Slack, Google Docs, many Safari tabs, Messages, Todoist, streaming music, Gmail, Trello, etc. For this usage pattern, the M4 feels quite similar to the M3. However, if you’re upgrading from an M1 iPad Air, the M4 will feel significantly faster for almost everything you do.
Gaming Performance
The iPad Air M4 flies through App Store games:
- Casual titles (Balatro, Mini Motorways, Powerwash Simulator – Apple Arcade): smooth and responsive.
- More demanding games: Resident Evil 2 and a pre‑release build of Control Ultimate Edition (scheduled for iOS soon) ran with high detail and fast action, showing no slowdown despite the fan‑less design.
Graphics aren’t as sharp as on a PS5, but the performance is impressive for such portable hardware.
Generative AI Apps
- Apple Image Playground: queries (e.g., “an orange kitten dressed up like an astronaut”) completed in seconds.
- Comparison with iPad Pro M5: the Air lagged only slightly behind the Pro.
- Draw Things (local model runner): the M4 couldn’t keep up with the M5; the Pro was typically > 2× faster.
The M4 is fast enough for everyday AI tasks, but for heavy‑duty image generation the iPad Pro M5 remains the better choice.
Connectivity Upgrades
Apple’s in‑house networking chips are now on board:
| Chip | Handles |
|---|---|
| N1 | Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread |
| C1X | Cellular (5G) connectivity (if you buy a 5G‑capable model) |
These don’t dramatically change the day‑to‑day experience, but they future‑proof the device. In my testing on Verizon’s 5G network around Boston suburbs, the C1X performed extremely fast and comparable to other Apple devices (e.g., iPad Pro).
A Very Familiar Experience
Aside from the new chips, the iPad Air is identical to the last two models I’ve reviewed. This year Apple sent an 11‑inch Air M4 for review, while the previous two were the newer 13‑inch variants. Other than the size difference, the design, software experience, and accessory ecosystem remain unchanged.
Bottom Line
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Pros:
- Faster M4 chip with a significant GPU boost
- 12 GB RAM for smoother multitasking
- Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 5G support via C1X
- Strong performance in both gaming and everyday AI apps
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Cons:
- Display and design unchanged from 2020 model
- Premium features like Face ID still locked behind higher‑priced iPads
- AI‑heavy workloads still favor the iPad Pro M5
If you own an older iPad, the Air M4 is a worthwhile upgrade. If you already have a recent 13‑inch Air or need the absolute best AI performance, you may want to look at the iPad Pro M5 instead.
iPad Air (M4) Review – Still Apple’s Best Overall Tablet (with a Few Caveats)
Design & Accessories
- Screen & Cameras – Same size, same cameras, and a 10‑hour estimated battery life as the previous model.
- Ports – USB‑C 3 port.
- Apple Pencil Pro – Supports the $129 Pencil Pro introduced in 2024.
- Magic Keyboard – Works with the revamped Magic Keyboard released last year (price: $269 for the 11‑inch model, $319 for the 13‑inch).
“The keyboard remains quite expensive, but for me it’s a must‑buy accessory if I want to use my iPad for any ‘real work.’ The Pencil isn’t something I personally need, but it’s an excellent tool for anyone interested in visual art or written notes.”
The iPad app ecosystem remains unmatched, with a plethora of excellent apps for both drawing and note‑taking.
Battery Life
- Real‑world usage – When used as a primary machine all day for several days, I saw 7–8 hours of battery life.
- Typical mixed‑use – Most iPads approach the advertised 10‑hour mark in casual scenarios.
- Heavy tasks – Gaming, video editing, or intensive generative‑AI workloads will noticeably reduce battery life.
“That’s more than enough to take it with me for half a day or more and not worry about charging, but not so long that I’d be totally comfortable without a charger for much longer.”
iPadOS 26
- Availability – Runs on iPad Air models back to 2019, so it isn’t a sole reason to upgrade.
- Improvements – Significantly better multitasking experience with many Mac‑like flourishes, making the iPad feel more like a primary computer.
- Screen size preference – The 11‑inch model feels best when running an app fullscreen or two apps side‑by‑side.
Display – The Major Lament
- Current LCD Retina – Still looks great in a vacuum: bright colors, sharp text.
- Refresh‑rate gatekeeping – Apple reserves 120 Hz panels for iPads priced $1,000+, which feels frustrating for a device you interact with directly.
- Perceived smoothness – Even the standard display feels very smooth; the difference is only noticeable when directly comparing to an iPad Pro.
What Could Be Better?
- Mini‑LED upgrade – A mini‑LED panel (as used in the 2021‑2022 iPad Pro) would provide HDR, higher brightness, and better contrast without reaching OLED levels.
- Gaming & media – Games like Control and movies would benefit from the increased contrast and visual pop that a higher‑end display offers.
Wrap‑up
“If it’s not obvious, I very much wish that Apple would bring some of its more advanced technology to the iPad Air. But at this point, I have to accept that the Air is what it is.”
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Comparison to MacBook Air – Once I started comparing the iPad Air to its Mac counterpart, my negative feeling mostly subsided. The MacBook Air is a great laptop; its screen isn’t cutting‑edge, but it’s good enough for its target audience, and its positives outweigh a few compromises. The same can be said for the iPad Air.
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Advantages over the $349 iPad –
- Faster performance (M4 vs. A16 chip).
- Better screen and accessory support.
- Doesn’t threaten the iPad Pro, which costs about $400 more.
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Overall verdict – While I wish Apple would push the envelope and give the Air a “Pro‑lite” feel, it remains the best iPad for most people today.