Following Apple's March 2026 announcement, hands-on reviews of the iPad Air M4 praise its M4 chip for delivering significant performance gains over the prior M3 model, making it an excellent mid-range tablet for most users despite familiar design limitations.
The iPad Air M4, released shortly after its unveiling, brings the M4 processor from the 2024 iPad Pro to the mid-range lineup in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. With 12GB RAM—up from 8GB in the M3—plus upgraded wireless features, it builds on the announced specs to offer tangible improvements.
Benchmarks confirm the upgrades: Geekbench 6 shows 23% higher single-core, 12% multi-core, and 39% GPU scores versus the M3. Everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and app switching feel fluid, while games such as Resident Evil 2 and Control run smoothly. Apple's Image Playground and similar AI tools perform well, though the M5 iPad Pro edges it out for advanced workloads.
Running iPadOS 26 with enhanced multitasking akin to macOS, it pairs seamlessly with Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard ($269 for 11-inch). Real-world battery life hits 7-8 hours under heavy loads, up to 10 hours mixed use. Drawbacks include the unchanged LCD Retina display (no 120Hz or Face ID) and accessory costs that can push totals near $1,000.
It outpaces the base iPad's A16 for longevity and features, while undercutting the $999 M5 iPad Pro for non-pro users. Reviewers call it a refined choice for media, casual productivity, and light creative work, solidifying its value in Apple's tablet range.
