Apple iPad Air M4 Review: Best Tablet with Caveats

Apple's iPad Air M4 Review: Best Overall Tablet, With a Few Caveats

By PikaAINews Staff

Apple has refreshed its iPad Air lineup with the M4 chip, delivering a meaningful performance boost while retaining the same core design introduced years ago. The new model, available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, starts at $599 and $799 respectively and features 12GB of RAM — a 50 percent increase over the previous generation. According to Engadget's hands-on review, the iPad Air M4 earns an 86/100 score and remains Apple's strongest overall tablet recommendation for users seeking more capability than the base iPad without stepping up to the higher-priced iPad Pro.

The update arrives less than two years after the M2-powered iPad Air debuted in 2024, highlighting Apple's accelerated pace with Apple Silicon products. This marks the third major iteration of the current Air design. While the M4 brings faster processing, particularly in GPU tasks, the display, chassis, and lack of Face ID remain unchanged from recent models. The review notes that users upgrading from anything older than the 2024 M2 or M3 versions will see solid gains, but those with the latest prior Air may find the changes less transformative.

Performance Gains and Benchmark Results

The M4 chip, previously reserved for the iPad Pro, now powers the Air alongside 12GB of higher-bandwidth memory. This configuration supports improved AI performance, with the Neural Engine reportedly three times faster than the M1 iPad Air according to Apple's announcement. Engadget's Geekbench 6 testing showed the M4 delivering 23 percent better single-core and 12 percent better multi-core scores compared to the M3 model, with GPU performance jumping 39 percent.

In real-world use, the reviewer found the iPad Air M4 performed smoothly across typical productivity tasks including Slack, Google Docs, Safari, Messages, and streaming music. Gaming also proved strong, with titles like Resident Evil 2 and a pre-release build of Control Ultimate Edition running well on the tablet. While graphics didn't match a PlayStation 5, both games maintained high detail and fluid frame rates without slowdowns.

Apple claims the M4 iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 version and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1 model. The additional RAM and more powerful Neural Engine should particularly benefit users working with on-device AI models and advanced creative applications. The review emphasizes that the M4 has "power to spare" for most users, suggesting the tablet should remain relevant for years.

Design and Display Limitations

Despite the internal upgrades, the physical design of the iPad Air M4 shows minimal changes. The review criticizes Apple for using the same display as the 2020 redesign in the 11-inch model, noting that features like Face ID remain exclusive to iPads priced at $1,000 or more. The device relies on Touch ID in the top button instead.

Color options received mild criticism for lacking saturation, with the reviewer describing the light purple finish as only appearing purple-ish under certain lighting. The 13-inch model continues to offer the only path to a larger iPad screen without spending $1,300 on a Pro model.

The tablet supports Apple's latest accessories, including the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, enhancing its appeal for note-taking, drawing, and laptop-like productivity. iPadOS 26 brings significantly improved multitasking capabilities that make better use of the hardware's power.

Pricing and Configuration Options

The iPad Air M4 maintains the same starting prices as its predecessor: $599 for the 11-inch with 128GB storage and $799 for the 13-inch. Higher storage configurations and 5G connectivity increase the cost substantially. The review unit tested, featuring 1TB storage and cellular, reached $1,249 in the light purple color.

Accessories add further expense. The Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro can quickly push the total investment well beyond the base price, a common criticism of Apple's tablet ecosystem. The review notes that "it can get expensive quickly, especially with accessories."

How It Compares to Other iPads

The iPad Air M4 positions itself between the entry-level iPad with A16 chip and the premium iPad Pro. According to competitive analysis, the M4 offers considerably quicker performance than the base model's A16, making it preferable for users wanting faster graphics for gaming or content creation.

The Air provides a compelling middle ground by incorporating Pro-level processing power while accepting compromises in display technology and biometric authentication. It remains the most practical choice for users wanting a larger 13-inch screen without Pro pricing.

Impact on Users and the Tablet Market

For developers and creative professionals, the M4's GPU improvements and expanded RAM open new possibilities for on-device AI workloads and demanding creative apps. The performance gains should help future-proof the device as iPadOS continues evolving toward more desktop-class capabilities.

General users upgrading from older iPads, particularly M1 or earlier models, will likely notice substantial improvements in responsiveness, app loading, and multitasking. The review positions the M4 Air as "Apple's best overall tablet" for those seeking a balance of performance, size options, and price.

However, the lack of meaningful exterior updates may disappoint users hoping for a more significant redesign. The persistence of older display technology and absence of Face ID highlight Apple's tiered approach to features across its iPad range.

What's Next for Apple's iPad Lineup

Apple has not announced immediate plans for further iPad Air updates, though the rapid iteration cycle suggests another refresh could arrive within the next 18 months. The company continues to focus on integrating Apple Intelligence features across its tablets, with the M4's enhanced Neural Engine well-positioned to handle these workloads.

The review suggests that a display upgrade and Face ID inclusion would make the next Air iteration more compelling. Until then, the current M4 model represents a refined but not revolutionary step forward in Apple's tablet strategy.

The iPad Air M4 is available now through Apple and authorized retailers.

iPad Air M4 review: Apple's best overall tablet, with a few caveats

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