Apple iPad Air (M4)

C CNET Article · Mar 2026

The iPad Air doesn’t come with a keyboard case and Pencil Pro in the box, but that’s almost entirely how I’ve been using it.

T TechRadar Article · Mar 2026

The two cameras on the iPad Air are versatile, with the front-facing camera being excellent for video calls.

T The Disconnekt Britta O'Boyle · reviewer · Mar 2026

The iPad Air (M4) maintains the Air’s well-earned status as the best iPad for most people. The ongoing absence of Face ID and an OLED display are genuine omissions at this price, and multi-user support continues to be a gap that Apple should address at the iPadOS level. But none of that changes the fact that this is a polished, powerful and very well-rounded tablet. If you want something that does everything well and never gets in the way, the iPad Air (M4) won’t let you down.

S ShortCircuit ShortCircuit · 2.5M subscribers · Mar 2026

There's actually a few other interesting hardware upgrades that they made. Not on the outside, though. They're inside. Which is what counts, in case you never heard that before.

O On my Om Article · Mar 2026

If I was buying a new upgrade for my mom who does love her iPads, the M4 iPad Air would be a very good option. Nevertheless, my full review will emerge after I have used it for at least four weeks. During those four weeks, I have to NOT use my iPad Pro. And that’s the real challenge.

M Max Tech Max Tech · 1.3M subscribers · Mar 2026

Now, one thing that I really like is the Wi-Fi 7.

S Subscribers Dr. Nathan Parker · reviewer · Aug 2026

Overall performance is excellent, although I would love to see more apps take advantage of the power and performance of M-series chips in iPads. Battery life is excellent on it, and I can easily get through an entire day on a single charge.

I iDeviceHelp iDeviceHelp · 1.1M subscribers · Mar 2026

NEW 2026 iPad Air with (M4) - The ONLY iPad You’ll Ever Need!

T Tech Advisor Britta O’Boyle · reviewer · Mar 2026

Nothing in this department should convince you to leave your phone in your pocket when you want to take a proper photo, but the iPad Air (M4)’s cameras do their jobs well in the contexts where tablet cameras matter.

B Brad Colbow Brad Colbow · 921K subscribers · Jun 2026

I said something in my iPad Air review a few months back, and that is if I didn't make videos about tech for a living, I would choose the iPad Air over the iPad Pro.

C Cult of Mac David Snow · reviewer · Mar 2026

Yet after just a couple days with the 13-inch iPad Air powered by Apple’s M4 chip, I can say this trade-in for an upgrade isn’t just incremental. It’s the kind of shift that quietly changes the way I use a device.

M Matt Talks Tech Matt Talks Tech · 816K subscribers · May 2026

Powered by Apple’s M4 chip, the iPad Air delivers impressive performance for everyday work and creative tasks.

P PCMag UK Article · Mar 2026

Apple's M4-powered iPad Air delivers powerful performance and future-proof connectivity in a sleek design, making it the best tablet for students and creators without breaking the bank.

T TechRadar TechRadar · 458K subscribers · Mar 2026

The iPad Air with M4 isn't a reinvention of the tablet, but it meaningfully improves what was already one of Apple’s best devices. With the powerful M4 chip, 12GB of RAM, and improved connectivity, the new Air again blurs the line between this model and the iPad Pro while maintaining a much more approachable price.

T the Guardian Article · Mar 2026

The iPad Air M4 is the best premium tablet for most Apple buyers. It offers most of the best of Apple’s tech for a more reasonable price, and trounces the competition at the same cost.

G GregsGadgets GregsGadgets · 417K subscribers · Mar 2026

but on paper and in practice, the iPad Air is better in almost every single way than the Neo.

9 9to5Mac Ryan Christoffel · reviewer · Mar 2026

Performance is still a major reason to get the M5 iPad Pro, but if you want to spend significantly less, then the M4 iPad Air is a great choice for most creators out there.

M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 307K subscribers · Mar 2026

It's the best iPad Apple has ever made. The MacBook Neo might be the best thing Apple has ever done. I'm still trying to work I'm I'm I'm trying to get that right in my head. I'm I'm trying to make that decision as to whether or not that's the case.

T thehnsolutions.com Imdad Khan · reviewer · Sept 2026

In the last two cases an iPad Air does the same job and leaves several hundred pounds for something else.

A agenomicsphd agenomicsphd · 296K subscribers · Mar 2026

It’s more powerful than the base iPad, but still more affordable than the iPad Pro, which makes it a really interesting option for students, creators, and anyone who wants a powerful tablet for everyday use.

That thing is a beast, there's no lag anywhere whatsoever, it's just so fast and smooth all the time.

F FishBee Productions FishBee Productions · 189K subscribers · Mar 2026

So, even better performance on the Air, plus this even has 12 GB of RAM now instead of eight that the M3 iPad Air comes with. I kind of liked it when it said iPad Air on the back. It was just a little easier to tell which iPad this is. Okay, it seems like a little bit different startup screen. You can make things a little bit larger there during setup as well. They actually make it pretty easy to set up with another device, but I think I'm just going to do a fresh start on this one.

C Creative Bloq Article · Mar 2026

So overall I have to say, yes, I love this iPad. And I'll be using it over the Pro immediately.

P Prithwiraj | PR75K Prithwiraj | PR75K · 186K subscribers · Mar 2026

The new iPad Air M4 is so good that spending extra on the Pro is literally just throwing money away. Except for one specific use case. I'll get to that. But for 90% of people, yep, including you, the day-to-day experience is virtually the same. So, here's my promise.

iPad Air, now supercharged by M4. Starting at $249 with qualifying trade‑in .

M MinimalisTech MinimalisTech · 135K subscribers · Apr 2026

And so far with my time having spent with it, it's actually pretty damn impressive.

P Pcmag Eric Zeman · reviewer

Camera: Tablet-Level Excellence

M My Next Tablet My Next Tablet · 125K subscribers · Apr 2026

And right off the bat, here's the short answer: for most creative folks, nobody needs a Pro anymore.

A Andrew Clare Andrew Clare · 110K subscribers · Apr 2026

In my opinion, the two best products when it comes to starting your Apple ecosystem is either the MacBook Neo or the M4 iPad Air. They hit a price point that is super affordable while doing a lot of similar things that will last you many, many years.

F Faiz Aly Faiz Aly · 85K subscribers · Mar 2026

And today I want to talk about why the new M4 iPad Air might actually be the sweet spot in Apple's entire iPad lineup.

F Faiz Aly Faiz Aly · 85K subscribers · Aug 2026

The 2026 iPad Air with the M4 chip is simply the best iPad for most people.

F Faiz Aly Faiz Aly · 85K subscribers · Apr 2026

Because for that same exact $599 price, there's another Apple device that's faster, lighter, has more memory, a better display, way more versatile, and in some ways makes the MacBook Neo look a little outdated.

R Rjey Tech Rjey Tech · 82.2K subscribers · Apr 2026

Sometimes a spec bump is exactly what a product needs to go from great to generally hard to argue against. And that's what happened here.

T Tech Dad Tech Dad · 62.4K subscribers · Apr 2026

The M4 iPad Air is insane. It just launched a month ago with huge upgrades while keeping the same $599 price point.

T Tech Dad Tech Dad · 62.4K subscribers · May 2026

The M4 iPad Air has been out about 2 months now and honestly, it's a thing of beauty.

T Tech Dad Tech Dad · 62.4K subscribers · Jul 2026

I've been using this M4 iPad Air for about 5 months now and I got to say it's basically perfect.

T Tech Dad Tech Dad · 62.4K subscribers · Mar 2026

And I really think that overall the iPad Air is going to be a lot more capable and a lot better deal for most people.

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 46.5K subscribers · May 2026

So, to me everything on the iPad definitely feels a little bit snappier than the M3 felt.

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 46.5K subscribers · May 2026

So, to me everything on the iPad definitely feels a little bit snappier than the M3 felt.

T That Mark Gilroy That Mark Gilroy · 40.5K subscribers · Apr 2026

The iPad Air has never been more pro, so why should anyone buy an iPad Pro anymore? Okay, I've been putting off making this one for a little while because to be honest, for me, there's an obvious answer to which of these iPads you should buy.

J Jon Adams Jon Adams · 24.2K subscribers · Mar 2026

The M4 Vs the M3 iPad Air, they're both really amazing iPads, but there is really only one you should consider!

M Mike B Salazar Mike B Salazar · 17.5K subscribers · Jul 2026

As an owner of the iPad Pro, I believe the iPad Air is a tablet that most people should be getting. So, I put my money where my mouth is and I bought one for myself to see if it's truly good enough.

F Flying Pig Flying Pig · 15.2K subscribers · Apr 2026

So, first off, performance-wise, I have no issues with this thing's performance.

J JoshsWayOfLife JoshsWayOfLife · 6.6K subscribers · Mar 2026

If you’re thinking about upgrading your iPad or buying one for the first time, the M4 Air may be the iPad for you.

S SlatePad SlatePad · 3.3K subscribers · Mar 2026

Spoiler, I really like this iPad.

E Engadget Nathan Ingraham · reviewer · Mar 2026

Aside from chip updates, the iPad Air hasn't changed much in the last few years. But it's still a great tablet for those who want more than the basic iPad.

9 9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 975K subscribers · Mar 2026

The M4 iPad Air sits right in the middle with massive power, but also some strange limitations like a 60Hz display and USB-C speeds that feel more entry-level than "Air.

S SlatePad Article · Mar 2026

And while the Air hasn’t seen a substantial update in years, its yearly chip refreshes ensure that it stays up-to-date with modern performance.

A AppleInsider AppleInsider · 831K subscribers · Mar 2026

If you have an M3 iPad Air, probably not. If you're on M1 or an older base iPad? This might be the sweet spot.

A AppleInsider AppleInsider · 831K subscribers · Mar 2026

For many people, that could make the older model the better deal.

A Andrew Ethan Zeng Andrew Ethan Zeng · 435K subscribers · Mar 2026

Some things felt incredible on the iPad and others completely broke my workflow.

G GregsGadgets GregsGadgets · 417K subscribers · Apr 2025

Now, while I wouldn't say that this is a bad display, and it certainly has a lot of advantages going for it over the regular iPad's display, but Apple could have done a lot more with this display, and it wouldn't have taken that much effort because, believe me, I brought the receipts.

G GregsGadgets GregsGadgets · 417K subscribers · Mar 2026

Now you might be tempted to think that this is the same M4 chip that was used in the M4 iPad Pro from 2024, but don't be fooled because there's good news and bad news.

6 6 Months Later 6 Months Later · 300K subscribers · May 2025

Overall, I'd give the Pro the edge with the display category, with its only downside being the PWM that might affect some users. Next up: battery life. Both iPads are rated for the same battery life at their respective sizes and are rated for the same battery life no matter the size.

K KDigitalStudio KDigitalStudio · 192K subscribers · Mar 2026

If you already have an M2 or an M3 iPad Air, you can probably sit this one out. But if you're on anything older than that, like an M1 maybe, or even one of the older number generations, or even a different iPad lineup entirely, this is going to feel like a completely different device.

K Kyle Erickson Kyle Erickson · 155K subscribers · May 2026

The Air isn't thick by any means and it's not even that much heavier, but it's the only Air product that Apple makes that isn't the thinnest and lightest version in its category. Both the iPhone and MacBook Airs are much thinner and lighter than their Pro counterparts and the iPad Air has had the exact same body for six years now, so it does feel a bit stale comparatively. Now, that being said, the build quality is still great, and the benefit you have from using the same body is older accessories will work. So, you'll often find a wider selection of cases or keyboards, and they're usually a bit cheaper as well.

K Kyle Erickson Kyle Erickson · 155K subscribers · Apr 2026

There are real upgrades worth talking about this generation, but also areas where Apple still has some catching up to do — especially at this price point.

T Teoh on Tech Teoh on Tech · 87.1K subscribers · Mar 2026

And the 13-in M4 iPad Air has brightness up to 600 nits and now when I'm outdoors it's bright but it's certainly not as bright compared to the M4 or M5 iPad Pro with the OLED display that can go up to 1,000 nits.

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 46.5K subscribers · Jul 2026

The 13-inch iPad Air M4 gives you a bigger screen, better display quality, and more room for multitasking, but it also comes with some real tradeoffs compared to the smaller 11-inch model.

A Adam Talks Tech Adam Talks Tech · 46.5K subscribers · Apr 2026

M4 IPAD AIR IS STILL HOLDING BACK.

S SaranByte SaranByte · 26.9K subscribers · Mar 2026

On paper, it sounds like a solid upgrade.

A AndroTag AndroTag · 6.5K subscribers · Mar 2026

The iPad Air M4 might be the best overall tablet in 2026, combining insane performance, lightweight design, and strong battery life—but it's not perfect.