iPad Air (M4) review: the sensible iPad for most people

This iPad Air review covers the M4 model that Apple released on 11 March 2026. It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, and as before it sits between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Pro. Apple upgraded the chip from M3 to M4, raised memory to 12GB and added its N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7. The design, screen and cameras stay the same.

Our verdict is based on Apple's specifications, lab results published by Tom's Guide and owner feedback. We look at performance, display quality, iPad Air battery life, accessories and whether the iPad Air is worth it against the iPad Pro and the standard iPad.

Design: familiar and easy to hold

The iPad Air still uses the flat-edged aluminium design Apple introduced in 2020. The 11-inch model weighs about 464 g and the 13-inch about 616 g. Both are comfortable to hold for reading or sketching, and the slim bezels look modern. Colours are Blue, Purple, Starlight and Space Gray.

Touch ID sits in the top button and works well in any orientation, but Face ID remains limited to the iPad Pro. The single USB-C port supports 10Gb/s data transfer and external displays.

Because the design has barely changed since 2020, many older cases and screen protectors for the 11-inch and 13-inch Air still fit, but check compatibility before you reuse them. Cellular models add 5G via Apple's C1X modem, which Tom's Guide found fast on a strong network, for an extra cost.

Display: excellent colour, standard refresh rate

Both sizes use Liquid Retina LCD panels with P3 wide colour, True Tone and an anti-reflective coating. The 11-inch is rated at 500 nits and the 13-inch at 600 nits. In Tom's Guide's lab the 11-inch reached 489 nits, covered 116 percent of sRGB and 82 percent of DCI-P3, and scored a Delta-E of 0.28, which means colours are very accurate. Those results were close to the OLED iPad Pro.

The main limitation is the 60Hz refresh rate. Scrolling and drawing are not as fluid as on the 120Hz iPad Pro, and black levels cannot match OLED. For films, reading and most drawing, the Air's screen is still a pleasure to use.

M4 performance and iPadOS 26

The M4 has an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, paired with 12GB of memory. In testing, the 11-inch M4 Air scored 3,745 single-core and 13,342 multi-core in Geekbench 6, clearly ahead of the M3 model and almost twice the M1 Air. Graphics scores also rose by roughly 15 to 20 percent over last year.

In daily use, you will mostly notice this as headroom. iPadOS 26 lets you open several apps in resizable, movable windows, and the extra memory helps keep them running smoothly. Apple Intelligence features also run on-device. Demanding tasks such as long 4K edits or large illustration files are comfortable, though the iPad Pro is still the better tool for professionals who do that every day.

iPad Air battery life

Apple promises up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours on cellular. Tom's Guide measured 9 hours 44 minutes for the 11-inch, almost identical to the M3 model and slightly below older Airs that passed 10 hours. After 30 minutes on the charger, the battery reached 27 percent.

That is enough for a school or workday of mixed use, but it is the area where reviewers most wanted an improvement.

Apple Pencil, keyboard and cameras

The Air supports the Apple Pencil Pro, with squeeze and barrel-roll gestures, as well as the cheaper Apple Pencil (USB-C). The Magic Keyboard for iPad Air adds a trackpad and function row; testers found it responsive but noted it has no backlit keys and is expensive. Third-party keyboard cases cost much less.

Both cameras are 12MP. The front camera sits on the long edge, so you are centred on video calls in landscape, and Center Stage follows you as you move. Rear photos are fine for scanning documents and quick snaps, but they are not a reason to buy a tablet.

If you mainly want to sketch or take handwritten notes, the Pencil matters more than the keyboard, so budget for that first.

11-inch or 13-inch, and who should buy it

The 11-inch is the better choice for carrying around, reading in bed and note-taking. The 13-inch gives more room for split-screen work, drawing and watching video, and it has a brighter panel. Storage starts at 128GB, which is fine for cloud users; creatives and anyone downloading lots of films should choose 256GB or more.

If you have an M1 iPad Air or an older non-Pro iPad, the M4 Air is a meaningful upgrade, especially with the landscape camera and more memory. M3 owners can skip this generation.

• Students and note-takers: 11-inch with Apple Pencil
• Artists and designers: 13-inch with Apple Pencil Pro
• Laptop replacement: consider the keyboard cost, or a MacBook Air
• Media and reading only: the standard iPad may be enough

Is the iPad Air worth it?

Apple kept the starting price the same as the M3 model while adding a faster chip and more memory, so value is good by Apple standards. The catch is accessories: once you add a Pencil, the Magic Keyboard and more storage, the total can approach laptop money. If typing is your main use, a MacBook Air may be the better buy. If you want a tablet first, the iPad Air is the one we would recommend to most people.

Storage is the other decision that affects value. The 128GB base model is fine if you mainly stream and keep files in the cloud. If you download films for travel, edit video or keep large illustration files, 256GB is the safer minimum, and it usually costs less than upgrading later by buying a new device.

Key specs

Chip

Apple M4, 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 12GB unified memory

Display

11-inch (2360 x 1640, 500 nits) or 13-inch (2732 x 2048, 600 nits) Liquid Retina LCD

Storage

128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB

Cameras

12MP rear; 12MP landscape Center Stage front

Connectivity

USB-C (10Gb/s), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 5G

Battery

Up to 10 hours web or video (Apple)

Security

Touch ID in the top button

Weight

About 464 g (11-inch), 616 g (13-inch)

Alternatives to consider

• Apple iPad Pro (M5): Adds an OLED 120Hz display, Face ID and a thinner design for people who need the best screen.
• Apple iPad (A16): Much cheaper and fine for streaming, reading and schoolwork, though with fewer accessory options.
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S11: An Android tablet with an AMOLED screen and a stylus included in the box.

Frequently asked questions

The M4 iPad Air is an evolution rather than a revolution, but the formula was already right. You get a fast chip with plenty of memory, a bright and accurate screen, Apple Pencil Pro support and modern wireless, all at an unchanged starting price. Battery life and the 60Hz screen are the main compromises. For most people who want a capable tablet for study, creativity and entertainment, the iPad Air is still the smartest iPad to buy in 2026.

How we research: Reviews are based on the maker’s specifications, published independent tests and owner reports. Scores compare the product with others in its class.