Apple M4 iPad Air Review: Expert Impressions and Insights

The latest M4 iPad Air from Apple, unveiled during the extensive presentation at the ‘Apple Experience’ event on March 4, has emerged as an impressive yet understated addition to Apple’s lineup. While the MacBook Neo captured most of the attention, the M4 iPad Air has certainly earned its share of praise. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of initial impressions and evaluations from a wide range of technology experts.

Insights on the Apple M4 iPad Air

An Apple iPad displaying handwritten notes titled 'STRATEGIC STORYTELLING: WORKING WITH DATA, ' accompanied by colorful

According to Kyle Barr from Gizmodo, the M4 iPad Air introduces significant advancements beyond mere aesthetic upgrades:

“But everything that’s changed with the M4 iPad Air is more than skin deep—centered around the chip and software—and proves small changes can make a huge difference. In 2026, it’s the best tablet just short of the iPad Pro.”

He further elaborates on its practical advantages:

“The MacBook Neo may be the better overall computer package, but in real life, the usefulness of the M4 iPad Air and its touchscreen, Apple Pencil support, and more versatile form factor for different tasks becomes apparent. Thanks to iPadOS 26, it’s now possible to treat the M4 iPad Air like a multitasking workhorse that sits on the sidelines, offering an extra, versatile screen when the laptop is just too big.”

A side view of an Apple iPad with a keyboard case and an Apple Pencil Pro placed in front, depicting the device's

Meanwhile, Maria Diaz from ZDNET sheds light on the substantive benefits of opting for the M4 iPad Air in lieu of its competitors:

“In benchmark tests measuring tablet performance, the iPad Air’s M4 performed dramatically better than the similarly priced Galaxy Tab S10 FE+.”

Diaz highlights the performance disparity further:

“In this case, the iPad Air’s GPU is 7.5 times faster than the Tab S10 FE+, making it better at handling creative apps and gaming.”

She concludes her assessment with a compelling observation:

“The iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard is strong enough to replace a midrange laptop for intermediate users, especially thanks to iPadOS 26, which lets you stack and resize your windows as needed.”

A digital note titled 'CORE Presentation Notes' is displayed on a tablet, alongside an open digital magazine titled

David Pierce from The Verge emphasizes the technical upgrades that make the new iPad Air stand out:

“The newest iPad Air is a chip bump iPad — maybe the chip-bump-iest iPad Air yet. Inside this new machine are, in fact, three upgraded chips compared to last year’s model: an M4 processor, a C1X cellular modem, and an N1 chip that brings the Air Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support.”

Pierce further remarks on the strategic positioning of the iPad Air:

“Apple talks about the Air in a very straightforward way: it’s where Apple’s top-line tech goes after it’s retired from the iPad Pro, typically once Apple has a better version available and can produce the existing version with more scale and cost-efficiency. Does that make the iPad Air as much a product of Apple’s operations department as its design and product teams? Sure does! But at times, it has also led to the Air being Apple’s most compelling tablet for most people: Good tech at a good price.”

He also notes some compromises that come with the pricing:

“The base iPad is starting to look seriously underpowered and doesn’t support some of Apple’s best accessories. The Pro remains way more tablet for way more money than most people require. Yes, I wish the Air’s $599 price bought you 256GB of storage instead of 128GB, especially when Apple is doubling the base storage on so many of its devices. Yes, I’d love to have the Pro’s much smoother 120Hz OLED screen instead of this 60Hz LED display. Even the base iPhone 17 has a ProMotion display now! I still miss FaceID too. But if you have to make tradeoffs to hit a price, those are reasonable ones to make.”

An Apple iPad is displaying a video editing interface for a project titled 'Whirling Documentary Final Edit' with a preview

Lastly, Jacob Krol from Tech Radar mentions the notable advancements in the M4 iPad Air:

“There are no real design changes this year, but Apple gives the tablet a fuel injection of performance thanks to the M4 chip under the hood, more RAM, and improved connectivity. This means the iPad Air keeps pace in terms of having Apple’s latest silicon while still sitting below the iPad Pro in price. In everyday use, the 13-inch iPad Air absolutely flies, whether you’re juggling multiple windows in iPadOS 26, editing photos or videos, gaming, or pairing it with the Magic Keyboard to act as a laptop replacement. The display remains the same excellent Liquid Retina panel that was introduced in 2024, and while it still tops out at 60Hz rather than the iPad Pro’s 120Hz ProMotion, it’s a large, vibrant canvas for work, entertainment, and Apple Pencil note-taking.”

For a comprehensive analysis covering the M4 iPad Air’s performance enhancements, pricing strategies, and feature upgrades, visit our detailed article linked below.

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