Apple iPad Air Apple 11" iPad Air (M4, 512GB, Wi-Fi + 5G, Review
The M4 chip makes the new iPad Air a powerhouse, but its high price and iPadOS limitations mean it's not for everyone. Here's who should buy it.
The 30-Second Version
The M4 iPad Air is a pro tablet for everyone else. It's incredibly fast, has great specs, but battery life is just okay. It scores in the 90th percentile for CPU/GPU performance. Worth it for creatives, but overkill for casual users.
Overview
The new iPad Air with the M4 chip is a serious power move from Apple. It's not just a spec bump; it's a clear statement that the Air is now a Pro-level machine for most people, with a CPU that lands in the 91st percentile and a GPU in the 90th. You get 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and Wi-Fi 7, all wrapped in that familiar, lightweight aluminum body.
But here's the thing: it's still an iPad. It runs iPadOS, which means you're getting a fantastic, fast tablet experience that's perfect for drawing, note-taking, and media. It's built for Apple Intelligence and feels ready for whatever AI features Apple rolls out next. The question isn't if it's powerful—it absolutely is—it's whether you need this much power in a tablet form factor.
Performance
The M4 chip is the star of the show. It's blisteringly fast for an iPad, making light work of 4K video edits, complex graphic design in apps like Procreate, and any game you throw at it. Our database shows its CPU and GPU scores are in the 90th percentile, putting it firmly in 'pro' territory. The 12GB of RAM is a huge upgrade and means you can juggle a ton of apps without a hiccup. The only real lowlight is the battery, which sits in the 48th percentile. It'll get you through a day, but heavy users might need to plug in by dinner.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong connectivity (94th percentile) 97th
- Strong cpu (91th percentile) 91th
- Strong gpu (90th percentile) 90th
- Strong storage (88th percentile) 86th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M4 |
| Cores | 10 |
| GPU | Apple (9-Core) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Expandable | No |
Display
| Size | 11" |
| Resolution | 2360 |
| Panel | IPS |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Cellular | Yes |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
| OS | Apple iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
At $1049, the value proposition gets tricky. You are paying a premium for that M4 chip and the Apple ecosystem. For someone who lives in creative apps on a tablet, this is a fantastic investment. But if you just want a device for streaming and web browsing, it's massive overkill. You're buying top-tier tablet performance here, and you're paying for it.
vs Competition
Stacked up against the competition, the Air's strength is its balance. The 11-inch iPad Pro with the M5 is faster and has a better screen, but it's also several hundred dollars more for specs most people won't fully utilize. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers a fantastic OLED screen and more desktop-like multitasking with Dex, but app optimization for Android tablets still lags behind iPadOS. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a full Windows PC, making it better for real desktop software, but it's heavier and more expensive. The Air sits in a sweet spot: more power than most need, but not the absolute peak (and peak price) of the Pro.
| Spec | Apple iPad Air Apple 11" iPad Air (M4, 512GB, Wi-Fi + 5G, | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED Touchscreen - Snapdragon X Elite - 32GB Memory - 1TB SSD - Device Only (11th Ed) - Platinum | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M4 | Apple M5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Mediatek MT6989 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 11" 2360x1640 | 11" 2420x1668 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | Apple iPadOS | iPadOS | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | false | true | true | false |
| Cellular | true | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Is the M4 iPad Air worth the upgrade over the older M2 model?
If you need the extra power for AI tasks, pro apps, or future-proofing, yes—the M4 and 12GB RAM are big jumps. For general use, the M2 is still plenty fast.
Q: Can this replace my laptop?
It can for many tasks, especially with a keyboard. But if you rely on specific desktop software (like full Adobe Suite, coding IDEs), iPadOS might still feel limiting.
Q: How does the screen compare to the iPad Pro?
The Air's screen is very good, but it lacks the ProMotion (120Hz) refresh rate and the perfect blacks of the Pro's OLED display. For most, it's not a deal-breaker.
Who Should Skip This
If you're on a tight budget or just need a tablet for watching videos and browsing the web, skip this. A base model iPad or a good Android tablet will save you a lot of money. Also, if you need the absolute best screen for HDR content or drawing, the iPad Pro's OLED is still the king. And hardcore users who need all-day battery life away from an outlet might be disappointed.
Verdict
Buy this if you're an artist, designer, or content creator who wants a powerful, portable digital canvas. It's also a great fit for business users who need a sleek device for presentations, notes, and communication, especially with the Magic Keyboard. The M4 chip and 12GB of RAM make it genuinely future-proof for Apple's AI push. Just know you're investing in a tablet experience, not a laptop replacement.