Apple iPad Air Apple 13" iPad Air (M4, 1TB, Wi-Fi Only, Blue) Review
The M4 chip makes the new iPad Air shockingly fast, but it feels like putting a race car engine in a go-kart. Here's who should buy it, and who should save their money.
The 30-Second Version
The iPad Air M4 is a pro-level tablet with a consumer-grade OS. It's incredibly fast and beautifully made, but iPadOS still holds it back from being a true laptop replacement.
Overview
The new 13-inch iPad Air with the M4 chip is a weirdly powerful tablet stuck in iPadOS. The one thing to know is this: it's basically an iPad Pro from last year, but with a slightly slower screen and a much lower price tag. You're getting desktop-class performance in a package that still can't run desktop software, which is both its biggest strength and its most frustrating limitation.
Performance
The M4 chip is a monster, and it shows. Our benchmarks put its CPU performance in the 91st percentile, which means it's faster than almost every other tablet out there. Apps open instantly, and you can have a dozen of them running without a hiccup. The GPU lands in the 90th percentile, too, so games and creative apps like Procreate are buttery smooth. The real surprise is how overkill this feels for iPadOS. It's like putting a Formula 1 engine in a golf cart—it's impressive, but you can't really use all that power.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong storage (95th percentile) 95th
- Strong screen (91th percentile) 94th
- Strong cpu (91th percentile) 92th
- Strong gpu (90th percentile) 91th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M4 |
| Cores | 10 |
| GPU | Apple (9-Core) |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Expandable | No |
Display
| Size | 13" |
| Resolution | 2732 |
| Panel | IPS |
| Brightness | 600 nits |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Cellular | No |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.4 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
At around $1200 for this 1TB config, it's a tough call. You're paying a premium for Apple's ecosystem and that M4 chip. If you need a tablet for art, note-taking, and media, and you're already in the Apple world, it's worth it. If you just want a big screen for Netflix, it's massive overkill. The value is good for what it is, but what it is remains a very expensive consumption device.
vs Competition
The obvious competitor is the 11-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip. The Pro has a better 120Hz screen, Face ID, and slightly better speakers, but it costs a lot more. For most people, the Air is the smarter buy. If you're not married to Apple, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers a more desktop-like experience with Dex mode and better multitasking, though its raw power can't touch the M4. The Microsoft Surface Pro is the real alternative if you need a full laptop OS, but as a tablet, iPadOS is still smoother.
| Spec | Apple iPad Air Apple 13" iPad Air (M4, 1TB, Wi-Fi Only, Blue) | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” - | 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 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 13" 2732x2048 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | true | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 1TB storage overkill?
For most people, yes. 256GB is fine for apps and documents. Get 1TB only if you edit huge video files on the device or plan to load it with a massive offline media library.
Q: Can it replace my laptop?
It depends entirely on your workflow. For writing, web browsing, and light photo editing with a Magic Keyboard, absolutely. For coding, advanced video editing, or any professional software not on the App Store, no chance.
Q: How's the battery life really?
It's fine, not great. Our data shows it's middle-of-the-pack. You'll get a full day of mixed use, but heavy tasks like gaming or video editing will drain it faster. Don't expect multi-day endurance.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a true laptop replacement for serious work, skip this. Go get a MacBook Air or a Windows 2-in-1 like the Surface Pro. Also, if you just want a big screen for watching movies in bed, save $800 and buy a cheaper Android tablet. This is power you won't use.
Verdict
We recommend the 13-inch iPad Air M4 if you're an artist, student, or creative pro who needs a powerful, portable canvas and you're already invested in Apple's ecosystem. It's the best balance of power and price in Apple's tablet lineup right now. Just know you're buying a Ferrari that's only allowed to drive in a very nice, well-maintained park.