The iPad Air M4 retains all of what we loved about the M3 iPad Air, but now has a speedier processor and Wi-Fi 7 — all while maintaining its same price. Our same criticisms remain, but that doesn't prevent this from being the best tablet for most people.
Apple announced a ton of new products during its March 4 event, including an update to last year's iPad Air. The new M4 iPad Air isn't a shiny new thing like the colorful MacBook Neo, nor does it have any exciting new hardware features like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Instead, it delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet.
As mentioned, the iPad Air now has a more powerful M4 chip as well as 50 percent more system memory (12GB, up from 8GB on last year's model). If you're coming from an iPad older than the 2024 model, you'll likely notice solid performance gains.
The newest iPad Air is a chip bump iPad — maybe the chip-bump-iest iPad Air yet.At times, it has also led to the Air being Apple's most compelling tablet for most people: Good tech at a good price.In fact, right now, if you're in the market for a new iPad, I'd probably tell you to buy an Air.
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.
I think, after a weekend using the latest iPad Air, that this is the best iPad right now for its price.I've been living with the 11-inch model as my everyday home-casual computer for the past week, and it's a wonderful little powerhouse.
There’s a lot to dig about the M4 iPad Air, especially for different people in the same family. From my perspective, the beefier specs, sizable, pristine screen and handy accessories make it a welcome addition to my workflow that can also double as an all-around solid entertainment device, even if the higher-end gaming options are a bit lacking. And for someone older, like my mother, having that faster speed and bigger display are a true game-changer, even for basic uses like email, web browsing and YouTube.
As it stands, anyone wanting an iPad should strongly consider this model.If you want a fast regular-sized iPad, get the 11-inch model. Get the 13-inch if you think you can get away with about 95% of what the iPad Pro can do from a content creation perspective, but for several hundred dollars less.
Tot slotDe iPad Air (2026) voelt in sommige aspecten aan als een ultrapremiumproduct waarmee je nog jarenlang vooruit kunt. Denk aan de softwarebeleving, het geluid en de prestaties. Vooral voor productieve workloads is de tablet uitstekend geschikt, al kan de relatief krappe opslag dan een pijnpunt zijn. Wat het beeldscherm betreft is de hoge prijs niet goed te praten: het voelt niet erg vloeiend aan en is geen oledmodel.Ondanks de verlaagde prijzen van de iPad Air, zal de fors goedkopere instap-iPad (2025) voor het gros van de mensen meer dan voldoen en daarmee de aantrekkelijkere koop zijn. Daarop draait immers dezelfde uitstekende software. De echte powerusers zullen daarentegen waarschijnlijk geen genoegen nemen met het gedateerde beeldscherm en meer opslag nodig hebben, en dus ook een duurdere configuratie moeten aanschaffen – of gewoon een iPad Pro in huis halen. Daarmee valt de iPad Air nog altijd een beetje tussen wal en schip.
Anderen, die iets meer dan de standaard willen, kiezen een Air.
Gast
