Early M4 iPad Air reviews are now out ahead of the tablet’s official launch this Wednesday, and most publications describe the device as a modest upgrade that focuses on performance rather than design changes. Apple kept the same thin and lightweight body used in previous models while adding the new M4 chip, 12GB of memory, and updated wireless hardware that supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Reviewers agree that Apple mainly improved speed and multitasking ability while leaving the overall experience largely unchanged from the previous M3 version. The tablet still uses the same Liquid Retina display with a 60Hz refresh rate and the same Touch ID button that has remained part of the design for several years.
1.
Tom’s Guide focused on the familiar look of the device and explained that Apple has kept the same design language across multiple generations of the iPad Air.
“I wouldn’t go so far to say that the Air’s design has calcified, but if you go back several generations, you’ll see little has changed from year to year. The M4 Air has the same design as the Air Apple released back in 2020. To be sure, it’s a great look — thin, light, and a nice slim bezel all the way around.”
“The question I suspect many will have is whether they should buy the iPad Air or spring for the Macbook Neo, which is $250 less when you factor in the cost of the Air’s keyboard. While the Air has a touchscreen and is more portable, its value proposition when compared to Apple’s laptops is now a lot more questionable if you’re looking for an inexpensive productivity device.”
“Yes, the iPad Air is the best Apple tablet for the masses, but it may have just been superseded by the Neo as the best cheap Apple product for getting stuff done.”
Tom’s Guide repeatedly highlights the familiar design that has stayed largely unchanged since 2020, while pointing out that the M4 chip brings a performance bump compared with the previous model.
2.
Mashable focused heavily on the new chip’s ability to handle AI tasks quickly and smoothly across several Apple apps.
“I tried to test its AI capabilities using apps like Final Cut Pro’s auto-captions, Voice Memo’s transcription features, and CollaNote’s AI image generation. Even with WiFi and cellular data turned off, these processes happened almost instantly, and without any big mistakes.”
“In CollaNote, the popular note-taking app, you can use the Magic Pen to circle a doodle and turn it into an actual graphic. Record a note or interview with Voice Memos, and you’ll get an accurate transcription at the push of a button. In Pixelmator, you can upscale images and remove backgrounds from photos practically instantly.”
“I also feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of what you can do with the iPad Air’s Neural Engine, particularly when it comes to utilizing Apple Shortcuts and open-source models.”
Mashable repeatedly refers to actions that happen “almost instantly,” highlighting how the Neural Engine and the new processor handle AI tasks with speed.
3.
Gizmodo looked closely at the hardware configuration of the M4 chip used in the iPad Air and explained that it differs from the version Apple uses in laptops.
“The iPad Air isn’t powered by the same M4 chip in the M4 MacBook Air. The tablet chip is a binned version, meaning it contains fewer cores than the maxed-out 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Apple configured the M4 iPad Air version with an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU. In practice, you won’t see quite the same performance as you would on the M4 MacBook Air. It’s also slower for more graphically demanding tasks, like 3D modeling.”
“There’s still a gulf between the iPad Air’s and iPad Pro’s performance, but that gap has significantly shrunk with this latest iteration. The M4 iPad Air is running just a few hundred points shy of the M5 iPad Pro in CPU benchmarks. In graphics tests, the M5 iPad Pro with the full 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU still manages to hold the edge with a score of 3,984 in the ‘Steel Nomad Light’ benchmark compared to the M4 iPad Air’s 3,166. Performance is still a major reason to get the M5 iPad Pro, but if you want to spend significantly less, then the M4 iPad Air is a great choice for most creators out there.”
The report also notes that the additional unified memory helps improve multitasking performance when several apps run at the same time.
4.
Engadget reviewed the networking upgrades inside the new tablet, including Apple’s in-house wireless chips.
“The other main change is Apple’s in-house networking chips are on board here. The N1 covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, while the C1X handles cellular connectivity if you buy a 5G-capable model. Again, this doesn’t change the experience of using the iPad Air in any major way, but having the newest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth protocols on board is good for future usage, regardless of who built the chip.”
“In my testing, the C1X on Verizon’s 5G network was extremely fast around the suburbs of Boston and didn’t seem any slower (or any faster) than other devices I have running on the same carrier. That’s fine, as other Apple devices I’ve tried with the C1X are solid and reliable, which is the most important thing.”
The publication stresses that the presence of the latest wireless standards helps future-proof the device even though it does not dramatically change daily usage.
5.
ZDNET focused on value and productivity, especially for people who use the tablet for creative work.
“As a writer who also does photography, video, and some graphic design on the side, I’ve found that the iPad Air is the most affordable tablet that can comfortably handle my workload without a single stutter. It starts at $599, $400 less than the iPad Pro, yet its M4 processor, faster connectivity, and 12GB of unified memory seem almost too good to be true for the price.”
The publication describes the device as a reliable tool for work that involves writing, editing photos, and managing creative tasks.
6.
The Verge tested the new cellular modem and reported strong results while using mobile data.
“Apple’s C1X in particular seems to be something of a revelation. I have long been a passionate believer in cell-enabled iPads, because there’s something about that constant connectedness that makes the iPad instantly more useful as an on-the-go way todo email, reading, or web browsing, things the iPad is meant for.”
“In my testing so far, the M4 Air is consistently the fastest cell-enabled device in my possession, and in bad service areas sometimes delivers speeds multiple times faster than recent iPhones, Pixels, and even other iPads.”
The report emphasizes the benefits of constant connectivity and highlights the device as one of the fastest cellular tablets tested so far.
Summary
TechRadar summed up the general opinion about Apple’s latest refresh.
“iPad Air has long been the ‘pro model for most people,’ and the 2026 refresh keeps that reputation intact.”
The early M4 iPad Air reviews describe the tablet as a balanced option between the entry-level iPad and the premium iPad Pro. Apple improved speed, memory, and connectivity while keeping the same familiar design that users already know.
