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The 2026 iPad Air M4: Early Impressions
I have been an iPad fanboy for a long time. I never leave my house without it (and the keyboard to go with it). I currently own an M4 iPad Pro (11-inch) which is really good for reading, writing, the Internet, email, Claude, a lot of Lightroom and watching YouTube. And of course, listening to music. You can find me sitting in some coffee shop or the other with one.
Yes I really do love my iPad Pro, and using it. Lately, I have been watching less video on the iPad (Vision Pro FTW), but it has replaced Kindle as my reading device. And whenever I am reading, I wish it was thinner, and lighter. Like an iPad Air. I don’t dream of it being faster. I just want it to be lighter, so it feels weightless in hand.
My perfect iPad would be one with the innards, screen and oomph of the iPad Pro, but the svelte, lithesome body of an iPad Air. I have been looking at the brand new M4 iPad Air and that’s all I can think. This is the right form factor for a “pro” iPad. If only Apple could simplify its iPad line-up.
I have had the iPad Air M4 (11-inch) for a few days. You know I don’t do quick reviews. I really take my time. Still, I have some early initial impressions. And they jive with the slew of reviews that are out in the wild.
I love the speed, I love the lack of weight. Obviously. The screen is good, but since it is nowhere near my iPad Pro, it is not blowing me away. But it will be good enough for those who are newcomers to the iPad world. If I was buying a new upgrade for my mom who does love her iPads, the M4 iPad Air would be a very good option. Nevertheless, my full review will emerge after I have used it for at least four weeks. During those four weeks, I have to NOT use my iPad Pro. And that’s the real challenge.
Still, I decided to sift through what other reviewers both on the web and on YouTube are saying, and cobble together some collective intelligence. Here is what I found.
The short version is this: the M4 iPad Air is still the best tablet you can buy. Not the best iPad, but the best tablet. It is also a product that has not evolved in any meaningful way except for its engine. And yet, somehow both things are true at the same time.
What Actually Changed
Two things. The M4 chip replaces the M3, and Apple swapped in its new in-house networking hardware. There is a new wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the C1X modem on cellular models. That is the entire list of changes. Same design, same cameras, same 60Hz LCD display, same battery. Same everything else.
The chip is the story. If you are upgrading from an M1 iPad or earlier, you will feel the difference. If you are on an M3, you probably will not. That is why I don’t feel much of a speed bump with my own workflow. I am using the M4 iPad Pro.
The second change is memory. The M4 brings 12GB of unified memory, up from 8GB on the M3 model. More RAM means better multitasking and more headroom for demanding tasks. Transcription in Voice Memos and background removal in Pixelmator happen almost instantly. I feel it in Lightroom as well.
The Display Dilemma
Every single reviewer raised this. The 11-inch iPad Air in 2026 has the same LCD screen it had when the redesigned version without a Home button was released in late 2020. It is a good screen. Colors are accurate, brightness is fine, text is sharp. But I can’t really get with it, because I use an iPad Pro all the time. The gulf is obvious if you live on one and pick up the other.
iPadOS 26 Is the Real Change
iPadOS 26 improved the multitasking experience significantly. It still feels native to the iPad, but the Mac-like flourishes make it a lot easier to use as a main computer. The M4’s extra memory means it handles all of this with more headroom and less hesitation than earlier chips would.
Got Game
Multiple reviewers tested games seriously and came away impressed. Resident Evil 4, which struggled with occasional slowdowns on the M3 iPad Air, ran at a stable frame rate on the M4. Assassin’s Creed: Mirage on high graphics settings and Red Dead Redemption both felt smooth. I have no clue about gaming. I hardly play games, and never on an iPad. AI is my game, for now.
The Complaints
The reviewer chorus is unanimous on two things. First, no Face ID. This is table-stakes technology in 2026. I don’t think there is any convincing justification for withholding it. Second, battery life has not improved. The tested result is 9 hours and 44 minutes on the 11-inch model. Earlier generations broke the 10-hour mark.
Who Should Buy This
If you are on an M1 iPad or earlier, this is a meaningful upgrade: a faster chip, more memory, better connectivity and the iPadOS 26 multitasking overhaul all in one. It is also a strong long term way to enter the iPad ecosystem. I would skip the basic iPad at $349. The Air is far superior to that product and will last longer. It is easier to use, easier to hold and the accessory support (Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard) is better.
The Elephant in the Room
The MacBook Neo starts at $599 and includes a keyboard and trackpad. To match the Neo’s keyboard, trackpad, and storage capacity, the 11-inch M4 iPad Air setup will run you $970 total, according to Gizmodo’s math. That is a $371 gap.
The question is simple. Do you want to spend that much money on an iPad Air, or just get the Neo? The Air has a touchscreen, Apple Pencil support, and is more portable. It is also no longer an inexpensive productivity device. I am an iPad person and I like the security and simplicity of the platform. I have no problem giving one to my parents. But the price of the Neo is a serious argument against the iPad Air.
Sources: MacRumors, Tom’s Guide, Engadget, Gizmodo, Mashable. Reviewers tested the 11-inch Wi-Fi and cellular models. The device ships March 11, 2026. Starts at $599.