iPad Air (M4, 2026)
Benefits
- Fantastic performance
- Well designed as always
- The price is low for the power of its chip
Disadvantages
- Accessories like the case and Pencil Pro add up
- iPadOS is versatile but lacks some benefits of MacOS
I think, after a weekend of using the latest iPad Air, that it’s currently the best iPad for the price. But that may not be the case by the end of the year.
I have always recommended Cheaper iPads. As I said in a recent article, I expected the basic iPad would get an upgrade this spring. Others too. This did not happen. Meanwhile, the iPad Air got a chip bump on an M4 updated processor and wireless specs. I’ve been living with the 11-inch model as my everyday home computer for the past week, and it’s a wonderful little powerhouse. I don’t miss it More expensive iPad Pro at all.
The iPad Air doesn’t come with a keyboard case or Pencil Pro in the box, but that’s almost entirely how I use it.
Scott Stein/CNETI could say I want the iPad to feel even more like a Mac, but I have come to accept that moment just isn’t happening now. Judged as an iPad, and by what it does, it’s still great. It’s just that now you have to make a small lifestyle choice.
The funny thing is, even though this iPad Air starts at $599, which is $250 more than the entry-level iPad, it’s also exactly the same price as the MacBook NeoApple’s new entry-level MacBook. Apples and oranges, so to speak, but which one to choose?
Oceanhorn 3 is one of the newest games on Apple Arcade. The iPad Air’s M4 doesn’t lack graphics power for its size.
Scott Stein/CNETThe iPad Air’s processor is a powerhouse. The M4, in a $600 device, is fantastic value for money. But you’ll need to get the keyboard case, or any other case, and the Pencil Pro that works with this iPad separately. This could reasonably bring the total to almost $1,000. If you care about getting these things.
What I love about the iPad, and always have, is how instant and casual it is. I like the focus of full screen apps, I like the way they handle media and games. I also like the Magic Keyboard case, even though it’s expensive and doesn’t fold easily. iPadOS 26 also flexed the iPad enough to give it a Mac-like sense of versatility. Not a Mac, but close.
And I also like its size. The MacBook Neo is a larger laptop, a standard 13-inch kind. 11-inch iPads are compact and comfortable and perfect for a quick commute or a little work while traveling. I love intimacy. The 13-inch models have a lot more screen real estate, but cost more and have a higher aspect ratio than laptops I personally don’t like.
The 11-inch iPad Air is my favorite size.
Scott Stein/CNETCompared to the iPad Pro, the Air is a much better buy
If you compare it to the iPad Pro, this Air’s M4 at $599 is a much better deal than the Pro’s M5 at $999, in my opinion. And now that the entry-level iPad still hasn’t been updated and still doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, the Air makes more sense to me as an evolutionary upgrade.
That could change in the fall, if Apple releases an entry-level iPad with a chip and running Apple Intelligence. That’s why I say it’s the best “yet”. But this “for now” could last six months… or even longer.
I never thought Apple Intelligence was a big deal, at least in its current form. But that may change soon. Apple plans to shut down Google Gemini The integration of Apple Intelligence could mean the arrival of in-vehicle AI this year that improves on what all Apple products can do. I guess you’d want an iPad that’s ready to take on whatever comes your way, and this Air is more than ready for that.
I don’t draw much. But if you do, you’ll need an iPad Air or better.
Scott Stein/CNETPerformance: exaggerated or ideal?
One thing though: this M4 is almost too much for most people. Consider that the MacBook Neo runs macOS on an iPhone A18 chip. The iPad Air, which looks like a more “casual” computer, outperforms it. For graphics work, photo editing, or creating things like music, this will be a big help. It depends if your workflow requires it.
I live with the iPad Air for everything I would normally do: take work meetings on video, watch movies, play Settlers of Catan, News, Slack, write this review, and play with multiple apps at once. I even have filed a story completely from there. It’s easy-going and versatile. Battery life is hard to judge at first, but it seems to be fine. iPads don’t last longer than MacBooks, but they’re good enough to get you through most of the day. But at first I realize I need a midday recharge.
In terms of performance, the benchmarks for the M4 chip on the $1,249 iPad Air M4 1TB Cellular that I’m reviewing match the 2024 M4 iPad Pro. It’s a fantastic processor, even if it’s technically a step behind the M5. This doesn’t matter on iPadOS, not for me. For what I use it for, it is well beyond my needs. It’s considerably faster than my everyday MacBook Air M2 that I use at home for everything. But, as you can see from the tag price at this level, when you’re at $1,249, you’re expecting serious performance. However, iPadOS still isn’t as flexible for me as MacOS, so this level of power has limits unless you’re using serious, graphics-intensive apps.
This Air’s internals don’t have a ton of upgrades, but better wireless networking is appreciated (even if I don’t really take advantage of it). The Air is now Wi-Fi 7 compatible, and a new C1X modem inside promises better 5G performance if you get the cellular model ($150 more). I’ll test this part soon.
It may be the same price as a MacBook Neo, but the iPad Air doesn’t come standard with the Magic Keyboard Case or Pencil Pro. Add them up and you’ll spend at least around $1,000.
Scott Stein/CNETiPads are not Macs
I repeat: the iPad is a refined and successful product, and Apple is evolving it slowly, in stages. I think the hardware is clearly there to turn keyboard-equipped iPads into Macs, and that could very well happen one day. For now, think of the iPad as a surprisingly versatile device that remains distinct from Macs. And for me, it’s also a better travel device, an art tool, and a casual personal computer/media. And the 11-inch iPad with keyboard is the smallest Apple travel computer available.
Just keep in mind that iPads are no longer the gateway to cheap laptops. The MacBook Neo serves that purpose, and for its all-in price with keyboard attached, it’s the clear proposition for that. Although, well, I’d say the iPad Air beats it in terms of hardware power. But the Air’s keyboard costs more.
I would get an Air over a Pro for the price. And I’d also get an Air over an entry-level iPad. But this fall, if there’s a new entry-level iPad, my opinions will likely change. Do you agree with this or would you prefer to wait? Apple doesn’t make things easy with iPad upgrades. It never was.