M4 iPad Air (2026) Review: Best Current Option

I think, after a weekend using the latest iPad Air, that this is the best iPad right now for its price. But it may not be by the end of the year.

I have been recommending iPads are cheap. As I said in the last story, I expected it the basic iPad I will get an upgrade this spring. So are others. It didn’t happen. Meanwhile, the iPad Air received a chip bump on M4 processor and updated wireless specs. I’ve been living with the 11-inch model as my daily work-at-home computer for the past week, and it’s an amazing little powerhouse. I don’t miss you The most expensive iPad Pro at all.

I would say I want the iPad to be more like a Mac, but until I accept it that time just doesn’t happen. It’s considered an iPad, and for what it does, it’s still good. It’s just that now you have to choose a little way of life.

The funny thing is, while the iPad Air starts at $599, that’s $250 more than the entry-level iPad, and it’s the exact same price as the iPad. MacBook NeoApple’s new entry-level MacBook. Apples and oranges, so to speak, but which should you get?

The iPad Air’s processor is a powerhouse. The M4, for a $600 device, is a good value. But you’ll have to get a keyboard case, or other case, and the Pencil Pro that works with this iPad separately. That could bring the total down to around $1,000. If you care to find those things.

What I love about the iPad, and always have, is how fast and familiar it feels. I like the focus of full screen apps, I like how it handles media and games. I also like the Magic Keyboard case, although it’s expensive and doesn’t fold back easily. iPadOS 26 has also changed the iPad enough to provide a Mac-esque experience for multitasking. It’s not a Mac, but it comes close.

And I love the size of it. The MacBook Neo is a large laptop, the standard 13-incher type. 11-inch iPads feel compact and comfortable and are perfect for a quick commute or a little work on the go. I like being close. The 13-inch models have a lot more screen room, but they’re more expensive and have a higher aspect ratio than laptops I’m not familiar with.

Compared to the iPad Pro, the Air is the best value

Comparing it to the iPad Pro, the $599 Air’s M4 is a much better deal than the $999 Pro’s M5, in my opinion. And now that the entry-level iPad hasn’t been updated, and still doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, the Air makes more sense to me as a future-proof upgrade.

That could change in the fall, when Apple releases a chip-bumped entry-level iPad that uses Apple Intelligence. That’s why I say this is the best “for now.” But that “now” could be half a year…or even longer.

I’ve never heard that Apple Intelligence is a big deal, at least in its current form. That will likely change soon, however. An apple plans to fold Google Gemini to Apple Intelligence could mean an AI entry coming this year that suggests what all Apple products can do. I’d imagine you’d want an iPad that’s ready for whatever comes your way, and this Moya is ready for it.

Performance: Overkill or good?

One thing though: This M4 is almost too much for most people. Consider the MacBook Neo running macOS on the A18 iPhone chip. The iPad Air, which feels like a “normal” computer, surpasses it. For photography work or photo editing, or creating things like music, that will be a big help. It depends on what your workflow demands.

I lived with the iPad Air for whatever I used to do: taking video meetings, watching movies, playing Settlers of Catan, news, Slack, writing this review and playing with a bunch of apps at the same time. I mean he covered the story completely from it. It’s simple and flexible. Battery life is hard to judge early on, but it seems good. iPads no longer outperform MacBooks, but they are more than adequate to handle a good chunk of the day. However, early on I find that I need a midday recharge.

Performance-wise, the benchmarks for the M4 chip in the $1249 mobile-powered 1TB iPad Air M4 I’m reviewing match the M4 iPad Pro from 2024. It’s an excellent processor, even if it’s a technological step behind the M5. It doesn’t matter on iPadOS, though, not for me. For what I use it for, it is far beyond my needs. Much faster than my everyday M2 MacBook Air that I use at home for everything. But, as you can see from that sticker price at this level, when you go up $1,249, you can expect some serious performance. iPadOS still isn’t as flexible for me as MacOS, though, so that power level is limited unless you’re into graphics-heavy apps.

The Air’s internals don’t have a ton of upgrades, but the better wireless is appreciated (even if I don’t actually use it). The Air’s Wi-Fi 7 is now compatible, and the new C1X modem inside promises better 5G performance if you get the cellular model ($150 extra). I will check that part soon.

iPads are not Macs

I’ll say it again: The iPad is a polished, successful product, and Apple is changing it by degrees. I think the hardware clearly exists to turn keyboard-equipped iPads into Macs, and that may happen one day. For now, look at the iPad as an incredibly versatile device that’s still its own thing, unlike Macs. And for me, it’s also a better travel device, art tool and general home/media computer. And the iPad 11-inch with keyboard is Apple’s smallest travel computer available.

Just remember that iPads are no longer a cheap laptop door. The MacBook Neo serves that purpose, and for its entire price with a keyboard attached, it’s a clear proposition for that. Although, well, I’d say the iPad Air surpasses it in terms of hardware capabilities. But the Air Keyboard costs more.

I would get the Air over the Pro for its price. And I can get Air over iPad login, too. But come this fall, when there’s a new entry-level iPad, my opinions will change. Are you okay with that, or would you rather wait? Apple doesn’t make it easy with iPad development. It never happened.