Tablets · Model guide · Maker specs
iPad Air (M4)
Get iPad Air (M4) if you want Apple Pencil Pro on an 11- or 13-inch screen for less than an iPad Pro: it starts at $599 and now has 12GB of memory.
Product images
iPad Air (M4), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get iPad Air (M4) if you want Apple Pencil Pro on an 11- or 13-inch screen for less than an iPad Pro: it starts at $599 and now has 12GB of memory. Apple's N1 chip adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and cellular models use its C1X 5G modem. Skip it if you want OLED, Face ID or Thunderbolt (get iPad Pro) or a tablet you can hold in one hand (get iPad mini).
Who it is for
- Students and note-takers who want Apple Pencil Pro with hover and a real keyboard: the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air adds a function row.
- Owners of an M1 Air who want a big step up. Apple says the M4 is up to 2.3× faster than the M1.
- People who work away from Wi-Fi. Apple says the C1X modem in cellular models delivers up to 50% faster data than the M3 Air's modem while using up to 30% less energy.
Who should skip it
- M3 Air owners who aren't short of memory. The 6.1mm case, both sizes and the starting prices are unchanged; you'd be paying for 12GB instead of 8GB, Wi-Fi 7 and the C1X modem.
- Anyone who needs OLED, Face ID, four speakers or Thunderbolt. Those are iPad Pro (M5) features.
- People who want a tablet for one hand. Even the 11-inch Air weighs 464 grams; iPad mini is Apple's 8.3-inch model.
What sets it apart
- 12GB of unified memory in every model, 50% more than the M3 Air's 8GB.
- Apple's own wireless chips: N1 gives every model Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and cellular models use the C1X modem for 5G.
- Apple Pencil Pro with hover on both sizes, from $599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the 13-inch.
- Four finishes: Blue, Purple, Starlight and Space Gray. iPad Pro comes only in silver or space black.
Caveats
- Budget extra for accessories: neither Apple Pencil nor the Magic Keyboard is included.
- Storage is fixed when you buy, from 128GB to 1TB; there's no microSD slot.
- Apple Intelligence is built in, but the features you get depend on your region and language.
Key specs
In the same order on every tablet page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 11-inch model: 10.86 inches diagonal; 13-inch model: 12.9 inches diagonal | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specsApple measures the diagonal as a rectangle; with the rounded corners, the viewable area is less. |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Display resolution | 11-inch: 2360 × 1640 at 264 ppi; 13-inch: 2732 × 2048 at 264 ppi | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 11-inch: 500 nits; 13-inch: 600 nits | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specsApple's rating. Apple gives the Air no separate HDR peak. |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Sold size(s) | 11-inch and 13-inch | Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Dimensions | 11-inch: 247.6 × 178.5 × 6.1 mm; 13-inch: 280.6 × 214.9 × 6.1 mm | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Weight | 11-inch Wi-Fi 464 g; 11-inch cellular 465 g; 13-inch Wi-Fi 616 g; 13-inch cellular 617 g | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Finishes | Blue; Purple; Starlight; Space Gray | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum; 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 30% recycled content overall, by Apple's figures | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs (Environment) |
| Chip / processor | M4: 8-core CPU (3P+5E), 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 120GB/s memory bandwidth | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs3 performance and 5 efficiency cores; the GPU has hardware-accelerated ray tracing. |
| Memory (RAM) | 12GB unified memory in every model | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs; Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| On-device storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB; no microSD | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS; launched alongside iPadOS 26 windowing and Apple Intelligence | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs; Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Pencil / stylus | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with hover; neither is in the box | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Keyboard / cover | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (sold separately): floating design, 14-key function row, USB-C on the hinge, black or white; attaches by Smart Connector | Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Microphones | Two microphones for calls, video and audio recording | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular models: Apple C1X modem; 5G (sub-6GHz, 4x4 MIMO); Gigabit LTE; eSIM only; band list for models A3460 and A3462 in the 11-inch tech specs. $150 more than Wi-Fi at US launch ($749 and $949). Wi-Fi models have no cellular. | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs; Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Apple N1 chip: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 2x2 MIMO, simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 6; Thread | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specsApple says Wi-Fi 7 is available where supported. |
| Ports / expansion | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector; Smart Connector | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; sapphire crystal lens cover; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Center Stage, ƒ/2.0; 1080p video | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Battery | 11-inch 28.93Wh; 13-inch 36.59Wh. Up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web or video; up to 9 hours of web on cellular | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specsApple tested preproduction 11- and 13-inch units in January and February 2026, at 50% brightness. |
| Charging | 20W USB-C power adapter and 1m USB-C cable in the box; also charges from a computer's USB-C port | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Location / GNSS | Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon on every model; GPS/GNSS on cellular models | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| US launch price | 11-inch: $599 Wi-Fi, $749 cellular. 13-inch: $799 Wi-Fi, $949 cellular (US, 2 March 2026). Education: $549 and $749 for the Wi-Fi models | Apple Newsroom, 2 March 2026 |
| Price band | Upper mid-range ($599–$949 at US launch, before Pencil and keyboard) | Based on Apple's launch prices |
| Announced | 2 March 2026 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 4 March 2026; in stores from 11 March 2026. Still Apple's current Air on 19 September 2026. | Apple Newsroom, 2 March 2026 |
iPad Air (M4) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple N1 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread on one Apple-designed chip; this is the first Air with N1 | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs; Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Apple C1X modem | Cellular models only. Apple says up to 50% faster cellular data and up to 30% less modem energy than iPad Air (M3) | Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| Memory, compared with the M3 | 50% more unified memory than the previous Air; the M3 has 8GB | Apple Newsroom, March 2026; Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Touch ID | In the top button; also approves Apple Pay in apps and on the web | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | Sold separately; function row and an aluminum hinge with USB-C, in black or white | Apple Newsroom, March 2026 |
| In the box | iPad Air; USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
| Apple Intelligence | Built in; availability depends on region and language (Apple keeps the list at support.apple.com/121115) | Apple iPad Air (M4) tech specs |
What’s new: 12GB and Apple’s own radios
The headline is memory. Every model has the same 12GB, so the $599 Air has as much memory as the 1TB one. The M4 pairs an 8-core CPU (3 performance and 5 efficiency cores) with a 9-core GPU that does hardware ray tracing, a 16-core Neural Engine and 120GB/s of memory bandwidth. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster than the M3 Air.
The radios changed too. Apple’s N1 chip gives every model Wi-Fi 7, where it’s supported, plus Bluetooth 6 and Thread; the M3 Air has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Cellular models switch to Apple’s C1X modem.
Apple kept the design, and the 11-inch gained only a few grams: 464, or 465 with cellular, against 460 for the M3.
Two sizes of Liquid Retina
Both sizes use an LED-backlit IPS Liquid Retina panel at 264 pixels per inch, with True Tone and an antireflective coating. The “13-inch” measures 12.9 inches diagonally and the 11-inch 10.86, both counted as rectangles. The bigger screen is also the brighter one, rated at 600 nits against 500.
Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard
The Air works with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), and with either one the screen picks up the tip as it hovers, before it touches. Both attach to the magnetic Pencil connector, and neither comes in the box.
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Air connects through the Smart Connector. It has a floating design, a 14-key function row and a USB-C port in its aluminum hinge, in black or white.
Ports, cellular and cameras
The USB-C port handles charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 at up to 10Gb/s. Cellular models take an eSIM only, use 5G with 4x4 MIMO or Gigabit LTE, and are the only Airs with GPS; every model has a compass and Wi-Fi positioning.
On the back is a 12MP Wide camera at ƒ/1.8 under a sapphire crystal cover, shooting 4K video at up to 60 fps. The front camera is a 12MP Center Stage camera on the landscape edge, recording 1080p. Landscape stereo speakers and two microphones handle calls, and Touch ID in the top button also approves Apple Pay.
Battery and charging
| Battery | 11-inch | 13-inch |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 28.93Wh | 36.59Wh |
| Wi-Fi web or video | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Web on cellular | Up to 9 hours | Up to 9 hours |
The 13-inch has the bigger battery, but it also lights a bigger screen, and Apple rates both sizes for the same hours.
iPad Air (M4) or iPad Pro (M5)?
Both work with Apple Pencil Pro and hover, so the choice comes down to the screen and the hardware around it:
| Spec | iPad Air (M4) | iPad Pro (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Liquid Retina IPS, 500 or 600 nits | Tandem OLED, 1000 nits, 1600 HDR peak |
| Chip and memory | M4, 12GB in every model | M5, 12GB or 16GB by storage |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo | Four speakers |
| Unlock | Touch ID | Face ID |
| Port | USB 3, up to 10Gb/s | Thunderbolt |
| LiDAR | No | Yes |
| Finishes | Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray | Silver, space black |
iPad Air (M4) vs iPad Pro (M5) goes through the rest.
Price
At launch in the US, the Wi-Fi models cost $599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the 13-inch. Cellular adds $150, for $749 and $949. Education pricing started at $549 and $749 for the Wi-Fi models. Prices move, so check Apple’s store before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces the new iPad Air, powered by M4 — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad Air product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 11-inch (M4) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad Air 13-inch (M4) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does iPad Air (M4) have ProMotion?
Not according to Apple, which lists no ProMotion or 120Hz refresh rate for either size.
Can iPad Air (M4) drive an external monitor?
Yes, one display up to 6K at 60Hz through the USB-C port, which runs at USB 3 speeds up to 10Gb/s. It isn't a Thunderbolt port.
Does iPad Air (M4) come with a charger?
Yes: a 20W USB-C power adapter and a 1m USB-C cable. It also charges from a computer's USB-C port.
Does iPad Air (M4) have GPS?
Only the cellular models. Wi-Fi models find their location with a digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon.
Is the 13-inch worth the extra money?
Only if you want the bigger canvas. It has the same M4, 12GB of memory and battery rating as the 11-inch; what you get is a 2732 × 2048 screen at 600 nits, against 2360 × 1640 at 500, in a tablet that weighs 616 grams instead of 464.
Official product page: iPad Air (M4). Tech specs: iPad Air (M4) specs.