Apple just refreshed the iPad Air, and while the company loves to throw around words like blazing and game changing, this one actually looks like a meaningful update.
The new iPad Air is powered by the M4 chip and now starts with 12GB of unified memory. That is 50 percent more RAM than before, and it matters. Apple says performance is up to 30 percent faster than the M3 version and up to 2.3x faster than the M1 model. On the graphics side, the 9 core GPU adds hardware accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, with Apple claiming more than 4x faster 3D rendering compared to M1.
On paper, it is a beast.
But here is the thing. I still use an M1 iPad Air regularly, and it shows no signs of being sluggish. It feels snappy, responsive, and more than capable for everything I throw at it. That is actually a testament to the Air line as a whole. Apple has managed to position iPad Air as the sweet spot, not overkill like the Pro, but not compromised either.
That balance of performance and value is exactly why I love the Air lineup.
With M4, Apple is clearly future proofing things even further. The new model features a 16 core Neural Engine that is said to be 3x faster than M1, along with memory bandwidth jumping to 120GB per second. Apple is pitching this as ideal for on device AI tasks like transcription, subject search in photos, and background removal in video apps such as Final Cut Pro.
Whether you are excited about AI or skeptical of some of the hype, more memory and more bandwidth benefit everything. Multitasking, gaming, video editing, you name it.
Connectivity also gets a serious upgrade. The new iPad Air includes Apple’s N1 wireless chip with support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Cellular models use the C1X modem, which Apple says can deliver up to 50 percent faster cellular speeds while using up to 30 percent less energy than the previous generation. If you rely on your iPad for travel or remote work, that is not just marketing fluff.
The device remains available in 11 inch and 13 inch sizes. The smaller model is easy to carry around campus or toss in a bag, while the 13 inch version offers more breathing room for multitasking. Both support Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C, and Magic Keyboard, which continues to be one of the best keyboard accessories in the tablet space.
iPadOS 26 is another major piece of this puzzle. Apple is introducing a refreshed design built around what it calls Liquid Glass, along with a more advanced windowing system and a proper menu bar. The Files app is improved, Preview finally gets its own dedicated app on iPad, and background tasks are expanded. Step by step, Apple keeps nudging iPad closer to laptop territory without fully turning it into a Mac.
Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 1TB. Colors include blue, purple, starlight, and space gray.
Now let’s talk pricing, because this is where Apple deserves some credit.
The 11 inch iPad Air with M4 still starts at $599 for the Wi-Fi model and $749 for Wi-Fi plus Cellular. The 13 inch version starts at $799 for Wi-Fi and $949 for Wi-Fi plus Cellular. Education pricing drops those entry points to $549 and $749.
Keeping the starting price at $599 while adding M4 and 12GB of RAM is smart. It reinforces what the Air has always been about. A high performance tablet that does not feel excessive or overpriced.
If you are coming from an older A series iPad or even an early iPad Air, this upgrade makes a lot of sense. If you already have an M1 like I do, you probably are not feeling any urgency. And honestly, that is a good problem to have. It means Apple built something durable and capable in the first place.
The Air line continues to hit that rare balance. Powerful enough for serious work and creative tasks, but priced in a way that feels reasonable in 2026. For most people, this is the iPad to buy.
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I have the M1 as well, and also find it to be plenty fast. OLED vs LCD and screen brightness increase would be interesting to me.