Apple iPad Air 13" M4 2026, 12GB, 1TB, Cellular, Space Gray

The M4 chip puts this iPad Air in the 98th percentile for CPU performance, making it one of the fastest tablets we've ever tested. Storage, GPU, and battery all land in the 96th percentile or higher too. The 60Hz display and 7th percentile affordability score are the main reasons to think twice.

The M4 8-core chip here is the same silicon family Apple puts in their MacBooks, and it shows. Our benchmarks put this tablet in the 98th percentile for CPU performance, with the 9-core GPU landing at 97th percentile. That means photo editing, 4K video work, and even some gaming run without breaking a sweat. The 16-core Neural Engine handles Apple Intelligence tasks faster than anything in this price bracket. And with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, you can keep a dozen apps open without reloading.

Storage is another standout. The 1TB SSD puts this in the 98th percentile for capacity, which is more than most laptops. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 mean you're future-proofed on connectivity too. The USB-C port supports 10 Gb/s transfers, so moving large files off the device is quick. Battery life lands at 96th percentile in our database, which translates to all-day use for most people. The 37Wh cell isn't huge on paper, but Apple's efficiency work with the M4 makes it stretch further than you'd expect.

Against the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, the iPad Air wins on raw CPU performance and app polish, but the Surface fights back with a proper desktop OS and a higher refresh rate display. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus brings a bigger battery and often undercuts Apple on price, though its software experience can't match iPadOS. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 is the closest Android rival, with a gorgeous AMOLED screen that beats the Air's LCD for contrast, but Samsung's chip still trails the M4 in sustained workloads. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is the value pick, delivering solid specs for less money, but it lacks the accessory ecosystem Apple has with the Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. If you're already in Apple's world, none of these alternatives make a compelling case to switch.

Affordability is the elephant in the room. This iPad Air sits at the 7th percentile for value in our database, which means you're paying a premium for that M4 performance. US prices swing wildly from USD 749 to USD 1,798 across 27 listings, so shopping around matters more than usual. The best deals we're seeing are at the lower end of that range, and if you can snag one near USD 749, the performance-per-dollar math gets a lot more palatable. Canadian buyers face a tighter spread of CAD 1,821 to CAD 2,032, but the same advice applies. Don't pay list price for this thing.

The M4 chip in this iPad Air is a 98th percentile CPU in our tablet database, which is a fancy way of saying it's one of the fastest tablets you can buy right now. Apple paired that with 12GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, so you're getting near-Pro performance without the Pro price tag. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display runs at 2732x2048 with 600 nits of brightness, and the whole package weighs 617g. For creative work, business tasks, and entertainment, this thing scores above 91 out of 100 in our testing.

But here's the catch. The 60Hz refresh rate on a tablet this expensive feels like Apple leaving money on the table. And the reading score of 39.1 out of 100 tells you exactly who this isn't for. If you want a tablet for books and long-form reading, the weight and size work against you. For everyone else, this is a seriously capable machine.

If reading is a primary use case, look elsewhere. The 39.1 out of 100 reading score reflects the 617g weight and large footprint, which make extended reading sessions uncomfortable. The 60Hz display also feels sluggish if you're sensitive to refresh rates, especially at this price. And if budget is a concern, the 7th percentile affordability score means you're paying a premium for the Apple ecosystem. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro or Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus deliver more value per dollar if you don't need the M4's raw power.

The iPad Air M4 is a powerhouse tablet that makes a strong case for skipping the iPad Pro entirely. With CPU, GPU, and storage all in the 95th percentile or higher, it handles creative work, business tasks, and entertainment without breaking stride. The 60Hz screen and weak reading score are real compromises, but they're the kind of trade-offs most people won't notice day to day. If you can find it at the lower end of that USD 749 to USD 1,798 price range, this is one of the best tablets we've tested this year.