Apple iPad Air 10.9" 4 2020, A14 Bionic, 4GB, 64GB, Cellular, Space Gray

The Apple iPad Air 4 is a renewed tablet that still delivers a great display, solid performance, and Apple Pencil 2 support for under USD 300. The 64GB storage and 4GB RAM are the main limitations, but for drawing, reading, and everyday use, it's hard to beat at this price.

The A14 Bionic is a 6-core CPU with a 4-core GPU, and in our database it lands at the 64th percentile for CPU performance and 88th for GPU. That GPU score is the more interesting one, it means this tablet still punches above its weight for graphics-heavy tasks like gaming or drawing apps. The 4GB of RAM is the weak link here, sitting at the 31st percentile. In practice, that means you'll occasionally see apps reload when you're multitasking heavily, but for most people it's not a dealbreaker.

For drawing and design work, the iPad Air 4 scores 72.7 out of 100 in our art and design category, which is solid. The Apple Pencil 2 support is excellent, and the screen's color accuracy makes it a legit option for digital artists on a budget. Reading scores 72.1, and business use comes in at 71.5. Productivity is the weakest area at 63.7, mostly because the 64GB storage fills up fast and the RAM limits how many apps you can juggle at once. If you're mostly doing one thing at a time, you won't notice. If you're a tab hoarder, you will.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, the iPad Air 4 wins on app ecosystem and Apple Pencil support, but the Samsung has a bigger screen and likely better battery life. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is a strong Android alternative with newer internals, but iPadOS is still the better tablet OS for most creative work. The Lenovo Idea Tab Plus is cheaper but feels noticeably less premium, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a different beast entirely, it's a full Windows PC, which is either a plus or a minus depending on whether you want a tablet or a laptop replacement.

The UMIDIGI Active T1 is a rugged budget tablet that doesn't really compete on performance or display quality, but it's way cheaper and tougher. If you're buying for a kid who drops things, that might matter more than benchmark scores. For everyone else, the iPad Air 4 is the more refined pick.

At USD 234 to USD 299 for renewed units, the iPad Air 4 is a genuinely good deal if you shop around. The spread across vendors is worth paying attention to, the cheapest listing we found was USD 234, while some sellers want USD 299 for essentially the same hardware. Newegg's refurbished listings tend to sit at the lower end of that range, so it's worth checking there first. For context, a new base iPad costs more than this, and you're getting a better display and Apple Pencil 2 support here. The main trade-off is storage and the fact that you're buying a device that's a few generations old. If you can live with 64GB, this is one of the better tablet values out there right now.

The Apple iPad Air 4 sits in that sweet spot between the base iPad and the Pro lineup, and even a few years after launch it's still one of the more interesting tablets you can grab, especially on the renewed market. You're looking at a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, the A14 Bionic chip, and support for the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard. Prices on renewed units bounce around between USD 234 and USD 299 depending on the seller, which makes this a pretty compelling budget pick if you want iPadOS without paying new iPad money.

People searching for this tablet usually want to know if it's still good for drawing, note-taking, or just everyday media consumption. The short answer is yes, mostly. The A14 Bionic still handles iPadOS 18.6 without much drama, and the display is genuinely nice with True Tone and P3 wide color. It's not the brightest panel at 500 nits, but indoors it looks great.

What you're really buying here is the iPadOS experience, Apple Pencil support, and that classic iPad build quality. The 64GB storage is the biggest compromise, and we'll get into that. But for the price these renewed units go for, it's hard to find a tablet that feels this premium.

Skip the iPad Air 4 if you need more than 64GB of storage or plan to do heavy multitasking, the 4GB of RAM will frustrate you. Power users who edit large video projects or keep dozens of apps open should look at the iPad Air 5 or a Pro model instead. If you're buying for a young kid who's rough on devices, a rugged tablet like the UMIDIGI Active T1 makes more sense. And if you need a full desktop OS, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the better call, just don't expect the same tablet app experience.

Should you buy the iPad Air 4 in 2025? If you can find a renewed unit under USD 250, absolutely. It's still a fantastic tablet for drawing, reading, streaming, and light productivity. The display is lovely, the A14 Bionic holds up, and Apple Pencil 2 support makes it a legit creative tool. The 64GB storage and 4GB RAM are the main compromises, and they're real ones, but they're easier to swallow at this price point.

If you need more storage or plan to do heavy multitasking, you'll want to look at the iPad Air 5 or a Pro model. But for students, casual artists, and anyone who wants a premium tablet experience without spending premium money, this is a smart buy.