M4 iPad Air Reviews: Apple's powerful tablet just got better

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The M4 iPad Air officially launches this Wednesday. Even before its release, numerous reviews have already appeared, providing a comprehensive overview of the new Apple tablet. The initial reviews paint a relatively clear picture: The M4 iPad Air offers high performance, modern technology, and excellent value for money.

Many reviewers compare the device to both its predecessor and the significantly more expensive iPad Pro. The comparison with the iPad Pro, equipped with an M5 chip, is particularly frequent. It becomes clear that while the M4 iPad Air doesn't quite reach the Pro's performance, the gap has narrowed.

The M4 iPad Air continues Apple's strategy of offering powerful technology in a more affordable product category. For years, the iPad Air has been considered the mid-range option between the base iPad and the significantly more expensive Pro models.

With the new generation, Apple has primarily improved performance and some technical details. The tablet receives the M4 chip, faster connectivity, and 12 GB of RAM. At the same time, the starting price remains at €649, significantly lower than the iPad Pro.

The first reviews therefore show one thing above all: The M4 iPad Air could be the most attractive option in the current iPad lineup for many users.

Performance of the M4 iPad Air compared to the iPad Pro

A key focus of many reviews is the performance of the M4 iPad Air. Numerous reviewers compare the tablet not only to the previous M3 iPad Air, but also to the significantly more expensive M5 iPad Pro.

Kyle Barr of Gizmodo describes how the performance gap between the two device classes has now noticeably narrowed. In CPU benchmarks, the M4 iPad Air is only a few hundred points behind the M5 iPad Pro.

However, graphics tests still reveal a significant difference. The M5 iPad Pro, with its 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, achieves a score of 3,984 points in the "Steel Nomad Light" benchmark. The M4 iPad Air scores 3,166 points in the same test.

Despite this difference, Barr emphasizes that the iPad Pro remains the better choice for maximum performance. However, he believes the M4 iPad Air offers a very good option for creative work for those who want to spend significantly less money.

Powerful enough for creative work

Other reviews also highlight the tablet's performance. Maria Diaz from ZDNET describes the iPad Air M4 from the perspective of a creative user.

She works as a writer and also dabbles in photography, video production, and graphic design. In her test, she found that the iPad Air is the most affordable tablet that can easily handle her entire workload. She particularly highlights three technical aspects:

the M4 processor
faster connectivity
12 GB of unified storage

For a starting price of €649 (US$599), this configuration seems almost too good to be true, according to Diaz. At the same time, the device is priced around €450 (US$400) below an iPad Pro.

New C1X modem brings faster mobile connections

Another important component of the new tablet is Apple's C1X modem for cellular connections. Users who use their iPad on the go with a mobile data connection could particularly benefit from this change.

David Pierce of The Verge even describes the new chip as a genuine surprise. In his previous tests, the M4 iPad Air proved to be one of the fastest mobile devices he has ever used.

Even in areas with weak reception, the tablet sometimes achieved significantly higher speeds than other devices. According to Pierce, the M4 iPad Air was even faster than current iPhones, Pixel smartphones, and other iPads in some situations.

The constant internet connection makes an iPad particularly practical for tasks such as emails, reading, or web browsing on the go. Thanks to their large batteries, iPads can also serve very well as hotspots.

Competition from within its own ranks: The MacBook Neo

Some reviews consider the M4 iPad Air not only in comparison to other iPads, but also in the context of Apple's entire product portfolio. In these reviews, another device keeps coming up: the MacBook Neo.

Mike Prospero of Tom's Guide points out that many buyers may choose between these two devices. Both products are in a similar price range.

The MacBook Neo costs around $250 less if you also buy a keyboard for the iPad Air. This makes the comparison particularly interesting for users looking for a device for work.

Prospero still describes the iPad Air as the best Apple tablet for most people, but notes that the MacBook Neo now presents a very strong alternative. Especially when looking for an affordable device for productivity tasks, the laptop model might be more appealing.

M4 iPad Air: High performance at a moderate price

The first M4 iPad Air reviews paint a relatively clear overall picture. Apple hasn't introduced a completely new tablet, but rather a targeted evolution of the existing iPad Air line.

With the M4 chip, 12 GB of unified storage, faster connectivity and the new C1X mobile modem, the device offers powerful features at a comparatively moderate price.

At the same time, the iPad Pro remains the most powerful tablet in Apple's lineup. However, for many users, the iPad Air M4 is likely to be the more attractive choice, as it offers much of the Pro's performance at a significantly lower price.

This confirms the new model's reputation as the "pro iPad for most people" and keeps it one of the most interesting options on the current tablet market. (Image: Apple)