Apple iPad Air 11" M4 2026, 8GB, 1TB, Blue

The iPad Air M4 is a Pro-level performer at a non-Pro price. Skip the base storage, find a deal, and enjoy a stupidly fast tablet that makes the Pro a tough sell.

The M4 chip here is a monster. It lands in the 94th percentile for CPU and 92nd for GPU, which means it's one of the best on the market, period. What surprised us is how effortlessly it chews through everything from 4K video edits in DaVinci Resolve to heavy multitasking with Stage Manager. It never gets warm, never stutters, and makes you forget you're on a tablet. The only head-scratcher is the RAM situation. Apple won't say how much is in the base model, but our data puts it in a mediocre 32nd percentile. For most people, it's fine. But if you're a pro with dozens of layers in Procreate, you might feel the squeeze.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is the closest Android rival, and it has a stunning 120Hz AMOLED screen that makes the Air's 60Hz LCD feel a little sad. But Samsung's chip can't touch the M4 for raw power or app support. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is the real alternative if you need a full desktop OS. It's a better laptop, but a worse tablet. For pure drawing and media consumption, the Air is more fun. The Xiaomi Pad and Lenovo Idea Tab Pro are solid budget plays, but they're not in the same performance league. If you want the best all-around tablet that isn't a Pro, this is it.

Pricing is a bit of a rollercoaster right now. We're seeing a $279 spread across vendors, from $1050 to $1329 for this 1TB model. At the low end, it's a solid deal for a terabyte of storage on a top-tier chip. At the high end, you're flirting with 11-inch iPad Pro territory, which gets you a better screen and more RAM. Shop around. The best deal we're seeing is at the vendor with the $1050 price tag. Don't pay a penny over $1100 for this config.

The iPad Air M4 is the tablet most people should buy, full stop. It takes the absurdly fast M4 chip from the Pro line and drops it into a thinner, lighter, and much more affordable package. The one thing to know is that this isn't a compromised mid-range tablet. It's a powerhouse that will outrun most laptops, wrapped in a gorgeous 11-inch Liquid Retina display. Unless you absolutely need the Pro's 120Hz ProMotion screen or Face ID, this is the sweet spot in Apple's lineup.

If you're a digital artist who's sensitive to screen smoothness or a gamer who wants the most fluid visuals, this isn't for you. The 60Hz screen is a real step down from the Pro's 120Hz ProMotion. Go get an 11-inch iPad Pro instead. You'll pay more, but your eyes will thank you.

Buy the iPad Air M4. It's the best tablet for the vast majority of people. The M4 chip makes it a creative workhorse, the display is beautiful, and the accessory support is best-in-class. The 60Hz screen and average battery life are the only real knocks against it, but they're easy to forgive when you see the performance and price. Get the 512GB model if you can find it, and pair it with an Apple Pencil Pro. You'll have a machine that's good for years.