M4 iPad Air review: A tablet that thinks its an AI laptop

Published: Monday, March 9, 2026 at 1:00 pm

Apple's M4 iPad Air: An Iterative Upgrade with AI Focus

Apple has released the latest iteration of its iPad Air, the M4, featuring incremental improvements over its predecessor. While the design remains largely unchanged, the new tablet boasts enhancements under the hood, primarily focusing on performance and AI capabilities.

The M4 iPad Air retains the same sleek, lightweight design and Liquid Retina display as previous models. It is available in the same four colors and comes in 11- and 13-inch sizes. The most notable upgrades are centered around the M4 chip, which includes a faster Neural Engine designed to handle on-device AI processes more efficiently. Apple claims the new chip is 30% faster than the M3 iPad Air, with double the unified system memory.

Connectivity has also been upgraded with the inclusion of the N1 wireless connectivity chip and the C1X 5G chip, both of which were introduced in recent iPhone models. In speed tests, the C1X chip demonstrated impressive performance, outperforming other devices in download and upload speeds.

The iPad Air, when paired with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, can function as a laptop, offering users a versatile device for both tablet and productivity tasks. The M4 chip allows for seamless multitasking, enabling users to run multiple applications simultaneously without performance issues. The tablet's capabilities extend to handling demanding creative software, making it suitable for artists, photographers, and editors.

The review highlights the tablet's ability to handle AI-driven features in apps like Final Cut Pro, Voice Memos, and CollaNote. The Neural Engine enables near-instantaneous processing of tasks such as auto-captions, transcription, and image manipulation.

The cameras, speakers, and accessories remain consistent with the previous model. The review suggests that the new iPad Air is a worthwhile upgrade for creative professionals seeking a new tablet. However, for casual users, the base iPad with the A16 chip may suffice.

BNN's Perspective: While the M4 iPad Air offers incremental improvements, the focus on AI capabilities is a welcome development. The tablet's ability to handle complex tasks and its integration of AI features suggest a forward-thinking approach by Apple. However, the lack of significant design changes and the high price point may deter some consumers.

Keywords: iPad Air, M4, Apple, tablet, AI, Neural Engine, 5G, Liquid Retina, performance, multitasking, creative, laptop, upgrade, review

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