Overall Synthesis
The iPad Air 11-inch M4 (2026) is the best value in the entire iPad lineup. The jump from 8GB to 12GB RAM significantly improves multitasking and future-proofs it for Apple Intelligence, the M4 chip is excellent, and Wi-Fi 7 + C1X cellular modem (on cellular models) modernize the connectivity. At the same $599 price as the M3 model, this is a compelling upgrade for M1/M2 iPad Air owners and a no-brainer first iPad purchase. The only lingering complaint — shared by all reviewers — is the lack of OLED, which the iPad Pro has had since 2024.
