Apple Unveils New iPad Air with M4 Power
Apple iPad Air M4 multitasking 260302
Every so often, Apple updates the iPad Air and you nod politely.
And then every so often, they drop something like this.
The new iPad Air with M4 arrives with more power, more memory, faster connectivity, and iPadOS 26 features that genuinely change how you use the thing. And here is the kicker, it starts at the same A$999 for the 11 inch model.
Let’s dig in.
M4 Power, Properly Serious
The big headline is the move to the M4 chip.
This is not a gentle refresh. With an 8 core CPU and 9 core GPU, the new iPad Air is up to 30 per cent faster than the M3 version and up to 2.3 times faster than the M1 model.
If you are coming from an older Air, the jump will feel dramatic. Photo compositing in apps like Pixelmator Pro, editing in Final Cut Pro, even heavy multitasking across multiple windows in iPadOS 26, everything feels sharper and more immediate.
Graphics performance is where it really stretches its legs. The 9 core GPU supports second generation hardware accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing. Apple says it delivers over 4x faster 3D pro rendering compared to M1.
In simple terms, lighting, reflections, and shadows in games and creative work look far more realistic. This is not just a note taking tablet anymore. It is edging into proper workstation territory.
More Memory, Built for AI
One of the most meaningful upgrades is unified memory.
It now jumps to 12GB, which is 50 per cent more than the previous generation. Memory bandwidth also climbs to 120GB per second.
Why does that matter? Because AI workloads are hungry.
The 16 core Neural Engine is 3x faster than the one in M1. That means on device AI tasks, like searching text in photos, background removal in video, live transcription, or advanced app features in tools like Goodnotes, run more smoothly.
Students transcribing lectures, creators storyboarding projects, business users cleaning up documents and emails, this is the quiet horsepower behind the scenes.
Two Sizes, Four Finishes
Apple is sticking with two sizes.
The 11 inch model remains the sweet spot for portability. It slips into a bag easily and feels perfectly balanced for travel, campus life, or working from a café.
The 13 inch model gives you more room to breathe. More space for split screen apps, more canvas for drawing, more comfort for longer editing sessions.
Colours include blue, purple, starlight, and space grey. They are subtle, but distinctive enough to feel personal rather than purely corporate.
Storage options range from 128GB right up to 1TB, depending on how serious you are about your files.
Connectivity Steps Up, Wi Fi 7 Arrives
The new iPad Air introduces Apple’s N1 wireless chip and the C1X modem in cellular models.
N1 enables Wi Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. In practical terms, that means faster wireless speeds and better reliability, particularly on 5GHz networks. Features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot benefit directly.
Cellular models get C1X, which delivers up to 50 per cent faster cellular performance and uses up to 30 per cent less energy than the previous modem. That is good news for anyone who actually relies on 5G on the move.
You also get GPS on cellular models, plus eSIM for quick and secure plan setup. For business travellers or students bouncing between networks, that flexibility matters.
iPadOS 26, A Proper Evolution
The hardware is impressive, but iPadOS 26 is what ties it all together.
There is a new Liquid Glass design language that feels lighter and more dynamic. More importantly, there is an entirely new windowing system.
You can now organise and switch between apps in a way that feels closer to a desktop experience, while still keeping the simplicity of iPad. A new menu bar appears with a swipe or cursor movement, giving you quicker access to app controls.
The Files app gets an overhaul with better list views and folder customisation. You can set default apps for file types. There is even a proper Preview app for viewing and marking up PDFs and images.
Background Tasks and improved audio controls also take advantage of Apple silicon, letting you capture high quality recordings and manage input more precisely.
It feels less like a stretched phone OS and more like its own confident platform.
Accessories That Unlock Its Potential
The iPad Air supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB C.
Apple Pencil Pro adds features like squeeze and barrel roll gestures, and supports Find My. If you have ever misplaced a Pencil, you will appreciate that.
The Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically and connects instantly via Smart Connector. It has a built in trackpad and a 14 key function row for brightness, volume, and other controls. It transforms the iPad Air into something very close to a lightweight laptop alternative.
Pricing in Australia sits at A$449 for the 11 inch Magic Keyboard and A$499 for the 13 inch version. Apple Pencil Pro is A$219, with education pricing available across the board.
Pricing in Australia
The 11 inch iPad Air with M4 starts at RRP A$999 inc. GST for Wi Fi, and A$1,249 for Wi Fi plus Cellular.
The 13 inch model starts at RRP A$1,349 for Wi Fi and A$1,599 for Wi Fi plus Cellular.
Education pricing drops the 11 inch to A$919 and the 13 inch to A$1,259.
Pre orders open Thursday, 5 March, with availability from Wednesday, 11 March in Australia.
The Bottom Line
The iPad Air has always been the sensible choice in Apple’s tablet line up.
With M4, 12GB of unified memory, Wi Fi 7, stronger AI performance, and iPadOS 26’s new windowing system, it is no longer just sensible. It is seriously capable.
For A$999, the 11 inch model delivers performance that, not long ago, would have been unthinkable at this price point.
If you are upgrading from M1 or older, the jump will feel enormous. If you are choosing your first serious tablet for work, study, or creative projects, this might be the sweet spot.
The Air name still fits. It is light. It is portable. But underneath, it now carries a surprising amount of muscle.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
