Apple will put the M4 chip in its iPad Air lineup so the series above the base model will get an upgrade. Until now the M4 chip was in the top of the line 11- and 13-inch iPad Pros so the Air will get big performance and efficiency boosts without a price increase.
iPad Air Upgrade to Get M4 Chip
According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg the new iPad Air will keep the current 11- and 13-inch designs but swap out the M2 chip for an M4.
The Air lineup currently starts at $549 for the 11-inch with 128GB and $699 for the 13-inch so the M4 models may keep the same pricing. This will be competitive pricing and a great value proposition for the M4 chip.
Why M4 Matters
M4 is a huge leap forward for Apple’s silicon. The chip is fabbed on TSMC’s 2nd gen 3nm process and is up to 45% faster in some benchmarks (Geekbench 6) than the M2. M4 is faster and more power efficient than M3 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite.
M4 supports ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension which makes complex tasks easier. Good for productivity and gaming; older AAA titles like Death Stranding run smooth on this chip.
Features and Limitations
M4 will give the Air more performance but the tablet won’t have premium features like OLED and ProMotion which are exclusive to the pro models. These omissions will keep the iPad Air cheaper and more consumer friendly.
Apple skipped the M3 chip for the Air and that’s a good sign as the M3 was a transition chip. By going to the M4 Apple is positioning the iPad Air as a powerful and efficient device in its segment.
Market Impact
As long as Apple keeps the Air at $599 for the M4 models this new lineup will cut through the noise. Big performance and energy efficiency at a very competitive price makes the iPad Air a great option for those who want high performance without the premium of the iPad Pro.
Design and display stays the same but with M4 power the iPad Air will remain one of the best values in its segment. That’s just another proof that Apple is bringing the latest tech to all products that reach the most people.
