Every time Apple updates its iPad lineup, the same question arises: is it worth paying more for the Pro, or can you get by with something simpler? With the release of the new iPad Air with the M4 chip, the answer seems clearer than ever. Early reviews show that the gap between the Air and Pro has narrowed so much that for most users, paying extra for the higher-end model simply doesn’t make sense. And this is with a starting price of $599. And considering that for the same money you could buy a MacBook Neo, another logical question arises: what’s better, the iPad Air M4 or a full-fledged MacBook?
The new iPad will be an excellent choice for those who don’t want to pay for the Pro. Image: engadget.com
iPad Air M4 vs iPad Pro M5 Comparison
The main intrigue of every iPad Air update is whether it can catch up with the Pro. This time, the situation is genuinely interesting. Reviewers are comparing the new iPad Air M4 not only with its M3 predecessor, where the improvement is modest, but also with the much more expensive M5 iPad Pro.
The M4 turns the iPad Air into a true workhorse with an impressive performance reserve
As Kyle Barr from Gizmodo notes, the gap between the Air and Pro still exists but has significantly narrowed. In CPU benchmarks, the iPad Air M4 trails the M5 iPad Pro by just a few hundred points. In graphics tests, the picture is slightly different: the M5 iPad Pro with its full 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU scores 3,984 points in the Steel Nomad Light benchmark, while the M4 iPad Air scores 3,166. The difference is noticeable, but the question is whether it’s worth paying hundreds of dollars more.
ZDNET reviewer Maria Diaz goes so far as to call the new Air the most affordable tablet capable of comfortably handling work tasks — from photography and video to graphic design — without a single stutter. It starts at $599, which is $400 less than the iPad Pro, while offering the M4 processor, 12 GB of unified memory, and faster connectivity. It sounds almost too good for the price.
For $599, you get performance that just a couple of years ago was only available in the Pro lineup.
Apple C1X Modem in iPad Air: What Changed
One of the less obvious but potentially most useful upgrades is the switch to the Apple C1X modem in the cellular version of the iPad Air. And judging by early tests, this isn’t just a chip swap for the sake of it.
Where would we be now without Apple’s modems
David Pierce from The Verge calls the C1X “something of a revelation.” He has long advocated for iPads with cellular connectivity because a constant network connection makes the tablet instantly more useful for working with email, reading, and browsing — exactly what the iPad was designed for. And thanks to the iPad’s massive battery, it also works great as a hotspot.
But here’s what’s truly impressive: according to Pierce’s test results, the M4 Air consistently turned out to be the fastest cellular device of any he had. In areas with weak signal, the tablet delivered speeds several times higher than the latest iPhones, Pixel smartphones, and even other iPads. Simply put, if you need mobile internet on the go, the new Air could be the best option in the Apple ecosystem.
What to Choose: iPad Air or MacBook Neo
You’d think the iPad Air competes with other tablets. But in practice, its main rival turned out to be within the Apple ecosystem itself. We’re talking about the MacBook Neo — a laptop that also costs $599.
The MacBook Neo already comes with a keyboard, while the iPad requires buying one separately. Image: theverge.com
Mike Prospero from Tom’s Guide raises an uncomfortable question: what to choose — an iPad with a keyboard or MacBook Neo? If you factor in the cost of a keyboard for the Air, the laptop turns out to be $250 cheaper as a work setup. Yes, the iPad Air has a touchscreen and is more compact, but its value proposition as a productivity device now looks much more debatable compared to Apple’s budget laptops.
A setup with a keyboard and stylus will cost a pretty penny. Image: techradar.com
Prospero emphasizes: the iPad Air remains the best Apple tablet for the mainstream user. But as the best budget Apple product overall, it may have already been edged out by the Neo. This doesn’t mean the Air has gotten worse. It means Apple has created a competitor for it within its own lineup, and the choice between them now depends not on power, but on exactly how you plan to work.
Is the iPad Air M4 Worth Buying
If you put all the reviews together, a fairly clear picture emerges. The iPad Air M4 is a device for those who need serious performance without overpaying for the Pro. Photographers, videographers, designers, students — anyone who works with content but isn’t ready to spend nearly a thousand dollars on a tablet gets practically everything they need in the Air.
If you work with a stylus, the iPad Air remains unrivaled — no laptop can replace that
The M4 processor, 12 GB of unified memory, the lightning-fast C1X modem in the cellular version — all of this for $599. For comparison, the iPad Pro starts at $999. There is a performance difference, especially in graphics, but for the vast majority of tasks, it’s imperceptible.
The only caveat is the existence of the MacBook Neo. If you specifically need a tablet with a touchscreen and the ability to draw with a stylus, the choice is obvious. But if it’s about text, spreadsheets, and browsing, it’s worth at least taking a look at the Neo before placing your order.
