{"id":199187,"date":"2026-03-09T10:09:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tetrabulletin.com\/?p=199187"},"modified":"2026-03-09T10:09:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:09:36","slug":"still-apples-best-overall-tablet-with-a-few-caveats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tetrabulletin.com\/?p=199187","title":{"rendered":"Still Apple’s best overall tablet, with a few caveats"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Perhaps one of the most surprising things about the Apple Silicon era is how quickly Apple now updates its products. Take the iPad Air, for example. It\u2019s been less than two years since the company released the M2-powered iPad Air<\/a> in 11- and 13-inch sizes. We\u2019re already on our third iPad Air iteration, one with the M4 inside. That\u2019s the same chip that was inside the iPad Pro that was unveiled alongside that M2-powered Air in 2024. (The Pro was updated with an M5 last fall<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Just as I said a year ago when Apple unveiled the iPad Air M3<\/a>, this latest model doesn\u2019t fundamentally change the formula. The Air is a notable step up over the basic iPad, with a more powerful processor, more RAM, a better display and superior accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. The Air line is also the only way to get a 13-inch iPad without spending $1,300 or more.<\/p>\n

But without more substantial updates this year, I find myself less enthused by it than I was when the 13-inch model M2 model arrived in 2024. That\u2019s primarily because Apple has stuck with the same display for another year. As best I can tell, the 11-inch iPad Air that I\u2019m reviewing has the same screen in 2026 as it did when the redesigned version with no Home button was released in late 2020. Other features that feel like they should be table stakes at this point, like Face ID, are also restricted to iPads that cost at least $1,000. For better or worse, the Air is a very mature product with few surprises. But on the other hand, if you have an iPad older than the 2024 refresh, the iPad Air M4 will provide a solid performance improvement.<\/p>\n

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Aside from chip updates, the iPad Air hasn\u2019t changed much in the last few years. But it\u2019s still a great tablet for those who want more than the basic iPad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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